Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

I've only met my surgeon once for 5 minutes... normal?



Recommended Posts

that was about 8 months ago. I am getting sleeved on sept 23rd. I have a pre op appt on sept 9th.

I have no idea what kind of diet I am supposed to do, questions about being a smoker, weight I need to lose... nothing..

is this normal????

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Kinda. I met him at the start, & he passed me off to a group that did the counseling and prep stuff. Then met him a couple weeks before surgery to get the instructions. Just smile and press on!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a 1hr meeting with him. And then I did my NUT, Psych eval with others and I go back on the 10th for a preop with him.

I know he does not do a pre op diet. One thing from what you said is call about smoking. I know my office will do a nicotine test prior and if you fail, you do not get surgery. Other offices have other practices so it would be good to know if you need to completely quit or cut back.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Really? My initial consult with my surgeon was about an hour. During this time he answered any question I could throw at him. Plus he gave me a "Sleeve Owner's Manual" which outlines everything from pre-op stuff, to what to expect at the hospital, and post-op care.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

my pre op appt on the 9th they said would take abotut 5 hours so I am assuming that I will know much more about everything. I should call about the smoking thing though... Ill do that now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

my pre op appt on the 9th they said would take abotut 5 hours so I am assuming that I will know much more about everything. I should call about the smoking thing though... Ill do that now.

My surgeon mentioned that if I were a smoker he would not recommend the sleeve. I guess you could be more probe to a leak.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I met with the surgeon twice before surgery. They were not lengthy by any means. Most of the diet and pre-op stuff was handled by the physician's assistant, dietitian and other staff. In the practice that I use the PA is the surgeon's assistant during the surgery as well. So she was pretty "up" on what was necessary.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I only met with my surgeon one time before surgery and it lasted 5-10 minutes. He was an hour late. I gave him crap about it and he responded, "You won't have to see me much. You just need to decide whether I have the credentials to do your surgery and, if so, am I the guy you want." He was right. He came highly recommended and I went with him.

On smoking, I was told a minimum of 2 weeks. I quit at exactly 2 weeks, cold turkey. It was easy!

Good luck!

Angela

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My first meeting was about an hour and than it was 7months before I saw him again. I had a second meeting about 4 weeks before surgery that was another hour or so and than I saw him daily in the hospital.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I saw my surgeon 4 times between my first visit at the information session and my surgery. This was from March 6 ( information session) to June 27 (surgery date). He did the info session so I was able to talk to him at length when it was over. There were two appointments where he allowed me to ask any and all questions I had and he also performed my pre op endoscopy. I was actually surprised (pleasantly) to see him so often. Gotta give a shout out to Dr. G at Abington Hospital in Philly!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have met my surgeon only once. That was for the two hour class. I also met with nurse and NUT that same day. I have a pre-op appointment on Sept 10 and then surgery on Sept 24. I was given a manual which tells me what to do before surgery and also what I will be eating after surgery. Good Luck with your surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I met my surgeon when i woke up.. I asked him you speak english he nodded and flew back to vulcan.

Quit smoking 3 weeks before cold turkey. It was easy and i dont have the cravings for food or smoking now . 10 days post op.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

that was about 8 months ago. I am getting sleeved on sept 23rd. I have a pre op appt on sept 9th.

I have no idea what kind of diet I am supposed to do, questions about being a smoker, weight I need to lose... nothing..

is this normal????

I would say the sooner you quit smoking the better. I saw this today on one of the local surgeons website in the frequently asked questions section: Does smoking tobacco increase my risk for anesthesia?

YES, YES, YES!!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

that was about 8 months ago. I am getting sleeved on sept 23rd. I have a pre op appt on sept 9th.

I have no idea what kind of diet I am supposed to do, questions about being a smoker, weight I need to lose... nothing..

is this normal????

Hmmm..really? My initial consult was about an hour. He also won't operate on a smoker, said you must be 6 months smoke-free because it can cause complications during surgery. I'm not sure if there is a pre-op diet, haven't gotten that far yet, but I'll find out soon, if it is so.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

that was about 8 months ago. I am getting sleeved on sept 23rd. I have a pre op appt on sept 9th.

I have no idea what kind of diet I am supposed to do, questions about being a smoker, weight I need to lose... nothing..

is this normal????

Oh and the office did give me a Sleeve pamplet about 12 pages thick. I think the pre-op diet probably is addressed in it....I kinda like tossed it on the back seat of my car. Had to concentrate on making all my appts, so I haven't really read the whole thing.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×