Ihor Fedorak Bariatric Surgeon MD, FACS

1/26/04 - I'm now two weeks post-op, and just want to say how impressed I was with Dr. Fedorak during my stay in the hospital. After surgery, I found out that there was a minor complication during the procedure that caused me to start "spurting" a lot of blood. Dr. Fedorak not only took care of it, he did it in such a way that my surgery was still laparoscopic! I'm very impressed with his surgical skills - thanks, Dr. Fedorak!<p>

8/12/03 - I went in for my first meeting with Dr. Fedorak today. It went very well - he's a gregarious, open person who really seems to understand why people would want to have this surgery. What I really liked about him was his ability to move the conversation back and forth from providing technical details to listening with a sympathetic ear.

Dr. Fedorak was optimistic about my chances with the surgery, while also being quite firm regarding the requirements for success. He not only emphasized aftercare with him (immediately after surgery, 3 month checkup, 6 month checkup, 12 month checkup, and yearly after that), but the need to meet with the nutritionist and everyone else I need to to ensure a true lifestyle change. Very nice.

Dr. Fedorak did a good job of covering the risks associated with surgery; he also did a good job of explaining that his focus will be on safety, not just getting the job done. I'm feeling much more comfortable with the idea of surgery, since he really seems to know what he's doing.

So that's where I'm at. I'm now to wait for a call from his office to start scheduling the psych evaluation, nutritionist evaluation, etc (already have a sleep apnea study scheduled). The next time I see him will be right before the surgery (if I'm approved, of course!). On what I've seen today, I would recommend Dr. Fedorak to any in the Colorado Springs area.

My first experience with anyone asociated with Dr. Fedorak was during the orientation for wls. Barb was the nurse who takes care of all of the wls patients and runs the orientation. I attended the orientation the first week in July and found it to be very informative and very well run. I was a little surprised that I was the only male in attendance but it was kind of funny being in a room where I felt normal for once. I set up an appointment for the next week with the surgeon and left feeling like this was going to be a long drawn out process.
The second week in July I met with Dr. Fedorak for my initial consultation and I can say that I enjoyed the hour or so we spent talking about the surgery and I left feeling very confident that I will be under the best care possible. I found him very easy to talk with and felt that he respected my decision and understood all my reasons for wanting to go through with it. I left very happy and was told just to wait for information on my psych and rd appointments.
About two weeks later I recieved a packet of forms to fill out along with dates for my psych on August 20 and my rd on the 28th. I made it through both and found out on the way to my rd appt that I had been approved through my insurance company. Barb called me later that day and we set up an appt with Dr. Fedorak on Sept 11 to set a surgery date and to expect the date to be in mid October. Now I have a sleep test on Tuesday Sept 2nd and a gall bladder ultrasound on Sept 8th. Then to the doc on Sept 11th to set the date. Overall a painless and worry free experience so far. Barb is really on the ball and I thank her for getting everything taken care of for me. I never even contacted my insurance company or had any hassles at all.

I've had my initial consultation with Dr. Fedorak. He was wonderful. My first impression was that he is thorough and focused on making sure you have enough information to make an informed decision. He was also very willing to listen and spent a good 45 minutes to 1 hour with me. I've had interaction with the insurance nurse, Barb. Initially, I found her to be very knowledgeable and helpful. I do think, now, that she may be a bit overburdened as she is not quick to relay information or return phone calls. Stay involved in the approval process 100%, and you may not be as frustrated as I was. Aftercare is really important and required! Dr. Fedorak is very confident and well-versed and his bedside manner was amazing. Just my opinion, however, at this point, I do recommend Dr. Fedorak and his staff.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF DR. FEDORAK HE WAS VERY ATTENTIVE,VERY EXPRESSIVE,AND WAS PRECISE IN HIS BRIEFING.STAFF WAS HELPFUL.

I think that Dr Fedorak is very supportive. He was there for me when I was scared of my very first surgery.

I recommend Dr Fedorak to anyone who asks.
The program they have set up is great, aftercare is there also.

Dr. Fedorak was very nice, he spent alot of time explaining procedure. Answered all my questions. I would highly recommend him. His office staff was very nice and very effecient. Nothing negative to say. After care is an emphasis. This isn't an easy way out.

When I got to CSSA in May, I was not initially scheduled to see Dr. Fedorak, but was informed I had been switched to him. It was a great first encounter! He and I clicked pretty well. We are about the same age. I had a million questions and he answered all of them beyond my satisfaction. He is very straightforward and honest. He told me the good, bad, and ugly. He spent at least 2 1/2 hours with me. I talked, he listened. He talked, I listened. I really "fell for him" when he told me to stop appologizing for who I was and how I was because obesity is not a character flaw. Amen! I also asked him why he would want to do this type of surgery...was it because someone he loved and/or cared about was fat or what?! I loved his response, which I felt was truly sincere. He said that if I had gone to him years earlier, he would have probably treated me with the same attitude every doctor I have ever encountered had had toward someone of my size. But, he said, after joining the staff of CSSA, he began to watch the patients that were coming in before and after the other surgeons had done the procedure on them and he realized it was as great a joy as bringing a new life in the world. He said what greater joy could he get from medicine than to be able to give someone there life back! Is that beautiful or what?!?!? He has taken personal time and attention with me, and when my initial surgery had to be postponed because we found I had anemia the evening before I was supposed to go in, he really cared about how devastated I was and took charge of further testing I needed to rule out causes of the anemia. I feel that he has cared about me, the person, since the very beginning and the bond has just strengthened as I have traveled along the rod to my new beginning. His staff, Barb and all of the gals, have been absolutely wonderful to me, even when I have been frustrated and upset because of the obstacles and ordeals of getting everything done. It has taken longer than I though or wanted, but as I look at it now, I realize it is all for a reason and will work out.

He was sweet, and comforting. He made me feel like a person. A valued person. His office staff was pleasant, but not as nice as my first impression of him. They could be friendlier to first time patients. I was intimidated, but he put me right at ease. One of his nurses however, when explaining the procedures was a tad condesending to me. I am a well educated adult, quite familiar on how I got to be obese, she made me feel small. He emphasized aftercare as we dont just do your surgery and then never speak to you again, we care about our patients and want to have follow ups etc. He did address the risks associated with this surgery but was careful to point out that they take steps in trying to be pro active in preventing most of them. I would rate Dr.Fedorak as an A+ in patient care. I'll reserve the second half until after the surgery but for now he has my vote. I was shocked when i walked out of my first appointment. I was relaxed and looking forward to seeing him again.

Dr. Fedorak was very easy to talk to and answered my few questions that I had. I had researched everything before I had my initial consultation with him so I was well aware of the program and surgical risk, etc.

Barb the insurance lady spent time with me and discussed getting insurance approval, getting appointments for psych eval. etc. scheduled

I met with Dr. Fedorak and was totally at ease. You can tell that he enjoys his work greatly.