What to Expect While Waiting for Weight Loss Surgery

Your First Appointment

• Expect to be in the office 2-4 hours. Bring water and a snack.

• Expect to watch a 20-30 minute video about weight loss surgery.

• Expect to be with a group of people at different stages in the process. Embrace this. Listen to them and ask questions.

• Expect to get weighed. You will be asked to remove your shoes and socks so wear slip-ons if this is an issue.

• A supportive friend or family member will always be welcome to join you.

• Bring a list of questions; keep in mind you may only get a short time with the doctor.

• Bring a brief (one page) list of medications, health conditions, family history, weight loss attempts (past and present), and brief description of why you are seeking weight loss surgery.

• If you already keep a food and/or exercise journal, bring a copy of that for your file or for the doctor to look at.

• Expect to be asked to make lifestyle changes prior to surgery. This will include making healthier food choices and commit to exercise on a daily basis. You will not necessarily be expected to lose weight, but you will be expected to make a commitment to healthier choices.

• Expect a STRONG suggestion to attend support group meetings and on-line message boards. You will learn very little about how be successful with weight loss surgery from the doctor. It is the support groups that will teach you most of what you need to know.

• Make your next appointment before you leave the office.

More Appointments With the Surgeon

• Expect to be in the office 2-4 hours and to be with a group of others.

• Bring your list of questions, update page of medications and lifestyle changes, and your food/exercise journal.

• Make sure to make your next appointment before you leave the office.

• Make sure you know if you need to make appointments with other specialists or schedule any tests before your next visit.

Lifestyle Changes (begin BEFORE surgery)

• Make exercise a daily commitment. Do as little or as much as you are able. You are not necessarily expected to lose weight. It is the commitment that is most important. If you lose a little weight before surgery that simply makes you a healthier patient when under anesthetic. Walking and swimming/aquafit are two activities nearly everyone can do.

• Make healthier food choices everyday. Begin with eliminating or replacing one thing at a time so you are not overwhelmed and will not fall into “diet mentality”. Some suggestions: Switch from regular to diet caffeine-free soda, eliminate soda pop altogether, switch to decaf coffee & tea or choose herbal teas, switch from white rice, pasta & bread to whole-grain alternatives then cut down the portions, eat less or eliminate potatoes, processed cereals, and other high-glycemic foods, reduce or eliminate deep fried foods and chips. Check the Glycemic Index or the South Beach Diet for more healthy suggestions.

• Eat three meals (including breakfast) and two healthy snacks everyday.

• Drink 2-3 litres of sugar-free, non-caffeinated beverages everyday (water is best).

• Seek support. This is an emotional process and your support group (live or on-line) understands better than anyone else. Many also seek professional counseling to help with food and lifestyle issues.

Other Specialists

• Respirologist – Overweight people are at significant risk for many different respiratory problems that can be dangerous during surgery. The most common is sleep apnea that will need to be treated before going under anesthetic.

• Endocrinologist – They specialize in hormones, blood, and glandular disorders. You will mainly be assessed for diabetes and hormonal problems that are common in obese patients. Your medical and family history will indicate other avenues for the endocrinologist to explore.

• Dietician – You will be given ideas of how to make healthier food choices now and in the future.

• You may be asked to see other specialists depending on your individual medical and family history.

Tests

• Blood tests

• ECG – Electrodes are placed on your chest to test your heart.

• Chest X-Ray – Heart & lungs

• Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) – Heart and lung breathing test – You will be asked to repeatedly breathe into tubes to test for asthma and lung capacity among other things.

• Overnight Oximetry – Mostly looking for signs of sleep apnea – You take a little machine home and clip it to your finger overnight while it takes readings.

• Overnight Sleep Study (depending on Overnight Oximetry results) – Overnight stay at the sleep lab where they take readings all night while you sleep.

• Endoscopy “The Scope” – A tiny camera is put down your throat to look inside your stomach and some samples are taken. They are looking for signs of cancer, bacteria and ulcers among other things. This is usually the last test before surgery.

• Any other tests the surgeon or specialists feel are necessary depending on your individual medical and family history.

• Get copies of EVERYTHING for yourself. Put them in a binder and bring them to every appointment with the surgeon and any other specialists. Paperwork often gets lost or misplaced and having your results with you will save time and expense of having tests re-done and appointments re-scheduled.

Common Questions

1. How long will I wait for surgery? Generally it is 2-4 years after your first appointment. It is NOT first-come-first-served.

2. What can I do to get a surgery date faster? Patient compliance is a big part of it. Make lifestyle changes to the best of your ability and document everything for the doctor. Be pro-active: make sure you have all of your tests done, you’ve seen all of the necessary specialists, find out which appointments you have to make yourself and which ones the office will take care of, get copies of every test possible, and keep living your life while all of this happens.

3. Why do some people get surgery dates that haven’t waited as long as me? This is not a first-come-first-served process. We don’t know someone else’s history compared to our own. There are many factors that affect wait-times and the best we can do is to be pro-active and focus on our own journey.

4. How often should I call the office? Do not call the office unless there is good reason. If all of your tests results are done, or you need to check if they are, then it is OK to politely check where you are in the process. Do not call to complain that someone else got a date before you, or to express your dissatisfaction with the wait times, or to yell at the staff. There are only a limited number of dates available and they do the best they can with what they are given.

5. I can’t stick to a diet now, how will I be able to do it after surgery? Make small changes, one-at-a-time, so as not to be overwhelmed. Start these changes NOW and it will be easier after surgery. WLS won’t do the work for you; it is only a tool to help with all of the other changes that must happen.

THE BEST ADVICE: Live your life while you wait. Try not to become so focused on getting surgery that you let life pass you by.

This information was put together by Shari ..THANK YOU for the awesome collection of info you’ve put together and the time dedicated to doing it.