Hey everyone! I’m a self paid patient that is about a week post op. I’m from Canada and paid for the surgery in Mexico. I’m home now and doing great. I have not told my primary physician or family, friends or anyone about the surgery. I know post op medical support is important, so I’m considering my different options now. If I have any complications or anything comes up in the short term, of course I’ll seek the appropriate care, but I’m hoping to hear from others about their post op care plan.

- Monthly or routine check ups?
- Blood work how often?
- Nutritionist? (How often?)
- Psychological support?

Thanks to everyone for their input!

Now that recreational marijuana is legal in Canada do you plan to avail yourself of it for pain? Several posters have stated it helps.???

On 10/21/2018 at 10:57, Frustr8 said:

Now that recreational marijuana is legal in Canada do you plan to avail yourself of it for pain? Several posters have stated it helps.???

I’ve thought about it. It just became legalized this week and the lineups in our city have been LLOOONNGGG all week. My pain is pretty much nothing now, so I probably don’t need any now but open to it in the future. I’ll play it by ear

I know that my regular Dr. orders my blood work I have a list from my surgeon so she just adds the extra blood work that is required from my Bariatric Surgeon. Then they fax them the results. I'm far enough out that I only need mine done once a year now. As far as a counselor, I would try to find a Bariatric Nutritionist. I tried someone here locally and she had no idea about WLS. Check with you Primary Care Dr. for referral. I'm not sure about your options where you live. Good Luck My hubby had WSLS in Mexico. Luckily, he didn't have problems.

My PCP has been involved with me getting approved, so I still see her for my other issues. I see my surgeon every 3 months for a check up of the suture site and check my weight loss. He does labs now every time I go but that just started. The labs he does also checks to make sure I'm getting the vitamins recommended and if I need to add any or can stop any. His office provides weekly online meetings and face to face meetings plus I see a therapist once a month for my mental health issues and am involved in AA for my drugs and alcohol recovery. I see my dietician every time I go too and can call them anytime. These regular checks by my surgeons office is until I reach my goal weight. Then he will see me once a year.

On 10/21/2018 at 15:22, johnsons13 said:

My PCP has been involved with me getting approved, so I still see her for my other issues. I see my surgeon every 3 months for a check up of the suture site and check my weight loss. He does labs now every time I go but that just started. The labs he does also checks to make sure I'm getting the Vitamins recommended and if I need to add any or can stop any. His office provides weekly online meetings and face to face meetings plus I see a therapist once a month for my mental health issues and am involved in AA for my drugs and alcohol recovery. I see my dietician every time I go too and can call them anytime. These regular checks by my surgeons office is until I reach my goal weight. Then he will see me once a year.

This is super helpful! Thank you!

My team does a post-op checkup at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, a year, and then every year thereafter. No labs at the 1 week, and I'd be a little surprised if they insist on them at the 1 month. But I kind of expect they'll order them at 3 months, 6 months, and then every annual appointment.

The nutritionist meets with me at each of those appointments, too. It is kind of brief and not super helpful, and after my 3-month I may try to find someone I mesh better with. (As long as they do the 3 month soon enough, it's prepaid as part of my surgery. Besides, things don't get especially challenging until after 6 months, it sounds like.)

I'm getting my psychological help elsewhere. Their psychologist is nice and pretty helpful, but she's not covered by my insurance.

Your primary should always know at the very least for emergency purposes

Primary follow up visit to reveal procedure and request additional support/testing: 2 week after surgery

Blood work every 3 months

Nutritionist first time transitioning to a new food phase then as needed

Psychologist as needed (only you really know this)

Congratulations!

Edited October 22, 20187 yr by GreenTealael

Keeping your dr in the loop would be the thing I'd say