Visit With Your Surgeon?

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

Was just curious on how many times you got to visit with your surgeon before surgery?

For me, I had my consultation appointment May 14th 2014 and that was the first and last time I saw my surgeon. I tried getting another appointment, but because it is summer and he's a busy man there was no availability.

My surgery is September 8th and I'm getting a little nervous especially since I only met this man once and now I have to trust him to do surgery on me.

Did anyone else have this experience with their surgeon and do alright?

I guess a lot of people who go to Mexico have this experience and do well..

[Bufflehead 6,358]

I met with my surgeon just once before surgery, but I could have met with him again if I had requested it. His office standard pre-op is to meet with the bariatric nurse practitioner, dietician, and the intake nurse at the hospital, but you can request to meet with the surgeon again as well if you want to. I didn't have any particular questions for him so I didn't. I felt really good after our initial meeting plus my sister had vetted him for me (she's a physician) so I was fine with the situation as it was.

[sophie'sChoice 269]

Same for me. The protocol here is that you only meet the surgeon once although he did pop in when I was in preop immediately before the actual surgery. I saw the NUT, the nurse practitioner and the coordinating nurse, insurance specialist, and of course I went to the seminar prior to my surgery. Post op my followups are all with his nurse practitioner and I've had no complications so I've not seen him again. And like Bufflehead, my surgeon was chosen with great scrutiny. I too was ok with only seeing him once. I had a LOT of questions written out and he patiently answered each and every one of them.

[HalloweenBaby24 447]

Ok thanks.

This makes me feel a little more relieved.

[bikrchk 1,313]

Once for my first consult.

He did my EGD so that's 2

#3 was my pre- op consult a couple of days before surgery

Most of the stuff ran through the nurse coordinator.

Edited August 28, 2014 by bikrchk

[BG- 8]

I met with my surgeon 7 times before surgery. Four visits for Consult/Medical review/lab reviews/final appointment, and then 3 more since he acted as my 'nutritionist' during my required supervised diet. Then right before surgery he came into pre-op to go over any final questions. Then he visited me after surgery, and the two additional days I was in the hospital. And I see him for all my post-op appointments. He also conducts some of the monthly support groups. I'm really lucky I get to see him at every visit. I think I'd be a little terrified if I only saw him twice - first appointment and surgery and never again!

Edited August 28, 2014 by BowieGal