Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
The surgeons and staff of Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) seek to be a partner in your health. During the first year following surgery a series of follow-up visits are scheduled. After the first year you are required to have an annual physical and blood work either with your surgeon or with your primary care physician.Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy and Duodenal Switch (DS) patients:
You should schedule an appointment to see your surgeon for follow up visits at:
- 2 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 4 months
- 8 months
- 1 year or additionally as requested by your surgeon
- Annually thereafter
Adjustabel Gastric Band:
You should schedule an appointment to see your surgeon for follow up visits monthly for the first 6 months following surgery, then bimonthly until 1 year. Quarterly during 2nd year and as needed thereafter.
Why Follow-Up?
Follow-up visits are occasions for monitoring health and weight status. They also provide an opportunity for you and your surgeon to evaluate progress towards goals. They allow you to focus on the positive changes that occur and for the utilization of a problem solving approach toward the obstacles that you may be experiencing.
If you do not keep your follow-up appointments you are excluding your surgeon from being a partner in your health. These visits are important to your surgeon’s ability to diagnose and treat you for long-term health. You are placing yourself at great risk if you fail to keep your follow-up appointments.
Your surgeon will assist you in establishing patient-selected incremental goals as well as long-term goals. By keeping your follow-up appointments you allow your surgeon to make an assessment of your health and instruct you on modifications that need to be made when necessary.
Annual Blood Work
You will need to have certain blood tests done every year. Your family physician or our office can order them one to two weeks before your annual visit. The tests will be reviewed by your surgeon and placed in your chart.
- Complete blood count
- Lipid profile
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- B-12 level
- Thiamin
- Folate
- Hemoglobin A1c
- Vitamin D; 25 hydroxy level
- DS Patients will need to do 2 additional tests to include:
- Vitamin A level
- Protime
Mail or fax a copy of these tests to our office. Fax number (801) 268-3997.
Special Medical Considerations for Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve and DS:
Your anatomy changes after these surgeries. Because of these changes you physicians may need to perform some medical tests with modifications. In addition, there are some over the counter medications you will not be able to take. Make sure that your Primary Care Physician is aware of these special medical considerations.
Upper GI Testing
If this test is ever ordered for you, please inform the ordering physician that you will not be able to drink the contrast solution in the amount that is being requested due to the limited size of your stomach. Inform the radiologist performing the test that you have had weight loss surgery and that he should call your surgeon if he has questions regarding the amount of contrast solution to use.
Glucose Tolerance Testing
Weight loss surgery patients are unable to participate in traditional glucose tolerance testing because the volume required for the test exceeds the volume your gastric pouch/sleeve can tolerate and may give inaccurate testing results. Also, for gastric bypass patients, the sugary drink could cause the “dumping syndrome.”
Keep in Touch
Your surgeon, nurses and staff is your unified team with your best interests in mind. Stay in contact. Attend support groups regularly. Where available, attend scheduled classroom instruction. Check the website at www.RMAP.com for interactive events and downloadable materials.
We want you to reach improved health and experience an enriched quality of life. We seek to be a partner in your health. However, the necessary adjustments to your present behaviors will be yours to make. The pride and feeling of accomplishment as you lose weight and maintain your weight loss will be yours as well.
Find more answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.
Find more Complications after WLS information here.
Find more information on Dumping Syndrome here.
For more information on Support Groups, click here.
If you are interested in learning more about weight loss surgery, and the risks and benefits of each procedure, you can either attend one of our free informational seminars or watch a video online. Click here to sign up to attend our informational seminar, or click here to watch the video online.
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124