Has anyone been sleeved at Inova Fair Oaks in VA? How did it go? And tips? I am just beginning the process. Thanks!

My experience was a bit different since I am a revision patient. I went to a seminar years ago went they were all one group. It was very informative. All my nutrition appts have been web based besides the initial 2 hour appt with behavior specialist and nutritionist. My insurance was approved 1st round. She is very detailed but I bugged her lol. They tell you all the prices upfront which I like. They do make you by preop diet from them and post op vitamin pack. The office is very nice and the ladies that work in the office super nice. They do have support groups held at Sentara Potomac. I know people that have had surgery with Dr. M (cousin) and Dr Halmi (BFF) I hear great things about both. I am not sure why the practice split. I am having surgery on the 21st of October.

I went to the seminar in Woodbridge a few weeks ago, and had my first appointment with the surgeon (Dr. Nain) and nutritionist (Elaine) a few days after the seminar. So far, I am very happy with the practice. I really liked Dr. Nain. He treated me like I had a brain of my own, and spent a lot of time answering my questions. (I wrote a longer thread about my first meeting with him in the 200+ pound forum if you want to check it out.) I especially liked his honesty about the arbitrariness of the pre- and post-op diet plans.

I’ve read some horror stories about nutritionists on here, but Elaine was awesome! No playing with plastic portions with her. We went over my typical diet, and she had me tell her everything I had eaten the day before. We talked a lot about the psychological aspects of eating and of exercising. She was really easy to talk to.

We set up all the remaining nutrition classes (they offer several classes per month, and you need to pick one of the dates for each month), and set up an appointment with the behaviorist/exercise consultant, which I have in a few weeks. All the appointments are in Woodbridge, but the surgery itself will be at Inova Fair Oaks in Fairfax.

They gave me a print-out of all the expected fees. They explained the two-week pre-op diet, and that I would have to buy the Bariatric Advantage shakes from them. They recommend, but do not require, that you buy the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins from them as well. Since my insurance covers all the meetings with them, my out-of-pocket (once I meet my insurance deductible) will be about $300 for the Protein shakes and a $250 co-pay for the surgery.

We been quite quiet so I have a question for those who have gone before you. Do u really get all your message filled at the pharmacy at the hospital and they bring it to u when your discharged? Pain med prescription given by hand script to bring the day of surgery?

@@sweettooth2015 yes. Give the handwritten pain med Rx to your nurse. And the doc can send all the others directly to the hospital pharmacy. They will bring them to your room before you go. But make sure you have a credit card to pay for them. Good luck!

@SleevenChica. I had surgery 9/21 and got a private room. But I understand that is not always the case, some are shared.

Thanks for the info!

@@Bs_Knees

sorry I've been offline for a while due to work. Yes, they have private rooms. It is a good idea to chat with your pre-op nurse when you arrive as she might be able to make sure you get a private room. Only on super busy days do they run out. I have another friend who had surgery there is past week with Dr. M and she was placed in private room with no problem.

good luck!

Yes I hadn't sleeve on Tuesday October 27th

It went well although the pain post op on day one was more than I expected but improved allot on day two and with a switch on pain meds

One thing, I was not assigned a private room for bariatric patients

I was on the small side of a shared room with a non bariatric patient with no recliner and just s normal bed although I found it pretty comfortable

My room was in the med-surf unit but I know they do have private rooms with a recliner and larger beds

Maybe I just wasn't big enough but my wife wanted to stay with me but couldn't because there was no chair to sleep in

Just some questions you may want to ask about care in post op

How's every one doing?

Wait on my big day.

When is ur day?

I can't wait November 30th

I can't wait November 30th

I

If will be here in a blink if an eye

Thanks

7 weeks post-op. Down 39 lbs (including 2 week preop diet). Still throwing up my Vitamins, but otherwise doing well. Back to Dr M's office in 2 weeks. Hope they are happy with my progress.