Cahaba Valley Surgical Group, PC Bariatric Center

I had to wait almost 3 months for an appointment with Dr. Stahl. The day of the appointment I had to wait over 1 and 1/2 hours to see him. I didn't think the office staff were overly friendly except for Dr. Stahl's nurse she seems nice. My appointment only lasted about 15 mintues and he told me I qualified for surgery and they would start the paperwork.

My impression of Dr. Sherer was he was very confident in himself and very caring about my weel being. He said he was sorry for keeping me waiting and he would stay with me and answer all my questions until I feel comfortable. His staff is wonderful especially his nurse Susie. Anytime I would call about a question she would get back with me within the same day. When I went for my pre-op visit susie sat down with me for about 45min. and went back thru everything with me step by step. I will be having my surgery Jan 25, 2002 and I will keep everyone posted. I would recommend Dr. Sherer to anyone. VERY GOOD BEDSIDE MANNER The only negative thing I could say about the group is I waited 2 hours past my appointment to see him and I drove 3hrs to his office, so I wasen't to happy about that. He maed up for it, though when we finally got to meet and talk.

I did not have much pre op time with him, but that was okay. I had done a lot of research prior to going to him and I knew what to expect. Before my first visit with Dr. Stahl I was sent a packet and worksheet describing the surgery and possible side effects and risks. I had to fill out the form before I was given an appt. Dr. Stahl was very nice and I felt comfortable with him. (A big first for me and a doctor.) I was/am very happy with Dr. Stahl and his staff. They made the experiance as pain (physically and emotionally) as possible. While I have not be given much if any information about support groups and aftercare, I feel very good about his approach. I am a much more independent person, who has found info and support outside of the docs office.

I haven't met Dr. Sherer yet, but I am very impressed with his staff. Jan has been very helpful in answering questions(of which I've had many) and the literature they send you is very informative. My first visit is in 11 days!
Others have told me he's an excellent surgeon, and that he has an excellent bedside mannner which is very important to me. I don't want to be treated as a surgery, but as a person.

I am very impressed with Dr.Sherer. i really think he cares about what he's doing. He said his own mother was very obese, and that he thinks most people don't realize how difficult it is. His example was this"think of your excess weight as a 126 pound sack of rocks. Now imagine having to carry that sack around everyday trying to do everything you normally do." I was nearly in tears, he was so understanding. I think he even helped my husband, who has no excess weight at all, to understand why I want to have this done, and why I'm having the physical problems I have.
I AM VERY IMPRESSED!
He doesn't do laps,though for those of you who prefer that.....

Dr. Sherer is great. His nurse Diane is wonderful. She has been so patient and caring. I have nearly been in tears and she has helped so much. Suzy and Jan are both very kind, patient people. All of them have put up with my constant phone calls and questions.

I haven't been very impressed with follow up, as there really is no aftercare program. I've had to ask to have blood tests run. He's a good doc, but needs an aftercare program set up. But this is only my opinion!

Front office staff are very unfriendly. I plan on letting Dr. Sherer know about this, and how badly it reflects on him. Maybe after my 1 year visit. These are just my impressions of these women. Maybe I'm just not their favorite person. LOL

My first impression of Dr. Stahl was that he was very informative and matter-of-fact. He was very clear on the complications and dangers associated with the procedure. At that point, he did not seem to have a great bedside manner, but I was not looking to make friends, just to have a great surgeon. After that initial visit, he was great...very pleasant and caring. Dr. Stahl was great after the surgery, answering my questions and concerns in detail and being very friendly. I would highly recommend him to anyone!!

I met with Dr. Sherer today and everything was great. I didn't have to wait very long at all to see him and he and his staff were fabulous. Dr. Sherer took his time and was certain to listen and answer all of my questions. I found him to be very personable but yet very professional. Being honest and upfront about my options and future care. I recommend this office and surgeon to anyone. They are truly one of a kind.

ON 10/29/01 I HAD MY FIRST VISIT WITH DR.STAHL HE AND HIS ASSISTANT GAVE ME A THROUGH CHECK OVER AND EXPLAINED THE PROCEDURES NEGATIVES AND POSITIVES.MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS GOOD. OFFICE STAFF WILL UPDATE 12/04/01.

Dr. Sherer really emphasized the need for aftercare therapy or going to OA. He stressed that surgery is only a tool and that to be successful I must deal with the reasons I am morbidly obese. The best thing about him is that he doesn't do needless pre-op testing and encourges you to eat solid food when you feel ready. He believes that rigid diet plans after surgery only continue th cycle of being consumed by food.

I haven't met him yet but have heard many good reports on him. I have been told that he has an excellent bedside manner. I have spoken with his asst. and she seemed very helpful.
When you first call, they send you a packet with detailed information about the surgery including any side effects and the possible things that could go wrong.If you still wish to proceed, you fill out some forms about yourself and med. and weight history. You mail those in and then they call and set up your first visit.

11-21-01 I had my cosult yesterday and it was great. Dr. Sherer is wonderful. He took mucho time with me. He has a wonderful sense of humor. I like that. I found nothing to dislike. He explained everthing perfectly and answered all my concerns. He was forthright with the bad as well as the good.
He imphasized aftercare as a must! He highly recommended counseling to learn to correct my addiction to the food. He says that greatly improves your chances of success in keeping weight off for life. I would rate him at 9.75 (nobody's perfect)HA!

whn i 1st contacted dr stahl office concerning surgery he snt me a very thick booklet and tld me to read all he info the booklet consisted of all info i need t knw about the surgery from the 1st visit wth him to the time it wld tke to my ins to approve dr stahl even gve me pointers how to get my ins to approve faster dr stahl also had a test at the end of the booklet for me to tke to mke sure tht i had reads all of te info tht was in the booklet dr stahl also made me fill out a history of diets ad ways tht i had tried to lose weight in the past i mailed all the info bc to him and he call in a matter of days to setup my 1st vst wth him there was no hidden cost i knw wht i had to pay him up front and wht my ins wld cover and wht out of pocket expense i had to endure my 1st visit wth dr stahl was very down to business he quized me again to mke sure i hd read all of the ups and downs of the surgery he also tld me tht i cld hve ths surgery and still be overweight so he laid everythng down for me h did ot beat around the bush at all wth me after he tld me tht i was a canidate he tld me tht it cld tke up to 2 months for my ins to approve i saw dr stahl on the 28th of aug and my ins approved my surgery by the 19th of sept the ins snt a approval letter to me and the dr but it was never rec i was tld to wait 8 wks so i clld the dr after i had not heard anythng and he clld my ins co to find out thti had already bee approved he thn had the ins co to fax him a letter so we ld g ahead and setup a surgery date td dr tht i wnt to hve surgery asap because my mother was moving the end of nov to another state and he set my surgery for the next wk so i wld recommend anyone tht is in dr stahl area to hve him do their surgery the only thng thti did not like is i had to hve surgery in aother city meaning tht my husband and mother was unable to visit me as often as i wld hve liked thm to because thy had to con't to wrk and it was an hr drive to ge wth me dr stahl sdtht he likes for his ptients to be near him because some hosp do not knw how to handl a patient tht hve had ths type of surgery dr stahl had several different people to come in after surgery and stress the importance of aftercare and several different diets the day after i got out of the hosp i got bad sick and i clld for dr stahl and he was not on cll i did not th dr tht was on cll answered my ?s as well as dr stahl wld hve so i did not like the fact i was not able to spk to the dr tht done the surgery on me i also stressed tht i wnt a private rm after surgery and i did not get one yes i did save money but i had a lot of family tht wnt to come and visit and stay wth m whn my husband and mother was not able to but other thn tht he did a good job i thnk in the future he shld mke arrangmnts to do the surgery in the patient hm town so it wld not be a strand on their families these is my personal views and opinions over all dr richard stahl did a great job