Questions to ask at consult???
I have my first appointment tomorrow to talk to my surgeon about revising from the band to the sleeve.
I'm going to ask:
How many sleeves has he done
What's his complication rate
What's the pre-op/ post op diet like
How big does he make the stomach/pouch
If he overs insurance to cover complications (I'm self pay).
Anything else I should be asking?
Thanks,
Amy
I'm going to ask:
How many sleeves has he done
What's his complication rate
What's the pre-op/ post op diet like
How big does he make the stomach/pouch
If he overs insurance to cover complications (I'm self pay).
Anything else I should be asking?
Thanks,
Amy
I'd specifically ask about revisions he's done. Band to sleeve revisions are much more complicated - band damage to the stomach is the biggest issue.
How long should you expect to be hospitalized? That's a big one for self-pay. How many office visits follow up are included in the surgery price?
On the size of the sleeve, you're interested in the bougie size, but also in how close he starts to the valve at the top by the esophagus and the pyloric valve. There are still some surgeons who start a number of centimeters away, leaving a pouch of stretchy tissue at the top and bottom (one patient who saw a scan described her stomach as "barbel shaped"). This is old, old, old but I've seen people who've had it within the less-than-6-months I've been on here.
Once you have the diet info, please feel free to post a "does this sound right" inquiry if you have any doubts. There are some commonalities among successful plans, and vets will be happy to give you input.
Good luck!
How long should you expect to be hospitalized? That's a big one for self-pay. How many office visits follow up are included in the surgery price?
On the size of the sleeve, you're interested in the bougie size, but also in how close he starts to the valve at the top by the esophagus and the pyloric valve. There are still some surgeons who start a number of centimeters away, leaving a pouch of stretchy tissue at the top and bottom (one patient who saw a scan described her stomach as "barbel shaped"). This is old, old, old but I've seen people who've had it within the less-than-6-months I've been on here.
Once you have the diet info, please feel free to post a "does this sound right" inquiry if you have any doubts. There are some commonalities among successful plans, and vets will be happy to give you input.
Good luck!
Highest weight: 335 lbs, BMI 50.9
Pre-op weight: 319 lbs, BMI 48.5
Current range: 140-144, BMI 21.3 - 22
175+ lbs lost, maintaining since February 2012
He does use centimeters as a guideline, but he doesn't start measuring from the esophagus. It's much lower in the stomach. Does this sound OK?
He doesn't require a pre-op diet given what a I weigh. The post op diet is liquids for 2 weeks, soft foods for 2 weeks, then slowy progess to solids from there. From what I've read on here that sounds about average,right?
He's only done "about 10" band to sleeve revisions. He's done around 100 sleeves total over the last 3.5 years.
I'd really like to find someone who's done more revisions than that, but not for sure what I'll find in the area where I live.
He doesn't require a pre-op diet given what a I weigh. The post op diet is liquids for 2 weeks, soft foods for 2 weeks, then slowy progess to solids from there. From what I've read on here that sounds about average,right?
He's only done "about 10" band to sleeve revisions. He's done around 100 sleeves total over the last 3.5 years.
I'd really like to find someone who's done more revisions than that, but not for sure what I'll find in the area where I live.
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