Questions you wish you asked before surgery?

[Papillon 7]

I have my second to last weigh in tomorrow morning. I have few basic questions... are they any questions you wish you would have asked before surgery?

[cwalker 12]

What size bougie..I still don't know. lol Good Luck!

[SParkle 4]

Hi there

I asked the following - compiled from a list that I got from Tiffykins and various others and also some I thought of myself thru sheer curiosity. Some they answered during their talk about the procedure, and the rest I asked afterwards.

You can never have too much information - its a big decision to make.

Pre Op /The Op

If self pay - What does your fee involve?

Is there some follow up care thrown in there, like labs at 3,6,9 and 12 months?

Pre op diet – what to eat/drink and how long for?

Do I get a nutritionist/psychologist?

What size bougie is used?

Do you oversew the staple line?

How many incisions do you make?

Do you go in thru previous scars?

How many nights in the hospital – is there facility for someone else to stay in my room as well?

How many leak tests do you do?

How many sleeves have been performed?

Complication/leak stats? How many if any deaths?

Is the hospital equipped an ICU and blood bank in case of complications?

If complications do happen to occur, are these complications/additional surgery/days in hospital covered by the original quoted price of the surgery?

Would you remove my gall bladder at the same time if needed?

Can you give me some patient testimonials or do you have any before/after pictures of your patients that I could read/look at?

Is it standard operation procedure, ie: no nail polish, no body jewellery?

Do I need to stop taking any particular medication pre op? (Take a list of what you take and dosage)

Post Op

How often are the post op check ups?

Where are they? – is price included?

What supplements/anti acid drug would I need to take?

Do I need labs done post op?

Post op diet?

How much weight would I loose?

What if I loose too much, how to maintain?

Do you use heparin?

[imblessed333 0]

Where are the answers to these questions?

[LovinLife 0]

Thank you Sparkle! I have my first consultation with the surgeon tomorrow and this is a great list!

[Papillon 7]

Thank you so much Sparkle!! Dr. Podkameni was very easy to talk to and willing to answer all of my questions. He uses a 40 oz bougie. He also oversews on the staples and has 0% leakage. It was really helpful to have these questions, I realized when reading them that I had wanted to ask several of them but in the month between weigh-ins they slipped my mind.

Oh I also found out that I will get to speak to the Anethesiologist 2 1/2 weeks before the surgery. I am going to talk to him/her about using a smaller tube if possible to lessen the amount of friction on my vocal cords.

Edited June 10, 2010 by Papillon

[imblessed333 0]

Okay I will print these questions out and take them with me to my doctor. Thanks,

[imblessed333 0]

What is a bougie?

[Globetrotter 1,340]

Bougie is french for "candle" and my surgeon just calls it a French. I'm really glad I asked how many VSG's my surgeon has done, I was shy to ask it like I was questioning his abilities, but I'm glad I did it. Turns out he's done 900, sounds good to me!

[imblessed333 0]

Where does the doctor use a candle at during surgery?

[imblessed333 0]

I asked my surgeon Tuesday how many had he had die from the surgery. He said none. Thank God

[pcindy 8]

Great question list, Sparkle!

[pcindy 8]

LOL! Don't fear- no candles used in surgery! A Bougie is: bou?gie / ˈboōjē; -zhē/ • n. (pl. -gies) Med. a thin, flexible surgical instrument for exploring or dilating a passage of the body. (some think the term is related to the French term, "bourgiosie," don't know why)The word French is used with many medical devices that are straw-like, with an internal lumen (opening). The number correlates with it's size, ie: a "32 French" is larger than a "28 French." I'm glad they're using a 32 for my VSG, although I hear some surgeons are using 28. I hope to God that my urinary catheter (Foley) is no larger than a 16!There's an answer from a nurse. Good luck!

[pcindy 8]

Trust your CRNA/ Anesthesiologist. There usually isn't a lot of friction on the vocal cords (but if you're a singer, just let them know). Remember, the larger the ETT (endotracheal tube), the easier it is to ventilate you. Most sore throat or hoarseness is temporary (if you have any at all), but having brain tissue well perfused and oxygenated trumps all...

[SParkle 4]

Great question list, Sparkle!

Thanks - I just kept making notes of things I wanted to know, and questions from this board as well when I was researching it all....

:001_tongue: