FOr those that have been banded, a question please:

How much info regarding the whole process did your doctor give you prior to being banded? I don't need all the particulars, but I am curious as to whether you felt it was adequate for what you experienced. I ask this because I often see a lot of folks posting to the site and their questions seem like those that should have been covered by their medical staff. Like - How do I get rid of the gas? What can I eat in the first week? Why does my left, right, middle incision hurt? What is a fill? etc. I am not saying that this forum isn't a great place to get information, because it is. And I understand that every doctor is different, but it seems that there are a lot of questions being left un-answered that should be covered by our surgeons. Of course, since you don't know what you don't know, many of us don't know to ask. Just wondering.

Elgrad

My doctor went over all of this stuff with me. I was also given a couple of videos to watch with a ton of information.

Hi. I was given ALL the information there is about my pre-op diet, the surgery itself, the post-op diet, fills, and what my eating should be like the rest of my life. I think that part of the problem is that when I was getting ready for this surgery, I was given a LOT of information.... much of it at the same time. I was excited, a tiny bit nervous, and even though I tried to take it all in, it was too much for me at that time. I think I asked 7,427 questions before the day of my procedure. I set up a whole drawer in a file cabinet and started filing all of the information I was given...."My Procedure", "Questions and Answers", "$$$", "Dietary Guidlines", "Fills", "Receipes", etc. Every time I was/am given anything that pertains to my surgery, it goes in that drawer. I read, and reread everything. It has helped me. I also have a fantastic doctor!! He, and his staff, answered ALL my questions before my surgery and still do. One other thing that I see happening is that sometimes there are several terms for the same thing, and that can be confusing for someone new to all of this.... fills/adjustments.... sweet spot/green zone.... soft foods/mushies.... After being on LBT for awhile, you do see that all surgeons have their own beliefs/instructions for their patients - I'm sure it is what they believe works best. I do agree with you that sometimes you read a post that makes you wonder if the poster ever even met their surgeon beforehand. Bottom line is - everyone needs to do what their surgeon tells them to do - and if something is unclear or doesn't make sense - ask again.... and again and again if you have to. As time has passed, the thick fog has burned off and everything has become clearer for me. Boy can I ramble. Good luck to you. Becky

I also got a lot of information from my surgeons practice. Started off with the first seminar (is surgery right for you etc) a mandatory 4 hour class with an RN and a nutritionist. We got a large folder at that last class with a ton of information, lots of food suggestions, what to do if this happens, what to expect etc.

I was also sent vdieos to my email at different times durring the process.

The same nutritionist sat with me for about 1/2 hour before I went home after surgery and answered all my questions, I also have her email address.

Commonwealth Surgeons Richmond VA

I agree with the original poster, there do seem to be a lot of people who aren't getting basic information out there.

My surgeon and the staff gave me copious amounts of information. Honestly though, I did a year of my own research so I knew everything they were to tell me already.

However, after being banded I had many many questions that only a bandster would understand. Experience in certain instances trumps research and statistics. That is what I love about forums like LBT.

Yes, a VERY good question!

Some Surgical Practices are very, very good with the pre-surgical information handling.

In my case, it was awful. There was NOTHING. not a BIT of info. And, the "Doctor" botched the surgery.

However, I WILL say that this was a few years ago, and people who have been to my hospital since have said that the amount of information provided is quite good.

I cannot dispute that, I only know what MY experience was. And it was BAD.

If you AREN'T "overloaded" with info by your potential suregon, get OUTTA there! Leave. Find another surgeon.

A GOOD surgeon WANTS the patient to be informed.

One thing, though....some people consider being handed a binder full of info to be "good information" But, an EXCEPTIONAL medical practice would be one that goes OVER the material with you, and answers any questions you might have.

I heard of one practice that met with the patient, talked with them for an hour, gave them a Binder of info, and had them come BACK in a week for kind of a "quiz"....to make sure that they had actually read and understood the information. I think that is a pretty good system.

HH

Like Becky, I got a lot of information and it was a bit overwhelming. It started with a 2 hour seminar by my surgeon with a Q&A session. They gave out some info & resources, as well as 2 nicely published booklets on the LapBand & Reliable Band. Then I had to get a password to watch a 30 min video online. The nutritionist met with me for about an hour & gave me guidelines for the pre-op & post-op diets. By the time I met with my surgeon, most of my questions were answered, or at least I thought so. I got lost of post-op info (caring for the incision, when to call the doctor, etc), and I really feel the info I received was very good. Having this site to go to provides a lot of additional invaluable info. There are so many different experiences, so I guess it would be hard for the hospital to cover them all. So glad for LBT.

My first visit with the surgeon's office (I didn't go to a seminar), I was given a paperback book about lap band surgery, stages of post-op and all kinds of other information. Answered a TON of questions. I was given instruction sheets AND was assigned a "lap band abvocate" ... a person on his staff who was specially trained to walkl individuals through the pre-op and immediate post-op timeframe. I could call her with any questions that came up and most of the time she had the answer and on the one occasion she didn't, I got a follow-up call from the physician's assistant who immediately answered my question. I agree, I se questions posted on here (and on another forum I go to regularly) and I wonder about some of the surgeons out there....are they just not bothering to fully inform their patients or what?

My surgeon and his staff are my source of much of my information (they are GREAT!) and I did read 2 books on lap band surgery (plus internet searches, plus quizzing to death a couple of people who've had it! LOL) but my surgeon was and is my "go to" source for information, and to clear up any mis-information.

My surgeon and his staff are my source of much of my information (they are GREAT!) and I did read 2 books on lap band surgery (plus internet searches, plus quizzing to death a couple of people who've had it! LOL) but my surgeon was and is my "go to" source for information, and to clear up any mis-information.

this could have been written by me! LOL I am a major researcher so I met with 2 people I know who actually had the surgery, read 2 books on it, watched 1 DVD on it - basically a seminar on CD, read a million pages on the internet about it and then met with my surgeon for a consult (never made it to a seminar), met with the nutritionist for 30 minutes, went to a support group meeting, sat in a 5-hr. class by the nutritionist, etc.

I think some people asking questions on here are those who are just looking into the procedure and thus are in the research phase and may not have all the info yet

Definitely those docs in it for the $$$ gravy train that WLS can be for them shouldn't be doing the surgery --- they are likely culprits without the full program in their office (support group, psych relationships, nutritionist etc) and run the billboard ads on highways. i always recommend people use a place and surgeon with the Center of Excellence designation.

I ended up going to two different surgeons as I was self-pay. I got folders, a book, emmi, websites, and a list of people I had to see before surgery including nutritionist, pulmonologist and where to find funding. I had to watch a video and went through the whole procedure at least three times with a doctor in detail. I ended up going to a different surgeon for the surgery, but I am following up with the local doctor. I am not one to have a ton of questions beforehand to ask, but everyday as things occur. I also spent a ton of hours on the internet and talking to people live and reading on all different sites gathering all the information I possibly could.

I agree, if you aren't offered much more information than you can absorb and contact information for when you have questions, then that isn't the place for you. They should also be there when you call and have answers at hand.

I am only a week out and I've called the office at least four days. I am working on figuring out how to tell when I am full when all I do is drink. Stuff I never thought I would have to think about.

I had a ton of information and had to go to several seminars offered by the hospital.

I think it comes down to that, with everyone, there's that one thing that they weren't clear about. There's always SOMETHING that they didn't hear or can't remember.

There's also a difference in interest, and in what we absorb. As MissBS said, some things slip through. Also, I know from my so far limited experience in Medicine that some people, like me, are the "Tell me every single detail" type, and some are the "Just fix it" type. Both are ok....neither is "wrong". We just all have different styles.

I think some people are just focused on getting the band, "fixing" the weight, and don't actually pick up on all the rest.

That's why I think regardless of which type you are, call your surgeon. IF you don't get good answers from your surgeon and/or his/her staff....GET ANOTHER DOC!

They are the pros...regardless of what type "we" are, they are the ones who are supposed to have the correct answers. :thumbup:

But yes it staggers me a little, some of the questions I see on here. NOT because I think the people asking are dumb, or don't care, or didn't listen, but because sometimes it seems basic data does not get handed down, and to me that's just scary.

i always recommend people use a place and surgeon with the Center of Excellence designation.

Hi, paislyepea;

I agree with everything you have said, but there is one caution I’d like to offer for consideration.

I’m not all that certain that I would put a whole lot of weight on the “Center of Excellence” designation.

The reason for this is that they are, essentially, a “Trade Organization”. It serves to promote the interests of the bariatric surgery INDUSTRY, and that is not always a good thing for the consumer. The Surgical Review Corporation, the “parent” of the COE program, is offering the COE designation to Surgical facilities that meet certain criteria, and I’m not all that sure that the criteria is that rigid.

One of the requirements to be designated a COE is that you give them MONEY. LOTS of Money.

One other requirement is that the Surgical facility must perform a minimum of 125 bariatric Surgeries a year. Now, for one experienced surgeon, 125 surgeries a year is not very much at all. BUT, the problem is that their requirement states that only the FACILITY has to have that volume. If they have 5 surgeons in the practice, then to maintain their designation each one only has to perform 25 surgeries in a year. The designation is given per FACILITY, and not per SURGEON. It could, conceivably, be a training ground for “rookie” surgeons, and I would NOT feel comfortable with that.

There are other issues I have a problem with, with regard to the COE designation, but I’m still looking into them. The UP side is that they are requiring statistics to be submitted by all COE designates, so that a massive database can be compiled containing efficacy stats for all the various procedures and products, as a well as a mechanism for Adverse Event Reporting. There is presently NO accurate, single grouping of accurate Statistics for WLS Outcomes, and the COE might be the best hope for obtaining this info.

So, the jury is still out on the COE being the “gold standard” for choosing a Surgical facility, but it IS better than nothing, and I would certainly take that designation into consideration when making my choice.

HH

I think our hospital here is a center of excellence. I actually put more emphasis on the track record of the doctor and the facility than any one endorsement or award. You make a good point.

I also believe that we still do a lot of this through word of mouth, even if some of it is internet mouth. We're not sure if we should do some plumbing in our house without a recommendation, but we can go either way with a word from any given doctor.