Just wondering...

Hi! I am new to the boards and my surgery is scheduled for June 6th with Dr. Overcash in Ocala. My question is: Does anyone follow up after surgery with their primary care physician to adjust meds? Do you schedule monthly appointments or what? I take 10 pills every day for all kinds of stuff (diabetes, hypertention, heart problems, etc. etc.). I am HOPING that I will be able to get off SOME of the meds after WLS. Thank you for your replies.

I saw both my Surgeon & Primary monthly for the first 6 months with my Primary doing Blood Labs monthly too. Now I still see my Surgeon monthly as I'm coming up to my first year anniversary. And see my Primary every three months with Blood Labs still. Which after two years will go to every 6 months with my Primary for the rest of my life. I've decreased my C-pap pressures and got rid of the oxygen concentrator. And lowered my meds plus off several now. I've lost 180 in this past year but 320 since October 2002. I'm very happy. Will we meet you at the OH Conference, May 5th? Mike

Be sure that your surgeon sends your operative report to your PCP. After my surgery I saw my PCP every two-three weeks till the six month mark. Since then it has been monthly and this last visit he said I would not need to see him for two months. My surgeon is in Omaha so my PCP communicated with him on a regular basis during those first six months, as did I. But I did not see my surgeon again until six months and I will see him at the one year mark. But, when I have any labs or any other tests done I request a copy of the results to be sent to my surgeon. Some of the specialists that I see also speak to my surgeon. Of course all of this is written with the caveat that should you have any complications or problems -- your surgeon is the first person you should contact. Red

YES, please do follow up. My back still hurts thinking about the post-op who fell on me (well, I *was* trying to catch him) after he blacked out. He had lost too much weight to support his bp med dose. I was smooshed, but glad that he didn't whack his head! Kristen

Thanks for the great responses! I am really glad that I found this place to ask questions and find inspiration from so many success stories.

I had my surgery with Dr. Overcash. He didn't do anything med-wise with me except pain meds. He had an internal med guy see me at the hospital who did adjust my doses, etc for discharge. Since then I've followed-up with my PCP for other med changes since it's a long drive for me (and hard to get off work) to see Dr. O, BUT I've been with my PCP over 5 years and they have a lot of patients who've had WLS so are pretty up on things. I will tell you that I was off my diuretic immediately, the IM cut my Diovan dose in half, and changed my diabetic meds. Going tomorrow to my PCP and doing pretty good.. My FBS is now 100-110 (in the hospital it was over 300) so I'm very encouraged.

Thanks for the info. I also take Diovan and a diuretic when needed. I am worried about the diabetes medicine because my blood sugar tends to get too LOW and I feel horrible when that happens. Besides, those Metforman pills are gigantic! Also, I take MetformanER (extended release) so I'm not sure if that will work with the pouch thing. WAY TO GO with your FBS! I have a feeling my diabetes will not last too long after the surgery because mine is usually around 110 now. Just wondering.... I take a strong dose of Prilosec (40 mg.) - will I still have to take that after RNY surgery?