What to Expect Before Surgery
Whether you are having Gastric bypass or Lap-band there are specific tests and procedures which are performed to guarantee a successful outcome. These procedures are important to make sure that you are healthy enough for weight loss surgery and any underlining conditions associated with your excessive weight are determined and addressed before surgery. It is very important to discover if there is an underlying condition that is causing your obesity. This can help prevent an unneeded surgery as well as resolve weight issues.
Requirements Before Surgery
There are certain requirements a patient must meet before having bariatric surgery. These requirements maybe required by the physician and/or the insurance company. Many patients must meet with a psychologist prior to bariatric surgery to ensure that they are able to deal with the physical and mental changes that will occur. This surgery produces results quickly and while the physiology of the patient is changed, the mental dependency on food is not. The patient will be evaluated to ensure they can handle these changes and have a clear understanding of what is to come.
Other procedures that are required by the physician or insurance company prior to surgery are to meet with a nutritionist. This person will help you learn how to eat after surgery. Meeting a nutritionist is your first step towards creating a new relationship with food. In many cases the patients are required to eat like a bariatric patient prior to surgery to help the transition go more smoothly.
Procedures Before Surgery
There are several procedures required prior to surgery. The physician will need a good look at the patient’s stomach before the surgery. An upper GI will be performed as well as a sleep apnea test if you have signs of this disorder prior to surgery. The physician will also want to look closely at the gallbladder and lungs to ensure you are a good candidate for surgery and to ward off complications down the road like gallstones. A variety of blood work will also be performed to check your mineral and vitamin levels before surgery. An EKG will also be done for anesthesia purposes and to ensure you are healthy enough to under go surgery. Each surgeon will have a slightly different pre-op plan, but generally the tests and procedures are similar. These tests and procedures are all designed to ensure your successful surgical outcome and to ensure your bariatric surgery produces the weight loss expected.
Prior to surgery it is important to gather all the information you will need afterwards to have a successful weight loss experience. Information provided by your nutritionist and physician will be beneficial after the surgery to help you through the transition period of your new life style. It is also helpful to join a bariatric support group even prior to your surgery. The experiences of other bariatric patients can be very beneficial. They have been where you are about to go and have the tricks of the trade to help ease you through this time.
Disclaimer
The information in this article should not be considered medical advice. The information in this article is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe or cure any ailment. Always check with your physician before taking any products or following any advice you have read on Brighthub.com. Always consult your doctor before you start, stop or change anything that has been previously prescribed. Certain herbs and holistic remedies are unsuitable to take if you are pregnant or nursing and must always be cleared by your doctor before use.
This post is part of the series: Weight Loss Surgery
Weight Loss Surgery has been around for more than 40 years. It maybe the answers to your weight loss problems. This series will answer all the questions you have about Weight Loss Surgery and even some you may never have thought of.
