Got A Call From Surgeon's Office!!

Hey it's me again. Not sure if you remember what I have been going through with the surgeon turning me down and all due to pain pills and all but I just received a call from that office. The nurse said they are willing to do my surgery if I will go by their ground rules. 1) I have to stay off pain meds for 2 months. 2) They can call me on any day at any time and I will have 4 hours to get into their office for drug screening to prove I haven't been taking them. That is it. I told them yes I would do that. So your opinion.....Would you still go through with it with same surgeon now that they gave you ground rules to have them do it? Thanks Sonya Mantachie MS

I'd be interested in seeing what others say about this, but I think you need to consider some things.  First off, do you have confidence in this surgeon?  I mean, does he have the bariatric experience?  Is he worth getting off the pain meds for two months?  The surgery will be worth it, yes, but is this doctor going to do a good job with you?  The other thing to consider is - and this is from my personal experience, understand - that pre-surgery, you're probably going to have to exercise some self-discipline anyway because the surgeon is likely going to ask you to lose weight ahead of time so that he's not having to deal with as fatty a liver as he would otherwise.  I suspect the request to lose weight - and in this case to keep off the pain meds for awhile -  might be their way of testing our resolve to do what we have to do post-surgery to make this whole endeavor succeed.  I don't know that for a fact, but I suspect that's part of it. Good luck, whatever you decide.  And, again, the surgery was totally worth it for me.   One other thing - post-surgery you are going to need pain medicine as you recover.  What's his take on that? Marcia 

Hey Marcia,   This is the same surgeon I was going to use before. Dr King in Oxford. He is supposed to be one of the best in the state.  My PCP let Dr King know that I am on a Narcotic Contract with her office and that if he can't give me pain meds for after surgery she will be happy to do what ever needs to be done. From my understanding, by what Dr King has told me from the beginning he had a patient that was NOT upfront with him about being on pain meds..this patient was abusing pain meds..and he died from this. That is what I feel like the reason was that I got turned down at first (but I was up front with him with all meds) and then they went back in and changed their mind. I am ready for this. My main support is my husband and if not for him being behind me I am not sure I could go through with it.  Thanks for your post, Sonya  Mantachie MS

Sonya, Dr King did my surgery and I would do it all again.  The first thing I learned about him is that he is very strict and he expects you to follow the rules he sets up for you.  I did what he said and I am much healthier  today that when I started.  He knows what he is doing.  Go for it.  Cindi M

Yes, Dr King is very nice and I could tell the first time I met him that he will be very strict and that is ok with me. I am ready for this life change and desperatly need it. Thanks for all the posts. Sonya

Based on yours and Cindi's response, I'd say go for it too!!  Dr. King sounds like he's interested in your welfare more than anything else, and that to me is the mark of a good doctor!  It's all in how much you want this surgery and what you are willing to do to have it and to make it a success. Marcia