1st appointment questions

[MichelleTN 169]

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

[Miss Mac 6,261]

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.

[sunflowerchild 146]

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?

[finediva 979]

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.

[zabby 18]

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?

[ambieambs 54]

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.

[MichelleTN 169]

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.