"Great surgeon, bedside manner questionable. I had the route-en-y gastric bypass surgery on November 23, 2009. I don't feel he kept me in the loop about realistic recovery expectations. I was under the original impression that I would be feeling fine and be able to return to work 2 weeks post-op. In reality it took about 1 month for me to be able to feel good enough to work and to eat without throwing up. The most pain I suffered was attributed to the drainage tube which I had in for a little over 2 weeks. He asked me to come in 1 week post-op to remove the drains. I was really excited to get those removed, since they were so painful. My drainage was too high for him to remove it that day, so he asked me to come back. I asked if I would need my mom to take off work to bring me or could I drive myself. He assured me I could drive myself, and I would be feeling much better once he removed my drain. When I came back, he readmitted me and did not tell me what his concerns were or what he was hoping to accomplish with my hospitalization. I was under observation for 1 day and then released. He did cover the hospitalization costs and the charge for a taxi home the next day which was a great relief. I'm sure that admitting me was just a precaution to verify that I didn't have a leak or any other surgical problem. I just felt ill-informed and scared about the whole experience. I came back in to get my drain removed after another few days. I first uploaded a review shortly before going in for my 1 month post-op check-up. I had my blood work updated and wanted to know how I was progressing, and if I was deficient in any essential vitamins or minerals. Dr. Spivak came in to see me and didn't refer to my recovery, progress or nutritional needs. Instead he pressured me to take my review off of the web. I was so uncomfortable during the whole meeting, that I never again visited his office. I removed my review of him from the website. Even though I paid $18,600 cash for this surgery, which included 1 year of follow-up visits, I have not gone back. Beyond that, his office has never called to request a follow-up appointment. I have lost 75 pounds in the 19 months since the surgery. In the end, I felt that the doctor regarded me as a dollar sign or one more procedure under his belt…not a person. I have never felt right about being asked to remove the review of my experience with this doctor from the web site. I have since reconsidered and felt that others should have the benefit of seeing good and bad experiences that patients have had with this doctor, regardless of what the doctor does to try to squelch the critical reviews. Overall my surgery was a success and this surgeon has an excellent track record for successful surgeries of this kind. "
