Preparing for doctors appointment

I have a few questions and I do not know if this is the right place to post this. I finally have a date to see a surgeon, tomorrow actually.

I am getting together all my paper work and so on and was just wondering if you or any other members have suggestions on things to bring with me? Anything I will definitely need for the appointment or any questions you recommend asking?

I am 5'4 and change so really 5'5"

and am about 230lbs. If I can get away with saying Im 5'4 then I meet the 40 bmi but if its 5'5 I am a few pounds under that.

I do have issues such as PCOS, atrial tachycardia, and Psuedo Tumor Ceribi. I do not have diabetes but my endocrinologist has me on metformin.

I have had some people that even with a bmi lower then 40, but at least 35, with these medical issues I should qualify for it.

The Psuedo Tumor Ceribi issue is really kicking my behind, I hear the wooshing all day long. The pressure behind my eyes is horrible, and it does affect my eye sight.

I appreciate any suggestions so that I can be completely prepared for my doctors appointment. And I any suggestions of things to say to help my chances of my doctor agreeing for the DS surgery would be wonderful too.

I would bring contact info of the docs you're working with on your other ailments so they can put it in your file.  Have you fulfilled all of your insurance requirements or is this the very first step for you?

It is the first step for me. Back in Sept 2014 I had been going towards the first steps but alot of family issues happened and I had been going back and forth with my decision.

But I also wanted to ask, my appointment is with DR HERRON in NYC tomorrow however all the reviews I am now reading on here point towards him not being a great one to go with for the DS and that it is VERY hard to get him to do that surgery.

So I researched a bit more and since I live on Long Island and making trips to NYC on a regular basis would be extremely inconvenient I found 

DR David Buchin

he is in huntington ny and that is way closed to me. And I see that he does perform the DS surgery however when I try to find reviews for him and this specific surgery I find reviews for RNY and VGS. Not DS, which is the one my heart is set on.

Does anyone have any feedback? Should I just cancel the apt with Dr Herron tomorrow and seek another doctor?

and is

DR David Buchin

a doctor trusted to perform the Duodenal Switch Surgery?

Dr. Herron may be new to the DS, which is good to get another DS surgeon into play. His name isn't at all familiar to me with the decade I've been part of the DS community.  I've not heard of Dr. Buchin either.

The alternative is that he may be doing a new experimental procedure, known as the either the SADI, SIPS or Loop DS (all the same thing).  I believe this is only the second year for that procedure, and I've noticed that several surgeons have put their own spin on it, so there's a lack of consistency and the results are unfounded for long-term.  What's surprising is how many surgeons are coming out of the woodowrk to do this that have never done the DS before.

Dr. Herron used to do the DS but I haven't heard of him doing one for years, and I'm on more than one website. My guess is that he will do his very best to talk you out of it.

I've never heard of Dr. Buchin at all, and that's with at least 9 years here and a few years elsewhere. I very, very much doubt that this is a DS surgeon at all.

Larra

Ok so I more then likely will have to do more research on a Dr. I am so annoyed with myself if I had follow thru in Oct 2014 I would more then likely already have the surgery. I had to switch drs cause of insurance, now I am just not going to Dr Herron because of everything I read. Also no one close is going to be an option because I heard back from Dr David Buchin, and he doesnt believe in the DS unless you have a higher bmi then 60 and he does it in TWO stages. I just do NOT see any point in a 2 stage surgery. Not to mention I am considered a light weight so doctors who do not believe that conditions such as PCOS and other factors make DS a logical and good choice for people with lower bmis are just not going to be the doctors for me.

I have Health First insurance thru medicaid just for more information. I really want Dr Roslin and have since last Oct 2014 but my insurance is not one he uses. At least then, I am going to call again today and see if there is anything that can be done so I can see Roslin.

Pseudo Tumor Cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension) is a very serious co-morbidity and should qualify you for WLS even with a BMI below 40.  I have this condition and recently have been placed on a new medication that has done wonders for me.  I still plan on WLS because weightloss is supposed to very beneficial in reducing intracranial pressures.  If your current medications aren't working for you, PM me and I can talk to you more about.