Dr Consult

I started looking in WLS in June. I attended two different surgeons seminars. One surgeon seemed more for bypass, and the other was more for VSG for his patients. I found out my insurance does cover the surgery. I needed to sign with Bariatric services, 6 month diet, and psyc eval. I have been working on the 6th month diet. Bariatric services said pic a Dr. make appt and go. 

When the Dr came in he seemed put out that I was there. I explained what my insurance had said I do, and that even though I had attended his seminar I had personal questions due to other health issues. I also wanted to discuss the two surgery options and which would be best for me. I explained that I have been working on life style changes, because I know that WLS is just a tool, and in the end it is up to me. I am not taking this decision lightly. Maybe i'm wrong but it is major surgery (yes, I've had major surgery before), life altering, and not really reversible if you have issues. From what I gather most people never meet with him until the pre-op, and no one told me that. 

I went because I do not make rushed decisions. I felt like I needed more information before I go through pre-op testing and such. I  do not know anyone that has had the surgery. I know it is normal to be nervous about surgery, and maybe my issue is the last surgery I had was life or death emergency surgery. 

I see and hear all the success  most have had with WLS here.   Yes, I want to lose the weight. I am following a low carb, high protien diet. What should I really expect? Would you do it again? 

Be knowledgeable and prepared for anything-- eyes wide open-- and confident that most of the time that will just be knowledge you won't have to put into practice. 

Would I do it again- yes. Would I do it any sooner than I had-- no because I would not have been ready for the lifestyle change. 

It sounds like you're doing the right thing and working to get fully informed about your options.  

I agree - you need to be fully informed.  I also had to do 6 months of supervised weight loss and it really kick-started me in the right direction.  And I absolutely would do it again - no regrets other than wishing I had done it sooner.

Everything that PeachPie said. 

Additionally, you will be seeing this surgeon for years for follow-up (or his PA or however they do it), plus attending support group meetings led by the NUIT. My surgeon makes you and your support person go to one Supp grp meeting pre-op.  That said, you want a surgeon that you connect with for whatever reason.  You will need to be honest with him.  I am not sure if you ans the surg are establishing that type of dr-patient relationship.  If the dr is a great 'cutter', make sure you feel comfortable with the people who will be doing the follow-up.  They  should really enjoy what they are doing and helping patients like ourselves. 

Yes, it is major surgery with about the same mortality rate as gall bladder surgery (.5%), so go into it with eyes wide open. 

That being said, WLS did not just change my life, it saved it.  Why did I wait so long, thinking I would never be one of those people who are so desperate to lose weight they would have surgery.  Well. at 57 I finally admitted to myself that I was not one of the lucky 3-5% of people who keep the weight off without surgery. (My family took me to see my first bariatric doctor when I was 6 years old.)  It has been almost 2 years for me, so I am still in what many people call the honeymoon phase, it was still a good decision for me.

Best wishes for your WL journey,

Thanks for your response. When I attened the Dr.'s seminar he had a great sense of humor and was informative. He did not have a lot of people there. He seemed very different than at the seminar. There have been issues with his staff already. The insurance specialist has been very helpful, but the receptionist ihas mentioned more than once that they have not  received any of my paperwork from my PCP. The insurance specialist is aware of this. The entire office gave me the vibe that no one else ever meets with surgeon until pre op. The dr also is only in the office 2days a week. 

The other surgeon's seminar was packed with people. He was informative, but just wasn't sure about him because he seemed ****y. Now I'm wondering if he should have been the one I went to see.

Go see another one. I was advised to go to 3 different public info seminars before making a decision.