I have my first appointment on Oct.24 (finally). What questions should I ask? Any you wish you had asked? Thanks!

With my first surgeon's appointment, I asked him what he does for pain management, especially for the accumulated CO2 that builds up in the shoulder post-op causing a lot of grief. He said that he extracts as much as possible. Consequently, I did not get the painful shoulder gas.

I also asked things like how many incisions will I have and where will they be.

I had a list of 17 questions, but I don't remember them all now.

I asked my surgeon:

What is your complication rate? What is the most serious complication you've encountered? How many surgeries have you completed? What will the scars be like?

I find it was helpful for me to attend a WL seminar first, then I scheduled the appointment with my surgeon. I then came up with a list of questions that were either not covered in the seminar or that were personal to my situation, example, my acid reflux and poor circulation issues.

These are some of the questions I had ready to ask:

• How many VSGs this surgeon has done? In what time frame?
• What's his personal surgical complication rate? Most common complication?
• What upfront cost are there?
• Any fees that are not covered by insurance?
• Pre op and Post op requirements
• Usual length of hospital stay
• Aftercare program
• Realistic goal
• Access to staff?

If you have severe acid reflux I would be sure to mention that to the surgeon. That can decide what surgery you get. My surgeon said that I have to get the gastric bypass because the sleeve will cause severe acid reflux to be worse and they no longer do the lap band where I am going.

Thank you everyone. I have been to a seminar but it was July 15. I've been on waiting list for first appointment, finally got the call for Oct 24. I've got my notebook out & I am writing down all your great question. Still trying to decide between the sleeve or ryn.