Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Weight loss surgery is a huge deal; you are changing your life forever! So, don't be afraid to ask questions. Here are a few to get you started:

1. Am I a good candidate for weight loss surgery?
2. Which weight loss surgery would be most effective/ beneficial for me?
3. How long before I can return to school, work, etc.?
4. What will my physical restrictions be (limited lifting, etc.)? And for how long?
5. How soon can I resume taking care of my household duties, children?
6. How long before I can have sex (don't look at me like that; it's a legitimate question)? 
7. What kind of pain medication will I be going home with?
8. What supplements do you recommend I take and how much of each one? 
9. How often will you be checking my blood vitamin levels for deficiencies? Can I be tested more often if I wish? Will I be receiving a copy of the results?
10. How small will my pouch be? 
11. What kind of exercise do you recommend and when can I start?
12. Should I adjust my medications after surgery?Will surgery impact the absorption rate or effectiveness of them?
13. Is it possible for my pouch to stretch back out? If so, how can I prevent it?
14. How do I prevent or combat diarrhea, vomiting or gas?
15. What do you think is a realistic goal weight for me to achieve and maintain?
16. How much weight loss per week/month is normal or average? 
17. I know plateaus are inevitable, how can I decrease them?
18. How long can I expect weight loss to continue after surgery? Will it ever again become very difficult or impossible to lose weight?
19. How hard will I have to work to maintain my weight loss in 2-3 years?