L. Michael Howell Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.
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I was nervous of course, but everything went great for the initial visit. He had about four people hoping to have surgery in a group meeting and explained a whole bunch. Then later in the afternoon I met with him individually. He had a student with him which was ok with me. His staff was friendly. There is so much paper work for this type of surgery. Dr. Howell is doing this surgery because he wants to. I really felt like he cared and also that he is very good and experienced at WLS.
I agree with what I wrote, but have had many months of pain and vomitting that I feel he has not helped me with. I am so tired of doctors telling me to eat off smaller plates or chew more. I have been doing that. I have been misurable for months. Dr. Howell is a good doctor, but I am frustrated and feel he has let me down and minimized the complications. I am now having trouble with low blood pressure, low energy, and think it will take me getting very sick before getting help. This is unfortunate.
Well this happened. I got really sick. I felt doctor Howell wasn't helpful. He said he didn't know why I was having the problems I was having. he did arrange for some testing and procedures. They were not conclusive to being the reason for my symptoms. I got a second opinion at the Mayo clinic and am glad I did.
My impression of Dr. Howell is that he does care or he wouldn't have been in this business for so long. I also believe that I have had months of complications and he didn't listen to me telling him so. Also in my opinion he treated me with blame the patient attitude and really let me down.
His clinic nurse has always been kind and helpful.
************Please read************** Doctor Howell often preforms a vagotomy along with his wls. I would recommend people to do a search on the internet on gastroparesis. According to what I have read, having a vagotomy can have a potential complication of this afterwards. I am not an expert and I do not know statistics. I just ask people to please be informed and educate yourself on potential benefits and risks prior to having surgery and a vagotomy. ***************
Dr. Howell is an excellent surgeon! I was impressed with his ability to talk candidly with me regarding this surgery. He has wonderful support staff who are prompt in returning phone calls and no matter how busy they are, they are always pleasant and friendly. Dr. Howell has a great success rate with this surgery and I have no qualms about putting my health in his hands. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a surgeon in the Fargo/Moorhead area.
Mr first impression of Doctor Howell was that he knew just what he was doing, and he cared about those that he operated on. He was very supportive to me and explained everything the best he could. He also calmed my nerves over another weight loss surgery I had 15 years ago which was a disaster and ended in another surgery after just 5 months. He explained in detail what happened and what he could do. He was very upfront and honest and dispite my past expeareance he thought he really could help me. When I seen Dr Howell I was on toms of insulin for my diabetes which was way out of controle, was on lipator and high blood preshure pills, was on blood thinners for having blood clots in my lungs twice, I also had two back surgerys and knew I was heading for number three, plus a bumb knee. To top all of this off I weighed 336 pounds and am a single parent mom to a daughter who has a muscular dystrophy and is confined to wheelchair. I could barely move myself let alone help her. With all these problems Dr Howell and his staff were wonderful! He has an assistant, Cindy who has had the gastric by-pass herself and who is supportive as well as his nurse Bobbie. Bobbies personality made me feel as if I had known her in years. They are all profeshionals, the first apointment you have is after all the paper work is cleared. You go through a class with the dietishion, Cindy and Dr Howell. They go over everything and also encourage questions. COnstant aftercare reminders were given and it was stressed that this is only a "TOOL", not a cure. My surgery went as planned with just a few bumps in the road. All in all I am healing up really fast, feel great and still have a lot of support from Dr Howells office with phone calls to see how I am doing and reminders to get enough protien and to make sure I am taking the recommended vitemens. Dr Howell told me the risk for most people with this surgery is 1.5 %, but in my case with my heath and past problems it would be increased to areound 3%. He has never lost a patient and has done over 3,500 surgerys in close to 30 years. Very willing to ask any question. I would give all the team 100%!!! they are all great. He seems a little craby at first, but once you see him he is very nice, he does not suger coat anything.
I met with Dr. Howell on 4/10/02. He impressed me as being a very professional person. He was excellent at explaining the surgery and risks. There is a monthly support group available that he recommends I begin attending prior to surgery. He was quite serious and focused but warm and open to all questions. I believe his surgical competence is unquestionably excellent and as far as bedside manner I appreciate his ability to make me feel quite comfortable about the surgery. He doesn't smile much but perhaps just extremely busy???
6/7/03 Dr. Howell is an excellent surgeon and I had no complications from surgery. Overall on a scale of 1 to 10 in the areas of competency and bedside manner I would rate him a 10. I have seen Dr Howell twice since surgery and will see him again for follow up in July. Looking forward to it.
Very professional, very knowledgeable and a generally nice guy. Has been doing this since FOREVER, helped found the Bariatric Board of whatever ... his credentials are impressive and he's NEVER lost a patient to WLS. I would highly reccomend him to anyone. When ya want the best, he'd be it.
November 16, 2002
Wow, can't believe I didn't update this more. Dr. Howell is great. He's very professional, you can tell he really cares about what he does. He has never lost a patient and has been doing this for something like 25 years. If you are going to have this done, get him. It's the best decision you could ever make.
March 2, 2002
I met with Dr. Howell yesterday for my offical surgical consult. He was very nice. He answered 2 1/2 pages of questions that I had and added other pertinent information. He explained everything I needed to know. I am very happy and feel very confident having him operate on me.
His office staff was great. The first person I spoke with was Kari, a nurse. I guess she's fairly new (5 months) but she knew her stuff and was a real sweetheart. The Physician's Assistant is Cindy. She was okay. Not warm and cozy but very matter of fact. She answered a lot of questions and did the actual exam. She will assist him in the operating room.
Overall I would give Dr. Howell an A+, the nurse and A+, and the PA an A.
January 30, 2002
I had the privelege of meeting Dr. howell at a Gastric Bypass meeting on January 30th. He is GREAT. Answered a TON of question from everyone who was there, spoke for almost two hours. His staff is very nice and one person has even had WLS in her past, back in 1985 and looks great. Very professional. He has been doing this surgery for 25 years and has never lost a patient.
3/31/03
I haven't met Dr. Howell yet but have started the process by calling his office and requesting a consultation. They are sending a packet of information for me to complete and return. The receptionist also advised me that this will be a long process with Dr. Howell, from 9 months to a year. A close friend recommended Dr. Howell. She is scheduled for her surgery the end of June. I was pleased with the initial contact with Dr. Howell's staff. Kind, Courteous, Caring, Helpful...Great!
I'm so anxious to get moving on this journey. I realize I didn't get to this place overnight and the road back can be long. However, it will certainly be a shorter journey than the one that brought me here!