14
Jul
- Research, Research, Research - I can’t say enough about this. If you start the process well-informed, you will be so much better off. Check out my links section. Research which surgeon you would like to be referred to. Check with your insurance company to see which surgeons are on your plan. Know about the surgery. Your doctors, friends and family will be more likely to feel that you know what you’re getting into if you’ve done the research and are able to answer any questions presented to you.
- Visit with PCP - Don’t beat around the bush. Let your primary care physician know that you’ve been researching this surgery and that you feel this is the best option for you. Bring him/her printed information. Chances are high that your PCP either doesn’t know much about gastric bypass surgery or thinks that he/she does, but actually is thinking of long-outdated surgeries. Have your diet history and your family medical history prepared.
- Get Referral to Surgeon - This is usually only required if your insurance is an HMO plan. Usually you need to have your PCP give you a referral, but some plans allow you to self-refer. Call your insurance company and find out.
- Have Initial Consultation - Plan to arrive early. The last thing you want is for all the planning that led up to this point to be lost because you were stuck in traffic. My husband and I went to my initial consultation together… we had to drive from Austin to Houston. We were actually an hour and a half early. No problem… bring a book. Be sure to bring your diet history and family medical history with you, as well as a list of questions. Remember, you are in a sense interviewing this surgeon for one of the most important jobs.
- Psychological Evalutation - I was initially very worried about having a psychological evaluation… especially since no one knew of a Psychologist who was weight loss surgery friendly that I could go to. I had to pick blindly from a list. Boy, did I get lucky! Dr. Paul Bradford was fabulous. I felt very comfortable and just answered his questions honestly. The main thing they are looking for is that you do not have any psychological contraindications. This includes (but is probably not limited to) drug abuse, suicidal thoughts, personality disorders, schizophrenia, terminal illness or uncontrolled depression.
- Battle Insurance for Approval - Chances are that even if your insurance company does cover the surgery, they are still looking for specific requirements. For instance, my insurance company required that I agree to continue to see a psychologist as needed, to join a gym and seek a personal trainer, to follow-up with a nutritionist, and to take advantage of both online and in-person support groups.
- Pre-op Testing - My surgeon requires that I have a gallbladder ultrasound and an upper GI. Losing weight can cause gall stones. Since you’ve been dieting so much during your life, it may be a good idea for your surgeon to remove your gallbladder during your gastric bypass surgery. The reason for the gallbladder ultrasound is to see if you currently have any gall stones. The upper GI is basically an x-ray of your upper gastro-intestinal tract. After enjoying your barium drink, x-rays are taken. This is to see your current anatomy so that the doctor knows what to expect during your surgery.
- Pre-op Interview - The hospital will want to speak with you and get bloodwork. They want to know about your previous surgeries, how you respond to medications, etc.
- Have the Surgery
- Become healthy!!!
