Cahaba Valley Surgical Group, PC Bariatric Center

Dr. Gardner is very nice and patient. I instantly like him and he made me feel at ease. He answered all my questions and I left feeling like I had made a new friend. The office is very nice and the staff were very nice as well. He explained all the pros and cons of the different surgeries. I also watched a 15 minute video explaining the percentages and the surgeries. It was very informative and I learned quite a lot. Dr. Gardner has a great bedside manner and he is very surgically competent. I have no worries about Dr. Gardner...!

I chose Cahaba Valley Surgical Group to do my bariatric surgery. I have heard good things about all the surgeons and was willing to use any of them. My first appointment was for 9/3/04 and with a couple of cancellations and change of physicians, I ended up getting a consultation with Dr. Stahl on 6/18/04! BIG DIFFERENCE! Lots of thanks to Evelyn, as well as the rest of the office staff. They are all so super-nice and helpful. Dr. Stahl was very informative about the procedure, risks and benefits, and took as much time as was needed for all of this. He did not make me feel hurried at all. Very nice. I feel really comfortable having him as my surgeon.

he is very professional and doesn't sugar coat anything.the office staff is very good so far. The risks of surgery were addressed very well. so far we haven't really got into aftercare yet.

Very impressed, I had consulted with Dr. Clements *(UAB) before, but Dr. Stahl took more time and outlined the risks. He didn't make it all rosy and that's what I liked about him.

Dr. Sherer and his staff are wonderful. He is the first Doctor that I have ever came in contact with that let it be known that he is a Christian. He was very thorough with explaining my surgery and the risks.

02/27/04 - Consultation with Surgeon. I was impressed with how courteously I was treated by Dr. Stahl's staff. Dr. Stahl had been highly recommended to me. I was impressed, not only by his professionalism, but also by his friendliness. He allowed me all the time I needed to ask him my list of questions, and answered them quite adequately. He was thorough about the risks as well as the benefits of the laparoscopic Roux-en-y method of gastric bypass surgery. After my initial consultation, I feel very comfortable having Dr. Stahl as my surgeon.

My first impression of Dr. Stahl was how kind he was. He came into the room smiling and immediately introduced himself and shook hands with me and my mom. When he spoke to us, he was very straightforward about the risks and what I could expect. At the time, I was 180 pounds overweight. He said the he would consider the surgery a success if I lost at least half of the excess weight. I really liked the fact that he spoke directly to both me and my mom and allowed us as much time as we needed to ask any question either of us could think of. (note: write down every question that pops into your head, no matter how trivial. You'll be greatful for the notes.)

Over time, my impression of Dr. Stahl and his staff only got better. When I went back for my next visit, I'd lost nearly 27 pounds. I'd been trying to cut out all the sweets and things that I wouldn't be able to have after surgery, just so the change wouldn't be such a shock. I was worried that because I'd lost the weight, I wouldn't be approved for surgery because the insurance company would think I could lose it on my own. Dr. Stahl first told me how incredibley proud he was of me, because he knows how hard it is to lose weight. Then he put my fears to rest. He said that my weight loss would only show BCBS how determined I was to make this surgery work. I was finally able to breathe again, because I'd been trying for so long to have this surgery and I thought I'd just ruined my chances.

Dr. Stahl's office staff is incredible. When I went for my first appointment, I found out that I still had 1 month to go on my 1 year waiting period for pre-existing conditions. They told me that I could either see Dr. Stahl then or I could wait..that way I wouldn't have to pay anything. (The first visit isn't covered by my insurance because they don't know if they'll approve you for WLS or not) I decided I wanted to go ahead and see Dr. Stahl, and I'm so glad I did. As I leaving, they told me that I'd have to come back the following month when my insurance kicked in for a follow up visit. They were so nice, they only charged me a fraction of the cost for both visits. They were also right on top of the insurance. As soon as my waiting period was over, they sent in my paperwork and I was approved within two weeks (I called BCBS to check and started crying when I found out I was approved).

There is absolutely nothing that I didn't like about Dr. Stahl and his office staff. They are all so competent and nice. They didn't make me feel bad for being overweight like a lot of doctors have done. They are all such a wonderful group of people.

Future patients of Dr. Stahl should know that they must be willing to put a lot of effort into this surgery. If you're not willing to stay away from the sugar and change your eating habits, then he'll let you know that there's no point in having this procedure done. He is very realistic. He doesn't tell you that you're going to lose so much weight or that you'll lose it all (no matter how much we want to hear it). He tells you what would be considered a success (about half of the excess body weight) and he's also very honest (not everyone who has this surgery is successful).

Dr. Stahl emphasizes a healthy diet with smaller portions and exercise. He is extremely adamant that you get up a few hours after surgery and walk (if you don't walk, you can get bloodclots and die, so please!!! please!!! please!!! Get out of that bed and WALK!!!!).

As far as an aftercare program, Dr. Stahl gives you a list of foods that you can and can't eat. Things that will be good for you and such, and he stresses exercise. This surgery is a tool to help you lose weight, it is not a magical cure-all. You have to be willing to work for the weight loss, this just makes it easier, because there is no cheating on this diet. I don't know if Dr. Stahl has support groups. I am lucky enough to have extrememly supportive family and friends, so I never asked about an outside group.

As far as the risks of surgery go, Dr. Stahl and his staff are very clear about what they are. They do not sugarcoat anything. They want you to be extremely aware of everything so that you're making the best decision possible.

Overall, I would give Dr. Stahl the highest rating possible. He's truly the best doctor I've ever had and I am so greatful for him.

I believe that surgical competence is so much better than bedside manner, but I was lucky enough to have a doctor who has an abundance of both.

I have only had my consultation with Dr. Sherer. So far I really like him. He was very clear on the risks and the benefits of the surgery. He put my mother to ease about the surgery. He is clearly a religious man and is not afraid to let you know it. That is a plus to me. I have only heard good things about him. I will post more later. The staff at Cahaba Valley were very helpful and friendly. -- I had my surgery on 4-14-04. Everything went great! Dr. Sherer was wonderful. I had my two-week visit with him and had lost 22 lbs in 13 days!!! He was very encouraging. I would (and have) recommend him to others seriously considering this surgery.

Dr. Sherer had already performed 2 other surgeries on me prior to my weight loss surgery. So I already had every confidence in him. His staff was very friendly and helpful.

My first impression of Dr. Stahl was that he was a very friendly, professional man. You can always tell if a doctor is professional or not weather he has hot or cold hands, and Dr. Stahl's were very warm, lol. The office staff on my first visit was very nice and friendly. Dr. Stahl took all the time we wanted to answer his questions, without once looking at his watch or trying to rush out. He stresses that this surgery is not a magical trick that will make the pounds melt off, but only a good key to try and help you out along the way. He also stresses the risks of surgery. Nothing is sugar coated with him.