Difference In Practices

[Roo101769 742]

I have read on here time and again about how different surgeons and different practices all do things...well....differently. It has always had me amazed, and I am now even more so by my "besties" current experiences. I was sleeved on 10/21 and he is being sleeved 12/17. He is going through the other major hospital in our area. ( There are two major outfits, one comprised of four hospitals and one stand alone. There are also a couple other stand alone hospitals that are smaller or have lessor reputations.) He is going to be sleeved through the big name stand alone hospital while I went through the other network of four. I had to have every test imaginable it seemed pre op. I had an upper GI, blood gas, EKG, the scope and a full breathing workup. He had the upper GI and blood work, and nothing else. He has been told he will only be in the hospital overnight. ( I was in from Monday 8am until around 5pm Wednesday) He has been told there will be no catheter or drain tube. They have already prescribed his post op pain meds and told him nothing about the pain meds he will receive in the hospital. Additionally he has been told he will not have another upper GI test. Now, this is how they checked for leaks so I am not sure their procedure. The difference in care is sort of startling to me honestly. I felt I was totally taken care of. They took every precaution to ensure I would have the very best outcome. I didn't feel "like a number" and was made to feel I was important while I was in the hospital. I don't want to knock what they are doing for my friend, but it seems to me they are not being as thorough and it is more assembly line. He is an old and dear friend and has had a lot of health issues over the years. ( some weight related, some not) I think there should be a lot more done to ensure he is prepared as possible before the surgery. But that is my two cents. another thing I have noticed is his lack of knowledge about Protein and eating post op. ( Not even starting on the difference in pre op diets!) I went to the nutritionist ONCE, and she believed I was knowledgeable enough to be successful and did not require any further pre op visits. He had been required (by insurance) to have 6 visits with a nutritionist pre op. Yet he has no clue what to buy for Protein shakes. His pick had high sugar and the protein was about 23g. I steered him to what I have bought, which has lower sugar AND higher protein. (plus cost less) I am more than happy to guide him along from my experience, that is what friends are for. It just amazes me how much difference there is in the two programs. I want him to be as successful as he can be. I just hope I am being too critical of his program and it is as good as mine!

[magtart 603]

I find the differences very odd as well. I have been reading about this surgery for 6 months and have never come across anyone who has to prep themselves for surgery before leaving home as I do. Take a shower and then wait at least an hour until you are absolutely completely dry and then wipe your entire body, front and back, down with 2% Chlorhexidrine Gluconate cloths.Then wait 5 min. for that to dry before getting dressed. I was given two packages of them at my pre -admission appointment yesterday. Weird.

[VSG AJH 499]

I find the differences very odd as well. I have been reading about this surgery for 6 months and have never come across anyone who has to prep themselves for surgery before leaving home as I do. Take a shower and then wait at least an hour until you are absolutely completely dry and then wipe your entire body, front and back, down with 2% Chlorhexidrine Gluconate cloths.Then wait 5 min. for that to dry before getting dressed. I was given two packages of them at my pre -admission appointment yesterday. Weird.

I had to use those wipes, too. Once the night before surgery, once the day of. So strange.

[kim704 6]

It is very true that different doctirs tell hou different things to do a

For the same procedure. I had a situation were I was going to a dr. For the surgery to be completed there and found out my insurance would. Ot allow that hospital and had to chabge. The new doctor did not do anything the previois doc had instructed. It is crazy but just do as you are instructed and you will be fine

[LouiseC 1,031]

I am going to play devils advocate and suggest that the barrage of tests you underwent were perhaps because either you or your insurer were prepared to pay for them. I had none of the pre OP tests you mention beyond basic blood work, they were not considered necessary. I was self pay in a country that provides free healthcare and would have paid for any test deemed necessary. Because of the system I live with I was confident that if I needed a test that they would refer me for it, and if I didn't, they wouldn't.

I am very sceptical of what I read on these boards about all sorts of tests, psych evaluations, multiple nutrition appointments etc that people have to go through to get the surgery and have long suspected that some surgeons will refer you for whatever they can that results in payment being made by the insurer.

Maybe I am wrong and just a grouchy old cynic on this one but my hunch is that you need not worry about your friend.

[7 Bites_Jen 479]

I agree the differences are HUGE from doctor to doctor! Not only pre-surgery testing but also pre-op diets and what they tell patients after surgery. It can make ones head spin sometimes.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I am not a health care professional.

However, I would bet that the shower wipes before you went to the hospital were a lot less about protecting you during surgery (they'll do that when you're in the operating room) and a lot more about preventing you from bringing odd bugs and germs INTO the hospital.

Frankly, I think the protocol sounds wonderful.

[NMJG 1,266]

I had the full run of tests, ekg, bloodwork, psych eval, etc. My insurance paid all of it. I am glad they did all the tests, just my opinion. I felt very well taken care of at all times. At the end of the day, not everyone comes away from this surgery doing well. I'm just glad I had the surgeon and clinic that I did, especially reading others' posts.

[devonn 12]

My hospital has all different levels of preop requirements depending on your insurance and health issues. I had very few tests because I had no health issues and I work for the hospital so insurance only required a meeting with the doctor nutritionist and psych one time. Preop I just had bloodwork chest xray ekg and ultrasound. I also had to do the clorhexidine wash the night before and day of surgery. His few tests could be that his insurance doesn't require it and his doctor doesn't feel it is necessary for him.

I am also surprised at the post op differences between everyone but I think each doctor requires what they think will give their patients the best possible outcome.