Distance from Surgeon's Office?

I'm still a ways out from the point where I'd even schedule my VSG, but my hyper-organized brain is already trying to think about logistics.

I live in the same city where my surgery will take place, but I am debating whether or not to stay with my parents for the week or two post-op, who live about 3 hours away. From what I've heard, the recovery seems like it can be managed on one's own, but it seems like it might be nice to have somebody around to care for me. Plus, they have a comfortable reclining chair, and it seems like sleeping on my high bed might be a bit difficult for the first few days?

However, I'm a little anxious about being so far away from my surgeon's office in case of an emergency. Obviously there is a hospital near my parents house, but I'm not sure if I'll be more at risk going to a place that might not be as familiar with bariatric surgery complications.

I know a lot of you had to travel some distance to wherever you had your surgery. Did that end up having any unforeseen consequences in the first two weeks? Did you feel like it was beneficial to have people around in the first few weeks who could do things for you? I do have a roommate, but she works, so she wouldn't be around all the time, and I would be able to get her to do as much for me as my parents would. ;)

Any suggestions or recommendations? Just trying to figure out if I should stay with my parents, or if it would be better for me to just stay home.

For your first week post-op, you'll probably be sleeping most of the time. It's helpful to have someone who can refill your water bottle and run to the pharmacy for you, but (hopefully) there's not a whole lot to be done.

Could one of your parents stay with you for a few days? My mom came to visit and stayed for about a week. It was good to have her on hand during the day, since my husband was at work, even though I didn't need her for any sort of emergency care or anything.

Thanks for the advice! That all makes sense. I've been hesitating on asking them to stay with me, just because I don't live alone, and my apartment isn't all that big. But my sister does live in the area, so I might be able to convince her to play hooky from work for a few days to hang out with me. :)

If she doesn't hang out with you, having her "on call" would work too. Especially if she's in a spot where she can duck away from school/work mid-day in case of an emergency!

My surgery was in Mexico and I live in Oregon so I don't see it as being a huge deal. Everybody is different and what they're willing to deal with though.

Yeah, that makes sense. I know a bunch of people get surgery out of the country, and I'm always curious what the follow-up care looks like in that instance! But yes, if all of you are fine being thousands of miles from where you had surgery, a hundred miles shouldn't be too big of a deal!

Perhaps your over thinking it just a bit.

Most of us are up walking the day of surgery, and by the time you get home they have already made sure that you are walking, drinking and tooting. Depending on your pain tolerance , most find it manageable with minimal meds like Tylenol.

However if you feel you need someone to take care of you then by all means go for it.

I was on my own the day after I came home and felt completely ok with it. I mostly walked around my home, sipped water, and slept

Definitely possible I'm overthinking things, I tend to do that, especially with things that I'm unfamiliar with or nervous about! :)

I do have a pretty low pain tolerance, and just know my body, I kind of doubt I'll be one of the lucky ones with minimal pain. Though I'm going to cross my fingers for it!

But that's good to know that you were fine on your own. I do have a roommate, so I will have somebody if I need it, and it seems like 24/7 care is probably unnecessary, and might even be a little stressful with hovering etc.

I would have been much more annoyed being away from home, and having other people, no matter how well intended, trying to help. I just wanted to relax in my own home and do my own recovery. That was my preference, for what it's worth.

Yes, this makes a lot of sense. I'm pretty independent, and I can easily see myself getting a little frustrated by the hovering, and just the low-level stress of recovering in a space that isn't completely "mine".