cah-ching
Moderator
Hi Peeps,
As some of you know, I went for a consultation with The Hospital Group today. My review of the process can be found here: http://www.wlsurgery.com/wlsurgery/125709-consultations-surgeons-one-down-one-go.html
As promised I said I would post a list of the questions I asked during my consultation. Now I appreciate a lot of the answers can be found on this and various other forums, but for [STRIKE]piece of my [/STRIKE]peace of mind and wanting to hear it from the horses mouth (as differring surgeons say differing things depending upon who you talk to) I asked them anyway - no harm in it after all they ARE the experts in their field so they SHOULD be prepared to have you ask the questions and be prepared to answer concisely after all you areplacing your life in their hands on the operating table. One thing I should stress is no matter stupid you think your question never be to shy to ask it - I have no qualms in asking seemingly silly questions because I want and most importantly NEED reassurance.
So I implore you to ask. My consultation lasted about 2 hours in all ... and I didn't care. The only alloted me 1 hour, but I wanted reassurance ... keep this in mind also.
One more point to add before I list my questions; these are the questions I asked I am posting them to help you formulate your own questions. However you may feel to add or omit (or both) to the list below. Feel free to add to the list in the post as I like inspiration and may well ask further questions when I go for my other consultation in a few days time (see the other aforementioned thread!).
In no partcular order:
1. Will having weight loss surgery (WLS) impact other surgeries that may be required in the future?
2. Will I need to go to pains to ensure I tell surgeon of my gastric band should I need surgery?
3. Although reducing weight will increase my life expectancy, will having the band reduce impact upon life expectancy any more than if I had lost the weight conventionally?
4. Is there a possibility of the WLS failing? If so, what remedies can you offer?
5. Is there a possibility of my stomach stretching again?
6. Is the band meant to last for life or will it need to be replaced at some point? If so, when?
7. Will I need to undertake a pre-operative diet? if so, what does it entail?
8. What will constitute the post-operative diet regimen?
9. What are is the likelihood of baggy skin? Can it be mitigated in any way?
10. Will i be able to exercise as I normally do post-op?
11. The band port is under my skin;
i) please show me where it will be
ii) will I be able to feel it?
iii) will there be extensive scarring in the area as a result?
12. Will I be able to fly long-haul following the op? What are the implications?
13. What should/can I bring with me on the day of the operation?
14. What are the chances of hairloss following the operation? (I've heard some scary stories)
15. What are the average recovery times from the operation? What can I expect?
16. How many years have you been a Bariatric Surgeon?
17. How many WLS's do you perform each year?
18. What are the advantages of the procedure?
19. Lets be frank, what are the disadvantages over conventional weightloss?
20. Will YOU be performing my procedure?
21. Pre & Post-op testing, will there be any?
22. What is my expected weight loss in the first year?
23. What type of band do you use? (manufacturer)
24. What are the chances of infection? (What are your rates?)
25. What are the chances of band slippage? (What are your rates?)
26. What are the chances of erosion? (What are your rates?)
27. Will my bowel movements be different post op? (short-term and long-term)
28. Will I be able to have the operation if I'm on my period (menstrual cycle)?
29. I hear your aftercare is questionable ... outline specifically what it is you offer as after care?
30. You have already mentioned you perform these surgeries day in and day out .... I don't want complacency and/or boredom to set in when you are undertaking my surgery. Can you offer me some reassurance?
31. Tell me what advice you offer and wound care instructions you offer patients ater surgery? do you also supply replacement dressings etc.
32. How will I be discharged? I want a face-to-face post operative discharge with my surgeon. Can you offer this? As I'm not prepared to do it over the phone, by email or by carrier pigeon.
There you go. A list of questions I asked. As I said, some of these questions have been answered on the pages of this forum, and some are covered in the overall discussion anyway. However there is no harm in satisfying yourself.
I hope this helps ... and yes I REALLY DID ask the 32 questions above.
Cheers ... any questions you'd like to ask me, or any additions you'd like to add then please feel free to post.
CC
As some of you know, I went for a consultation with The Hospital Group today. My review of the process can be found here: http://www.wlsurgery.com/wlsurgery/125709-consultations-surgeons-one-down-one-go.html
As promised I said I would post a list of the questions I asked during my consultation. Now I appreciate a lot of the answers can be found on this and various other forums, but for [STRIKE]piece of my [/STRIKE]peace of mind and wanting to hear it from the horses mouth (as differring surgeons say differing things depending upon who you talk to) I asked them anyway - no harm in it after all they ARE the experts in their field so they SHOULD be prepared to have you ask the questions and be prepared to answer concisely after all you areplacing your life in their hands on the operating table. One thing I should stress is no matter stupid you think your question never be to shy to ask it - I have no qualms in asking seemingly silly questions because I want and most importantly NEED reassurance.
So I implore you to ask. My consultation lasted about 2 hours in all ... and I didn't care. The only alloted me 1 hour, but I wanted reassurance ... keep this in mind also.
One more point to add before I list my questions; these are the questions I asked I am posting them to help you formulate your own questions. However you may feel to add or omit (or both) to the list below. Feel free to add to the list in the post as I like inspiration and may well ask further questions when I go for my other consultation in a few days time (see the other aforementioned thread!).
In no partcular order:
1. Will having weight loss surgery (WLS) impact other surgeries that may be required in the future?
2. Will I need to go to pains to ensure I tell surgeon of my gastric band should I need surgery?
3. Although reducing weight will increase my life expectancy, will having the band reduce impact upon life expectancy any more than if I had lost the weight conventionally?
4. Is there a possibility of the WLS failing? If so, what remedies can you offer?
5. Is there a possibility of my stomach stretching again?
6. Is the band meant to last for life or will it need to be replaced at some point? If so, when?
7. Will I need to undertake a pre-operative diet? if so, what does it entail?
8. What will constitute the post-operative diet regimen?
9. What are is the likelihood of baggy skin? Can it be mitigated in any way?
10. Will i be able to exercise as I normally do post-op?
11. The band port is under my skin;
i) please show me where it will be
ii) will I be able to feel it?
iii) will there be extensive scarring in the area as a result?
12. Will I be able to fly long-haul following the op? What are the implications?
13. What should/can I bring with me on the day of the operation?
14. What are the chances of hairloss following the operation? (I've heard some scary stories)
15. What are the average recovery times from the operation? What can I expect?
16. How many years have you been a Bariatric Surgeon?
17. How many WLS's do you perform each year?
18. What are the advantages of the procedure?
19. Lets be frank, what are the disadvantages over conventional weightloss?
20. Will YOU be performing my procedure?
21. Pre & Post-op testing, will there be any?
22. What is my expected weight loss in the first year?
23. What type of band do you use? (manufacturer)
24. What are the chances of infection? (What are your rates?)
25. What are the chances of band slippage? (What are your rates?)
26. What are the chances of erosion? (What are your rates?)
27. Will my bowel movements be different post op? (short-term and long-term)
28. Will I be able to have the operation if I'm on my period (menstrual cycle)?
29. I hear your aftercare is questionable ... outline specifically what it is you offer as after care?
30. You have already mentioned you perform these surgeries day in and day out .... I don't want complacency and/or boredom to set in when you are undertaking my surgery. Can you offer me some reassurance?
31. Tell me what advice you offer and wound care instructions you offer patients ater surgery? do you also supply replacement dressings etc.
32. How will I be discharged? I want a face-to-face post operative discharge with my surgeon. Can you offer this? As I'm not prepared to do it over the phone, by email or by carrier pigeon.
There you go. A list of questions I asked. As I said, some of these questions have been answered on the pages of this forum, and some are covered in the overall discussion anyway. However there is no harm in satisfying yourself.
I hope this helps ... and yes I REALLY DID ask the 32 questions above.
Cheers ... any questions you'd like to ask me, or any additions you'd like to add then please feel free to post.
CC
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