after care

A pre-op asked a good question I gave her my experience but I was wondering what others do Who does your after care?? My family doctor has taken me over after 6 weeks (this surgery).. but he got me down the post op road for 23 yrs before, so I'm not worried this time.. Do the surgeons still see you for a certain time,and you find someone else? Does your insurance only cover surgeons care for a certain length of time?? Wendy

My surgeon saw me every three months for the first year as part of the surgery aftercare. At my first year visit he indicated that some insurance wouldn't pay for visits after that. I think mine would, but since then I have just had my PCP run the same set of labs and send my surgeon a copy. I figure I will go see the surgeon at the two year visit - if for no other reason than to give him a great big hug and say THANK YOU once again! Patty

I am supposed to see my surgeon yearly for life. Or until he retires. BUT it's a 4 hour drive...too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter. I went to see him for my 2 week, 3 months and 1 year. Since then my PCP does all my labwork, sends copies to my surgeon and nut, etc. It's worked well. I know I CAN go back anytime I need to, but when you are complication-free and your surgeon is not a nutritionist, there's not much point in my continuing to spend the time and money on the trip. My pcp and nut do just dandy.

Goodl Morning Tooter!! I have asked this question on the main board last night and I wanted to ask your opinion on this. Hopeful was trying to help me when she asked this question on here. She really didn't ask the jist of it though. I'm concerned that my gen practioner won't be able to care for me properly after my surgery. I know my surgeon has regularly scheduled vists for a while after surgery, but I'm not asking about taking care of my wls questions. what I want to know is if after my surgery will my everyday sicknesses and preop issues need to be handles differently? I know that my med's will need to be liquids, but how different will I be than his other patients when it comes to diagnosis and treatment? I love my doctor and he is all for the surgery but I don't know how good he will be after this. Do you understand what I'm trying to ask? Also what about emergencies like car accidents and etc.? Any help? Linda/Bactrac/swangirl Name/CBhandle/me post op

My PCP would handle my normal illnesses, but anything that's at ALL serious would go through my surgeon. I suspect my PCP would call my surgeon to check on any meds she might want to order for me. She's not one of those doctors that pretend to know everything!! If I went to the ER, though, I would scream long and loud until I was SURE that they had called my surgeon and that's what he has told all his patients to do. The normal run-of-the-mill doctor isn't familiar enough with us to know what we can and cannot have and how meds will affect us. I've sent copies of all my labs to my PCP and I know that she stays in touch with my surgeon as well because they are colleagues and have lunch sometimes. My PCP is open to learning what she needs to know because I'm not her only WLS patient and this is very important. I'm sure each patient is different and each surgeon is different and each PCP is different and you will have to handle your own healthcare your own way! Jan

Thanks Jan, that's what I'm looking for. I just am starting to figure out what kinds of questions I need to ask. Some of this stuff doesn't dawn on you for a while. This is a major concern for me. I've gotten used to worrying about my health and care. Many of my problems will become better after surgery though, like diabetes and blood pressure, acid reflux and??? So maybe I don't have so much to be concerned about now. However I am 54 and old age is creeping up on me and medical issues will continue to arise. I will still have to be concerned, be sure to have a doctor that knows or is careful with what he does for me as he is learning. I have to say it gives me reason to think about one more attempt at doing it the old fashioned way. Thanks again! Linda/Bactrac/swangirl Name/CB handle/me post op

Thanks for the answer Jan..There is such a thing as being over worried..don't you think..I think so..people didn't put the wt on over nite and won't lose it over nite Your brain has to be ready too thats why they do physic evalutaions now..Its not even a requirment to get to the wt you want within a yr or 2..Ohhhhhhh I guess we don't want to step on those stones.. so anyway thanks for answering chow Wendy

yes Wendy I have a tendency to worry too much. What I'm trying to do is to come up with a way to ease my pre op fears. I sure didn't want to wake up from surgery with a big problem on my hands and not know how to handle it. Your right though, I do try to imagine everything that could come up and work through the solution to it before I make a move. Always been worry wort. Once my husband was lighting a charcoal pit and he was squirting the fluid on it after it was lit. I thought then what would I do if...?? That didn't happen but my son did fall into it (small hibachi type on the patio floor) I raced him to the fire station not far from the house and they dressed it quickly and sent him to the distant hospital. Healed no scars!! Anyway You have been a big help and I really do appreciate it! Blessings right back at ya sweetie! Linda/Bactrac/swangirl Name/CB handle/me post op

Most problems can be handled by a traditional doctor. When I had 2nd degree burns on my hand, I went to the ER - they did end up calling my surgeon to discuss absorption of meds but that's all they needed him for. My body is still just a normal body - just special consideration needs to be made for possible malabsorption of some meds, AND things in the intestinal (or full digestive area) may need more serious attention than a normal person would need - because it's been altered. Sooo sudden pain in my low belly, might get me referred out to a gastro doc more quickly now, than preop...but I trust my PCP and know he will refer me out (as he has done) for anything he's not comfortable with. Do you trust your PCP to make that judgement call?

Yes I do. I have a good doctor that has taken care of me for about 4yrs now. He is busy but he continues to be very thorough and caring. He knows me remembers me and listens to me,all the things you could hope for in a doctor. I feel like even if he doesn't know what to do for me I can tell him I would like him to confer even if for some reason he might hesitate to do so. I feel better after talking to you more experienced people about how things have gone with you. I can honestly say I have investigated this surgery and still feel like I need to have it. Thanks, Linda/Bactrac/swangirl Name/CB handle/me post op