Questions for an Article that I am working on:
I am working on an article that will target the wide range of advice
and opinions that we receive from our surgeons about our gastric
bypass surgery post-op care. It is my belief that we would ALL
benefit from a consistent standard from which we all begin our post-
surgery journey. I am specifically thinking about recommendations
for vitamins and minerals, lab work that is done, frequency of the
lab work, post-surgery food introduction stages, how to best get
protein, and who is really helping us take care of our bodies once
the technical part of our surgery is completed.
Below are some questions that will help me put together an informed
article about what is being experienced by gastric bypass patients
in the variety of programs available.
1) What supplements were recommended for you post-op? Were these
considered short-term or permanent supplements?
2) What types of post-op lab work does your surgeon have you do?
Specifically, names of the tests because “the works” does not define
anything and likely is not all inclusive?
3) How often does your surgeon have you do this lab work?
4) How long does your surgeon follow up on your care: first year,
for life, etc?
5) What type of post-op diet were you told to follow (i.e. clear for
one week, 2 weeks of full liquids, 2 weeks of pureed and 1 week of
soft)?
6) Does your surgeon believe in the value of high quality protein
shakes (i.e. Champion Pure Whey Stack, Proplete Gold, Nectar,
etc.)? If not, what does he/she say is your best way to get in
adequate amounts of protein for a healthy post-gastric bypass body?
7) Have you had any specific problems related to the post-surgery
nutritional care advice that you received (i.e. mineral or vitamin
deficiencies)? How did you discover these? Are they being
resolved?
Does your surgeon’s program prefer that you defer to your PCP for
your medical needs when it comes to post-surgery issues that are
related to the malabsorption process?
9) Is your PCP prepared to deal with a gastric bypass patient? What
is his/her knowledge and experience level with gastric bypass? Is
your PCP willing to learn from what you have been able to gather
from other gastric bypass patients so that you can improve the
quality of your evaluations?
10) Any other observations that you think might prove helpful?
11) When did you have your surgery?
12) If you feel like sharing, what is the name of your surgeon and
clinic? (I will not be naming clinics or surgeons, but this might be
of value to me if someone were to ask).
If I feel the need to quote someone, I will contact you for
permission.
It is my hope to have one of the WLS magazines print the finished
article. If they do not, I will post my finished product here and
else where to try to educate people about the inconsistencies
between surgeons and clinics.
Sandra
AZ