Question:
I finally have an appointment with a local surgeon (it has taken me since 2/03)

I started my journey in 2/03 and after being accepted into the 2nd group of patients (the doctors in my area have just started doing this surgery as of 11/02), meeting with the hospital coordinator, the dietician, and having my independent psychological evaluation, I am finally going to meet with the surgeon tomorrow. I have been researching the RNY for a while now and feel that it is the surgery I am going to have. I have a few questions written down to ask but I wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions for me - like the question they felt was the most important to ask (or wish they would have asked) at this meeting. I am excited and don't want to mess anything up so I am trying to be very prepared.    — tntwildlife77 (posted on July 15, 2003)

July 14, 2003
I'd advise anyone that BEFORE they even meet the surgeon (if you don't know the answer to the following yet you can call the office ahead of time) they find out if there are PRE-surgical requirements regarding exercise and diet for the period BEFORE surgery. I didn't do that, and spent a lot of time and money before realizing I'd never be able to meet the surgeon's strict requirements for daily aerobic exercise and a daily food journal kept for 10 weeks straight PRE-op! I also made the mistake of not finding out if my surgeon's office would review all of my meds pre-op to figure out which could be easily transformed into an appropriate post-surgery state (i.e., crushable tab or capsule that has powder, not time-release beads, inside), and had to go off an important med cold-turkey the day after surgery, which has been very uncomfortable not to mention dangerous. These questions would be my personal choices. Good luck!
   — Postop_nurse

July 15, 2003
Don't be afraid to talk $$$. I knew my costs up front, but what I didn't know was that the day before surgery, my Insurance company would suddenly tell my Doc that they would not pay her directly. Most surgeons want payment or direct-payment insurance guarantees in advance. (My insurance approved me right away, they just didn't disclose their payment rule until the last minute.) I know of 3 other people who had this last minute problem. They (and I) learned that they had to pay their surgeon anywhere from a $2200 co-pay to $10,000 up front, the day before surgery, or have the surgery cancelled. We all have different surgeons. Learn what the Doctor's payment rules are up front.
   — M B.