Lap Band Seminar today!

  Well today at 1 PM I'm going to my Lap Band Seminar.... I have wrote down about 15 questions to ask the surgeon, is there any questions THAT I SHOULD MAKE SURE I ASK WHEN I GO? if ANYONE HAS ANY THEY CAN POST BEFORE 12 PM PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

Thanks Jennifer

Jennifer,

It's 10 am in the central time zone - hope that's not too late for you.

Here are some questions you can ask:

1.  How soon after surgery do you do the first fill? 
2.  How often after that will you do fills?
3.  What are your fill criteria (in terms of weight loss, how much food I can eat, and how often I get hungry)?
4.  How soon after surgery can I expect to start losing weight?
5.  How much of my excess weight can I expect to lose as a result of my lap-band?
6.  What % of your patients experience complications (band slips, band erosion, etc.)?
7.  What are your pre-op eating instructions (any special diet?  for how long? do I have to lose a certain amount of weight pre-op in order to qualify for band surgery?)

8.  What type of band do you use?  Do I have a choice?

10. Where do you place the port?

11. Do you put any saline in the band during surgery?

13.  Do I really have to exercise to lose weight?
15.  Will I feel hungry after my band surgery (as a new post-op, as a later post-op, or after fills)?
16.  What can I do to avoid side effects like PB's, sliming, and stuck episodes?

Good luck at the seminar, and take lots of notes!

Jean

 

Jean,

Thanks for the questions... I did have some written down.. I wanted to let you know I'm sending a money order today so you should have it in a few days.  Thanks again Ill let you know how it goes!

 

Jennifer

First, what are the 15 questions you're going to ask ? We can always add to those so you don't get repeat questions.

I think some of the most important questions to ask him would be:

What are his post op treatments for common lap band problems. I would hate for you to choose a lap band surgeon who after a few times with a problem patient, ends up pushing that patient off to the side, not returning that patients calls, and ends up completely ignoring that patient. It happens

Ask him about his fill policy, does he think that you have to prove that you are working your program before he will ALLOW you to get a fill ? If this is how he thinks then find another surgeon, because if you could have taken off the weight by yourself without a tool then you wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place.

Ask him if he reports all his lab band removals to the FDA and if he sends all his band removals back to Allergan for analysis per Allergans requirements for all their lap band system surgeons. If you ask him this then he will know ahead of time that you are informed about these matters and may treat you accordingly.

Don't be embarrassed to ask him about anything, remember he works for you NOT the other way around. You are putting yourself through abdominal surgery under general anesthesia, so make sure YOU become your best advocate.

Seriously, he really does work for you and don't let him think otherwise.

Thank You so much for the questions too, I wouldn't have thought to ask those.  I'm sorry that you had problems with the band but I have to say you are great when it comes to questions as well even thou you would prefer against it!!

 

Thanks Jennifer

You're welcome