Problem with scheduling O.R. @ Hackensack Univ. Hospital?

Hello Friends~ I finally met my surgeon, Dr. Amit Trivedi yesterday and I love him! He is so sweet and gentle and soft spoken, and very smart. I had been waiting for my appointment for a month and was sooo looking foward to getting a surgery date when our consultation was over. The consult went great, perfect, and Dr. Trivedi said I am great candidate for the surgery and I could book my date with the nurse at the front office when I left! How happy was I? Until the nurse told me that there was a problem with the OR Scheduling system and she couldn't book my date yet. She said she would try again later and call me later yesterday or this morning with any progress. I called at 2:00 today and she told me the system is still down and they are hoping it's back up by Friday? How can a hospital this large not schedule surgeries for 2 or 3 days? Is this possible? I am worried. Can this be true? I don't know why else I wouldn't be scheduled. She did tell me it will be the middle or end of July at this point. I had all of my paperwork with me, psych eval, nutrition eval and primary care referral letter. "what, what, oh what could the matter be?" (that was a song, right?) Any guesses as to whats really going on here? Michelle

no idea -- sorry -- we go thru penn hospital and didnt' have any problems -- i got my date yesterday for 10/9/06 -- good luck with your phone calls today hope it allw works out hugs roberta

Hey there Michelle, I wish I knew what the problem was. But I wanted to reply and say hello. I am not far from Hackensack Medical as you probably remember. If your lookin for a friend/support I am here. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help

Thank you so much Kimberly! I appreciate your friendship. I am just feeling discouraged because my meeting with the surgeon was more than 48 hours ago and I still have no surgery date set, I just want to have the date in my mind and move forward, I feel like I am "stuck" without a date written down in the books.... theirs and mine. I have to let go and let God. I will accept it and find peace, that is what I have to do. The office is supposed to call me tomorrow and let me know if the OR scheduling system is working yet? I don't know what to think right now. This has thrown me for a curve, but I guess it's something I need to work on, patience. I need some fairy dust sprinkled on me right about now. Since you live near Hackensack Hospital, I will be in the area next Wednesday for a while if you want to get together and have a cup of coffee. I live down near Point Pleasant, but I will be working in Armonk NY all day Wednesday, June 14. I have my pre-surgery support group at the hospital that night.... so I am not going to drive home after work in Armonk. I do drug and alcohol testing and I have a large drug testing "event" that day. My meeting is 6:30 Wednesday night, I think you can come if you'd like to meet some more people. I will probably be back in the Hackensack area by 2 or 3 in the afternoon. If you want to get together, let me know. I will have a few hours on my hands. Michelle

Good news! Surgery is scheduled for July 27'th! I got the call this morning Bad news, we are going on a cruise with 16 people exactly 1 week later! (will I still have a drain in?) I know I will be out of the hospital, but will I feel like a cruise to Canada, we are leaving out of NYC. I love cruising, this is my 8'th one, and I know how to relax. I am not worried about over doing it, but if something goes wrong, that's not good. We are going to Nova Scotia and Halifax. I told the nurse I have the cruise the next week and she thought it would be OK, but was going to leave a note for the Doctor to see what he thought. I am thinking it's risky to go with the date. I asked the nurse if we could pu**** back to the week after I get home and she said she is working on the approval and we can change the date after its approved, and get on a cancelation list, in case they can do it earlier. Did I do the right thing? Leave the date and change it after approval? YOU guys are the experts here. Many people have advised against cruising the week after surgery. ALL my family will be on that boat with me, my parents, my Husband and kids, and my brothers and their families. I will have lots of support there, that's for sure! Michelle

I went back to work a week after my surgery, but I was extremely tired...and adjusting to the new life. (I'm 29, and have a desk job). I don't think I would have been up to a cruise at that point. Did you purchase trip insurance?

Angela~ I do have trip insurance, but I really don't want to cancel the cruise. I am not thinking of that as an option right now. My entire family is going, we have 7 cabins booked, it's too important to cancel..... my options are postpone the surgery or go on the cruise a week after surgery. I know I should probably postpone the surgery, as another friend told me, "you will have the new stomach forever, go and enjoy the cruise and call it a "bon voyage" to your extra weight". A cruise and not being able to eat ANYTHING on the boat, I think it might be very depressing, especially the first week after surgery, while just getting used to my new life. Thanks for responding, this has really helped me to think through my decision that I have to make. Michelle

change the date of your surgery and enjoy the cruise!! the surgery will still be here when ya get back!! good luck roberta

I would definitely change the date of surgery. With all your family going on this cruise I know I wouldn't want to miss it! Make it your last fling before surgery!!! Annie1

Michelle, I am waiting for my insurance approval and then I should be able to get my date because everything is done. I hope you get your date - I'm excited for you you. I live in Brick too but I'm going to Overlook Hospital in Summit for my surgery. The assistant in my doctor's office feels I should be scheduled in July - I hope so and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you too! Donna, Brick, NJ