I am just starting my journey and have two consults set up for the first week in December. I would like to get some suggestions on questions to ask the doctor. Any questions that you wished you had asked before moving forward?

Also I will be a self-pay and wanted to know what should be included with the price.

Thank you,

Courtney

@@fuzzywhitebunny I had questions...a lot of them so I made a list and took it with me (Because I get white coat syndrome and will forget once the surgeon walks in) I asked,...what surgery based on my history would be best for me, how many days in the hospital, what time of pain control methods he would be using, What size bougie he used to make my pouch (38 French)how long The surgery would take (roughly) if he was going to take out my gallbladder at the same time (no), how many incisions I would have, Would I have to have a catheter and JP drain (yes,yes) how long would I have them, would he be prescribing me anti-nausea and Anti acids after surgery, what kind of pain pills would I be sent home with, what kind of vitamins should I take....ect I know there was more on my List but that's all I can remember right now.

Edited November 20, 201411 yr by Elode

Great questions above. Also good to ask how many of these surgeries they have done. Statistically, the more times a surgeon does a surgery, the lower their rate of complications is. You may not want to go there, but I also asked about death rates. And if there were deaths, what the cause was specifically. Also good to ask questions about diet before and after surgery, just so you know their perspective. Good luck!

Get in writing exactly what you are paying for. I was a combination of self pay and insurance. I thought the doctor's fee included everything. I have been over whelmed with all the bills that I have received. I got one for the doctor, the hospital, two or three more that I don't even know who they are.....I have heard of other people getting bills after they pay upfront to the doctor and they sent them back and told them it was paid to the doctor. Mine is all messed up because insurance was involved......go figure???

Ask about support post op!! My surgeon's office has support groups, a free one year gym membership, and meeting with and exercise physiologist, TONS of nutritionists meetings, etc. The more the merrier to enhance your success!

Deaths are very rare but I did ask that question. I would ask how many surgeries and how many leakers they have had. For example, my surgeons team does about 500 sleeves a year with only one leak in the last 5 years.