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GETTING READY
Here at the Center, we believe in providing in-depth patient preparation for surgery.
New Patient Seminar and Evaluation
An appropriate evaluation is important prior to surgery. Many patients are referred by their primary care physicians.
These patients have usually been evaluated for thyroid and hormonal problems. Frequently they have already had evaluations
for hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, or other medical problems. For patients who have not had a medical
evaluation, an evaluation for medical causes of obesity is necessary. Some insurance plans require a medically
supervised dietary program prior to giving approval for Bariatric surgery.
Insurance Approval
Ruth Meyers, Lynn Newberry, and Patricia Sage, our staff of insurance specialists, will work to obtain approval from your
insurance company for your Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. One of the strengths of our program is our dedication to getting you
approved so that you can proceed with surgery. Your primary contact will be with Lynn, who works to move patients through
the approval process and helps you complete all the necessary steps before having surgery.
Stress Test
All patients will have a preoperative stress test done on an exercise bicycle in our office. It is important to identify
heart or lung problems that might make an operation unnecessarily risky. This test assists us in taking the best care of
our patients in the hospital after surgery and may identify patients that require more extensive preoperative evaluation
by a lung or heart doctor prior to surgery.
Meet with Our Psychologist, Dr. Charles Kluge
We feel that it is important to assess your emotional and mental preparation for weight loss surgery. Dr. Kluge is an
essential part of our program and a recurring presence at our Support Group meetings both before and after surgery.
Upper Endoscopy
Each patient will have an upper endoscopy to examine portions of
the stomach and duodenum that will be excluded during the operation and difficult to examine afterwards. This
brief procedure is performed either by Dr. Meyers or Dr. Wiltse.
Nutrition Class with our Dietician
Our dietitian, Connie Cox, is a gastric bypass patient herself and therefore understands the unique challenges of
maintaining adequate nutrition after gastric bypass. Her classes, which are typically held on Saturday mornings,
give you detailed information about healthy nutrition and how your diet must change after gastric bypass surgery.
Metabolic Testing
The resting metabolic test reveals your body's resting metabolic rate - how many calories your body burns each day,
excluding physical activity like exercise. It is a valuable tool in assessing and modifying your diet.
Consultation with our Personal Trainer
Our personal trainer, Mark Gonzalez, works closely with all of our bariatric patients to ensure that they begin a program
of physical fitness before surgery and continue it afterward. Exercise is an essential element of successful weight
loss and will help you reduce excess skin, maintain muscle, and lose weight more quickly.
Attending a Support Group Meeting
Our close-knit support group is attended by patients both before and after surgery. It is a wonderful way for
patients to connect with others for encouragement and tips. It is also another opportunity for you to meet with our doctors, nurses,
dietician, psychologist, and personal trainer.
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