Why is it that when someone has bariatric surgery, they first have to go through a gauntlet of all kinds of specialists?

The nutritionist and psychologist are to be sure the person is ready for the responsibility that comes with the surgery. There are special diets they are supposed to stick to so having a nutritionist go over that information is the best way for them to be educated about it. As far as the sleep apnea, I’m not sure unless it’s for insurance coverage. Some insurance companies will only cover bariatric surgery if the patient has sleep apnea as well as obesity.

It is an extreme solution that makes permanent, irreversible changes in gastric anatomy, and people have been known to subvert the surgery and regain all the weight again. There are also cases of people who blamed all of their mishaps in life on their weight, and were driven to suicidal ideation when nothing changed save their weight.

You need to be screened for sleep apnea because untreated sleep apnea patients have a higher perioperative morbidity.

This is more than just simple surgery. It is dramatically life altering and they want to be certain that the person is a good candidate psychologically speaking.

This is the responsible thing for them to do rather than just having a surgery mill.

I see a certain parralel with the cautions in the protocols for sex change surgery. They want to make sure that the person understands fully what they are signing up for.

So, definitely a Psychiatrist. The nutritionist is also crucial because they really need to learn how to get maximum nutrition out of every mouthful since there’s not a whole lot of room anymore.

Carnie Wilson went into quite a bit of detail about this aspect of it following her surgery.

I also saw a documentary where some programs require attendance both pre and post surgery in weekly education and support groups.

I don’t have a clue about the sleep apnea but I was typing while Rarebear was posting.

What he said. He’s a RL Doc whose posts make a lot of sense.

which makes him a rare bear.

It’s just something I know a lot about. I run a high risk perioperative clinic and an ICU.

I suffered from sleep apnea, and used CPAP until I had bariatric surgery and lost 200 pounds. It’s gone, the high blood pressure is gone, the gout is gone, my lipid profile is better than yours, and I may live to see my grandchildren. On the other hand, my skin looks like a collapsed elephant balloon.

I heard that something like 30% of people after bariatric surgery become alcoholics. Losing weight will most likely change their relationships with people. Also, it is very dangerous surgery, the ol d stat was 1 in 200 die, maybe it is better now. I personally know one person who died from it, she was in her early 20’s. After surgery they need to know how to eat wel, or they will go back to being fat and unhealthy.