New and looking for answers and or support

Reising22
on 1/27/11 3:32 am - Moreno Valley, CA
I have not had surgery yet but I am working on doing so.  My medical clinic has made me do 6 months of a lighten up progam and I will be done with my last class on 01/31/2011.  From there I am suppose to meet with the surgeon and I am statring to get nervous.  I dont know what to expect or even what to ask? Anyone who has had the surgery can you give me some advice?
steelerfan1
on 1/27/11 7:30 am

I'm probably not the best one to ask about recovery because mine was so easy .  I had no pains, no gas pains, no incision pains no nothing , if it wasn't for my incisions being there I would have never know I had surgery to be honest.

The only thing that was sore and it wasn't a kind of sore that I had to take pain meds for was my upper stomach felt like I did a million sit ups other then that it was easy .

I had hubby help me get out of the chair, off the potty , and out of bed to help not use them stomach muscles for about 72 hrs . After that I was on my own it took me longer to stand up but I did it on my own.

I was allowed to drive the next day if I wanted to as long as I had no pain meds in me for the day .

I was back to sleeping in my stomach about 7 days after surgery .

    
           
Quit Smoking
10/8/10
Starting BMI  52.9  BMI now  44.4        updated  6/6/11

  
Reising22
on 1/27/11 7:44 am - Moreno Valley, CA
Well I have had 2 c-sections and my gall bladder removed so I am not worried about the surgery part of it.  I am assuming it is pretty much the same surgery as having my gallbladder removed. I am nervous about the before and after surgery and hearing all the horror stories.
Jean M.
on 1/27/11 9:50 am
Revision on 08/16/12
What horror stories have you heard?

Jean

Jean McMillan c.2009-2013 - Always a bandster at heart
author of Bandwagon (TM), Strategies for Success  with the Adjustable Gastric Band & Bandwagon Cookery. Bandwagon for Kindle now available on Amazon.  Read my blog at: jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com 

   

 

 

 

Jean M.
on 1/27/11 9:56 am
Revision on 08/16/12
Here are questions you could ask. And I suggest that you start a list and as you think of your own questions, write them down. Take the list to your surgical consult so you won't go blank when the surgeon asks, "Any questions?"

Good luck!
Jean

Question

Preferred Answer (if any)

How long have you been doing bariatric surgery?

> 2 years

How many bariatric surgeries have you done?

> 250

What is the surgical mortality rate in your bariatric patient population?

< 1%

Are you board-certified?

yes

What percent of your practice is bariatric surgery?

> 50%

Which bariatric surgery procedures do you perform?

 

Which bariatric surgery procedure do you favor?

 

Which bariatric surgery procedure do you recommend for my needs?

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure?

 

Why don’t you recommend the other procedures for me?

 

How did you become interested in bariatric surgery?

 

Are you a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery?

yes

Where and how long did you train for laparascopic surgery?

(a weekend course is not enough)

Where and how long did you train for bariatric surgery?

(a weekend course is not enough)

How long has your surgical team been working together?

> 1 year

Does your office have an insurance coordinator who can help with my insurance approval?

yes

(If self pay) Does your office offer any medical financing programs?

yes

(If self pay) If I should require additional surgery related to this, will it be at a discounted rate?

yes

Will I have to lose weight before you will perform surgery on me?

(having to lose weight first is not a bad thing)

What pre-op tests and evaluations will I undergo?

(if none, be suspicious)

How long a waiting list do you have?

 

Will the surgery be done at a Center of Excellence?

yes

Is the hospital or surgery center specially equipped to handle large patients?

yes

How long does it take to get an appointment if I have a problem?

Same or next day

Do you offer office hours during evenings or on weekends?

yes

Do you have an emergency answering service?

yes

Are family members welcome to attend appointments and support group meetings?

yes

Please describe your patient education and support program.

 

What percent of your practice is adjustable gastric band surgery?

> 25%

What is the surgical mortality rate in your AGB patient population?

< .2%

Where and how long did you train for AGB surgery?

(a weekend course is not enough)

How many AGB surgeries have you done?

< 125

What are the weight loss success statistics for your AGB patients?

 

What percent of your AGB patients experience infections?

< 1%

What percent of your AGB patients experience band slips?

> 3%

What percent of your AGB patients experience band erosion?

> 1.3%

What other complications do your AGB patients experience?

 

What percent of your AGB patients require revisional surgery and why?

 

Do you have separate support group meetings for AGB patients?

 

What brand(s) and sizes of bands do you use?

 

Are you certified by the maker(s) of these bands?

 

How do you decide which band to use in which patient?

 

Can I choose my band brand?

 

Where do you place the port?  Do I have a choice?

(not where waistband or bra will rub)

How many incisions do you usually make?

 

Do you put any fill in the band during surgery?

 

Do you do single-incision AGB surgery?

 

How soon after surgery can I get my first fill?

Jean McMillan c.2009-2013 - Always a bandster at heart
author of Bandwagon (TM), Strategies for Success  with the Adjustable Gastric Band & Bandwagon Cookery. Bandwagon for Kindle now available on Amazon.  Read my blog at: jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com 

   

 

 

 

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