Hi. 1st surgeon meeting tomorrow

[Rachel816 1]

Hi. I’m new. After years of dieting, exercising and feeling defeated, I have decided to have surgery. I am feeling hopeful and a bit nervous.

I have my first meeting with the surgeon tomorrow morning. I have been working on a list of questions to ask him. Do you guys have any suggestions? I want to be prepared.

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

Find out if they have staff on call over the weekends, also, if they always have a dietitian or nutritionist available when you have questions. Is there a support group? Good luck!

Edited April 25, 2018 by Orchids&Dragons

[Ylime 453]

Discuss ANY concerns you have about the surgery or life afterwards.

What will my pre-op diet look like? Will I be required to lose any weight before the surgery?

What pre-op testing/appts will there be?

When can I schedule the surgery?

Who all is in the operating room with you? Is this your normal team?

Do you use a surgical assistant? Is this an additional cost?

How many leak tests do you do? When and how are they done?

I’ve read some patients have gallbladder issues after WLS. What do I need to be aware of?

When will I be allowed to exercise at light and intense levels?

Do you recommend I use a waist binder after surgery?

But most of all, evaluate how well you click with him. He's going to be your best friend for awhile and it's important he be someone you actually like and feel comfortable with.

[Frustr8 7,886]

And@Ylime while reading your above instructions, all of which are great, I realized something. I never really liked my ex-surgeon. He never felt like a friend, I felt an inate wariness while in his presence. Well, I said to myself, you don't have to love the man, you are here for his surgical skill, his technical knowledge. But I never felt comfortable with him, we had no degree of friendship, and maybe we never clicked.
And maybe the lack,of relationship,was his fault, not mine. I have beat myself mentally thinking the fault was mine but having had this moment of clarity, I can go forward with a clear conscience for truly the fault does not lie within me.
I can now have a wonderful😷 surgery ahead and I feel freed!👰