First appointment with surgeon... what should I expect?

[lemonslosingit 9]

Hi everyone!

I'm a long-time lurker on these forums and I finally decided to take action and meet with a bariatric surgeon. My PCP referred me to a surgeon affiliated with her hospital and I'll be meeting him on Thursday!! I'm so nervous and excited!!

My question is, what can I expect to happen at this first meeting? Is this just an opportunity for me to ask questions? Will he ask me questions? Will he examine me (i.e., should I wear my good undies haha)?

I'm so excited and so nervous. My insurance has no requirements (other than a referral from my PCP) but I think I might have undiagnosed BED and I'm worried that would disqualify me. I'm also worried that they will say that I haven't tried hard enough to lose weight without surgery. I've been dieting on and off since I was in middle school and my mom enrolled me in weightwatchers, so I know how to diet, I just can't seem to keep it off. Will the surgeon see that I know how to lose weight and not want to perform the surgery?

Thanks for your insights!

[PorkChopExpress 821]

Not a lot. He'll evaluate your medical conditions and history, basically just an opportunity for him to quickly determine whether you're a good candidate for surgery. Every surgeon wants their practice to have good successes and good numbers. He'll send you for evaluations as needed, depending on what he feels is necessary. Sometimes they do want you to go on a supervised diet to ensure you can follow the rules and be disciplined, depending on your starting weight. You'll probably do a cardiology clearance (they test your heart rate under stress) to make sure you have no heart issues, they'll have you do a psychological evaluation...there are several routine things which may or may not happen because some of it is insurance requirements. I suspect if it's a decent practice, they'll have a nutritionist that you will meet with to discuss the whole process. But if your insurance isn't going to require anything (make double sure) then I'll bet you could be in surgery within a couple months.

Nothing to be nervous about right now, just go in and ask your questions!

[lemonslosingit 9]

Not a lot. He'll evaluate your medical conditions and history, basically just an opportunity for him to quickly determine whether you're a good candidate for surgery. Every surgeon wants their practice to have good successes and good numbers. He'll send you for evaluations as needed, depending on what he feels is necessary. Sometimes they do want you to go on a supervised diet to ensure you can follow the rules and be disciplined, depending on your starting weight. You'll probably do a cardiology clearance (they test your heart rate under stress) to make sure you have no heart issues, they'll have you do a psychological evaluation...there are several routine things which may or may not happen because some of it is insurance requirements. I suspect if it's a decent practice, they'll have a nutritionist that you will meet with to discuss the whole process. But if your insurance isn't going to require anything (make double sure) then I'll bet you could be in surgery within a couple months.

Nothing to be nervous about right now, just go in and ask your questions!

Thanks PorkChopExpress! It seems like the first meeting is just a way to set expectations for me and for me to ask questions. I think I'm going to make a list of questions so I don't forget anything!

From reading the forums it looks like most surgeons require patients to see a nutritionist, a cardiologist, get a psych eval, get an endoscopy and get a sleep study. Are these requirements for insurance or for the surgeon?

Fingers crossed this whole process moves smoothly!