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Thomas Umbach
"My first impression of Dr Umbauch came when he firmly shook my hand and looked at me directly in the eye for a full 3 seconds. His interview of me was not extensive. He asked me a few questions off the questionair I completed and gave to his receptionist. I wasn't sure what he wanted to hear from me when he asked "Why do you want this surgery?" I told him. But, I got the distinct impression he had heard it before. I did not want to be just another of the same old song so I elaboreated. He really perked up and became quiet animated when I shared with him something a WLS group leader shared with me.I told him she told me that getting ready for WLS is just like preparing for an athletic event or competition. Then I proceeded to tell him how I was preparing. The thing I liked least about him was the way his eyes glazed over while I talked, like he was looking at something in his head and not focused on me.His receptionist was helpful, patient and understanding(I was 20 minutes late.) My advice to anyone comming from Fairfield to South San Francisco for a 9 a.m. appointment is to leave 2 1/2 hours early. Traffic is awuful. Dr. Umbach asked me if I had questions and I said no because most of my questions have been answered by this site and the bariatric surery team at Kaiser. He asked if I knew the differnce between lap and open. I told him what I knew. He had me stand up and he touched me up and down. He concluded my fat was evenly distributed all over and that lap would be good for me. I asked him who would be doing that surgery on me. I'm not sure but I think he got a little miffed at that and even more so when I asked him if he had done lap before. He then explained that bariatric surgery was his field of expertise and he had done lap before at some other place. He warned me that there are risk and that I could die. I told him I knew that. He did not mention aftercare but I will see him again about a week before surgery he said. "

Susan Weiss
"I got the impression that the discussion we had was more a formality than really informational. Perhaps I felt that way because I had read nearly all the things on the check list before on this site. It surprised me that at the end of us going over the "What to expect as a WLS patient" sheet she asked me if I promised to adhere to the guidlines we just discussed. Like it was a done deal. I did not know that corn and rasins were no-nos post-op. She asked me "If you were stranded alone on a desert island and you could have any one food dish what would it be?" Hummmm-I's trying to figure out what kind of and why that question. She was quite concious of making me comfortable. She stood unitl my wide hips were placed in her litte guest chair with handels. She said another chair could be bought in if it were not comfortable. Some might think that insulting but I feel it considerate because most slim people are oblivious to the chair with arms problem with which fat people have to contend. "

I. Souza
"Ms. Souza was very personable. I think I expected her to be adversarial but she appeared to be feeling her way along just as I was. She read some questeions off a sheet like "Are you depressed? Do you have a support group? Are you addicted to illegal or prescriptions drugs? How do you handel anger? Do you get along with your child? Is your job stressful? Tell me about your history of dealing with weight loss." She was unable to answer the one WLS question I asked her. She said no one had ever asked her what would happen if too much weight was lost. She told me to see my PCP next and then asked me if I would be upset if this WLS process stretched out over a long period of time? Of course I replied that it would be best for me if all the steps were consecutive and prompt. "
About Me
Fairfield, CA
Location
41.1
BMI
RNY
Surgery
05/22/2003
Surgery Date
Apr 21, 2002
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
367lbs
I look and feel like a differnt person. A better person.
239lbs
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