Questions for your primary care physician

Your primary care doctor’s knowledge and experience can help you in your decision to go through surgery. Often we find that primary care doctors are unaware of the band and its minimally invasive way of assisting you to get to your weight loss goal. Most of our patients become our greatest educators of primary care physicians about the band. Still, we believe your physician should be a partner with you in your weight loss.

As you lose weight, you may need their help to get off some medications and change other medications to smaller doses, or different types. Aside from discussing your medical history and current physical condition, asking the right questions are an important way to help you learn more about your medical condition. Here are some questions that can help you along your journey.

• How would I benefit from the operation?
• Am I a candidate for a particular surgical procedure?
• What other health considerations should I have regarding surgery?
• Do you think I should have a sleep study prior to the operation?
• Do you think I should have a stress test prior to surgery?
• What are the other steps I should take to prepare for the operation?
• Are there health conditions that my weight might make me prone to that we should test for?
• How will weight loss effect any medications I am on?
• Can you refer me to a physical therapist to help me get in shape?