What to Expect - First Appointment!

[SarahBeth 11]

I just scheduled my first appointment! I'm excited to start this journey!!!!! I'm just wondering what to expect from this appointment?! Can someone tell me what their appointment consisted of!? Is it a lot of talking? Or more of a physical examination!? Will the doctor have to examine my stomach!? I know that's a weird questions...I mean he's a bariatric surgeon it isn't like my obese stomach is the first one he's seen, but I'm really self conscious about it!!!! Just starting to feel nervous

[Sparklette 381]

At my first appointment The first thing they did was take my weight and vitals (pulse, blood sugar, temp etc). Then I met with the surgeon who talked about my weight history, and goals, which segued in to the choice of surgery. I had made a firm decision to have bypass, so he agreed that it would be the best option.

Then, he did a physical exam, I laid on the table and examined my tummy. It isn't that bad, just turn your brain off for a few seconds. He just felt around a little bit, and said everything looked good, and that I'd be an excellent candidate for the surgery.

Then he ordered labs and tests and exams. Blood work, Psych exam, ekg, and upper GI.

[MissNikki27 54]

When I went in for my first appointment they took my vitals and weight, just like at a physical. Then they had me take an EKG test....then I met with the APRN who went over all the options for wls. When I told her what surgery I wanted she told me the process that my insurance company requires and then set me up with the psyc doc and the nutritionist. It was very simple.

[oldoneyoungagain 200]

Think I am sorta of going backwards. Actually seen the surgeon because of the lap band, he discovered it had slipped. (Let me say that was the first visit with this doctor, all new clinic, all new physician. I fired the other) Had an endoscopy so that was done to make sure it hadn't eroded, it hadn't. So that has been done. Seen my pulmonologist last October and was released after four years, so just need to call him for clearance. Had a yearly appointment with my cardiologist, after the endoscopy, and when told the band had to come out and the surgeon and I agreed on a bypass, the cardiologist ordered an echocardiogram and thillium stress test. Passed that and he sent the clearance. Went on to see my PCP for a diabetic recheck and he is on board with two of the three weight management appointments my insurance needs. Seen the psychologist same day and since I took the psy test the month before got clearance from him (he works in the same office as the surgeon) Now to yesterday, the band came out see the surgeon for follow-up next week and hopefully we can set up appt. then with the nutritionist. With luck I can have bypass within two months to what the surgeon said on the first visit. Yesterday was my third laproscopy in the same area so questioned him regarding scar tissue. He said the bypass will also be laproscopy and he definitely wasn't concerned about the scar tissue. I will say he is a darn good surgeon, into the operating room at 3PM and was in the car going home at 4:45 wide awake also never filled the rx for pain medication. So have seen this surgeon regarding a whole other issue one time in the office and twice in a procedure room all for everything but the bypass. But he already agreed to the bypass. No exam unless you want to count the endoscopy and surgery. So far I've been very lucky, think though since I have been a patient of the psychologist since the lap band, he is the one that has given the thumbs up to the surgeon.

[kristy3k 1,133]

I had to go to a seminar first. Then filled out paperwork there and made my first appointment. At my appointment they took the usual vitals... I was set on the sleeve then we talked about my history and I changed to RNY. Then the team at the office is in charge of insurance requirements and test scheduling. I was very proactive...it is a very busy office. I would call the coordinator or email her... get lists of docs that performed what tests.. make the appts myself email the coordinator back so she could send order to that particular office. If you wait on them to do everything it takes twice as long.

[terry1118 1,274]

I had to go to a seminar first. Then filled out paperwork there and made my first appointment. At my appointment they took the usual vitals... I was set on the sleeve then we talked about my history and I changed to RNY. Then the team at the office is in charge of insurance requirements and test scheduling. I was very proactive...it is a very busy office. I would call the coordinator or email her... get lists of docs that performed what tests.. make the appts myself email the coordinator back so she could send order to that particular office. If you wait on them to do everything it takes twice as long.

I think that depends on the office. My doctor's office made all my appointments to accommodate my schedule. They just told me when and where to show up and mailed me instructions, if any. From seminar February 13 to surgery May 30. The only reason my surgery wasn't last month was because the required educational workshops were already full for April. Definitely a stress-free process. :-)

[cfranklin526 8]

How did you guys get to your first appointment? I mean did you use your primary care physician to send you onto a surgeon or did you just go right to the surgeon? I will have insurance starting July 1st and both my girlfriend and I are looking to start this process together, but I'm just not sure how to get started.

[MissNikki27 54]

How did you guys get to your first appointment? I mean did you use your primary care physician to send you onto a surgeon or did you just go right to the surgeon? I will have insurance starting July 1st and both my girlfriend and I are looking to start this process together' date=' but I'm just not sure how to get started.[/quote']

I searched for a bariatric surgeon in my area who was in network and a part of a center for excellence. I called them and they sent me a virtual seminar and I was still interested so I set up a consultation. My insurance doesn't require me to get a referral so I just went in. I did talk to my pcp and got records for the last seven years to prove obesity and my attempts of weight loss.

[SarahBeth 11]

How did you guys get to your first appointment? I mean did you use your primary care physician to send you onto a surgeon or did you just go right to the surgeon? I will have insurance starting July 1st and both my girlfriend and I are looking to start this process together, but I'm just not sure how to get started.

I just did a simple google search for bariatric surgeons in my area. From there, I did a little research & tried to find people I could talk to who had experiences with each surgeon. I contacted 3 different surgeons & went with the one I felt most comfortable with!

[Kat23 47]

How did you guys get to your first appointment? I mean did you use your primary care physician to send you onto a surgeon or did you just go right to the surgeon? I will have insurance starting July 1st and both my girlfriend and I are looking to start this process together' date=' but I'm just not sure how to get started.[/quote']

Start with your insurance. Ask if you need a referral. What and how much they cover. Find out their requirements. Mine required 6 months of supervised diet and weigh ins plus typical psych eval, PCP clearance, and nutritionist class. Seems like a lot but it wasn't bad at all. I called in August and was scheduled my consult for December. I started my weigh ins before the consult so I wouldn't have to wait as long after that. Good luck. And btw...my husband and I just did his 5 weeks apart. I don't know how we would have done this separately. So I think it's great you and your GF are considering this together.

[cfranklin526 8]

Thank you for your input, I'm actually nervous that she wants to do it with me. I started the journey of research alone and didn't tell her anything at first. Then we started talking and the more I tell her the more she wants to do it with me. But she really wants to do it with me, like the same day, which really worries me because who will take care of me???? LOL

[Kat23 47]

Thank you for your input' date=' I'm actually nervous that she wants to do it with me. I started the journey of research alone and didn't tell her anything at first. Then we started talking and the more I tell her the more she wants to do it with me. But she really wants to do it with me, like the same day, which really worries me because who will take care of me???? LOL[/quote']

That's why we did it 5 weeks apart. Doing it together would have been too hard for us. Someone needed to be able to lift, run errands, take care of our two big dogs, and take care of the other. I've heard of couples doing it the same day with success as well though. Depends on how each couple operates. We also each took one week of short term disability on top of two weeks vacation. Both of us being off at the same time would not have worked for us financially. Have some really good conversations about it...you'll figure out a good timing for you guys.

[HeroOfThisStory 24]

Thank you for your input' date=' I'm actually nervous that she wants to do it with me. I started the journey of research alone and didn't tell her anything at first. Then we started talking and the more I tell her the more she wants to do it with me. But she really wants to do it with me, like the same day, which really worries me because who will take care of me???? LOL[/quote']

I'm the same way with my fiancée. After I told him my plans he wants to do it with me. I'd love that but I need him to take care of me and our dog. I told him as soon as I have a surgery date he can start his 6 months lol.

[terry1118 1,274]

How did you guys get to your first appointment? I mean did you use your primary care physician to send you onto a surgeon or did you just go right to the surgeon? I will have insurance starting July 1st and both my girlfriend and I are looking to start this process together' date=' but I'm just not sure how to get started.[/quote']

When I began to consider WLS surgery I had no idea where to begin. I made an appointment with my primary care physician for a physical. At the appointment I asked him questions about it. He thought I would be a good candidate for it so he has his office staff arranged for me to attend a seminar. The day after my physical I had an appointment with my thyroid doctor and I discussed the possibility with him, too. He agreed with my primary care and gave me further insight to the surgery itself. He was friends with the doctor who started the program in Wareham MA and several of his type 2 diabetes patients had gone there for the surgery with great success. He congratulated me on my decision and HUGGED me!

I attended the seminar on Feb 13 and just had my surgery two days ago. It went well and the pain is minimal. I am excited to be on my way to a healthier, more active life. :-)