Mills-Peninsula Health Services Hospital

I meet with Dr. Wetter @ Mills Penninsula on 2/13/01. I was referred to him by a friend who's had the surgery and have heard nothing but wonderful things!

I can't say anything but, she is awesome, I have'nt set a surgery date, but If all goes well Dr Foster will be my choice. She is very professional, and very informitive. She takes her time, and has a manner about her that makes you feel, she, and her staff, care about our fight with obesity. I can't wait to get approved!

Dr. Foster has been wonderful so far. She has done this surgery exclusively for a number of years, and is very concerned with the development of new habits that encourage long term sucess. She has a number of rules - she refuses to operate on anyone who smokes, and you MUST loose 10% of your body weight before the surgery. Aside from numerous medical tests (blood, sleep apnea, gallbladder, heart, chest), she encourages people to enter counciling before the surgery, and encourages a regimine of exercise. She performs two surgeries a week, at Stanford Medical Center, which is one of the country's best hospitals.

My first impression of Doc Wetter is that he is a very busy man and is going to make me wait. Something I hated, but that could easily be more me than him. Once I actually met him I was impressed by his skill and knowledge. He was able to get the approval on the first letter, so that impressed me alot. I have not seen him since that first meeting, but he is quite busy with post-op patients most likely.

His office staff was professional and made me feel well cared for and as for Terry, there is not alot I can say about her. How do you discribe someone that is so supportive, so helpful and so uplifting and effiecient that you feel a friend is helping you? She has been so patient with me, and I could not describe myself as easy to deal with. I have called her many times and she was always up and helpful and supportive. She is great, wonderful, and you would be lucky to have her as a surgery coordinator as I do. I for one could not be happier with her assistance ad supportive attitude. She was never irratated to hear from me, no matter how many times I called and no matter what the problem, she was there with the solution!

You could not do better than the team of Doctor Wetter and Terry. Everyone should have such a team on thier side through this.

They have a structured aftercare program, and many handouts to make sure that we are not lost in the shuiffle. Doc Wetter has taken the time to put up web pages and write reports to help us to understand the risks we are taking and the benefits. Considering we are 5 times more likely to die without the surgery than with it, I will take those odds! I am also doing everything I can to make sure that I am not one of the ones that gets killed by this, it is NOT going to happen. Sure it happens to someone, but since Doctor Wetter has never lost a patient EVER, I will take THOSE odds thank you!

Well I have little to judge Doctor Wetter against, but he was so helpful, listens and tells you what you need to know, I can't imagine anyone doing it better. They can only hope to match his fine example!

Surgical Competence is of the UTMOST neccesity. I dont care it the man is a troll, if he can do the surgery perfectly, what does it matter? Sure I would like a good bedside manner, but if you cant do teh surgery with excellent competency, he should not be doing it. I don't really know what he will be like at the bedside, I imagine he will be great, if the meeting earlier is any indication. The fact that he has never lost a patient speaks volumes about his compentency I would say.

The only negative it the waiting. I am inpatient, of cource I am, but who isn't after 20 years of being overweight. Now that I have decided that this step is needed, I want it done now. That is not a negative on Doc Wetter. He has patients that have been waiting longer than I have, and they have to come first. I understand that. And he is so good he has a dmand so great he is scheduling nearly 3 months ahead. That says he must be good or he could have taken me next week!:)

My initial appointment with Dr. Foster was on August 9, 2001. The staff at Stanford is awesome, very helpful and kind. Dr. Foster is VERY nice and extremely professional. She is adamant that her patients lose weight before surgery (nuts!), but hey, if it's in my best interest, then I'll do it.

9/21/01
My second appointment with Dr. Foster. My mom went along this time. She had the same impression as I did. Very caring, nice person, with my best interests in mind. Dr. Foster was thrilled that I had lost 15 of the 25 pounds. She pounded exercise into my head, and also wants me to keep track of the protein that I consume now. All right, all right. I'll exercise and count protein grams. What ever this woman wants, I'll do. I want this surgery!! Again, the staff is awesome. Nurses are sweet and Lorna is a doll.

10/26/01... had my pre-op with Dr. Foster. I was totally freaked that I had not lost enough weight. WooHoo!! I did. Went over the final prep's with Dr. Foster, then up to anesthesia department, to pre-register for next week. The people upstairs in anesthesia were awesome. Sweet, informative, helpful. I am so glad that I picked Stanford! I have one week to nibble on everything that I wont be able to have for the next couple of years. I don't want to gain a bunch of weight back, so I'm just tasting, not pigging out.

11/5/01... had my surgery! Woohoo! I went in Monday morning, and was home by Wednesday afternoon. I do have to admit, there was some pain in the hspital after surgery, and nausea. In fact, Monday night, I vomited blood. But, it was probably just stuff that built up after surgery. The barium swallow was hideous. And the transport staff (the people who push you around in the wheelchairs) were not prompt. I waited for almost an hour in the hallway after my swallow for someone to take me back to my room. And my IV was beeping the whole time because it was somehow twisted and not dripping correctly. But!! The last time I took pain meds was late Wednesday night. I am going to drive today, have some errands to run. Feel fine. Felt like I could have gone into work for a few hours on Thursday, but wisely stayed home. Don't want to push myself too much. Dr. Foster and her staff were wonderful. She has a great bedside manner and was so helpful. The nursing staff in the hospital were very very nice. Couldn't have asked for a better bunch.

He was very pleasant and understanding.
His office staff has been extremely friendly and helpful
He thoroughly addressed the risks though i had been to a seminar for another surgeon and had heard all the statistics. Will know better about his abilities after the surgery but he has a good reputation. I wasn't looking for a friend just an experienced talented surgeon. as near as i can tell he is one.

I liked Dr. Wetter from the first time I met him. His office staff is very friendly and easy to work with. He has a great aftercare program and a great support system through Mills-Pennisula Hospital. I honestly have had no problems with anything to do with his office.

First consultation scheduled on 4/11/01. Getting the appt. was very easy. I just called and they gave it to me. Anne Timberlake then emailed me with a questionnaire and I filled it out. She also sent me a packet of information that was very useful and informative. I recieved the packet the day after I called. You must attend a group meeting before you have the surgery. I will go to the April meeting because I'm busy on the date they are having it in March. 4/11- Met Dr. Wetter, nice and informative. See profile for more info. My opinion of Dr. Wetter just gets better and better, he is highly respected by his patients and I haven't heard one word against him from all the people I've met in his support groups. He even attended the support group meeting on his own time one month to answer questions for us. That is dedication. 10/17-- Dr. Wetter is perfect. He's a master surgeon and follow up program is great. You can pick him with confidence. Dr. Wetter will be my choice for my own daughter when she is ready for this surgery--and I am a way-over-protective mother!

Dr. Pamela Foster is GREAT! I really enjoyed our visit. She is very pleasant and informative.She loves what she is doing to help people and seems to care a great deal about you personally.
Her staff is very efficient and caring. I had a good experience with my first visit to Dr. Foster and her staff.

I haven't actually met the man yet, but I have heard and read great things. Today I emailed Anne Timberlake his Surgical Coordinator, and she does the initial screening at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center. So I get to wait about 5 days for her to call or e-mail me back about being a candidate for surgery. Keep your fingers crossed.
9-20-01--Well I met Dr.Wetter in August at my intial consult and all I can say is I think he is great. My first impression was that he definately knows his stuff. He came in the room all smiles asked how long we had been married (my hubbie was with me) and make some joke about the "seven year itch". He asked about my diet and medical history, my eating habits, sleep issues, and basically my life in general. He explained the whole proceedure to me, what to expect, complications that may arise, how much weight I could expect to lose. He stessed that it is basically up to the patient to make this work and that you must follow all of his instructions and not try to "doctor" yourself. His office staff was great I like everyone I came in contact with. I can't say that there is really anything I don't like about him. He stressed that after care is a must and that joining a support group is extrememly helpful and infact there is one at the hospital he does his surgery at and it is one of his requirements that you attend at least one of these meetings prior to your surgery. As for rating him I give a big 10 in my book. I think he is extremely knowledgable and has a great bedside manner, and both are extremely important to me. The only thing negative I can say is that I was kept waiting for a long time in the waiting room and sometimes he talks to you like you have no clue, but I think that is because he want to make sure you understand everything.