James Swain Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

1/15 I have not met with Dr. Swain yet, but will soon. I met with Dr. Roust and we are doing some tests that my PCP did not perform. She feels that I will be with a surgery date by May. Dr Roust works closely with Dr. Swain so I feel very comfortable. She addressed risks and aftercare.

I have not been misled or feel mistreated by anyone at Mayo so far. The entire staff has been wonderful!

I met with Dr. Swain in June. He was great. He is so good, he has about a six month waiting list! I found out at the end of August that he has hired a second surgeon - Dr. Christy Harold. She is also very nice. I am very comfortable with her. I know this is going to go well. I now have a date of 10/01.

The first time I went to a Support Group meeting at Mayo Hospital, Dr.Swain was giving a presentation on a projector. It was wonderful. He had details for everything with pictures of what exactly happens. He also outlined the process to go through to get approved and set for surgery. That was the best and most informative meeting I ever had with Dr.Swain. Other than that my impression has been okay. His bedside manner is fine. I have only met with him once. I think I was so nervous and worried about the whole thing that I didn't really know what to say or what questions to ask. I think he will be fine. He said he will go ahead with laproscopic surgery even though my BMI is about 48 and he likes it to be more like 41.

Well here I am. It is Saturday after having my surgery on Tuesday. I am home now, and feel like I have been thru a warzone.
Dr. Swain is a pleasant person and well motivated for the person that is prompted for this type of change in his/her life.
Even with a BMI of 57.1 he opted to go LAP RNY and promised that he would not go open unless absolutely necessary.
He kept his promise, and had the sweat on his brow and the comment of me giving him a run for his money right after the surgery.
I was is in ICU for two days due to complications in my size and BMI. Whenever I saw Dr. Swain, he looked very tired. Looks like I wore him out.
Thank You Dr. Swain!!!
The Mayo Clinic is top notch. That is why I work for them to begin with. Do not hesitate about care or treatment when dealing with them. They care.

I was shocked at how young he was. He made me feel very comfortable about answering all my questions. The whole process at Mayo was very professsional and always organized. I started the process in September 2002 and will be having surgery March 2003.

He was incredible, super supportive and very matter of fact.
It did not, he is still wonderful.
Knowledgable, helpful, kind, and they go out of their way to assist you.
Nothing!!
He is very caring and understanding.
A great deal!! He stresses that WLS is just a tool, and his follow up care is exceptional!
Yes.
He tells you all the pro's and con's and reminds you that it is a big surgery, the decision is up to you (the patient).
He is the best!!
He is a very "PICKY" surgeon. He does not close until he is positive that everything is working correctly with no leaks!!!

Dr. Swain is a most competant surgeon...I know this because I work in the same hospital. He is very thourough and puts you immediately at ease. I am very confident in my choice of surgeons.

I have not met with Dr. Swain yet in his office, but I did meet him and hear him speak about this surgery at a support group meeting that he attended. I felt very positive about him, and feel that he is dedicated to what he is doing, and I feel very good about him being my surgeon. Mayo has a different approach to surgery, and I have been actually meeting with an endocrinologist, Dr. Susan Roust. She is coordinating all my tests, and helping me to be sure I am meeting all the requirements of Mayo to have this surgery approved. Dr. Roust and Mayo, have been very diligent in finding out any, and all, co-mordities I have, and actively treating them prior to surgery. There is also a requirement to meet regularly with a dietician for 6 months before any surgery will be approved. I have begun this, and have been very happy with everyone I have met on my journey. The dietician is helping me to understand what I need to do now, and post surgery to help myself be as successful as possible. I also have a great understanding now of all my medical problems, and how to treat them now, and post surgery as well. I truly feel like I have a handle on my physical problems, and that I am truly on a healing road now. I will update more later, as I have about 4 months left until Dr. Roust can submit request for surgery from the insurance, and that is when I will actually meet with Dr. Swain.

11/5/02 - Well, I did meet with Dr. Swain, very briefly a few weeks ago and he agreed to schedule my surgery now, prior to approval, so I could have it before the end of the year. He is very nice, and seems like a kind man, but he is very busy. But I am confident that he is a very skilled surgeon, so that is the most important thing to me anyway. Hopefully, I will have my approval by end of November, when my 6 month waiting period is over, which is a requirement of Mayo. Will update more then!

My first impression-young and very informative and sure of himself.A "man with a mission". And knows the latest procedures used and various statistics for same. He does rny open or lap and general surgery- and I believe his true love is lap and describes new inovations to come.He attends some group meetings and I have heard two other bariatic surgeons in Phoenix speak-Dr Swain is my choice- no question. He is with Mayo Clinic and operates at Mayo Hospital in Scottdale AZ- which is very nice and the staff faultless for me anyway.He uses team approach and covers all the usual aspects of care.I can't think of anything that I did not like about him. I DID like his explanation of why he choose wls- and you will have to ask him that question yourself. His surgical competence is well respected and he trained with the best. His beside manner is quick and to the point- but if you want to see a grown man's eyes light up like a little kid - take him a teddy bear- he collects them. Very pleasant personality. I had hs surgery 3 weeks ago-no pain or complications and his last words to me-"When I see you a YEAR from now-MAKE ME LOOK GOOD"
Yes- I been Swainized good.UPDATE++++++++++
August 12. 2002
It has been almost 8 months since my lap rny and no complication whatsoever. Dr. Swain sees me every 3 months like it or not- It has been a year since I consulted him and I got my monies worth from him and Mayo Clinic. If you are just starting-- go to a "meeting" when he is scheduled to speak for sure. Smooth operation. ***Time passes - 10 months (Oct 20,02) and down 102 pounds. Dr "Scissorhands" apparently did not fumble anything - so I am pleased to be clicking off about 10 lbs per month. Very pleased with him and all the care at Mayo Clinic and Hospital.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF DR. SWAIN WAS KIND OF CONCERNING BUT HE SEEMED VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. AFTER THE INITIAL FIRST FEW MINUTES MY COMFORT LEVEL WAS A LITTLE BETTER. HE IS VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD BUT I LIKED THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS SURGERY WOULD BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR ME. HE GAVE ME SOME HOMEWORK AND TOLD ME TO HANG IN THERE. I WOULD TELL HIS FUTURE PATIENTS TO JUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS OKAY TO BE SCARED OR APPREHENSIVE, I WAS AND IT IS TOTALLY NORMAL. HE IS VERY THOROUGH WHICH IS GREAT. HE TOLD ME UP FRONT ABOUT THE RISKS BUT ALSO SAID THAT WITH SOMEONE LIKE ME THE BENEFITS OUTWAY THE RISKS. I FEEL HIS SURGICAL COMPETENCE COULD BE SOMEWHAT BETTER THAN HIS BEDSIDE MANNER BUT THAT IS OKAY BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER HAVE A GREAT DOCTOR THAT KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING THAN A DOCTOR WHO HAS A GREAT BEDSIDE MANNER AND DOES A BAD JOB WITH MY SURGERY. I AM SURE HE IS BOTH BUT I HAVE ONLY BEEN AROUND HIM ONCE AND I DID SMILE MOST OF THE TIME!!

My first impression of Dr. Swain was that of a very caring professional. He and the resident, Dr. Rodgriguez, that I met with were very candid about the surgery and the expectations that they have of myself as well as the outcome of the surgery. He made it very clear that he is simply the surgeon and can't be responsible for the choices that I make after his work is done.

I liked very much that he didn't belittle me for having allowed myself to get in to this situation. What I liked least about him, so far anyway, is how little time I have gotten to spend with him asking questions and the like. I haven't spent a great deal of time with Dr. Swain, so my opinion may change. I don't think so, at this point, but one never knows.

I don't know much about the aftercare program that Dr. Swain has. I do know that he sees the patient at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, one year and two years post op, and of course any other time there might be complications or requests on the patient's part.

He addressed the risks of the surgery in a very straightforward manner. He didn't come off unconcerned about my fears, but didn't seem like he had a great deal of time the day I met with him. I think partly due to the fact that I work in the healthcare field, he may have expected that I might comprehend things a little more quickly than some others might.

I think surgical competence is much more important than bedside manner. However, Dr. Rodriguez makes up for what Dr. Swain might lack in bedside manner.