Help! I'm having surgery at Mt. Sinai and I'm alone and scared

Well, it's not at all like me to be frightened, but I am now.

On Monday I'll be in NYC for pre-testing, then I am having my revision surgery on Wednesday, 4/6.  I think I have a place to stay with a girl I met online, though I can't be certain.  She's only 25 so things are a little up in the air.  After my surgery, I'll hopefully be staying with her as well until I fly home on Monday, 4/11.

If anyone is going to be anywhere near Mt. Sinai, I'd love a visit!  I'm just really scared right now -- not so much of the surgery, though my revision is going to be a challenging one.  I'm just scared I'm coming to a place where I don't know anyone.

My surgeon, Dr. Herron, is fantastic.  At least I know him.  LOL

Anyway, I'd appreciate your good wishes!

SophieGrace, Sorry that you are feeling so troubled.  It is totally understandable that you would be in the situation you are in.  Its hard enough when we have loved one's with us and taking care of us.  When will you be sure the online friend is going to come and get you and take care of you while your recovering enough to fly home?  I'm not real familiar with revislon surgeries.  Will you be having this laerscopically?   I will pray for you that you get things worked out quickly and can get some peace. Sandra

Mt Sinai is about a good 30 minutes away from me by train.  Question, why are you coming to nyc when you live in IL

I'm coming to NYC because of Dr. Herron. Before we knew I had staple-line disruption (six or seven doctors over the years had missed this very fact), I was going to be in the EROS study that Dr. Herron was conducting.  Obviously, once he saw my endoscopy and upper GI results, I was not a candidate.  But I developed a relationship with him as my surgeon. Add to that the fact that some surgeons who do WLS do not want to touch what they consider someone else's mistake.  I finally found one in Chicago would even talk to me -- but his testing requirements involve a sleep study, a big fat psych eval, and some other things that will add much more time to the process, and he refused to submit it to insurance as anything but a revision, which means it would likely be denied and I've have spent months finding that out.  It would be closer, and he seems like a good surgeon and an excellent person, but I got approval to go to NYC and I'm going. I'm having a hiatal hernia repaired, an incisional hernia that popped when I regained weight, a fistula, staple-line disruption (with exposed staples and old sutures hanging out in the pouch -- charming), plus a huge ulcer they're going to try to excise when forming the new pouch.  It's a mess in there. Just getting approved was a battle.  Since Dr. Herron submitted the revision request as a repair of the conditions mentioned, it was approved (my insurance denies WLS).   Thanks for your support.  I'm scared to death, but I have to do this.

Sandra: Thank you so much for your kind words. They're going to try to do the revision laparoscopically, but it may have to be open.  There is a great deal of damage that was created after my initial surgery tried to heal itself -- adhesions, a fistula, disrupted staple line, exposed staples and sutures, a huge ulcer.  I don't think they will know what they're looking at until they get in there. Still not sure my online friend is going to come and get me, so I may have to see about a hotel.  However, she's an attorney and is quite busy; last I hear she was trying to juggle her schedule around to make sure she can be there.  However, I'll probably get out of the hospital on Saturday or Sunday, and I fly back Monday.  I'm starting to calm down about the whole thing.  I just have bad moments. Thanks a million for your supportive message. 

Sopie, Sounds like your in a very difficult situation for sure!  I am so sorry to hear it.  I am in Rockland County maybe about an hr from the hospital but I don't have my own car and my hubby right now is just out of surgery, He had a detached retina and he can't drive for another week.  My heart goes out to you and if I was in a familiar area (I'm not from NY and have never driven to the city) I would go get you and bring you to my place.  Might be harder on you though then to stay right near the hospital and the airport.  I just wish you could have things more diffinate for you and someone to take care of you.  I understand you HAVE to do this and I probably would too in your situation.  I go for surgery on the 18 th,  I recently found out I have Uterine Cancer.  I'm trying to get the husband well and on his feet to take care of me, but he will have to go to work after a few days so I will sorta be on my own.  I am trusting that my surgery will be able to be laperscopically as well and that I won't have the added pain and recovery of having it open.  Yet I want them to be able to do it safely and take care of things as I'm sure you do, so I will remember to pray for you on Monday!  God is so good.... Sandra

Sorry -- not in that area.  But I did want to let you know that you will be in my prayers, that you have peace of mind as you go in for surgery, that you have a place to stay as you recover enough to get back home and that your surgery goes perfectly and recovery is easy.   All the best to you -- Maria  

Thank you, Maria. I appreciate this very much!

I'm wishing you all the best for the surgery and recovery to go as planned.  It is only days away now so you had better firm up the plans once and for all with that girl. Why did you decide to come to NY and be so far away from family and friends? Be Well.

Thanks for your good wishes. As I explained above, it was an insurance issue, plus a relationship with a surgeon who is tops at revision. I'd spent years trying to find a bariatric surgeon to even evaluate me.  I'd be in and out of hospitals with fever, abdominal pain, intense nausea, couldn't eat for a week -- and no one could figure it out.  We assume it finally disrupted in 2005, after which I immediately began regaining weight. When Dr. Herron accepted me as a patient, that was pretty much it.  I could jump through all the hoops with the Chicago doctor, but he refuses to code it as anything but WLS revision, meaning the insurance will deny it. I just want this over with so I can begin to heal and get on with life.