What Sort Of Questions Should I Ask My Surgeon At Consultation

[vanilla-cupcake]

Hi, I have my pre-op consultation next Saturday and have been told to write down any questions I might have, are there any questions that you think I should ask, my mind always goes blank when I try to think of any or do you have any advice for me, my operation is on the 27th June in Bromsgrove with Dr Paul Super

Cheers
Kate

 

[margaretmc]

Hi Kate
I just didn't want to read and run . Yeah that's a good idea writing down your questions . My heads like a sieve as well . Are you getting you surgery on the NHS or are you going private ? Id like to wish you all the luck in the world and may you have a speedy recovery hun . Good luck and take care .
MARGARET XX

 

[fairyringuk]

Dr Paul Super, hes the chap that was on TV a few weeks ago, there were lots of comments about him, but not may I add regarding his theatre abilities. Hope all goes well with you.

Jay xx

 

[vanilla-cupcake]

Hi Kate
I just didn't want to read and run . Yeah that's a good idea writing down your questions . My heads like a sieve as well . Are you getting you surgery on the NHS or are you going private ? Id like to wish you all the luck in the world and may you have a speedy recovery hun . Good luck and take care .
MARGARET XX

Hi Margaret, im going private, its costing me £7k :sigh:, thanks for the best wishes

 

[vanilla-cupcake]

Dr Paul Super, hes the chap that was on TV a few weeks ago, there were lots of comments about him, but not may I add regarding his theatre abilities. Hope all goes well with you.

Jay xx

Ohhhh God, what do you mean, were they bad comments, I didn't see him on tv but I was told he was on it, I am meeting him next Saturday, what on earth am I to expect

 

[zetacatty]

If you've done loads of research there probably aren't any questions about the actual op - perhaps you have questions about your pre-op diet or the admittance procedure or anything that differs from hospital to hospital like aftercare - will you have sutures, staples or steri-strips and how long you have to be on liquids etc. Good luck with your appointment and good luck woth your op. Zxx

 

[vanilla-cupcake]

If you've done loads of research there probably aren't any questions about the actual op - perhaps you have questions about your pre-op diet or the admittance procedure or anything that differs from hospital to hospital like aftercare - will you have sutures, staples or steri-strips and how long you have to be on liquids etc. Good luck with your appointment and good luck woth your op. Zxx

Hi zetacatty, yes I have done quite a bit of research I dont think there is anything about the op that im not sure about, think i could maybe perform one myself :giggle:

Have a few questions written down but would hate to forget to ask them something important

 

[Postop]

Here's a list of questions culled from years of posts. Take a look & then take what pertains to your operation:

WLS Consult Ques.​

1. How will the incision be closed? Stitches, Steri- Strips, Glue or Staples?
2. How will the procedure be done: Open or Lap?
a. If open, how long of an incision?
b. If lap, how many poke holes?
3. How long should the surgery take barring no complications?
4. Can my gallbladder and/or appendix be taken? Do you always take them?
a. If not, will I be given meds to prevent gallstones?
5. Can I listen to music during surgery?
6. Will I go home with a “G” tube?
7. Will I have the booties that help to prevent blood clots?
8. What type of R-N-Y (Proximal or Distal) – if you’re having a gastric bypass?
9. How small can you make my pouch?
10. How much intestines can you bypass?
11. Are you board certified?
12. Can I continue to take my birth control pill?
13. Will I be getting a binder in the hospital?
14. What about my piercings?
15. What are my chances of getting an ulcer after surgery?
16. Can I get an epidural?
17. Will I be tested for H. Pylori bacteria?
a. Is there anything that I can do to prevent it?
18. Have you ever started a WLS but couldn’t complete it?
19. Will you leave a surgical marker that will show the location of my unused tummy?
20. Will I have a drainage tube in my tummy?
21. What type of painkillers will I be given for home use?
22. Are there gowns in the hospital for someone of my size?
23. When (after surgery) can I resume my normal activities?
24. Do I have a limit on how much I can carry or lift?
a. For how long?
25. How much should I lose?
26. Can I still take Advil or aspirin (or other anti-inflammatory meds)?
27. Do you have a list of drugs that I can and cannot take?
a. Will my medications be properly absorbed after surgery?
28. What about pregnancy?
a. Will it be considered high risk?
29. Should I get a medic-alert bracelet?
30. When will the stitches, steri- strips, glue and/or staples be removed?
31. Regarding the RNY: what do you consider Proximal or Distal? Which would you do on me?
32. Will I get shots of heparin to prevent blood clots?
33. Will I experience hair loss? Will taking Zinc help to prevent hair loss?
34. When can I start to exercise?
35. Typically, do more complications occur with lap or open?
36. Typically, how long does it take to perform open surgery?
a. How long for lap?
37. How many of your patients have lost their spleens?
38. What are my odds of getting a hernia?
39. Can I actually cause a hernia?
40. Will I have a central line?
41. Will I have an “A” line?
42. Will I have a Foley?
a. If so, How long does it stay in?
43. Will I have an “NG” tube?
44. How long do I stay in recovery? Barring complications, will I spend any time in ICU?
45. After surgery, how do you detect for leaks?
46. What are my odds of getting a UTI, bladder infection or yeast infection?
47. Can I meet the anesthesiologist ahead of time?
48. How soon will I be able to shower after surgery?
49. Because of a family history, can I get a Dexascan?
50. Will my nasty heartburn go away? Will the surgery cause heartburn?
51. Can I get Lupus?
52. What do you think of RNY, BDP/DS, Gastric Band and VBG? Do you do all of them? How many have you done of each?
53. When is the soonest I can be scheduled for surgery (after going thru the program)?
54. What are my odds of Adhesions?
55. What are my odds of a staple line breakdown?
56. Will I have a Greenfield?
57. Can I be given something non-narcotic (I don’t want morphine) like Toradol?
58. What about drinking alcohol?
59. How long am I out of work for?
60. How often will I need labs done? How often will I need an office visit?
61. If I am vomiting or nauseated after 3 weeks, what will you do for me?
62. Can I have my ‘apron’ removed during surgery?
63. Do you transect the stomach or do you just put in a staple line?
64. What is the youngest person that you would perform this surgery on?
a. What is the oldest person that you would perform this surgery on?
65. How many patients have you lost?
66. How much protein will I need each day?
a. I can only eat tiny meals. How can I get all the protein I need?
67. I used to be able to eat dairy products, but now they give me gas and diarrhea. What’s wrong with me?
68. Do you have a nutritionist familiar with the surgery I’m having? Does he/she have food lists, quantities, amount of protein, etc. or some type of written guidance to give me pre and/or postop?
69. Will I have a problem with foul gas and loose bowels?
70. What are the differences between the DS and the RNY?
a. Why do they have to remove part of the stomach in the DS?
b. What is the difference between the “distal gastric bypass/duodenal switch (DGB/DS)”, and the “biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch (BPD/DS)”?
c. What is a common tract and why is it significant? How long will my common channel be?
d. Can the BPD/DS be performed laparascopically?
e. Will malabsorption cause me to become malnourished?
f. How much will I spend on vits/minerals each year?

 

[Meggie]

Great post!!! I probably would've just turned up and not thought of any good questions to ask!!!!

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

ask him what size band hes gave u and if hes put a sneaky fill in during surgery b4 u leave.

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

Here's a list of questions culled from years of posts. Take a look & then take what pertains to your operation:

WLS Consult Ques.​

1. How will the incision be closed? Stitches, Steri- Strips, Glue or Staples?
2. How will the procedure be done: Open or Lap?
a. If open, how long of an incision?
b. If lap, how many poke holes?
3. How long should the surgery take barring no complications?
4. Can my gallbladder and/or appendix be taken? Do you always take them?
a. If not, will I be given meds to prevent gallstones?
5. Can I listen to music during surgery?
6. Will I go home with a “G” tube?
7. Will I have the booties that help to prevent blood clots?
8. What type of R-N-Y (Proximal or Distal) – if you’re having a gastric bypass?
9. How small can you make my pouch?
10. How much intestines can you bypass?
11. Are you board certified?
12. Can I continue to take my birth control pill?
13. Will I be getting a binder in the hospital?
14. What about my piercings?
15. What are my chances of getting an ulcer after surgery?
16. Can I get an epidural?
17. Will I be tested for H. Pylori bacteria?
a. Is there anything that I can do to prevent it?
18. Have you ever started a WLS but couldn’t complete it?
19. Will you leave a surgical marker that will show the location of my unused tummy?
20. Will I have a drainage tube in my tummy?
21. What type of painkillers will I be given for home use?
22. Are there gowns in the hospital for someone of my size?
23. When (after surgery) can I resume my normal activities?
24. Do I have a limit on how much I can carry or lift?
a. For how long?
25. How much should I lose?
26. Can I still take Advil or aspirin (or other anti-inflammatory meds)?
27. Do you have a list of drugs that I can and cannot take?
a. Will my medications be properly absorbed after surgery?
28. What about pregnancy?
a. Will it be considered high risk?
29. Should I get a medic-alert bracelet?
30. When will the stitches, steri- strips, glue and/or staples be removed?
31. Regarding the RNY: what do you consider Proximal or Distal? Which would you do on me?
32. Will I get shots of heparin to prevent blood clots?
33. Will I experience hair loss? Will taking Zinc help to prevent hair loss?
34. When can I start to exercise?
35. Typically, do more complications occur with lap or open?
36. Typically, how long does it take to perform open surgery?
a. How long for lap?
37. How many of your patients have lost their spleens?
38. What are my odds of getting a hernia?
39. Can I actually cause a hernia?
40. Will I have a central line?
41. Will I have an “A” line?
42. Will I have a Foley?
a. If so, How long does it stay in?
43. Will I have an “NG” tube?
44. How long do I stay in recovery? Barring complications, will I spend any time in ICU?
45. After surgery, how do you detect for leaks?
46. What are my odds of getting a UTI, bladder infection or yeast infection?
47. Can I meet the anesthesiologist ahead of time?
48. How soon will I be able to shower after surgery?
49. Because of a family history, can I get a Dexascan?
50. Will my nasty heartburn go away? Will the surgery cause heartburn?
51. Can I get Lupus?
52. What do you think of RNY, BDP/DS, Gastric Band and VBG? Do you do all of them? How many have you done of each?
53. When is the soonest I can be scheduled for surgery (after going thru the program)?
54. What are my odds of Adhesions?
55. What are my odds of a staple line breakdown?
56. Will I have a Greenfield?
57. Can I be given something non-narcotic (I don’t want morphine) like Toradol?
58. What about drinking alcohol?
59. How long am I out of work for?
60. How often will I need labs done? How often will I need an office visit?
61. If I am vomiting or nauseated after 3 weeks, what will you do for me?
62. Can I have my ‘apron’ removed during surgery?
63. Do you transect the stomach or do you just put in a staple line?
64. What is the youngest person that you would perform this surgery on?
a. What is the oldest person that you would perform this surgery on?
65. How many patients have you lost?
66. How much protein will I need each day?
a. I can only eat tiny meals. How can I get all the protein I need?
67. I used to be able to eat dairy products, but now they give me gas and diarrhea. What’s wrong with me?
68. Do you have a nutritionist familiar with the surgery I’m having? Does he/she have food lists, quantities, amount of protein, etc. or some type of written guidance to give me pre and/or postop?
69. Will I have a problem with foul gas and loose bowels?
70. What are the differences between the DS and the RNY?
a. Why do they have to remove part of the stomach in the DS?
b. What is the difference between the “distal gastric bypass/duodenal switch (DGB/DS)”, and the “biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch (BPD/DS)”?
c. What is a common tract and why is it significant? How long will my common channel be?
d. Can the BPD/DS be performed laparascopically?
e. Will malabsorption cause me to become malnourished?
f. How much will I spend on vits/minerals each year?

thats a lot of Qs lol he be there all day lol

 

[Postop]

True, lol. But I've had over 4 years to gather them.

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

im also 4 years post op, diff proceedure tho.

 

[thinkbethin]

I'm sure you'll have it all in hand when you get in there. I was so comfortable with my surgeon I feel I could have asked him how many sugar he had in his tea lol. Good luck and I'm sure there will be some questions on the above list that you might want to ask.
xxxGaynorxxx

 

[Snowcrystal]

True, lol. But I've had over 4 years to gather them.

Hi Postop

You say you've had 4 years to gather these questions...but what, if you remember, did you ask 4 years ago?

~hugs~

 

[Postop]

Hi Postop

You say you've had 4 years to gather these questions...but what, if you remember, did you ask 4 years ago?

~hugs~

I came in w/a ton of questions. I wish I remembered them but it was a long time ago. Many you see on the list I posted earlier are ones I asked. I asked about the bypass & the DS because I knew those were the 2 I was considering.

The hardest ques. I remember asking was how many patients had the surgeon lost. I felt it was important to know even though it was a tough question.

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

I came in w/a ton of questions. I wish I remembered them but it was a long time ago. Many you see on the list I posted earlier are ones I asked. I asked about the bypass & the DS because I knew those were the 2 I was considering.

The hardest ques. I remember asking was how many patients had the surgeon lost. I felt it was important to know even though it was a tough question.

thats a very common Q to ask, and if asked the surgeon will answer truthfully x

 

[Snowcrystal]

thats a very common Q to ask, and if asked the surgeon will answer truthfully x

Hi Liz

So it wouldn't be an impertinent question to ask the surgeon?

~hugs~

 

[Postop]

Hi Liz

So it wouldn't be an impertinent question to ask the surgeon?

~hugs~

Not at all. If you want to know, you should ask. It's just sometimes a bit uncomfortable - at least it was for me. But that didn't stop me from asking it...

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

most ppl ask this at the group meeting/seminar and the surgeon tells it how it is x

if you want to ask it then ask.