What did you ask your surgeon?

[sexyjimenez 23]

Hi, all... I have my last appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Mitchell Roslin @ Lenox hill this coming Tuesday. Wednesday I have my pre op work done then I have surgery on the 8th.

I am preparing a list of questions and I can really only come up with 2.

1) Fatality Rate

2) Leakage Rate

I was wondering what questions you would or have asked?

Thanks

[Biellita165 28]

I asked about the leaks too. How many has he had. How long since the last one, how did he treat it. What did he think was the problem. Who is his assistant.

[Skinnypie 66]

Other than mortality rate, I also asked:

How/when will the leak test be done? (I had 2 done before leaving the hospital)

How will he close the incisions (i.e. sutures, glue etc)

How long before TTC? ( one of my main reasons fir surgery was fertility)

Good luck!!!

[JackieV 246]

I asked tons of questions...

Besides their stats on leaks/death I asked the following.

Is the surgeon around after hours if a leak is found at the ER?

If he thinks the sleeve is right for me?

Hospital stay?

If they use a drain?

Size they use, since it can be anywhere from a 28-40?

How long before I can pick up my kids?

What has he seen as far as complications and their protocol?

How much weight I should expect to lose?

If they allow gas X and mouth spray post op?

If they do a leak test?

I know I asked a lot more but I don't have the paper in front of me.

[sexyjimenez 23]

Wow awesome suggestions! Thank you all

[TheCurvyJones 721]

I asked about pain management both during the hospital stay and post op. I also asked if he used a drain, which he did not. I asked EXACTLY what was he going to do during the procedure so I'd know how HE planned to perform it. I also asked about past patients and their general success rate. Dr. A has an excellent bedside manner so he answered everything succinctly and to our satisfaction (I brought a friend with me who'd had the procedure) and was quite conversational.

[kczar 166]

Other posters have covered most of the important questions. When asking about the size, the term they use is bougie (BOO-zhee). It's the size of the guide used when removing the extraneous stomach tissue. There's a picture floating around here somewhere that gives you some comparisons. Basically, they range from a thin felt tip marker to a highlighter. The most common is the size of a BIC pen.

One question I didn't ask but wish I had known to was if I was going to be sent home with a pain pump. Instead of something hooked up to my IV, I had a thin lead inserted just under my sternum that dripped a continuous feed to pain medicine. What shocked me was that I was sent home with it and instructed to remove it after the third day home. It didn't hurt at all but it was freaky. So check on that so you're prepared.

You may also have to give yourself injections for the first 7-10 days home. It's a blood thinner to prevent clots. Again, it doesn't hurt but if you've never given yourself a shot, it's weird.

I hope that doesn't scare you too much but I think it's important to know these kinds of things. Also, make sure you check out the frequently asked questions in stickied in this section, if you haven't already. It's got a huge amount of information.

Good luck!