** Surgery date question ***

Hi ,

I'm wondering, once you were approved for surgery, how long did you have to wait for the surgery and why?  

Also, did any of you start out with a surgeon and during pre ops did you opt out for a different surgeon and why?

Thanks,
Me

I was given a date before I was even approved. The date ended up being 2 weeks after I was approved.

I think it probably has to do with the availability of the surgeon.  Mine is super busy!  So busy that I only saw him for a 5 minute period from Tuesday through Friday of last week.  I can't even get my 2-week follow up with him until it will have been 4 weeks already. 

That said, I got my surgery date about a week after I was approved because that is how long it took the admins to go through my final paperwork and get to my chart in their stack.  Also I was approved on 17-ish July and my date was last Tuesday.

I was referred to a different surgeon in the group, but found out he only did open RNY and I really didn't want that if I didn't need it.  So, I switched surgeons before I even got in for my consult.

Thanks to you both,

Heather, you mean when you were in the hospital you saw Dr. "S" once in 4 days?  See I don't think that's good that you don't get a "two week" follow up until 4 weeks out?  That disturbs me.  Or am I expecting to much from my doctor?  

I guess I'm just a little overly anxious to get a date.  My dliema is that if I can't get a date before January I may have to wait till March or better.  Because I can't take leave in January because of my work load, and my husband's work load is such that February and beyond will be impossible for him to be home with me for any amount of time.   I have no other support people.  So if I can't get schedled between now and December it doesn't look feasible until I don't know when.  I'm more bummed than I can say right now.  

It's a little disturbing to me as well.  I saw him right before surgery on Tuesday and then for about 5 minutes on Thursday.  Other than that, the surgery team was in and out during my stay. 

I really don't think it's right that they don't have little windows in time scheduled for post-op appointments.  Especially since my instructions were that I wouldn't know when I needed to make the follow-up appointment until I was discharged.  Which is what I waited for unfortunately!

I'll think good thoughts that you get a date soon and don't have to wait months longer!

Mari I don't want to hijack your thread, but what Heather said concerns me too!  Especially since I am leaning towards a DS with him.

Has anyone else had this experience with Dr. Schweitzer?

And I understand about you wanting to get in before the end of the year.  I actually want to wait to have mine in spring as my work load will be better by then.

Good luck...

I wanted to reply to your comment.  Read in my profile my "comments about the surgeon" section. 
I think Dr S was just great, considering his job is to be the surgeon and he did see me twice, once before and once after, at least that I was awake for.  His fellows and the weekend staff took good care to see me once daily over the weekend.  Dr S was present at my urgent follow up.  I have DS also, and he is very well trained about performing the DS and an excellent surgeon with all the WLS types.  When I met him for consult, I asked him how much I could expect to see him after surgery and he told me once, but that his team would be checking me daily.  That was fine with me. 

I was approved by April 15th and I had my surgery on May 8th.....but they did tell me my surgery date BEFORE I got the official approval from the insurance company.  Dr. Kligman is also a very busy man.   I think for my entire stay in the hospital, I saw him right before surgery and then for about 10 minutes while I was walking around after surgery.  The rest was taken care of by the "floor" doctors and nurses.  Rest assured....they probably will converse with YOUR doctor prior to any decisions being made because most of the time the doctors on the floor do not have MUCH experience with bariatric surgery and the nature of it.  So they need guidance from your doctor as to the best courses of action should anything bad arise.  Don't worry, your surgeon should always be kept in the loop.  I had mine done at UMMC Baltimore and the bariatric wing was used for other things as well so there was a mish mash of everything there so no one would really do anything unless they got direction from my surgeon (who is also the director of bariatric surgery).  I went to Dr. K. because my PCP told me that he was the best person to do it and he wass right.  I really like Dr. K.  He's a very hurried man because he's got so much to do but he does take the time to see you. 

I also understand that he's a busy man and my 3 month follow up actually was 4 months out because he was away on a seminar.  It's just one of those things that happen.  From a service standpoint, it doesn't look good but understand, everything is documented for him to review later and if there is anything wrong, he will have his office contact you.  After he did my EGD, he talked to me for about 30 seconds and that was it LOL

What Aaron said makes sense and does sound much like my experience.  Although I didn't see him much, I saw his "team" or a member of it at least twice per day.  I wouldn't be so concerned about my 3 month follow-up being pushed out but feel that since my discharge instructions were so clear (and the nurse so adamant that it had to be TWO WEEKS from my surgery date, waiting another two to be seen is concerning. 

Yeah that does seem a little odd.  However, I hope they told you that the least little sign of anything feeling "wrong" inside you that you were able to call them right away so they can get you in to see them.