no hospital stay for me? out same day

[50lbstogo 10]

I am continuing with this process, no date yet, but last week at testing they said I would be outpatient for the sleeve? I go home same day? Has anyone else done this. Is this because I am cash pay?

[PdxMan 4,292]

I was cash pay, too. I had a choice of outpatient, or for another $1,000, I could stay the night. I am not a fan of hospitals as I feel there are a lot of sick people are there and I wasn't sick. I have an acquaintance who is still dealing with staff infection issues 3 years later (not bariatric surgery, but a procedure on his wrist, spent one night). I opted for the outpatient and it worked for me. My wife was with me and it felt so good to recover in my surroundings.

[morgan53 48]

wow! I never heard of this being an outpatient surgery, especially since it is a major surgery. do you live close just in case something happens you can get back quickly? good luck. maybe others could shed some light.

[McButterpants 2,846]

PDXMan and I share the same surgeon...

My doctor performed my surgery on an outpatient bases - I was in at 6:00 am and out the door by noon. He did that for self-pay as well as insurance patients.

I was totally fine with it being outpatient - I got to sleep in a much more comfortable bed without interruption. I had a hospital a quick 5 minute drive from the condo I stayed in, so I could get medical attention quickly. Doc gave me his cell phone # in case I needed him. And like PDX states above - the worst place for infection is the hospital (an interesting fact...about 250 people a day die due to secondary infections they get in a hospital).

[par1959 470]

Interesting, The center I am going through charges one price and is very up front about it. Doesnt matter if your insurance or cash. Also covers one year of after care with the NUT, shrink and pre/follow up visits. Cost is 21K

[PdxMan 4,292]

Yowsers! 21K for self pay? McB and were half that. Yes, here in the states.

[McButterpants 2,846]

I have a local physician for my aftercare - she charges $190 per visit. (She is a bariatric surgeon, but I opted for a more experienced and cheaper option out of state) So, if you add up all the times I have to go with her in a year's time, I will pay about $1500 for that. My primary care physician orders my labs, so they are covered by insurance. I paid $11K for my surgery.

[Gammy10 37]

My surgery will be outpatient. I am also self-pay. The hospital is four hours away, so I will be staying the first night in a hotel across the road from the hospital. I have mixed feelings. I hate hospitals at night, and my husband is an excellent caregiver when I need him. I have a high tolerance for pain, so that part doesn't worry me. I do worry about dehydration. If anyone else was outpatient, I welcome advice. :-)

[1Day1Life4Now 882]

My doctor called my surgery "out-patient" and I went through the "out=patient admission office" but I was scheduled for 2 nights. Because of a respiratory problem I ended up staying a third night. My daughter stayed with me the entire time and took care of me but I know she could have done the same thing for me at home. I did like the IV and pain pump which you can't take home but it's all good.

[xoashS2 11]

I am not self pay, but my surgeon said most of his patients for the sleeve go home same day. I live about an hour away from the hospital I will have the surgery at. I'm nervous and don't know how I will handle the pain (I'm such a baby about surgeries lol) but my hubby and my mommy will be taking good care of me (: they will not let me fail!

[cherrytree15 78]

I was out patient and I am not a self pay. I was in for surgery at 9:30 and home by 4:00. I am 7 days post op. no issues or problems. 14lbs down.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I was "outpatient". I went in at 5am on the day of my surgery and was out at 3pm the next day. I don't understand how that is outpatient, but I wanted to go home. I was told by the doctor that he preferred if I stayed one more day, but I chose not to.

The lady in the room next to me whined and moaned the entire time I was there. (Gawd bless the nurses that dealt with her!) There was another woman who walked the halls often and would stop in each room and want to have conversation -- that was annoying. I was in the second room as you entered the wing, so EVERY PERSON who came into the area looked in my door and I hated it. I just wanted peace and privacy. Felt fine, too.

[Tigermouse74 22]

Wow! My surgeon said 3 to 4 nights in hospital! But I am having a giant hernial repair as well, maybe that's the difference?

[PdxMan 4,292]

Wow! My surgeon said 3 to 4 nights in hospital! But I am having a giant hernial repair as well, maybe that's the difference?

I'm not sure what a giant hernia repair is as there are many types/forms of hernias ...

I had a hiatal hernia repair which was corrected during the sleeve procedure. I'm not sure if the severity made a difference. I didn't even know about it until I was post. He basically told my he had to yank my stomach back down below my diaphragm and sewed the diaphragm up tight around my esophagus. Swallowing would be a little difficult for a week or so, but I'll be fine.

I was.

[Tigermouse74 22]

Wow! My surgeon said 3 to 4 nights in hospital! But I am having a giant hernial repair as well, maybe that's the difference?

Yip its like a hiatal hernia repair, just that it's really large and also tearing onto other organs so they said it's a "giant sliding hernia" They'll do exactly the same to me as they did with you just a bit more repairing to do. My surgeon said I shouldn't worry so much about the sleeve, it's the hernial repair that I should be more worried about. It's apparently rather painful? But your experience makes me feel a whole lot better about it.