Question:
What would you have done in this situation?

I WENT TO APPOINTMENT AT GENERAL SURGERY, HAD CONSULT WITH THE SURGEON THAT WILL BE PERFORMING THE SURGERY. WENT OVER THE EFFECTS AND RISK OF SURGERY, HAVE TO CALL BACK NEXT WEEK TO GET THE REFERRALS TO START ALL OF THE SCREENING FOR PREPARATION FOR SURGERY. UPON COMPLETION SURGERY DATE WILL BE SET. FOUND OUT THAT THERE WOULD BE A FOUR TO FIVE MONTH PREPARATION TIME BUT AFTER ALL OF THE INITIAL SCREENING IS COMPLETED THE QUICKER I CAN GET A SURGERY DATE. I AM NOT SURE IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE SURGERY BECAUSE MY FAMILY AND I WILL BE PCSING OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN FIVE MONTHS SO I AM NOT SURE IF I COULD STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE SURGERY BEFORE WE LEAVE. I HAVE DECIDED TO HOLD OFF ON GETTING SURGERY UNTIL AFTER WE HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTRY. I AM AFFARID IF I GET THE SURGERY AND GET OVER SEAS AND HAVE COMPLICATIONS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE STATES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE DOCTORS THAT PREFORM THIS SURGERY. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IN IF YOU WERE IN THE SITUATION?    — KIMBERLY J. (posted on June 4, 2005)

June 3, 2005
ummmm just one question--if they dont have doctors overseas that do this surgery ---how you gonna have the surgery done overseas??
   — fishnrockport

June 3, 2005
You have to make the decision on what is best for you and for your comfort. If it was me, I would have tried to find a way to stay in the country, have the surgery and then maybe follow my family...BUT...that is easy for me to say as I sit here watching Iron Eagle IV. Make your decision and stick with it and don't look back!! Good Luck!
   — David B.

June 3, 2005
We went to Paris after I had surgery and I learned to late get the equivalant "names" of all the meds you would be taking including antacids, whatever, in the "names" used in the country you will be in. The doctors over "there" are quite knowledgeable if they understand what it is that you need.
   — shoutjoy

June 3, 2005
Hello Kim.I am sure they have this surgert over seas after al that is where it all started, look a little deeper into this and find your own way that will be right for yourself I understand your fustrations in this due to me being a spouse of a soldier, This is important to you do what you have to do the military doctors are gastric bypass friendly and are able to help you with this so if I was you I would try very to have the date moved so that I can go on with the surgery, This isn't a easy thing to do but try try try I urge you to because you will be very happy in the end results, good luck on your surgery and travle. Brenda Camp
   — Brenda C.

June 3, 2005
If you are strickly asking what I would do...I personally would not have the surgery on such a cramped time frame. There are enough unknowns in life and enough stresses that we have to deal with. Why complicate your life with the stress that all will go exactly as scheduled. What if you develope a cold and it has to be postponed for a week or two. For me personally, it is too tight a schedule. Where you can organize do, there are so many things we can't control. What is Pcsing? How long will you be out of the country. Contact reputible gastric doctors in USA and find out referrals of those in other countries who are certainly exellent in performing this surgery. What country are you moving to? Is this military restationing? So much plays into your decision. If it's not too personal more info would help me. The Association for Bariatric Surgeons in world wide also and they have many doctors they refer in USA to overseas.
   — Karen Renee

June 4, 2005
kimberly go forward with your surgical plans, the tricare system/military system of health has the resources to take care of any post op needs world wide, they can do surgery on a soldier in the back of a humvi in badag, you will be fine. if you let this oportunity go you may not get it back for several years and that would put you at greater risk of poor health, other doctors can deal with coplications of surgery even if the dont perform a given proceedure.
   — walter A.

June 4, 2005
Kimberly, do you know where you are PCSing to yet? They do have surgeons overseas (military ones) that do perform the surgery. There are several people on OH who have had theirs overseas. Anyways, if you wish to have your surgery in the states you can do so and if things happen that require you to stay stateside a bit longer your hubby can request a compassionate reassignment or at minimum an extention on his report date! I had once friend who had hers here in the US but was not ready to travel all the way to Korea so her hubby got his orders extended so that they could stay stateside until she was cleared for international travel by her surgeon. HTH!
   — MagickalMom

June 4, 2005
I would have had mine done at Blanchfield Army Hospital but was refered out. I believe that there are surgeons that would do it for you. Are you going to Germany? I would think that they would for sure have the ability to perform the surgery and to take care of you post op. We are at Ft. Campbell. I went to my PCP on Feb. 13 for a referal to have a RNY and had all of my presurgery appointments done and my surgery done by May 11th. Tricare is pretty straight forward. I had no trouble being approved and my BMI was 38. If you have any questions on how to get through your pre-op appointments as quickly as you can, feel free to ask me. [email protected] Gina
   — Gina T.

June 4, 2005
You are on the right track to put off your surery untill afer you come back from holiday. This surgery though very beneficial to he patient, has definite risks and you will expected to comply with your surgeon's after care requirements. Stay close to him while in your recovery stage and he will be there for you when you need it. Best of luck for your proposed surgery
   — Lise K.

June 6, 2005
Kimberly, Why not have surgery overseas? I had my surgery with Dr. Aniceto Baltasar in Alcoy, Spain - almost 3 years ago. There are many reputable - in fact, excellent - WLS surgeons located all over the world. Hit the web and do a search for the IFSO (international federation of obesity surgeons) - they would have listings of surgeons internationally. Also, check out www.duodenalswitch.com - go to the surgeon's page (there's a button on the left), and then look at all of the surgeons who are listed closer to where you'll be stationed. I know LOTS of post-ops who live in the US, but had surgery out of country - for those of us who don't have insurance to cover - sometimes out of country is our only hope of being able to afford surgery! Please let me know if I can help at all, or answer any questions, okay? Also, if you're interested, check out www.bodybybaltasar.com - it's a web site for people who have gone to my surgeon for surgery. It's fun to go through the photo gallery! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

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