Question:
scheduling the surgery...
i met with a bariatric surgeon tonight and i qualify for the gastric bypass surgery, and my insurance will cover it, my only problem is that i go to school right now mon-fri(and i work as a babysitter p/t) and my next and only break from school is xmas(i graduate my program in mid january...so if i have it during xmas break i'll have about 10 days to recover before having to go to school for another 2 week plus i lose my parents insurance once i graduate...Unless i register for spring classes(starting the end of jan) at my local community college, go full time, then i'll be covered under my dads insurance from jan until september so i would have the surgery in may sometime and have the summer to recover. so i don't know what to do? should i rush now and schedule all my pre-op testing and have the surgery in december, or wait until the end of may? thanks! ~Alexis — razzlefairy0 (posted on November 6, 2006)
November 6, 2006
Hi Alexis: I think the answer depends on how quickly you want to have this
done...I don't think there is any benefit into rushing into things. You
may need to have a few more consults with surgeons before you decide. I
had to plan my surgery carefully (I go this Thursday) so it wouldn't
interfere with work at a busy time...I thought I would do it in the summer
but I had felt too rushed and decided to do it in November but I could have
waited longer but I had some stuff coming up in 2007 that I wanted to be
healthy and thin for so that was my goal. I don't think you should make
any quick decisions and May will be here before you know it!
— Sheri A.
November 6, 2006
if it helps i was back to work in a week, I don't have a very physical job
I am in sales, however i felt good. I am 1 yr out and have lost about 90
lbs, 5 more to go!!!
— britiiiz1
November 6, 2006
Alexs,
Well, speak with your academic advisor and let them know you're planning on
having surgery -- they don't have to know what kind -- and see what can be
worked out to complete your program in mid january.
I don't think you want to have the surgery during the holiday season --
too many places to go and too many people to see. I'm in scheduled for
surgery January 18th and am in school full-time -- online. Therefore, I
want miss anything and have to hurry up and heal to get back into the
classroom. You may want to look at online colleges to see if they have
your curriculum and have your surgery after the first of the year.
Therefore, when the summer come you can be "looking good."
A couple of drawbacks regarding pre-op testing is that a test result may
come back questionable and you will have to have another done. You want to
make sure all the test results are in. Don't rush into anything. Do what
you need to do. If enrolling in a community college for the spring helps
you keep health insurance until you have the surgery -- do what you need to
do.
— the7thdean
November 6, 2006
Hey Alexis,
My advice to you is to go ahead and schedule more classes to stay in school
in order to stay on your parents' insurance, and plan to have the surgery
next Spring. I have been at this since July, and I am still not scheduled
for the surgery. So, it may take you a LOT longer to get the surgery
scheduled than you think. For instance, do you have all your pre op
appointments taken care of? Such as psych evaluation, sleep study, Upper GI
endoscopy, gall bladder ultrasound, referral from your PCP...etc. Each
bariatric surgeon AND insurance company require different things in order
to get ready for the Approval part of surgery...then it's a wait even to
get scheduled for the surgery, depending on how booked up your surgeon is.
So, your best bet is not to count on even being able to speed through this
process. Be prepared to wait a while. However, if it all goes well and you
get everything you need by Christmas...congrats!
— Cheriehott
November 6, 2006
Alexis, I had my surgery on May 30 and was released on the 9th then went
back to work on Monday June 12th. I only missed 1 1/2 weeks of work. I have
an office position and I felt good. A little tired the first day back but
that was it. Good luck and congrats on the surgery.
— Sheila_E
November 6, 2006
Hi Alexis, I would check with your insurance company and see how long your
approval is for. A lot of insurance companies are trying to add a clause so
that they do not have to pay for these surgery's in the future. I would do
go ahead and do the surgery. I was only out for 1 1/2 week and was back at
work. Also call you insurance company and see if they are going to continue
to cover bariatric surgery in the future. If they say that they are not
going to cover in the future go ahead and get your pre-op and surgery done
ASAP. This way you will not have any regrets later.
Brenda
— The One
November 7, 2006
For those having the surgery laparoscopically, the recovery time is much
different. I had it open and was kicking and screaming within 10 days.
Many who have it done lap can get around fine in 5. I would do it while
you still have insurance and you don't need that much of a break before
getting back to school. As for the babysitting though, I don't think you
should be lifting heavy objects (i.e. children) for a little bit, so if you
can avoid that, that's best.
— j_coulter
November 7, 2006
Alexis- I would schedule the surgery for December. I am 10 weeks out and
had open RNY and after a week was bored stiff. After your 10 day break you
will be ready to do something and as long as the classes aren't anything
physical then I would get it over with. Good Luck and God Bless!
— Lost4Ever
November 7, 2006
go for it now....you won't regret it... recovery is not that bad, it's
something that you can live with..... I didn't register for the fall
semester because I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it. I was wrong I
was up and ready by time classes started but I had not registered, so now I
have to wait to register for the spring. Good Luck!!!!
— Norma H.
November 14, 2006
Just something to consider. . .if you have the surgery now, by the end of
May you could be down 60-75 pounds, just in time to slip into those cute
summer shorts you thought you'd never wear again! Your decision Alexis,
but I vote for making it your Christmas present to yourself. . .you don't
need that Christmas candy anyway!
— sby949
Click Here to Return