After weight loss surgery, one of the most important things you can do to stay on track is to go to your surgeon appointments. When you are pre-op, you will have a few meetings with your surgeon that are crucial for you to get information on how to be successful. They will help you understand each procedure and guide you on making the best decision for your health. It is critical that you use this opportunity to ask your surgeon any questions or concerns you have.
Once you have the procedure, you will more than likely be asked to come back once a month for the first 3 months post-op. These appointments are extremely important in making sure you are healing correctly after surgery. As a bariatric patient, you must take these appointments seriously. You will weigh in at each appointment and you and your surgeon will discuss your goals. It is really helpful having someone else keep you accountable after surgery.
As time passes, it might be easier for you to ignore your surgeon visits, especially if you are doing well. We often times do not seek help and support when we are succeeding. It is important that you are proactive in your recovery, even if you feel like you do not need the support from your surgeon.
Personally, I went to all of my visits for the first 3 months. It was extremely helpful for me to see if I was losing an appropriate amount of weight. It also helped me in checking to see if I was hitting my protein and water goals each day. I tracked my food and came to each appointment with a journal on what I was eating and how much I was exercising. It was also beneficial because I would get bloodwork done to check to see if I was becoming deficient in vitamins.
However, as time went on, I became a lot more relaxed about going. I truly believe this is part of the reason why I experienced regain. I lost 160 pounds the first year and I felt on top of the world. I stopped caring about going to my surgeon appointments because I thought if I was doing well, I did not need to go. I missed the opportunity to check in with my surgeon and I believe this was a factor in why I became deficient in vitamins and started putting the wrong things back into my diet.
If you are reading this and are currently getting more relaxed with going to your appointments, I highly recommend that you reconsider. Yes, it can be a pain having to go to all of the appointments. However, that small inconvenience can play a huge role in your success. Follow the guidelines that your surgeon sets for you, track your food so you can check in with them to see if you are eating the right foods, and go to each visit with questions so you can get advice on how to be as successful as possible on your weight loss surgery journey. Do not ever forget why you had this surgery. Put in the effort and keep yourself accountable with going to these visits, and you will be on the right track for a rewarding and healthy new lifestyle.