husband and wife surgery? anyone out there been through it!

Hello, I am a new member to the message board. Both my wife and myself have gone through the process recently of appling for the surgery through Holzer Hospital in Gallipolis, OH. We both got approved through our insurance company in the first part of March, We recieved approval letters this past week. We both are scheduled to do a sleep test the second week of April. I will be scheduled for surgury after the sleep test providing another follow up sleep test is not needed. We will be scheduling the surgerys three to four weeks apart is our current plan. I was wondering if any other couples out there have done this, We have one school age chid and both of us work full time. Thanks for listening, Tom Johnson - Mount Gilead OH

Hi Tom! My husband and I both had surgery, however we were a almost a year apart. Only because he swore it off until he saw how well I did, and surviving a pulmonary embolism from a diabetic leg wound 3 months after my surgery. That's when he realized he needed to do it too! His joke was "if you survive it, I might do it" At any rate, it worked well in our situation because Earl was able to learn from what I went through to help guide his path. We really didn't have much support like this board at the time, so we had to learn on our own. I think doing it together is a good idea, but you do need to make sure there is at least one month between especially with a school aged child. One of you needs to be able to drive while the other is not able to. Plus, who ever is going through first needs to have a decent recoup time to help with the second person. I was still pretty pooped out at 4 weeks. But, I could function well enough. I think going close has it's advantages, as well. Losing together, celebrating each other victories, sharing ideas, what works, what doesn't. It also has it's disadvantages too, like both of you recouperating from major surgery close to each other, if one does better than the other, etc. I think you have to do what is right for you situation. It can be done and it has been done! I just want to say that it has given Earl and I a very special bond. We understand each other on a completely different level than most couples. And the joy of being able to enjoy life so much more together. We have energy, we feel good physically, mentally and it to be point blank honest it has really positively effected our intimacy with each other as well. I see a lot of couples where one has had it and another has not struggle with the new found partner, because I am telling ya, it WILL change you. Good luck to the both of you. I think you will do just fine. Take care of yourselves and each other! Please let us know how you all are doing! Group Hugs! Valerie

Tom, My husband and I have both had this surgery. His was about two months after mine. It has worked out well for us, but we had no small children. He attended meetings with me off and on for a year before we had it and decided after I had mine that he would do it. He was on a lot of medication for diabetes and is now off of it all. Good luck to you and your wife. Debra