Meeting with the Surgeon
Hi,
There is a really great list of questions for your surgeon in the "Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies" book.
I got mine from Barnes & Noble, (in paperback), but it's widely available, and can be bought on the internet too. Also may be available at your library.
You may want to look at the list and copy the ones you want answers to, and add any, that are not on the list, that occur to you. It's a pretty comprehensive list though.
HTH,
Fred
If it feels good, do it! And if it smells good, eat it!
Here are some I collected along the way...
*Will I need to lose weight pre-op? How much?
*What tests do you require pre-op? Can I use any I have done reviously?
*How many of these have you performed?
*What percentage have needed to be converted to open?
*What is your leakage rate?
*What is your other complications rate?
*What is your mortality rate?
*What leak tests do you do? (Some surgeons only do during the surgery; others do test post-op--patients have different preferences about this.)
*How many rows of staples do you use?
*Do you ever use hand-stitching instead, or in addition to, the staples?
*Do you use an NG tube? How long? (Many surgeons don't find this necessary. I believe it is preferable NOT to have it.)
*Do you use a drain? How long? (Many surgeons don't find this necessary. I believe it is preferable NOT to have it.)
*How long will I need to stay in the hospital?
*What kind of pain killers do you use?
*What nausea meds do you use?
*Do you prescribe antacids post-op?
*Do you prescribe anti-gallstone meds post-op?
*What are your pre- and post-op dietary guidelines?
*How soon can I have Tic Tacs or SF sucking candies?
(The following story is not mine.)
"EXACTLY what kinds of foods/liquids am I allowed in the hospital after surgery, and how soon am I allowed to have them?" Because it turns out, in my situation, the surgeon, his nut, and the hospital all had different ideas of what I should be given immediately post op. It's not fun to be sitting in your hospital bed worrying if you're really supposed to be having what the lunch server gave you. In my case they gave me cream of wheat within hours after my surgery. Then my nurse came in and said I couldn't even have ice chips for 24 hours, then a week later my surgeon told me I could have had whatever I wanted, as long as I could keep it down!
Hope these help!
*Will I need to lose weight pre-op? How much?
*What tests do you require pre-op? Can I use any I have done reviously?
*How many of these have you performed?
*What percentage have needed to be converted to open?
*What is your leakage rate?
*What is your other complications rate?
*What is your mortality rate?
*What leak tests do you do? (Some surgeons only do during the surgery; others do test post-op--patients have different preferences about this.)
*How many rows of staples do you use?
*Do you ever use hand-stitching instead, or in addition to, the staples?
*Do you use an NG tube? How long? (Many surgeons don't find this necessary. I believe it is preferable NOT to have it.)
*Do you use a drain? How long? (Many surgeons don't find this necessary. I believe it is preferable NOT to have it.)
*How long will I need to stay in the hospital?
*What kind of pain killers do you use?
*What nausea meds do you use?
*Do you prescribe antacids post-op?
*Do you prescribe anti-gallstone meds post-op?
*What are your pre- and post-op dietary guidelines?
*How soon can I have Tic Tacs or SF sucking candies?
(The following story is not mine.)
"EXACTLY what kinds of foods/liquids am I allowed in the hospital after surgery, and how soon am I allowed to have them?" Because it turns out, in my situation, the surgeon, his nut, and the hospital all had different ideas of what I should be given immediately post op. It's not fun to be sitting in your hospital bed worrying if you're really supposed to be having what the lunch server gave you. In my case they gave me cream of wheat within hours after my surgery. Then my nurse came in and said I couldn't even have ice chips for 24 hours, then a week later my surgeon told me I could have had whatever I wanted, as long as I could keep it down!
Hope these help!
(10 lbs. lost pre-op)"Many a false step was made by standing still."
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