Questioning the Dr. How to word things.

[ShoppGirl 3,428]

Okay now that I’ve told my regain story and done as much research as I can (there is not a ton of info out there about the SADI) I have questions. Some that are white awkward tk Ask the doctor.

First and foremost is how many of these procedures he had done. He is a very well knows surgeon, head of the bariatric department at the hospital even but I don’t think he has done a lot of this particular procedure. In fact the poster schematic is not yet on the wall and his office did not have any information packets to share about the procedure yet. If he says I am first I want to ask what makes him comfident he is capable? I’m pretty sure he just does sleeve and bypass primarily. So how differnt is if than a bypass?? I sorta understand the gist of it but I admit I don’t understand normal anatomy nevermind the exact differences between the procedures.

also, I read some medical research on the procedure and they were talking about less complications after the learning curve a couple years later. Did that mean the individual surgeons learning curve or did they mean the field has learned from each others mistakes. I have to admit maybe being in the first few adds a little bit more anxiety to all this.

Next I need to ask him, if he made my sleeve to big if he will correct that as well I have always felt like my sleeve was a little larger than everyone else’s based on how much I could eat so if he gets in there and that’s the case does he fix that as part of the procedure if so, is that now a differnt procedure and does that matter?

I am not expecting anyone to know answers to these questions just help me with the way to word them so that I can feel comfortable asking I don’t want him to think I am questioning his surgical skills because I know he is really good but I still need some reassurances here

[Spinoza 1,223]

I would try to keep your questions open ended.

I'm interested in hearing how your previous SADI patients have progressed and where they have ended up. Have they had complications or have any of them regretted having SADI? If so, why?

Would it be possible to give me a ballpark, numbers wise, of the spilt between your sleeve, bypass, and SADI procedures? Do you have to undertake special training in SADI, given that it's not a routine WLS?

Please can you explain...(whatever specific Qs you have about the procedure or life after the procedure, or whatever)

It would help me with my decision to know how many of your previous SADI patients were second surgeries and how many first.

If you were advising a relative of yours who was considering SADI, what would you tell them? If you were in my position would you have this particular procedure?

How do immediate and long term complications tend to manifest?

[Spinoza 1,223]

Just now, Spinoza said:

I would try to keep your questions open ended.

I'm interested in hearing how your previous SADI patients have progressed and where they have ended up. Have they had complications or have any of them regretted having SADI? If so, why?

Would it be possible to give me a ballpark, numbers wise, of the spilt between your sleeve, bypass, and SADI procedures? Do you have to undertake special training in SADI, given that it's not a routine WLS?

Please can you explain...(whatever specific Qs you have about the procedure or life after the procedure, or whatever)

It would help me with my decision to know how many of your previous SADI patients were second surgeries and how many first. Why was that?

If you were advising a relative of yours who was considering SADI, what would you tell them?

If you were in my position would you have this particular procedure?

How do immediate and long term complications tend to manifest?

Edited March 23 by Spinoza

[ShoppGirl 3,428]

24 minutes ago, Spinoza said:

I would try to keep your questions open ended.

I'm interested in hearing how your previous SADI patients have progressed and where they have ended up. Have they had complications or have any of them regretted having SADI? If so, why?

Would it be possible to give me a ballpark, numbers wise, of the spilt between your sleeve, bypass, and SADI procedures? Do you have to undertake special training in SADI, given that it's not a routine WLS?

Please can you explain...(whatever specific Qs you have about the procedure or life after the procedure, or whatever)

It would help me with my decision to know how many of your previous SADI patients were second surgeries and how many first.

If you were advising a relative of yours who was considering SADI, what would you tell them? If you were in my position would you have this particular procedure?

How do immediate and long term complications tend to manifest?

Wow. That is so perfect. I always get nervous when I’m trying to ask all my questions. Not because I’m intimidated by the doctor just because I respect that they are busy and when I try to go quickly I always forget something. They asked me if he wanted to schedule me with him or the PA though and I said him because he wants to answer my questions but I’m thinking of asking to meet with the PA first. I’m thinking that it’s just another copay and the more they can answer the more time I will have with him for the more serious stuff. Plus once I get answers to some stuff I may realize I have more questions.

[BlondePatriotInCDA 254]

33 minutes ago, Spinoza said:

I would try to keep your questions open ended.

I'm interested in hearing how your previous SADI patients have progressed and where they have ended up. Have they had complications or have any of them regretted having SADI? If so, why?

Would it be possible to give me a ballpark, numbers wise, of the spilt between your sleeve, bypass, and SADI procedures? Do you have to undertake special training in SADI, given that it's not a routine WLS?

Please can you explain...(whatever specific Qs you have about the procedure or life after the procedure, or whatever)

It would help me with my decision to know how many of your previous SADI patients were second surgeries and how many first.

If you were advising a relative of yours who was considering SADI, what would you tell them? If you were in my position would you have this particular procedure?

How do immediate and long term complications tend to manifest?

Very good advice. Open ended questions lead to better overall responses.

[ShoppGirl 3,428]

13 minutes ago, BlondePatriotInCDA said:

Very good advice. Open ended questions lead to better overall responses.

I agree. I am so thankful for the help.

[Spinoza 1,223]

Honestly all you have to do is ask here and someone will do their best to help. More people will be along shortly too with much better suggestions.

I cannot thank this community enough for all the assistance I have had. Given the (minimal) information given to me before, during, and after my surgery I attribute 90% of my loss to you all. I wouldn't have had a clue otherwise.

[Spinoza 1,223]

38 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

Wow. That is so perfect. I always get nervous when I’m trying to ask all my questions. Not because I’m intimidated by the doctor just because I respect that they are busy and when I try to go quickly I always forget something. They asked me if he wanted to schedule me with him or the PA though and I said him because he wants to answer my questions but I’m thinking of asking to meet with the PA first. I’m thinking that it’s just another copay and the more they can answer the more time I will have with him for the more serious stuff. Plus once I get answers to some stuff I may realize I have more questions.

Ah then my advice is write your questions down (list on phone or actual paper prompt) and bring them with you. I have done this so many times in so many processes. Never regretted it. You might look like a dork but you will leave a satisfied and well-informed dork!

[Spinoza 1,223]

Oh and I forgot! Regarding your original sleeve:

I know you'll be aware that after my sleeve I had reported being able to eat bigger volumes than I had expected. This was a constant throughout all my food stages. Given my eventual regain do you think there might be a merit to reducing the volume of my sleeve when you do the SADI?

Edited March 24 by Spinoza

[ShoppGirl 3,428]

2 minutes ago, Spinoza said:

Oh and I forgot! Regarding your original sleeve:

I know you'll be aware that after my sleeve I had reported being able to eat bigger volumes than I had expected. This was a constant throughout all my food stages. Given my eventual regain do you think there might be a merit to reducing the volume of my sleeve when you do the SADI?

Thanks!!! I’m super curious to hear the answer to that one. I assume altering the sleeve with increase the risks and complications as well as recovery time but I think that there may be some value to it. I recall him saying your sleeve worked last time though so I may really need to stress this one. It worked because I used the advantages of less hunger hormone and acted like I was on a diet. Not because I ever felt full. I may need to be sure he understands that. Also it Seems like the percentages of weight loss I found in my research are for virgin surgeries so just doing the other part without touching the sleeve I’m guessing my weight loss will be considerably less. I’m curious what that looks like.

[ShoppGirl 3,428]

Keep the questions coming guys. I am feeling so much more prepared already (thanks again Spinoza). I created a note in my phone with the list so far.

I added

Please can you explain how this surgery affects hunger hormones. Given that my sleeve portion has already been completed, will I have any additional hormone changes?

I am also working on asking about my bipolar meds. I need to make certain they will absorb okay post surgery. He said it’s fine the last time but this is an important one so I’m going to ask again.

The rest of my questions are about maintenance diet, post op labs and Vitamins so far. I think the PA can answer those.

I feel like this is a pretty good list but if anyone thinks of anything else I would greatly appreciate your input.

[Shanna NYC 136]

You do have legitimate questions and ones that any doctor or their team should be comfortable answering as they are important to you and your peace of mind in consideration of another procedure.

I know via your prior post you said you aren’t on the socials quite as much, but if you listen to podcasts I’d recommend BariNation. There is one of the hosts who had been sleeved and always felt like they could consume more than they should, and did not want a bypass (which he was originally told he would need to be sleeved first, lose enough to be then safe enough to have a bypass). He thought a bypass would be the only option and for whatever reason was not keen on it. He was then introduced to a doctor who said that’s not his only option and told him about the SADI. He eventually got his evaluation and found out that though the sleeve is said to remove 80% of your stomach, his was only 50-60% so he wasn’t wrong that his eating capacity was more than he thought. He recently did his revision surgery and part of it was resleeving on top of the reroute of the intestinal tract. So yes part of the procedure should be to reevaluate your stomach size to determine whether it should be revised.

[ShoppGirl 3,428]

46 minutes ago, Shanna NYC said:

You do have legitimate questions and ones that any doctor or their team should be comfortable answering as they are important to you and your peace of mind in consideration of another procedure.

I know via your prior post you said you aren’t on the socials quite as much, but if you listen to podcasts I’d recommend BariNation. There is one of the hosts who had been sleeved and always felt like they could consume more than they should, and did not want a bypass (which he was originally told he would need to be sleeved first, lose enough to be then safe enough to have a bypass). He thought a bypass would be the only option and for whatever reason was not keen on it. He was then introduced to a doctor who said that’s not his only option and told him about the SADI. He eventually got his evaluation and found out that though the sleeve is said to remove 80% of your stomach, his was only 50-60% so he wasn’t wrong that his eating capacity was more than he thought. He recently did his revision surgery and part of it was resleeving on top of the reroute of the intestinal tract. So yes part of the procedure should be to reevaluate your stomach size to determine whether it should be revised.

Thank you so much for that information. I am listening to the episode as I type this and I am hooked. I hope they have more episodes about him. I want to hear more of his story.