I have always struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I have always been told by…read moredoctor's that I was obese, thank you for putting your doctorate to use by telling me something that I saw in the mirror this morning, I digress. Anyhoo, I have to say that the Center of Weight Management and the staff are so kind and professional. From the desk staff to the medical staff. They never make you feel as if you are bothering them, I can't tell you how many times I locked myself out of my patient account and had to have it reset and they did it with a smile every time. I was so ready to finally take this journey and they were all ready to take it with me. They had the nutritionist and physical therapist meet with me individually and it was great! They were just awesome to meet with and made sure I could contact them whenever I needed too. They also have psychologists on staff to help with any issues you might need to talk about but they also teach important courses prior and after your surgery, which is free to patients and a support person. Dr. del Mazo is an amazing surgeon. He makes you feel as if you are his only patient, I know he has many more, but I always felt as if I was his first priority. He visited me in the hospital after surgery and encouraged me to get out of bed and walk, he even challenged me and another patient to a contest ... she won darn it! But it was a great experience all around. There is so much more I could say but my boss is looking at me like i should get back to work. I swear they want me to work for my paycheck! Do yourself a favor, if you decide to take this journey walk with the Center For Weight Management At Gwinnett Medical Center they are the best!

Now that I'm post-op, it's time to spill the boiling hot tea all over the place. The first 6 mos…read more (waiting period due to insurance co.) were brutal. I got put through so many hoops to jump (nutrition visits, fitness eval) and it was a monthly thing for the nutrition visits. I was going through a divorce AND had just graduated from university all in one of those months and forgot I had a nutrition appointment one of those months because it was mentally chaotic for me considering what I was going through. My life had just been turned upside down and now I had to consider moving out and deciding whether to stay in GA for my new career or to get out of state (I chose the latter eventually). Note: I DID mention that I forgot that one appointment!!! So then when I showed up for the following month's appointment, I find out that some rat in the facility cancelled ALL of my upcoming remaining less-than 6 months worth of appointments without my consent and the attitudes of the front desk personnel at the nutrition/dietary center changed to negative and they started treating me like a juvenile delinquent with a lost cause. Mind you, I just graduated with a bachelor's degree and had been awarded for excellence in college. I'm not a mean person and I do value my time as well as others'. Well, long story short the clinic said they couldn't see me again until I talked with Miss Al'Nisa (one of the patient advocates) to resolve the issue for missing September's nutrition appointment. I kid you not, that lady approached me with one heck of a snappy attitude and said "You might as well just give up and start all over again with 6 months because you missed that one appointment." I stood up to her and said "Absolutely not! We are going to work through this." Had I not stood my ground, she would not have given me a form to give to my primary care doc to fill out (btw, that form got filled out easily and life went on just fine). This wasn't the first match I had with Al'Nisa. Some time prior to that day, I kindly (and professionally) asked her about helping me make sure my insurance company would pay for the surgery without them trying to pull a slick one on me in the last minute and refuse to pay for the surgery. Al'Nisa raised that snappy voice of her's again with me and outright refused to help me at all. If you even ask that lady for help, honey you are on your own. She doesn't do anything extra. That attitude of hers is toxic and I am so glad I demanded to have a change with patient advocates. Unfortunately, someone put her up to calling me again and by the attitude over the phone, I knew right away it was that snappy one again. I told her she had no business handling my case anymore. I got switched to Pedro for patient advocate and while he was much better, I guess he got the false rumor I am an idiot or something because he got smart with me on the phone one day and made assumptions and I called him out for it. Little did he know, I am going through a divorce and was in the process of packing up my house and things getting lost in the house because of the drama. Things happen, but that doesn't mean you get smart with me over the phone. Anyway, I made it pretty clear with this clinic I did not appreciate them going behind my back to cancel appointments just because I missed one appointment. Their attitudes toward you will change if you miss one day, so here's my advice to every single pre-op patient considering this clinic: 1. Hold this place accountable. You make sure you get a printout of your appointments for the clinic side (the side where you visit the nurses and surgeons) and the nutrition/dietary side) because if you miss one day, they will wipe out all of your future appointments without any notice to you and they genuinely do not GAF and I'm saying that nicely. You also make sure they did not cancel any of your appointments as well. 2. Go ahead and ask patient advocate for the nutrition/weight log that you give to your primary care provider to document for the month in case you miss one nutrition visit. (life happens, be prepared. Don't let them screw you over. NO you don't have to start all over again. They'll make you think that, but you need to put your foot down and stand up to them and say NO I am not starting over!!!) 3. Ask for Pedro as your advocate and your life will be with less bs attitude problems. He is more likely to work with you. 4. Do attend the pre-op meeting(s) if required for insurance purposes. They aren't painful or brutal. Just grin and bear it. 5. Buy at least 2 bags of Bariatric Advantage protein shake bags from them before your surgery date. They also sell the sample packs that come with a shaker bottle and tote bag, you're welcome! (less then $30) 6. Raj is amazing. If you end up having mental health appts with her, she's fantastic. Even if not required, I would highly recommend you visiting her at least once to talk about eating right and paying attention to your body.