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I went to my first consultation with my surgeon and he mentioned the nutrition and psych visit, but I am reading about everyone getting ugi, sleep studies, cxr, and other testing. I do know that I have to have another visit with him before the procedure. Should I be worried that he has not ordered additional test, should I call to speak with his nurse with questions, or am I jumping the gun?

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Every doc is different. I was self pay and I only had to have an EKG, breathing test & labs. More tests are ordered if the doc wants them or if you have a history of heart disease or other serious conditions.. My doc said I could have the EGD test to see if there was a hernia, but he said it wouldn't matter if he knew because he would repair it during surgery anyway. However, there are lots of reasons the doc may order additional tests. It all depends on the doctor :)

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I only needed the nutrition and psch eval, a blood test and an endoscopy. At the surgery center I am going to, additional tests are required if there are pre-existing conditions. It seems like each surgeon requires different things. They will probably provide you with a list of required tests closer to the surgery. I think its good that you are thinking about these things...it is better to be prepared and not worry. If you think calling the office will make you feel better than you should do that :)

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You do the psych eval and nutrition before the tests. I only have to do the tests after I was approved for surgery and had a surgery date.

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As you know, every doctor is different, and some require things others don't. For me, the calendar got in the way. The longest waits I had were due to the busy work schedule between my surgeon and I, and the Thanksgiving holiday period. But it still was quick.

My surgeon manages the bariatric surgery department of a very busy Seattle hospital. He has a psych, nutritionist, physician, insurance coordinator, and several medical support nurses right there on staff. I had four back-to-back evaluation appointments all on the same day, right there in his office. When they were done, I had completed everything I needed except an endoscopy and blood work. That was done within two weeks or so. I was approved for surgery within about three weeks of meeting the surgeon for the first time. It went very fast.

My timeline went like this:

Consult Referral from PCM to WL Surgeon 19-Aug-2010

Attended mandatory WL Seminar 25-Aug-2010

Four Appointments and First Consult with Surgeon and Office Staff 29-Sep-2010

Lab Blood Work 1-Oct-2010

Endoscopy 14-Oct-2010

Surgery Request Submitted to Insurance 15-Oct-2010

Surgery Approval Received from Insurance 20-Oct-2010

Consult - Ventral Hernia Repair (to be done during band surgery) 16-Nov-2010

WL Surgeon Second Consult/Sign Surgery Papers 16-Nov-2010

Lap Band Surgery 6-Dec-2010

Achieved 100 Pounds Lost 3-Jul-2011 (209 days after surgery)

Dave, doing the Happy Dance... :D

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The psyche and nutritional consult are part of the approval process primary done for documentation for insurance companies.

Once approved and a surgery date is scheduled, THEN the doctor may order pre-surgical tests like labs and xrays to make sure you are medically healthy enough to survive surgery.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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