My referral has been approved! and some more whinning
It showed up on the website this morning. Now I am looking for a surgeon that is closer and in the same state.
As you know in the whiny rant several days ago, I am not comfortable with my doctor being in another state and 56 miles away (one-way). It also occurred to me that because of the distance the doctor will possibly make me stay close to the hospital until my two week check up. While I know that Tricare does pay for the milage, there would be no way for me to afford a hotel room for that amount of time. Also, due to my husbands unusual work schedule I can not leave my 12 year old alone. Also, taking all the time off from work to run for follow ups will jepordize my job, which I can not loose as I am the bread winner of the family.
I know, I am whinning again and I am sorry. I truly want this surgery, and if it comes down to me not finding one closer I will suck it up and figure out how to balance everything. I am used to juggling many things on a daily basis, so a little more stress in my life wont hurt.
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I'm glad to see your approval has been approved. I would keep checking for a closer surgeon. I know several people that have traveled from southern Idaho to the Boise area to have their surgery. It is about a 200 mile drive. They have only had to stay in town for about 2 days after surgery. They have to come back for the checkups however. Do you have some friends or someone in a church group that can help you? You can probably find someone in the surgeons area that can help you if you need anything while you are there for surgery. The surgeons support group can be a good resource. Have you posted on your state board. I know there are lots of people out there that have had or are having surgery that are glad to help another WLS person. You might can find something on the main board also. Just don't leave us here. This can be a great resource. I would help you with your son, but I am a little too far away. I have a spare room and we could get him to school and activities and back. I'm sure you can find that locally. You might can find someone to come and stay at your house with him when he would be alone. Keep looking, you'll find what you need. I don't hear any whinning, just asking for solutions and ideas. Diana
Diana, Thank you for the kind words. It is very hard when you have no family around and I really don't have any friends that can help. I do not belong to any church, so that is not an avenue I can take but I am trying to contact someone I knew when I did work in the Milwaukee area, but it is kind of hard to ask for something when you have not been in contact for a while. I know this is going to take some thinking, and you never know when a solution will pop up. I just need to keep looking and going.
Where there is a will there is a way.
I can feel your pain somewhat, my doctor was/is 146 miles from my house. I live at Ft. Stewart GA and my surgery was at Ft. Gordon GA. Money was tight for us also but we did it. We rented a room the night before my surgery at guest housing because I didnt register in time for the Fisher house, you probably have time to register if you do it now. If you are going to use Military look into the fisher house if it is civilian I think its called a hospitality house you can stay there for free.
Hubby was able to stay in my hospital room with me which was a blessing but I did use military. I had lap RNY on Wed and would have been released to go home on Friday but they waited until 6:30pm to tell me I could go home so I decided to stay one more night because of the drive home. Ive been doing fine so far.
Hope this helps. I also heard that Tri-care will pay for your rooms.. well you pay for it and they pay you back but Im not sure about all of that, I submitting everything after my post-op appointment.
Hugs
Donna S
Ft. Stewart GA