Last appt. before surgery!!

[angel96049 1]

Time is flying! It is finally tme for my last appointment with my doctor before my surgery on January 5th. I was wondering if you guys could help me out with any questions or concerns I should be asking about. I just want to make sure that I am prepared and I appreciate any help or advice!

[deedee 5]

I would just make sure you know what his/her requirements are on the post-op diet/exercise and Vitamins you will need to take due to pre-op blood work. I discovered that I was deficient in vit. D and also needed to add B-12; he also gave me the prescriptions for solutab prevacid (sp?) and suppositories for nausea.

Congratulations for making it this far, your day will be here before you know it!

[angel96049 1]

Thanks Deedee, I totally forgot about vitamins! I am also deficient in vitamn D, so I have been taking that along with a Multi-Vitamin. How long did you have to take all this? I'm terrible with pills!! Do you mind if I ask what is the prevacid for? I'm assuming heartburn, and if so is there something I might be able to buy over the counter if need be?

[deedee 5]

Angel,

The prevacid is for heartburn. I am not sure about otc, you should ask the doctor. I really liked the solutab one because you place it on your tongue and it dissolves. I took the vit. D and B12 until last month when the surgeon went over my labs. I then was above normal for both...he said he'd never seen anyone respond as quickly to treatment. I now have cut back on the b12 and completely cut out the vit. D until the new year, when I will begin back on it taking only 5,000 IUI's every other day (I was taking 10,000 per day per the hospital's directives).

[carolyn24seven 11]

Ask about post op med's for: diharrea. Constipation. nausea. pain. sleep. Vitamins. Protein.

Ask if there are OTC to use, or, if Dr. wants you on Rx meds for awhile to control any of the above.

Ask when you can start walking for exersize. How long, how much.

Ask for the number of a Dr. or nurse that will answer questions 24 hrs. a day post op. Note, just having the number is a huge mind relief. I never used mine at odd hours, I did use it during normal business hours twice.

[carolyn24seven 11]

I just thought of something I wished I had asked.

What size will my stomach be? or, what size brogee,(spelling) will Dr. use?

Titainium staples? Overstiching?

I do not know any of this about my VSG.

I assume the staples are titanium. I think 75% of my stomach is gone. I would now just like to know the facts and did not think to ask before surgery.

[angel96049 1]

Carolyn,

OMG you thought of some great things to ask, but I didn't get to read your post until after I got home from my appt., so I didn't get the chance to ask all these great questions. I think I might e-mail the nurse practioner and see if she might be able to answer some of them. Thank you!