Things you wished you asked surgeon on first visit

[della street 213]

Hi all, my first surgeon visit is tomorrow - (also w/dietitian, exercise physiologist and psychologist...) -- I have my list of questions, but what questions do you wish you'd asked on your first visit? Or what questions *did* you ask? I'd hate to get home and think "oh darn, I should have asked about XYZ..." -- thanks much! (I'm leaning toward sleeve, but that's the biggest question I have for my surgeon, whether he thinks I'm more of a candidate for sleeve or bypass, just fyi...)

[raquel_c 23]

Hi! I was in the same boat you are! I'm a candidate for both the sleeve or bypass and I asked my surgeon which he thought was best. While he didn't come right out and say it he did give a lot of useful and helpful information for me to decide with the sleeve! I hope this helps! Good luck at your appt!

[dashofsunshine 875]

I had tons of questions. Wish I still had my list but this is what I remember....

1) staples. I wanted to know if I would feel them at all when doing sit ups, that kind of thing (may seem like a stupid question lol but the thought of having staples inside me forever was scary!)

2) loose skin

3) pregnancy and whether the sleeve would cause me to have to have a C section (read that somewhere online!)

4) hair loss

5) be sure to ask about the pre-op diet (if he has one at all)

6) ask if he does a leak test!

7) I also asked my doctor approximately how many surgeries he has done, and how many of those have gone wrong (leaks, death, complications of any kind!)

I had a huge page of questions but that's all I can remember! If I find that piece of paper I'll comment again and tell you some others ???? in terms of sleeve vs bypass, my doctor had a flip chart that talked about pros and cons of both, which was really helpful. Statistically (by the scientific "averages" or whatever) they say that there is a greater possibility to lose more weight with the bypass vs the sleeve, but I'm here to tell you...I have seen people on these forums lose MASSIVE weight with both the sleeve and the bypass. Don't rely too heavily on the statistics, because everyone is different and the statistics also include people who didn't follow the recommended diet, exercise, Water intake, etc. Talk it out with your doctor and make the best decision for YOU - don't fret too much about "oh but I want to lose more than 60% of my excess weight, so I better do the bypass!" I have almost 200 lbs to lose, and my doctor told me if I work hard and do everything I'm supposed to do, it is obtainable with the sleeve. Good luck!!!! ❤️

[della street 213]

@raquel_c@dashofsunshine -- thank you both for the info! I have about 150 lbs to lose, ugh -- but am so excited to take this next step on the journey -- if you think of anything else, let me know -- thank you so much again!

[raquel_c 23]

@@dashofsunshine #3 is a great question! What did your surgeon say?

[dashofsunshine 875]

@@raquel_c He said that technically, the sleeve and/or gastric bypass should have nothing to do with delivering a child - he said it might be a little more touchy if you get pregnant right away and have to deliver before your stomach has completely healed, but if you wait the recommended year, your stomach literally grows back together and around the staples - making them part of your body, basically. So he said natural birth shouldn't be a problem and never has been for any of his patients. He DID say though that after you have bariatric surgery, a lot of other doctors/surgeons are a little freaked out by you (go figure - I guess because not all doctors know everything that bariatric doctors do about the surgery?) and that could lead a doctor to want you to have a C section just to avoid "possible complications." Of course every doctor out there now days prefers C sections anyway because they can schedule them and it's "less of a hassle" or whatever ????

[raquel_c 23]

@@dashofsunshine thank you so much for that information! While I do not suffer from PCOS I have had a miscarriage. I turned 30 this year and one oft reasons for having this surgery is so I can have a healthy pregnancy and be considered "high risk". Everything I have read says one can have a healthy pregnancy, makes me feel better your surgeon agreed. Thanks again for your response and best of luck on your journey

[raquel_c 23]

*not be considered