visit coming up with Dr. Aranow

Hi All Happynew year!!!!! I haven't posted for a while, but I have been lurking and following everyones progress. My first visit is coming up with Dr. Aranow Jan 13 (went to info seminar in Oct) I'm wondering what to expect. Is this just a consultation....does He do a physical exam? any suggestions? Any input would be helpful thanks angel

Hi Angela, The intial visit is a breeze. He has you sit in his office and just asks you some questions, to make sure you know what your getting into and that you know what the surgery involves. He is very easy to talk to and welcomes any questions you may have. He also normally requires his patients to lose a certain amount of weight before the surgery (generally 10-20 lbs.) because it causes the liver to shrink and makes it easier and safer to preform the surgery. Then he gives you the list of pre-op appts. you will need to take care of (which ones depends on your health issues) After all the talking he takes you to a exam room and does a quick exam and that was about it. Hope this helps Just to give you a heads up. Don't get too anxious or frustrated, the inital consult is just the begining of a long process. I had my consult w/ Dr. Aranow on Sept.9/03 and the only re-op appts. I had were psych. eval., nutritionist, and the G.I. and ultra sound, and I'm still pre-op but I am meeting with him on the 20th so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Good Luck, Desiree' *If you haven't been to any of the support group meetings, I encourage you to go. They are extremely informative and really gives you a chance to question post-op patients. Everyone their makes you feel very comfortable and they are very supportive.

Hi Angela (and Desiree'), Just wanted you to know that my initial visit with Dr. Aranow was 10/15/03 and I basically have had the same visit experienced as Desiree'. The only additional thing I can offer is, I did learn by experience that if any oustanding pre-op requirements are not satisfied for any reason, Dr. Aranow's office does not inform the patient. You must follow-up with them to determine if items that were submitted (PCP clearance letter, test results, etc) are acceptable to Dr. Aranow. I recently learned that the content in the letter my PCP wrote almost 2 months ago was not acceptable. Both my PCP and I would not have known this had I not inquired. Dr. Aranow's office is very helpful when I do call. I need to get off the weight I was asked to lose and then they will submit for insurance approval. Having chosen to wait until after the holidays, I am struggling to lose it right now. Hopefully next week I will weight in and make that happen. Looks like the 3 of us will be big loosers about the same time. Good luck to you both! /Lyn

Hi Angela, I will be at Dr. Aranows Office on the same day for my Consultation so I am glad to see your post. I just thought of something that freaked me out just now. At the seminar they gave a pink sheet saying to call the office 48 hours in advance to confirm the appointment and I thought they said it would be cancelled if we didn't. If our appointment is on tuesday and we didnt call today are they going to cancel the appointment? I called to see if there was a machine but no and I dont know if that is a message I can leave with the answering service for them to get first thing monday. I have been waiting for this for so long I will be totally devastated if my appointment was cancelled and I have to reschedule. I know I will not be able to sleep worrying. I need my rest. My friends are having a Birthday for me tonight. The big 29...Hoping by my 30th I will have started my wls journey. ~Julie~

I went to my first visit on Jan 14th by now you know what went ON Lose wt some more tests,dietician ,psych etc I have just sleptat the local Hosp for zSleep apneia testing. How did you fair with our young DR?