How do a choose a surgeon ?

[amf1025 71]

I've been researching different surgeons in my area, but I just want to pick the right one !!!! I'm so nervous about that ????

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[Dub 9,922]

I started with going through the "best" hospital in my area....we have several.

Turns out this was not a Bariatric Center of Excellence and my insurance balked two months into my program. I swapped over to another surgeon who was affiliated with a Bariatric Center of Excellence and only enough it was through the oldest and smallest hospital in the area.

Funny thing is that I ultimately chose to self fund the surgery as it was less costly than actually using my insurance....insane, right ?

My new surgeon was OUTSTANDING in every way. He did a great job and was excellent in his advisements and coaching.

My suggestion is to locate a bariatric center of excellence. These have proven statistics over time of low complications and excellent results.

[amf1025 71]

Thank you I will look into that ????

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[Butterflywarrior 241]

Yeh, I went with a bariatric center of excellence surgeon and hospital as well, the clinic has other accreditations too and two surgeons, two psychologist. Two nutritionist, a endocrinologist, several nurse practitioners, surgery coordinator and more.

I liked both surgeons and attended support group and orientation ran by both ig them and settled on one based on years of experience. Personality characteristics and my intuition. They both had grand stats.

It is a difficult decision but try not to get extremely anxious over it.

[Travelher 915]

Ask how many of (the surgery you want) they have done. I had a revision which is much more complicated than a bypass or sleeve alone. I could not find any experienced doctors in my province so I went out of province. The doctor I chose had done over 250 was head of Bariatrics at the local university. He explained the risks and his plans should he encounter x..y...or z. He also provided me with his own individual statistics for complications and issue which were significantly better than the average...

[amf1025 71]

I've pretty much decided on the sleeve which is extremely scary for me , I originally wanted the lap band. I'm very anxious about a surgery I've never had one .I'm a single mom of 4 kids and I want to be healthy for them and I guess I'm afraid of not waking up or something going wrong with the surgery

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[Butterflywarrior 241]

I've pretty much decided on the sleeve which is extremely scary for me , I originally wanted the lap band. I'm very anxious about a surgery I've never had one .I'm a single mom of 4 kids and I want to be healthy for them and I guess I'm afraid of not waking up or something going wrong with the surgery

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[Butterflywarrior 241]

I've pretty much decided on the sleeve which is extremely scary for me , I originally wanted the lap band. I'm very anxious about a surgery I've never had one .I'm a single mom of 4 kids and I want to be healthy for them and I guess I'm afraid of not waking up or something going wrong with the surgery

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four ducklings wow! Most surgeons who are accredited have awesome stats. Complications can always happen of course but obesity can kill you too. So can driving a car...or crossing a street.. .

I guess surgery just puts it in our faces because it's new territory for many of us, you sign your life away on forms and everyone tells you horrible stories!

I've had general anesthesia anniversary if times and many procedures and a couple if surgeries. It's always a bit scary but I do remind myself if what I started out saying... obesity comorbidities are deadly, and life activities can kill you too so that might help you too

I did ask my surgeon how many patients he has lost on the table and it was zero in many years and a small handful from drastic complications like pulmonary embolism often bc people feel symptoms and don't seem medical attention until it's too late! They do a lot to prevent clots, infection, etc these days...

[amf1025 71]

Thank you I had a colonoscopy and I woke up from that . I do have epilepsy so I hope they will do the surgery . they said I'm 200 lbs over weight and have back and knee problems so I hope this will help

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[Butterflywarrior 241]

Thank you I had a colonoscopy and I woke up from that . I do have epilepsy so I hope they will do the surgery . they said I'm 200 lbs over weight and have back and knee problems so I hope this will help

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having epilepsy would definitely make you a risk but I'm sure it will depend how well controlled it is and they will want clearance from your neurologist.

I'm not sure if a colonoscopy will count for much in knowing how you respond to anesthesia because most of the time, they use a light kind of anesthetic called conscious sedation..you don't remember what happened buy you aren't completely under either. Although it's good you did well with that too.

I hope you get your surgery too. Technology is really advanced now but risk is hard for some to take on. Hopefully tgey will see the weight problem as riskier then your epilepsy.

[amf1025 71]

Thanks I hope so too !!! I can't wait to start this journey

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