Questions for your Surgeon.
Never ever be afraid to ask questions. When it comes to something such as WLS, there really is no such thing as a stupid question. Remember, your surgeon is working for you, s/he is your employee. If s/he is evasive with any questions, or does not give you a satisfactory answer...RUN. You are placing your life in her/his hands, and it is up to you to ensure s/he knows what s/he is doing. Check their credentials online. Call the state medical board. Ask for references, both good AND bad. KNOW your surgeon.
Surgery:
- How many surgeries have you performed?
- Are there any malpractice suits against you?
- Can I do anything to prepare, or get as healthy as I can, for surgery (quit smoking, breathing exercises)?
- What tests do you require? What happens if something is abnormal with a test?
- Do you have special instructions for pre-surgery, i.e. diet, bowel prep?
- Which surgeries do you perform? Which do you recommend and why?
- Can you describe the surgeries?
- For RNY, how big is the pouch?
- For RNY, do you staple or suture the pouch?
- For RNY, do you cut the acid producing nerve?
- For RNY, how much intestines will you bypass, is this considered proximal, medial or distal?
- For RNY, do you separate the stomach?
- Do you perform it laparoscopically or open? If lap, what would be a circumstance that you would have to convert to open?
- How long will I be in surgery?
- How long will I be in recovery?
- What about my gall bladder, do you remove it, or prescribe a medication such as actigall?
- Will you do a liver biopsy?
- Do you recommend a binder?
- Do you do a reversal or take down of this surgery in cases of life and death?
Post-Surgery - How long will I be in the hospital?
- Will I be in ICU?
- Will I have a pain pump?
- Can a family member stay with me?
- Will I have a drain? If so, when will it be removed?
- Will I have an indwelling urinary catheter? If so, when will it be removed?
- Should I take my meds from before the surgery? Do I need to bring them to the hospital with me?
- How soon and how often will I be walking after surgery?
- Will I have foot pumps (for circulation)
Complication Rate - What is your mortality rate? What did the patients die from?
- What is your stricture rate? Dehydration? Ulcer?
- Has there been any circumstance in which you started surgery but could not finish it? What were they?
- Because my residual stomach is inaccessible, will it be more difficult to detect cancer or ulcers?
- Will I experience a lot of nausea and vomiting?
- What are the common side effects you see from this surgery?
- Will my hair fall out? What can I do to help prevent it?
Pouch Questions - Can I use a straw?
- Can I eat popcorn?
- Can I drink alcohol?
- Can I drink soda?
- Can I chew gum?
- Will it stretch out?
Misc. - I have to travel, what are your requirements (I had to travel 2 hours, and my doctor wanted me in a hotel until my first week check-up)?
- How long will I have to be off of work?
- Are there activity/lifting restrictions?
- How soon can I exercise? Walk? Swim?
- Do you have a support group? When? Where?
- How often and how long do you require follow-up care?
- Will I need plastic surgery?
- Will I need to be on a protein and vitamin regimen? How long?
- How will absorption issues effect the medication I am on?
- Can I get pregnant after surgery? When?
- Should I get a medical ID bracelet? If so, what should I put on it?
- How much should I expect to lose, and how quickly?
- Should I expect to regain?
- Can I keep from regaining by diet and exercise?
- If I slack, and regain a lot, will it be easier for me to lose the weight and keep it off than it was when I was pre-op, or will I begin to yo-yo again?
Insurance and Payments - How much does this surgery cost?
- How much will my insurance cover?
- Will your office handle the insurance for me?
- If I have to appeal, will you help me?
- Do you have a fee that the insurance does not cover? Does the hospital?
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