Hi everyone,

Soooooo I FINALLY got a date to see the surgeon after three months of waiting. However now I am so nervous (guess I got so used to waiting and I did not really think the waiting would end lol). Not really sure what to say to him. Any ideas on questions guys?

Have you settled on getting a sleeve for sure, or are you still considering options? If you're still considering options, then I would certainly ask him about his experience with the various options and what his recommendations would be based on your personal needs.

If you've decided already, then here's what I spoke with my doctor about:

1. How long have you been doing the procedure?
   
2. How many have you done?
   
3. What is your success rate? Rate of complications, and what sorts of complications?
   
4. What can I expect from you throughout this process (availability to answer questions, meetings, etc)?
   
5. What will be expected from me?
   
6. Are there current or former patients I can speak with?
   
7. What can I expect it to be like post surgery (time in facility, recovery time at home, diet, etc) assuming nothing unusual about my surgery?
   

There were other topics that came up in the course of my initial appointment with him, as well, but they were basically derived from the seven topics above. I will also say that my surgeon brought up a number of the topics before I asked, which I felt was a good sign. He also did not rush me in any way and seemed happy to talk to me as long as I had more questions, and didn't push me to make a final decision on which sort of procedure I was going with right away - as he said, I have 6 months until I can have the surgery at best (because of insurance requirements) and the initial few months are the same regardless of which procedure I have, so I should take my time and make sure I'm comfortable with my choice.

Keep in mind that I did a fair amount of research first, and so I already knew a good deal about the reputation and qualifications my surgeon has, as well as the clinic itself.

Have you settled on getting a sleeve for sure' date=' or are you still considering options? If you're still considering options, then I would certainly ask him about his experience with the various options and what his recommendations would be based on your personal needs.

If you've decided already, then here's what I spoke with my doctor bout:

[*']How long have you been doing the procedure?

[*]How many have you done?

[*]What is your success rate? Rate of complications, and what sorts of complications?

[*]What can I expect from you throughout this process (availability to answer questions, meetings, etc)?

[*]What will be expected from me?

[*]Are there current or former patients I can speak with?

[*]What can I expect it to be like post surgery (time in facility, recovery time at home, diet, etc) assuming nothing unusual about my surgery?

There were other topics that came up in the course of my initial appointment with him, as well, but they were basically derived from the seven topics above. I will also say that my surgeon brought up a number of the topics before I asked, which I felt was a good sign. He also did not rush me in any way and seemed happy to talk to me as long as I had more questions, and didn't push me to make a final decision on which sort of procedure I was going with right away - as he said, I have 6 months until I can have the surgery at best (because of insurance requirements) and the initial few months are the same regardless of which procedure I have, so I should take my time and make sure I'm comfortable with my choice.

Keep in mind that I did a fair amount of research first, and so I already knew a good deal about the reputation and qualifications my surgeon has, as well as the clinic itself.

These are some great questions..thanks! Yes I am pretty set on the sleeve (bypass kinda scares me lol)

I'm so with you about the bypass - my choice is between the lap band and the sleeve, the bypass isn't even on the table for me. While I like the fact that the band can be adjusted and even removed, I don't like that you have to keep going in to get adjusted. I'm leaning toward the sleeve, though - it seems overall more effective, and the complications seem to primarily be in the first few months, unlike the band with the potential for slippage or erosion that happens later on.

I'm so with you about the bypass - my choice is between the lap band and the sleeve' date=' the bypass isn't even on the table for me. While I like the fact that the band can be adjusted and even removed, I don't like that you have to keep going in to get adjusted. I'm leaning toward the sleeve, though - it seems overall more effective, and the complications seem to primarily be in the first few months, unlike the band with the potential for slippage or erosion that happens later on.[/quote']

Initially I wanted the band but when I realized the long term complications and the fact the my insurance would only pay for one surgery....I decided the sleeve was the route for me. The band seems a little too much work with having to go in for fills and I have heard that weight loss with band is really a full time job. I really think the sleeve is a "happy medium" betwen the band (not drastic enough) and bypass (drastic)