Frequently Asked Questions
- What is BMI?
- It is a calculation which takes into account a person's height and weight.
- How long does the entire pre-surgery process take?
The time it takes from when you decide you're interested in a surgical approach to your obesity to the date of your operation can vary greatly. Here is an average timeline of events. Each time listed is an estimate of how long it will take to complete the phase:
- Attend Informational Meetings = 0-4 weeks
- Complete medical, dietary, and insurance requirements = 2 weeks-1 year
- Receive approval from insurance company = 30 days
- Get appointment to see the surgeon = 1-2 weeks
- Do preoperative testing = 0-8 weeks (your health determines your need for tests)
- Have surgery = 0-4 weeks
- What tests do I need prior to surgery?
- Dietician appointment (length depends on insurance requirements)
- Psychologist appointment
- Physical/Occupational therapy appointment for fitness evaluation
- Upper/Lower endoscopy (physician preference)
- Sleep Study (physician preference)
- Radiology Study (physician preference)
- Referral to Heart and/or Lung doctor (physician preference)
- Why do I need to have a mental health evaluation by a psychologist?
- Seeing a psychologist before weight loss surgery is standard practice and is required by most insurance companies. It serves two main goals: First, to assure that you are prepared for the tremendous changes that accompany weight loss surgery, and second, to detect any serious mental illnesses that might interfere with success.
- How much weight can I expect to loose and how long should it take?
- Everyone is different and the rate, duration, and amount of weight loss will vary greatly from person to person. The length of time depends on how much weight you have to lose to begin with and how hard you work. Generally, patients lose most of their weight in the first six months to one year. However, weight loss is rarely in a straight line and there will be plateaus. You will notice that the rate of weight loss tends to slow down over time. It may take one to two years for you to reach your weight goal.
- Why do I need to quit smoking?
- Smoking stimulates gastric secretions that can irritate the lining of the stomach. This irritation can cause chronic gastritis and ulcers in the stomach and small intestine. Smoking is also detrimental to the healing process after any surgery.
- How long will I be in the hospital?
- Lap Band- approximately 24 hours
- Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass- approximately 1 to 2 days
- Open Gastric Bypass- approximately 3-4 days
- Open Duodenal Switch- approximately 3-4 days
- Revisional Surgery- depends on type of procedure
- What happens to the larger stomach portion that is no longer used?
- The larger, lower part of your stomach no longer receives food, but its gastric juices pass into the intestine and mix with food as they did before surgery.
- How much food will my new stomach hold?
- When your new stomach pouch has healed, an average meal will be approximately 2-4 ounces of food or liquid. Using baby silverware helps control bite sizes.
- What is dumping syndrome?
- After gastric bypass surgery, your body will be less able to tolerate "refined sugars" or high amounts of fats. When these foods are eaten, your pancreas is signaled to secrete insulin and fluids are drawn into the intestine. This causes a reaction called the "dumping syndrome." Common symptoms can mimic the flu and may include sweating, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms typically last about 60-90 minutes, depending on what and how much you have eaten.
- Why are protein and vitamin supplements so important?
- It is absolutely necessary for your body to get adequate protein and vitamin supplementation for a healthy recovery. Your body needs sufficient protein and vitamins for healing, fighting infections, maintaining muscle mass, preventing hair loss, and building new cells. Since you are eating less food, smaller amounts of vitamins and minerals are entering your system. When meeting with our dietician, she will review the requirements of supplements that you will need to achieve long-term success.
- Why is activity so important to me after surgery?
- Exercise maximizes weight loss and helps to maintain a healthy body. After surgery, you need not only good nutrition, but also regular activity. You can build exercise into your daily schedule, and it can be as easy as walking to do your errands.
- When can I go back to work?
- Your ability to resume pre-surgery levels of activity will vary according to your physical condition, the nature of the activity, and the type of weight loss surgery you had. Many patients return to full pre-surgery levels of activity within six weeks of their procedure. Patients who have had a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure may be able to return to these activities sooner.
Contact Us
Bariatric Surgery
Ministry Medical Group
Central Region
824 Illinois Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Office Information
Hours:
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Telephone
715.342.6668
877.295.5868
Emergency Number
715.346.5000