Question:
For all you post ops out there.....
which is worse, the steps you had to take (ie, insurance approval, pre-surg weight loss, psych eval, etc...) OR the first 4 weeks after surgery? I am going crazy waiting for an answer from insurance (Cigna PPO - submitted 3 weeks ago). I do call and follow-up, but they have no new information. I am now wondering is this the worst of it or is the worst yet to come?! — Patty E. (posted on October 24, 2002)
October 24, 2002
The pre op tests were all done in one day for me so that wasn't bad. I
received my insurance approval in the mail before I knew the doctors office
had even submitted it, so I had no wait. The worst for me was when I had
my date and approval and I was just waiting for the surgery. I changed my
mind 1000 times. Now I am so gald I didn't chicken out. The first four
weeks weren't bad. The first couple of days are a blur from the drugs. I
was shopping in the mall by five days post op and back to work within two
weeks feeling good. A little tired but that was all.
— Linda A.
October 24, 2002
For me, the process of getting the surgery (surgeon's waiting list,
insurance approval, etc.) was definitely worse than recovering from the
surgery itself. For one thing, it took me 10 months to get this surgery
and I was feeling pretty darn good only 1 week after it. I think the real
thing though was knowing after I woke up that it was done and that I was
FINALLY on the other side. No matter what I had to go through to recover,
I was on the other side and my new life had begun! Hang in there! It's
worth it!
— ediecat
October 24, 2002
I didn't have to wait for very long for my insurance approval, so before
surgery was pretty easy. I had to wait 2 months from my consult for the
surgery and then the postponed it a week. That bugged me. After surgery was
not easy, but it was not as hard as I thought it would be. I spent 6 days
in the hospital and another week at home. It was hard, but I didn't have a
whole lot of pain, just some discomfort. Overall, neither was really a
horrible experience for me.
— sammygirlwpc
October 24, 2002
I am not post op yet, I have about 2 more weeks before my surgery, but I
can tell you this much, the three weeks I have been waiting so far since my
approval, are far, far, FAR, harder than the 2 YEARS of trying to get
approval. I am so anxious, and nervous. I spend alot of time here, it is
oddly comforting. They way I look at it the weeks after surgery however
painful and discomforting are a mere drop in the bucket, to the lifetime
after surgery. I realize they may be tough but I also realize they will
pass. (not like the next 2 weeks.haha) Good Luck!!!
— dkinson
October 24, 2002
Actually, my worst time after approval and before surgery. I got an
approval (then reversal than approval-long story) in less than a week.
After surgery was a breeze. I walked 15 minutes after I left the recovery
room, no pain, no gas, no food issues. However that 4 weeks between getting
a date and surgery was the longest month of my life. I felt like I being
tortured. LOL! I drove my hubby and kids nuts, I was obsessed all day every
day, and got nothing done. I thought I would be distracted because of the
holidays (my surgery was 01/02) but even that didn't work. In retrospect I
know I was very lucky and everything was so smooth. At the time I was
bordering on insanity. Good luck.
— Tina P.
October 24, 2002
It's a split for me. I got insurance approval rather quickly and a surgery
date with little time in between to even think about it. So, I was very
nervous wondering what my life would be like without my "best friend,
food", and whether I was making the right decision etc. Then I had a
rough few weeks after surgery as I had a complication and a second surgery
5 days after the first. But with all that said, I would do it again in a
heartbeat. Healthier and 84 pounds lighter...
— Cindy R.
October 24, 2002
Waiting for approval was the worse for me. I have Cigna EPP and it took
from January to March to get my first denial. Then after I filed an appeal
it took until the end of May to get my approval.
— Cathy S.
October 24, 2002
Patty, I think the worst part of this was waiting for the acutal day to
arrive, the testing and the approval came actaully easy, testing wasdone
in 2 days and the approval was done in less then 3 days....
It was waiting for the acutal surgery date, of which I waited for 78 days
!!!, I had to save up the out of pocket money... as I had to go out of
state for my surgery.
Post op 5 months and down 92 pounds.
— tannedtigress
October 24, 2002
The worst for me was the time before surgery. I started out in August,
changed surgeons in October and had surgery in November. So I really
didn't have to wait nearly as long as most. I also didn't have to do the
psych eval or much pre-op testing at all. The weeks after surgery were not
bad at all. I returned to work two weeks post-op and have done great.
Open RNY 11/29/01 -151+ pounds
— Patty_Butler
October 24, 2002
By far, the waiting for my surgery date ( Oct 9, 2002), was much more
difficult for me. I was approved June 21st, went back to the Dr. in July,
and got my surgery date. So I waited for 3 months. I am 15 days post-op,
and back to work. I feel fine, have had no problems whatsoever, and am very
happy to be on the other side. I've lost 19lbs, and am optimistic that
everything will be fine. I walk at work on my breaks, and am lucky to have
supportive co-workers, including a supervisor who had the surgery in June.
My whole experience has been a good one, and I wish everyone could have it
this way. Nancy Thompson
— Nancy T.
October 24, 2002
Definitely the first four weeks after surgery was the hardest. I am now
just about 7 weeks post-op. All the beforehand techicalities such as
insurance and etc. was a breeze.
— Anderia T.
October 24, 2002
This process has so many challenges and strange turns, I don't know about
worse, but I struggled the most about 6 months postop, I was feeling ok,
but had lost so much hair and my skin was very saggy, I did not feel like a
woman anymore, and wondered if I was going to look like this forever. I
also endured a big surge of emotions, anger and rage that were previously
emotions that I had eaten food to supress. Just be patient with yourself,
don't give up on the process. Each stage has its purpose in this journey.
Good Luck to you!
— Cara F.
October 24, 2002
Well the first four weeks post op were awful. However the nine months I
fought with my insurance company were worse.
— Danmark
October 24, 2002
Ya'll are crazy. The ONLY reason you think pre-op was worse than the time
immediately post-op is because you're not immediately post-op anymore. I
can assure you, as one who suffered pre-op but is now 3 days post op Lap
RNY, immediately post-op is worse. This stinks!
— Tamara K.
October 24, 2002
The first 10 days after surgery was horrible. I was back at work at 4
weeks. The pre-op wait was a breeze. Approved in 3 weeks to the day and
surgery 4 weeks after that. Physical pain and suffering is much harder
than inpatience with the red tape.
— Kay S.
October 27, 2002
For me, it was the first 4 weeks after surgery. I was having feelings of
"Why did I do this to myself? Was I that unhappy?" Of course,
these questions do subside after awhile. Now, I am totally happy with my
results and would do it again in a heartbeat. NO PAIN NO GAIN :)
— ncgal
Click Here to Return