Consult Appt. w/ Life Weigh... what to expect??

Good morning all!

So i have my first consultation appointment at Lifeweigh next week.  I assume it will be with Dr. Rosen.  I have read and researched like crazy all things Lapband.  But i'm wondering what my 4 hour appointment will be like.  Is there anyone out there that can tell me what I can expect or look forward to?  I'm a self pay so i'm hoping I can get my surgery scheduled soon.  Do you think we'll be able to schedule it at my appointment?  Or do follow up visits normally have to be scheduled before a surgery date is set?    

Four hours is a super long appointment.  I'm a bit anxious about it.  I guess i'm picturing talking about being fat and a dieting failure for 4 hours.  Obviously, thats why i'm going there, but i'm thinking it might get kinda emotional.  Am i wrong? 

Can you tell i'm anxious and excited?  Any advice or stories will be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!!
Kelly

Hi Kelly,

Good luck with your appt next week.  I don't know about Dr. Rosen, but I'm wondering if this is a "group" class where other people getting surgery will be there?  I know with my surgeon, once I was approved I had to go to a 3 hour class with a group of people.  Never saw the Dr. The program co ordinator gave us a booklet and hand outs and outlined what we would be going through and what to expect.  Also a nutritionist spoke and told us about what to eat/how to eat.  I can't imagine anyone is going to "scold" you for your weight loss attempts.  They are there to HELP and Encourage you and answer questions!  It'll be fine.  Did you have to have any tests before your surgery if schedueld?  My dr. requires cardio, pulmonary and pschy evals whether self pay or insurance.  You will prbly learn all of that at your session  It'll be fine, hang in there and don't get too anxious!  We'll all be waiting to welcome you to the loser's bench.

Georgie

Georgie, no Dr Rosen does not have a "group" class for a pre op. Life Weigh has other criteria once after the patient sees the doctor and is waiting for insurance approval or is self pay. The doctor and other professionals meet and make their recommendations on a person by person recommendations. In other words it depends on what the person's background is with their past weight, physical and diet history.

And Dr Rosen's staff does not scold anyone about their past weight issues. They are compassionate and are there to help the person get healthy.

You will be meeting one on one with just about each member of Dr. Rosens Team..

Yes, expect to be there for 4hrs.  Not sure which order but you will get to meet w/ Gail Rosen to discuss financing/payment.  You will meet with the nurse and she will take your weight/vitals, draw blood, ekg etc.  You will probably watch an on-line video explaining the different procedures and introducing Dr. Rosen/Dr. Mikhail and the team of experts.  You will meet w/ the dietitian and then you will meet with the exercise physiologist about a workout plan for you.  Then you typically will meet w/ Dr. Rosen or Dr. Mikhail.  

I would be surprised if they scheduled your surgery that day.  Even as a self pay, they do want to make sure you are mentally and physically prepared for the surgery.  They want to set you up for success.

Things they may require you to do..
You will have to have a complete physical from your Dr. to include a pap., possible stress test depending upon the results of the EKG and your current weight.  Possible sleep study.  Possible Physiological Evaluation.  possible food and exercise journals for the next few months.   There is probably more but I just can't remember everything.  It's been a long time. 

Good Luck to you.. I hope to see you at the monthly support group meetings.

Christina

PS.. Don't be ashamed or feel like they are going to scold you.  They are all there to help you.  You will find that this group has the utmost compassion for what they do and really genuinely want to see you happy and healthy.

 

Kelly you are going to meet a great team at Life Weigh. Like Christina said there are some requirements that Dr Rosen will want you to meet to be sure you are really ready for this giant leap!  You just won't have to deal with insurance requirements on top of dr requirements.
If you really go in with a open mind to get healthy it will help to speed up the process.
You can on on Life Weighs web sight and then go to patient porthole, then dietitians pg you can print out a food log to start your logging now.

You will not be told about any of your diet failures. I was insurance but I got an appointment really soon. I seen him in Jan of 2007 and had surgery March 2007. So it's all in you doing what you need to do to help get the ball rolling!
I went with a 2 yr old grandson the day I went and they were just awesome with him.

Good luck
I know you will be pleased in your choice of doctors!

Karen

Thanks to all of you for replying!  I really appreciate it. 

I have my last year of medical records (minus sinus issues that i was seeing a specialist for - figured it was irrelevant?)  including bloodwork and a pap that i will be bringing with me to my appointment next week.  I figured they may want to run more bloodwork and whatever tests they feel necessary.   Of course i'm okay with that because i would much rather them be on the safe side. 

I have been trying to eat on the healthy side since i made the appointment in December.  You think i should start logging everything?  That shouldnt be big deal.  I cant even tell you how many diets i kept food diaries for.  I'm just so ready to get the show on the road.  I completely understand that this isnt a quick fix surgery.  I'm aware that im chosing the WLS that requires the most amount of effort on my part to reach my goal.  I've mentally prepared myself for the liquid diet for post op and possibly even pre-op.  I know this will probably be one of the hardest years in which i'll be making many changes physically, mentally and emotionally.  I look forward to it all.  I'm so thankful that I have this site to come to for advice, knowledge and humor.

Thanks again!
Kelly 

Kelly, they will do a blood draw because they want to see the most recent results especially the diabetes over the last 3 months. You will also have a pulmo function test done in office.

Your last paragraph to me shows that you are ready to embrace this new chapter in your life. Just hang on because you are in for the ride of your life.

Kelly, first off congratulations on taking a very important step to health by doing this for yourself. I have been a long time patient of Dr R's. Right about now at this time 7 years ago I was scheduling my pre surgical seminar appointment at the WISH Center at the same location that you are to have your first appointment. As a matter of background Dr R is still as passionate about WLS then as he is now and he still has the same mechanisms in place for a patient to go through the process to WLS - either self pay or insurance. The first appointment might seem long but they pack so much into it and you learn do much during that time. You will find that ALL of the staff are so great!

Let me give you some background. You are evalutated to the 'ningh degree as to if you can be fast tracked to surgery or need to have some help dealing with eating issues due to your obesity. It is not all cut and dried with self pay vs insurance. For me and many others 7 years ago I had to do a "practice diet" to help me learn to eat properly PO. I had to log my foods, amounts, vitamins, length of time eating and water to name a few. This occurred (for me and others 7 years ago) for 3 months and it is to learn life style changes (something I am sure that you heard about at the pre surg seminar). I know you heard it because Dr R talks about it there as I have given my testimonty many times at the seminars.

During your first appointment you will see all of the in house professionals - exercise, doctor, med testing, diet, finance. Everyone has to see the psycologist and that is an outside appointment. Do not worry about that as the doctors you see are pro WLS - BUT if they see an issue they will make their recommendations. Christina is correct about the sleep study as you might have to go for this. I was required to get my most recent female physical including pap and mammo. I also had to have a gastro clearance due to another medical issue. As far as other medical issues (if you have them) Dr R will work with your doctors on them. Make sure that you have your diet history completely filled out before your appointment. I am sure that Barbie has told you about this either at the seminar or while making your appointment. You can get the paperwork via the website.

My recommendation is to not rush into this (in wanting to schedule your surgery right away - it will come). Continue to do your research for all surgery types. You will be asked to tell Dr R what surgery you want at your first appointment. I know that you are saying to yourself that you are ready for this but let the professionals make the determination first regarding your health.  Hope to see you at the February support group meeting.

Typo patrol= sorry I try to be a stickler.

1 paragraph second to last sentance should be: The first appointment might seem long but they pack so much into it that you learn so much during that time.

 I went through Dr. Rosen when he was with the wish center. He is great no worries your gonna get taken care of.