Most impt ? I should ask..

My first visit with the surgeon is Friday at 8:30am. If you could only ask one question of him, what would it be??  And "do you use a catheter, and can they take it out while I'm still drugged" is already on my list because holy crap that concept wigs me out!   But really, I'm curious what one question you would bubble up to the top of the list as the most important, must ask above everything else question on the list.

I had a notebook and had about 4 pages of questions and I wrote the answers as he was talking so I would remember them.

I don't think I can narrow it down to one questions so here are a few:

What is your complication rate?  Any deaths?

What types of WLS do you do?  How many have you done?

What are your pre-op requirements?

Do you have an active support group?

Is there a nutritionists I will be able to meet with after my surgery?

They put my catheter in after I was put to sleep.  I didn't feel it when they took it out.

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.  What type of surgery are you hoping to have? 

Linda

 I know the catheter thing is silly when I think of all the other stuff but it is what flips me out....everyone says it isnt a big deal and that has made me feel better. Now...about all those needles ...  Just kidding (sort of...omg, I'm such a wimp!)!   I'm thinking RNY at this point...curious to hear what he thinks i should do.

To my knowledge I didn't have a catheter (not while I was conscious at least).  I just used a bed pan to pee in for the first day post op (didn't need to poop until I was well enough to go to the bathroom).

Taking OUT the catheter isn't an issue...*I* wanted to be sure to be asleep when they put the sucker IN!

I had a long list and all were important to me.

What I WISH I had known is MY surgeon's insistence on using medicine cups to get your liquids in while in the hospital...I would have put it in writing to avoid that as I have a movement disorder that makes drinking out of a medicine cup a challenge...more ended up ON me than IN me.

Liz

I had to go to so many support meetings before my meeting with the surgeon, I didn't have any questions left.  All had been answered. 

After they had to give me lasix, I wanted the catherter back in, getting up and down all night was miserable. 

I think I would ask how often they want you to have your blood test done the first year and If they say less than every 3 months I'd want a damn good explanation as to why not. Let him now that you want your labs to be optimal not just abysmal and barely within range.
I'd want to be assured that the dietitian would treat me as an individual and not one of the group. I don't want to be pushed through a bariatric program that treats everybody exactly the same. If I chose to follow Vitalady's vitamin plan, would they have heart palpitations, if so, I'm out of there. :)
I would also ask what his opinion of protein supplements is because I intend to use them to my advantage as a post-op...because I've seen very very successful post-ops use them even years after surgery.
Go in there with your plan and make sure he will support you and not treat you like you have no brain or knowledge of what you're planning to have done to your body. He works for you--make sure he knows that and that you will uphold your end of the bargain by taking your vitamins and eating low carb/high protein. Let him know you will faithfully follow-up as you're supposed to. ...I think that's all I have and will step off my soapbox now. :)

--gina

 Gina, that was hugely helpful. Those are things that I hadn't thought to ask! Get on that soapbox anytime!!!