What happens in the first consultation?

[Eric@@ash 47]

Hi Everyone!

I am scheduled to have my consultation with the surgeon next Friday and was told by the person who made the appointment that it usually runs about two hours.

Can anyone let me know what generally happens during this visit besides discussing surgery options with the doctor? Is it blood-work and history-taking?

I hate I didn't think to ask the lady when I had her on the phone, lol!

Any info is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance!

[Bufflehead 6,358]

It really varies depending on the surgical practice. I can tell you pretty much what happened at mine, but YMMV:

--workup with bariatric nurse (general physical exam, blood pressure, etc.)

--meet with exercise physiologist to discuss current and future exercise efforts, talk about any limitations on exercise (for example, I have arthritis in one of my hips that keeps me from doing plyometric work)

--meet with insurance coordinator to go over insurance requirements and set a schedule and plan for meeting them

--meet with dietician to talk about current and future eating

--testing of RMR and for h. pylori bacterium

--meet with surgeon for another physical exam and discussion of surgery options

--talk with patient coordinator about setting up future tests and visits other than the insurance-required tests, such as upper GI series, bloodwork, support group meeting.

[animallover1247 249]

Bufflehead is correct, it all depends on your surgeons office because all of them have different requirements. I had many blood tests done and met with the surgeon for about 10 minutes. He listened to my lungs and belly and that was it. The nurse did tell me what tests I would need (x-ray, endoscopy and EKG). I expected it to be more involved than it was.

[xochtlem 54]

I didn't get any bloodworm done at mine. The nurses took my vitals and history, then the surgeon came in and talked to me more about my history, the surgery, listened to my lungs and heart, and sent me on my way to make follow up appts for the psych eval, etc.

[suitechicguy 105]

I think I had some basic things checked and then he went over the different surgery options.