Leo Davidson Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

I was totally at ease with Dr. Davidson. He had performed Gallbladder surgery on me in the past. He is completely honest and caring. You can see this immediately. My impression of him has remained the same. His office staff is wonderful. I cannot say enough good things for Melinda and Christy!!
His aftercare program is wonderful. He will leave no stone unturned. I would trust Dr. Davidson with any and all aspects of my care. He supports our support group as well.Wonderful experience. He has changed my life forever. I can never thank him enough!!!! I can say that I am completely honest in saying I 100% satisfied.

Update: 9/24/02

My NEW surgeon is Dr. Davidson of Fayetteville, N.C. I seen him on the 9/5/02.
He seem really nice and very informed. A good friend recommemded him. Anyway at least I am home with the surgery instead of in Wilmington, N.C. Their office is of course State-of-the Art. There was no wait once I got there. So, don't expect to have to be there all day like at other places. Maybe just 1 or 2 hours. But there is alot of paper work to fill out. Maybe a phone to them and the will send it out to you before your visit. Otherwise bring all your info with you. You will have to also go to Health Plex a division of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for a exercise program before surgery. It is only $55 for 6 weeks @3 times a week. (your insurance may pay for it they will file it to them) It is truly a wonderful place (brand new). He is doing the Lap Rny now. He is one of the TOP surgeons in town. He wants you to see a dietician,and have chest x-ray, pulinmary test, EKG, blood tests before surgery. But all this can be done durning the time before surgery usally about 4 to 5 weeks later. It will help to have your PCP do things ahead of time like my did. Your surgery date could be sooner. But, I picked my own date of 10/14/02. Will update later! This has been a long road for me I started this in June of 2001. Below is some of my old story.


My appointment date is Jan. 16,2002. Just around the corner. I will follow up afterwards.


01/25/02


Well, my husband and I went to Wilmington to see Dr. O. This was a Wednesday and I understand that is new patient day. There were no parking spaces available, so we parked accross the street at another Dr's office. Hope they didn't mine (they didn't seem to need the space).

I live about 1 and 1/2 hours from the office. The office building was very beauitful, big, and very clean. The staff was very nice, helpful, and very busy. Expect to be there 3 or more hours. I got there @ 10:30am, my appointment was @ 11am. I left between 1:30 and 2pm.

Bonnie (she has had the surgery and looks great)comes around in the waiting area to talk to you about your insurance and what they require for approval or need to be considered for the operation. My insurance is CIGNA HEALTHCARE OF N.C. They require that you have been under a supervised diet by your PCP Dr. Just so happens I have been.

So, Bonnie wanted that Fax to her from my Dr. and also labs that I have done lately that include Thyroid test results.

A nurse name Pam called me the day before my appointment to get some history from me. She was very nice. She was also the one that weigh me in, took by blood pressure, and all.

When you go make sure you take your medication with you. Also, prior to going take time to set down and write all the diets, time frame you were on them, dates, weight loss, weight gain back, (yes or no) under a doctor's care or on your on, and a list of what is going on with you health wise. I wish I had done this because my mind just went blank. It will make filling out the paperwork alot easier.

Dr. O was nice and in a hurry (but he sees alot of patients). He asked me a few questions and was very serious. He is very professional. I liked him alot. Then he gives a class on what kind of surgery he does, aftercare, and what you can expect. Then he will answer all your questions. He will then introduce his nurse Sara, she was nice and answered lots questions too.

Sara seems to think that my insurance is pretty good. She claims that there has not been any problems with CIGNA. I hope she is right about that. It's makes me feel better anyway. But I hear UNITED HEALTH CARE is a different story. BLUE CROSS and BLUE SHEILD requires bloodwork to done and sent to them.

If you miss your appointment expect to wait 3 to 4 months for a reschedule(I waited 4 months for my first appointment). So don't cancel for any reason. Talk to Rosa about appointments she is very nice.

My overall expereince was great. I am real excited about this surgery and what it can do for my life. Wish me LUCK! I will update again as soon as I hear something new to share!

Update: 2-21-02
I call Bonnie this morning (after waiting 5 weeks like Dr. O suggested) she said she had may paperwork in front of her and was senting it to my insurance company (CIGNA) today. Hurray! Hurray! She said see didn't see any problems in my getting approval. Hope she it right. I will start calling the insurance company next week to make sure they got it like Bonnie suggested. Update later!

Update: 9/24/02

I had to change surgeons due to hospital problems in Wilmington, N.C. I had no problems with insurance changing surgeons either. Cigna has been great so far! Finally 3 weeks to go for sure! Surgery is scheduled for 10/14/02!


Update: 10/12/02

Well my surgery has been put off for 7 more days until 10/21/02. Not too bad! But disappointed. My surgeon's assistant had to be out-of-town. Maybe it will happen this time.

I liked Dr. Davidson very much, was open and honest explaining the proceedure using a diagram. I have been researching this process for a while and he told me things I was not aware of. It made me feel very secure in his ability.
Not to mention that other folks I know who have recently have had surgery performed by him are just his biggest fans.
Office was very spacious, modern and the staff was very caring, his PA, sorry I dont remember her name was very good also. I was almost missed it was around the noon hour and the staff thought they had seen everyone, but they remedied the situation and I was able to get in and out in no time.
The scheduling staff was great letting me know how things will go. They were able to get me into the next round of my insurance co's lifestyle management program so i can start on my journey.

Dr. Davidson's office has been fabulous. They've helped me so much I can't say enough about them. He and the other doctors in his practice haven't been doing the surgery long. Maybe since March, I think it is. They're extremely knowledgable though and have had wonderful success with the patients they've done.
We've had 3 meetings and called me twice.
I couldn't ask for a better doctor.

On the day I should be having surgery 7-18-02 I am now seeing my new surgeon on the same day. Hopefully I will be having surgery soon.
I met with my new surgeon on July 18th. It went really well. I had heard him speak three times at my support group meetings. I was told by my first surgeon I probably wouldn't qualify for Laproscopic Surgery but Dr. Davidson says it is his expertise and he did one on a 463 pound women last week and she is doing great. Dr. Davidson does alot more pre-op testing which I really do appreciate. So hopefully I will be having surgery within the next month.

Dr. Davidson is a very caring and confidence inspiring doctor. Excellent recommendation to anyone in the Fayetteville area considering surgery.

Dr Davidson is very professional, and I liked him. As for his office staff, I am going to withhold opinion on that at this time. He answered all my questions, and I felt he was very competent. I had done most of my research in advance, and had everything ready for his office to get approval from Blue Cross and Blue Shield. I felt his insurance secretary and I did not hit it off very well, and that was disappointing. I will update on this later as everything progresses.

8/7 I go to visit Dr. Davidson again tomorrow. At the last visit, everything went wonderful. I was one week post-op and had lost 19 lbs. He is such a doll! He answered all my questions, and did not make me feel that he was in any hurry. He also had some great suggestions, and informed me that they are in the process of working something out with the local restaurants, so that gastric bypass patients can eat from the childrens menu. That would be great! I think one of the most embarrassing things about this is having to explain why you are not eating your meal to the waitresses and waiters. I am really looking forward to being able to have childs portions, and I think it is so thoughtful of him to do this for his patients.

I think, the more I get to know hime, the friendlier he becomes. I am soooooooo glad we are hitting it off, since he will become such an intricate part of my life

Very friendly. Listens attentively. Addressed all of my concerns. I highly recommend him. He has a wonderful bedside manner as well as being very competent.
My only problem was the care I received in the hospital. The nursing care was horrible. After the surgery, I spoke to several RNY patients who had similar complaints while at Highsmith Rayney Memorial Hospital (CFVMC) in Fayetteville NC. These issues have been addressed in the past with the staff to no avail unfortunately. I just thank GOD that my family and friends were there to assist me in my time of need.

dr davidson impressed me to be a calm and determined man.i need calm in my life and also he cares about me as a person in reguards to my health.he listened and was attentive to my thoughts and my concerns.his staff is wonderful especially melinda and susan. im glad i found them....aftrcare is something that dr davidson focused on.they will be with me at every stage.he explained he will be my dr forever and his staff will always be there for help.there will be appts. for blood work/dietician for concerns i have over the yrs.counseling is encouraged if needed.i dont know all about aftercare but will continue update others when i find out more.after my surgery which is july 31st i will be able to tell you about cape fear valley medical center and the outcome of my surgery.