25 yr Experience
9 yr in Bariatrics
75% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 21
Max Age of Patient is 60+
25 yr Experience
9 yr in Bariatrics
75% Practice is Bariatrics
Min Age of Patient is 21
Max Age of Patient is 60+
Dr Sonpal was very nice and easy to talk to. Office staff has been very helpful and friendly. The seminar was helpful and I really enjoyed meeting people there and listening to their stories. I no longer feel so alone!
I really researched this procedure and have talked to several friends who have had this surgery and really feel this is for me. I now have hope!
I understand well the surgery and what will go on before and after and am willing to give this my all!
I met with Dr Sonpal a few weeks ago for the intial consult. He was nice but very rushed. Everything seemed like a routine but it was far from routine for me. It was 5 pm and there were several patients waiting to be seen. Everyone in the office was nice and most of my questions were answered during the educational session. I guess we all have the same questions so they know what are our concerns. I like the idea that 2 qualified surgeons are there for the surgery. Unfortunately, I am looking at a November or December surgery date. I was also told my BMI is too high, (over70) so I have to lose 50 pounds. He did act like it would not be hard to lose 50 pounds and I feel that was a little bit unrealistic. It will be very hard. I have heard very good things about his competence.
Office staff are nice but no one realizes, including the insurance company, that they hold your life in their hands. The wait time will be the roughest. We are desperate when we are seeking this treatment
There is an aftercare program but they only talked briefly about it
My rating overall would be good. I believe competence is most important and I believe he is competent. Patricia Choban in Columbus also in my opinion is competent but she does not take my insurance. I am hopeful his bedside manner is good. I don't anticipate any problems.
DR. Sonpal was very caring and had a funny sense of humor. He was very informative and answered all questions very fully. The office staff is very considerate and I felt very comfortable. The wait is long to get an appt. but I feel that St. Vincent's has a real committment to bariatric surgery and it shows in every thing they do and how they do it. The support pre and post surgery is very good. I am a nurse and have asked around and St. Vincent's has the best reputation in this area.
Originally Dr. Schreiber was the surgeon that I had picked, however Dr. Sonpal and Dr. Schreiber do all of their surgeries together. Wether you see Dr. Schreiber or Dr. Sonpal you are getting them both!!!
I felt that Dr. Sonpal was very pesonable and felt at ease talking with him. He went over all the important aspects of the procdure to make sure I knew just what was going to transpire. This was my first meeting with him so I'll reserve futher comment until I've had more contact.
At this point I'm pleased with Dr. Sopal.
I have heard only great things about Dr. Choban, I have not met with her yet, my first appointment is Feb. 8th 2001. I'll let you know what I think. WeIl the BTC in columbus was very nice but I decided to see Dr. Sonpal in Cleveland. I've heard so much about Dr. Sonpal that I want to talk to him. I have my first consultation with Dr. Sonpal on Feb. 28th, 2001. I heard he does the surgery a little bit different than other surgeons like when he connects the small pouch to the intestines, it is virtually leak proof. Everyone says he is the best, so I want to meet him and I'll let you know what I think. Well I've met with Dr. Sonpal and I know I've picked the best surgeon, he definately knows what he is doing and I feel good about him. my surgery date is set for July 13, 2001. My pre-op testing is June 29th. I am very excited and at the same time nervous about the operation. I can't wait for this whole operation to be over with so I can start my new life. I started buying my powdered protein drinks and vitamins, I'm starting to think about what I can have after the surgery.
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Well today is May l0,200l and I am on a waiting list so maybe I will go sooner than July 13th, I hope so. I am getting very anxious to start my new life.
I got to talk to Dr Sonpal and he was very nice seemed to know very well what I was going through.
The staff is very nice.
The staff and doctor were very informative on all aspect of before, during, and after surgery care, as well as the risks.
This is one of the best doctors I have talked to. - Dr Sonpal was very good through the hospital stay and my first visit wnet very well, he's very informative and the whole staff is very willing to answer any questions you have.
i had my first appointment at the cleveland bariatric center in march. everyone was very helpful, especially sherry. it's taken a few months to get my insurance approval straightened out, but i now have a date set fro oct 23rd, 2001.
dr. sonpal was great. he made me feel relaxed and he seemed to really listen. he had to interview an entire room full of us, but it seemed like he made a good impression on everyone.
i would have liked it if aftercare was discussed a bit more, but i think most of that is covered during the day of pre-admissions testing.
the center has what seems to be a good aftercare program and support meetings for pre & post- op.
My first impression of Dr. Sonpal is that he is a little guy. He was very nice and tried to lighten up the experience with humor. He said that he would remember my husband, but not me because of the rapid changes I will be going through.
His staff has been very patient and helpful to me. I have called them several times with questions and concerns and they have always returned my phone calls with helpful answers.
I attended an orientation before I met the doctor that described what we would be going through and touched on what follow up care would be like. I was disappointed with the thoroughness of the aftercare program. I felt that it needed to be more specific of what would take place, for example, how long would I be on soft foods, what type of vitamins do I need to take, what protein supplements are recommended, etc.
The thing that I loved about this program is the support groups and the clothing exchanges and the personal trainer that works with the bariatric patients on mondays.
Dr. Sonpal explained the risks of the surgery. I felt that he wanted me to be very informed. I took about 20 questions in with me and he answered them all. He has the best bedside manners and I feel he is extremely competent for performing the surgery. I also like the fact that Dr. Sonpal and Dr. Schriber perform EVERY surgery together. It's nice to have that extra set of hands helping out.
Please note that these are only my personal feelings about Dr. Sonpal. I would encourage anyone considering this surgery in the Cleveland, Ohio area to look into obtaining a consult with Dr. Sonpal or Schriber. They are from St. Vincent Charity Hospital.
I really liked Dr. Sonpal, he has a great sense of humor and I feel very comfortable with him. I did kind of feel like I was in a cattle call but I understand with all the people that want this surgey what do you expect. He didn't make me feel rushed and he did take the time to answer all my questions. Everyone in his office was wonderful, well there was one person that I felt could of been a little nicer but hey you can't have everything. All in all I feel I have made the right decision to have my surgery where I am having it and I have picked a great doctor.