Newbie!

Hello everyone!! I'm new to the forum! I just received my approval yesterday for rny. I'm so excited and a bit nervous. They have scheduled it for Feb. 15th. I have a few questions that I'm sure have been asked before. Does Dr. Evanson require a 2 week diet prior to surgery? Will I have a cathater when I wake up? Can my husband stay with me?

I'm so excited about my new journey!  

~Kris~

 Welcome & Congrats on the surgery date! I also go to Dr. E, but I am still waiting on approval from Clarion North. I am sure they will cover ALL of your questions during your pre-op class before surgery, make sure to write everything down you want to ask so you don't forget. Good luck!

Congrats on your surgery date! I can only speak for my experience with my doctor but no I did not have a cath when I woke up in my room. My partner stayed with me the whole time at St. V's but I am not sure about the rules anywhere else. Keep posting and let us know how your journey goes!

Thank you for your message. I'm so full of questions! I'm excited, yet nervous. Were you happy with your treatment at St. Vincent's?

Had my rny on Nov. 8th at St. Vincent's. I would recommend it highly. I was a self pay and from the very first consultation , billing, financial dept., to the upper GI and  medical tests exemplary. Then on to the day of surgery, the nurses, doctors, etc. Absolutely wonderful experience. They are all so kind and so organized, they treat you with such dignity and kindness. They are ever attentive to whatever questions or needs you have. Pain medication given timely and they allow you to determine the dosage, they ask you what your pain level is 1-10, ten being the worst pain and they alter you dosage accordingly . I was never higher than a 5, usually 2 or 3. I just cannot say enough good things about them, I had a wonderful experience, and would not recommend any other place to have bariatric surgery, maybe any surgery, I have had 2 c sections, ligation, and complete hysterectomy and this was by far the best surgical experience I have ever had. You'll be in good hands there. I did not have Dr Evanson, I had Dr. Brenda Cacucci, love her, however a friend of mine from Church had Dr Evanson, and she is doing great and really likes him. Congrats on your surgery date, We'll be keeping you in prayer. Hope this post helps calm some of your nerves.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I'm a little bummed today. I've been approved by BCBS and since my husband's insurance changed to UnitedHealthcare, I'm getting the run around with them. They told me that since BCBS approved me, they would to. Now today, a rep from United told me that I may be approved, but that there were no  guarantees. To top it all off, I'm getting very frustrated with the Dr's office. I call and call, but can't get anyone to call back. When they finally do call, they tell me that they are almost certain that United will approve it since BCBS did. Grrrrr!!!!!! I hate getting tons of different answers. Plus, I still have questions, and the only way I get them answered are on here. I appreciate all of you that have responded to me. Sorry to vent on this message. I'm just so upset!!!  

 I just had my pre-op class with Clarian Bariatrics today, and they covered a lot and I got a book of info and a baggie full of helpful things.  We stay on the liver reduction diet, clear liquids for two days prior to surgery.  The catheter depends on your situation... some people have it when they wake, some don't.  And, hubs can't be in the operating room, but, otherwise, he can be there the whole time.  They have open visiting hours and one person can spend the night.

You know, I've had issues with not getting return calls too, so I stalk them (calling about insurance issues).  I figure they will get annoyed into responding.

Good luck.

Thanks for your message Jen. I feel like I've turned into a stalker since I posted the comment yesterday. I've called Dr. Evanson's office at least 10 times, and I've called the insurance company around 20 times!!!  To me, what's frustrating is that you never get the same answer. I've been told so many different things by the insurance company, and Dr. E's office, I think I'm going to go nuts!! Was your pre-op class all day? I was told that it runs from 8:30-4:30. Also, did you have to do alot of pre-op testing? I'm curious about what that involves. 

I hope that I've annoyed everyone so much that now they have to return my calls. By now, they are probably calling me the "crazy lady".  lol



Good luck on your surgery. 

Kris

 I never really talked with the office about insurance stuff, it was always a person from the insurance team.

The gal who called to remind me of class said it should end around 2, and we got finished at 1:30, but we were a small class that didn't ask questions.  And I haven't had my pre-op testing yet.  I need to check my voice mail because I haven't heard from them yet.

Never back down, never surrender!  :)
Jen

 I just scheduled my tests, going to take all morning.  I have to have upper GI, urine, blood draw, meet with doc, and I don't remember what else she said.