Question:
What is the average number of days in hopsital for Open RNY?
My surgery is scheduled for October 24. When I met with the surgeon he told me I would be in the hospital for 4-5 days if there were no complications. I received a letter in the mail from Aetna yesterday saying I had been approved for a 3 day stay. 3 days does not seem like enough time especially with an Open RNY. Will Aetna approve for a longer hospital stay if the doctor recommends it? I am also concerned about this because I will be traveling out of town to have my surgery. — [Anonymous] (posted on September 2, 2001)
September 2, 2001
I had Aetna HMO with my Open RNY on August 6th. I wondered the same thing
post-op (I was approved for 3days) But I had my surgery on Monday and
Checked out on Thursday afternoon. 4days like the Doc said but Aetna calls
that 3 nights. Kinda like a hotel I guess. Also Aetna does a standard 3
nights and if you need more time my Ins. guy says you can get it. I hope
your surgery goes well. If I can help in anyway feel free to E-mail me.
— Janet A.
September 2, 2001
I went in on Monday out on Thursday. This seems to be about average for
most poeple I have talked to.
— Dennis J. B.
September 2, 2001
I was in for 4 nights 5 day I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and they didn't
limit the days that I could be in the hospital It was all up to the Doc and
how I was progressing! I will say I was totaly happy to get home!!
— Heather G.
September 2, 2001
I had an open-RNY and I had Aetna and I wondered the same thing! I had
surgery at 6:00 on a Tuesday and was released at 2:00 p.m. on
Thursday..less than 2 full days. Wow! If, for some reason, you needed more
than 3, I'm sure your surgeon would be able to justify this to Aenta
without a problem. Good Luck!
— Molly S.
September 2, 2001
I had my surgery at noon on Thursday and went home on Saturday evening. I
felt more comfortable at home. I could sleep in my recliner and my husband
took better care of me than any nurse could.
— Helen C.
September 3, 2001
My surgeon does 4 nights/5 days (my surgery is at 11 am on Monday 09/17 and
I will go home if all is well on Friday night at around 6:30). I'm having a
medial RNY (125 cm bypass) with gall bladder removal. With a 20 month old
at home, I think I am going to need every rest and recovery moment I can
get in the hospital, because she is going to want me as soon as I am home.
<br><br>I am pretty sure that most insurance companies are not
going to go against doctor's orders for a patient, especially after major
surgery like Open RNY. Are you having your gall bladder out too? Maybe that
will buy you another day. :-)
— Julia M.
September 4, 2001
I work for a health insurance company. The hospital calls and gets an
approval for 3 days but if by the third day they do not feel that you are
ready for release they can call the insurance company who will almost
definately approve more days. I was to stay in for 5 days but on the 4th
morning I was begging my surgeon to let me go home. Don't worry. They'll
take care of you.
— Meredith A.
September 4, 2001
My daughter was in the hospital 5 days with her open RNY, I was discharged
in less than 48hrs with my open RNY. I was walking in recovery room and
every hour afterwards plus using the blow bottles every hour so that in
less than 24hrs I was getting the highest reading. By doing the walking and
the breathing exerices I did what I could do to prevent complications. I
was feeling great and ready to go home in less than 48hrs. Still doing
great at almost 4 weeks post op down 41 lbs. My daughter refused to walk or
do the breathing exercises until she had to and then did it very half
hearted. She had someone take care of her for 2 weeks where I was all over
the house and sleeping on my side the first night and on my stomach before
the first week was up.
If you think you're to sleep in the hospital then choose a different
doctor. Staying in bed increases risk of blood clots and pneumonia and
collapsed lungs. I had this surgery to better my health, I wasn't about to
compromise it by not walking hourly or doing the breathing exercises
hourly. Luckily I had a doctor who wanted the best outcome and expected me
to do the hourly routine.
— Helen B.
September 4, 2001
I had my surgery on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and left the hospital at 11 a.m.
on Sunday. If you need longer than 3 days someone will get more authorized
for you.
— georgiacarol
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