Meeting the Surgeon and Team Today!

Hi All!

I will meet with the surgeon and bariatric team this afternoon for the first time. Can anyone offer any questions that I should ask (in case they aren't on my list)? Is there anything you didn't ask about but wish you had? I am very indecisive about which surgery I want. I have been flip flopping between the sleeve and RNY. I hope and pray I get this right the first time.

Do you remember your first meeting with the bariatric team? How was it? What should I expect?

 

Thanks!~

I thought you decided on the Band?  You are the one person in the world I would actually recommend the band to.  I like you would have never gotten to the sleeve if I didn't have the band first.  The thing is though in 2005 the band still seemed good.  I was so opposed to losing my stomach that I almost got a plication instead of gastrectomy (don't get any ideas, it ruins the stomach too)

You will not be able to store your stomach for future use and so if that is a great concern to you, get the band.  You seem to have this idea that RNY is reversible just in case for cancer - taking down a pouch is no joke especially if you had cancer - would you be in the condition to undergo such an extensive surgery under that condition.  Our stomachs and esphogas' gets torchured  from the Band.  The Band has to be tediously dug out of the scar tissue if removal is needed - it is not like undoing a hair barrett.  So in saving your stomach for future cancer it's a sort of take your chances sort of thing.  You posted that you smoke.  If you stopped smoking, you may lessen your chance of cancer if that is a huge concern of yours.  And maybe, just maybe for you - you should try to lose your excess weight without any weight loss surgery at all.  I wish you all the best with whatever decision you make

Thank you so much for paying attention and giving such thoughtful responses. I actually laughed when you said I was the one person in the world that you would reccommend the band to. I know RNY isn't really reversible. I think its just a mental worst case scenario comfort I have in my mind. Crazy, I know. I'm also considering therapy. Ienjoyed it before. It could only help. I'm thinking of trying one more time to do it on my own. I've always lost but never enough and it always came back twofold. I'm tired of the yoyo. You are also right about the smoking. I am going to quit. In fact, that's a requirement anyway. again, that could only help. I can't wait to see what the Dr has to say about me and my love for my stomach. LOL I will update when I get out of the appointment.

hi 

    i feel before you consult a doctor please do check with your insurance company and find out which surgeons are covered on your plan, but you will probably have several from which to choose.consult two to three bariatric surgeon and see if their opinion are similar and choose the best 

Thanks! I am certain my ins. Covers. I actually work for the hospital that would do the surgery and they seem to encourage overweight employees to attend the seminar. I'm guessing they assume surgery is cheaper than to finance the cost of meds for comorbidities. They invite us all via email to the sessions. I also learned that the process for approval for us is faster than most insurances. We are self-insured so I know there are cost savings there.

UPDATE - The surgeon was called into emergency surgery. I met with the nurse practicioner and dietician. It was a breeze. I got tons of scripts for tests and their opinions on what they think is best. They both leaned toward VSG due to me being young (31) and my 49 BMI. They did tell me I'd loose more with RNY. Surprisingly, the nurse mentioned "takedown" possibilities (complete reversals of RNY) not being available with VSG if necessary although she did say they were rare but she has seem some in cases of extreme malnutrition. She did caution me that this is NOT something that is routinely done or encouraged. They also stressed the importance of vitamins and me quitting my precious Newports, which I need to do anyway as I know and is kindly pointed out.