Initial Consult TODAY!

I am finally going for my first appointment with Dr. Aranow in CT.  T - minus 4 hours!  What should I expect at this appointment? 

Mine was a group meeting, and it was very informative. They went over everything,  pre op, the surgery itself, post op. Risks, stats on success and failure.  Insurance info.  We were weighed in and had vitals taken as well.  

Take notes and ask questions.  Good luck and welcome to the beginning of your new life! 

Thank you!

Let us know hoe it goes.

Def!

Hopefully you will hear from someone who had the same surgeon. Honestly, I clicked to read your post because I love Grumpy Cat. LOL

Did your surgeon have a meeting you attended where he discussed the surgeries and all that then you set up your appointment to see him?

If so then your initial will be them getting your stats, talking to you about your surgery choice, I had my first meeting with the nutrionist. Pretty basic. They might give you a packet of information that tells you about everything from pre-op to post-op, what vitamins you are required to take, stages after the surgery. Things of that nature.

Good Luck!

Grumpy Cat is my cubicle mascot!

I attended the info sesh, so I'm pretty excited about getting a current read on my health.

Thanks!

Dr. Aranow is my surgeon!! I think he is great. My surgery is scheduled for Nov. 23.

At the first appt (which looks like is over for you by now) I just reviewed all med history with him, and most of it was already in the computer because of paperwork you have to fill out via computer. Then I met with his nurse and she reviewed all the tests I would need to have done, and who I needed to call, and who would call me, etc. It is a lot of info to take in all at once, but they give you paperwork on everything.

I hope it went well and you like Dr. A as much as I do.

M

It was a surprisingly short visit.  

Dr. Aranow went over my info that I had submitted online and asked me what type pf procedure I was interested in.  I told him that I trusted his judgement and the info he presented at the seminar.  Lap has a high technical failure rate and causes scarring, the sleeve can cause GERD - which I already have - and is a malabsorptive procedure.  As a vegetarian, I have enough of a challenge getting what I need.  We agreed that I would be a good candidate for RNY.  

After a brief physical exam, he explained the tests he wanted me to have.  His assistant set me up for me for blood work and an H. Pylori test.  I am scheduled for a gall bladder ultra sound and a scope to be done in the office, as well as my first of six dietician visits.  I will also be going for an upper GI.  The only thing left for me to schedule is an appointment with their psychologist.

Needless to say, I bought a document file and a planner to keep all of this straight!

I'm so glad it went well. I've been watching for an update. (keeping an eye out for Grumpy Cat)

However, I am not sure if you just typed it backwards or if you have it backwards. The sleeve is NOT a malabsorptive procedure. It's restrictive only. Your stomach is made into the shape of a banana sort of and the remaining stomach is removed.

The RNY is the malabsorptive one. They make your stomach into a tiny pouch and then they bypass a section of your large intestine. But that bypass part only last around 12-24 months then you will have most of your caloric/fat absortion back. The little villi in your intestine grow longer and father out than they were initially. Your intestines are still bypassed but your body has found a way around so your get your calories (good old body...lol).

But the villi that asborp certain vitamins and minerals do not grow longer or in a new area. Those are permanently malabsorbed. That's why we have to supplement for life.

You are right about the sleeve not helping a lot with GERD. It can even make it worse. (I'm sure there are those here who haven't had it get worse, however.) A lot of people love the sleeve and are very successful with that surgery. You might want to read some over there and post any questions you have and they will help.

I chose bypass because I wanted the malabsorption. I felt I needed the total reboot or "do over". Not for the dumping (because we don't all do that) but it really forced me to relearn what and how to eat. I don't know if I am explaining that clearly. As the sleeve can do the same thing but I worried that it would be too easy for me to just eat less of what I had eaten in the past.

Either surgery I am glad to see you on the road to wellness! I think you are going to do well. You've got the planner and saving your documents (I had a binder...lol) and that's always good to hear. I still am amazed at the number of those folks who go into all of the WLS surgeries with no clue what they are in for.

I'm always here to help out with any questions or lend support! You can PM me if you don't want to post it out on the board.

But you are off to really good start.