Preparation and Recovery

[Hiccup 32]

Hi all, I have posted recently telling everyone that I have decided to go with the surgery but from what I'm reading here I understand that it takes quiet a while until one goes into the OR but I am unable to comprehend why, is it only an insurance approval thing or is mandatory to go on a certain diet before surgery or how is it? So my question consists of two parts:

1) If I have the money with me now and I am ready to pay it in cash without a second thought, when can I have the operation done and do I still have to wait or can I just go get my routine medical tests done and have the surgery the next day?

2) If let's say it turns out to be as quick as I am claiming, for example I go on Monday do the tests, I get the results by Tuesday and Wednesday I do the surgery, when can I go back to work? Is 2 days of home rest post surgery enough to go back to work thereafter?

Reason I'm asking is because I have 7 days of leave from work during last week of September (that's next week) and I have the funds in pocket which I can afford spending on this. Will I be able to make it back to work after my 7 days leave say if I do the surgery on the third day and get 4 days of rest.

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Edited September 16, 2016 by Hiccup

[Frenchie1977 262]

The first part of your question depends on your surgeon and his pre-op requirements, if he requires a pre-op diet then obviously you would not be able to do it that quick, usually the pre-op diet is required to make the surgery safer for you.

Second that would most likely not be enough time off work.

I would look to plan ahead a little more, this is a major surgery. Not just a minor procedure.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I agree.

Depending on your surgeon's requirements (with or without insurance) you may have to have a pre-op diet to lose a certain amount of weight, a liver-shrinking pre-op diet (usually 2 weeks) to prepare for surgery, a variety of tests (like an EGD, pulmonary tests, blood tests, etc) and clearances (caridiologist, etc).

There may also be other requirements, for instance if you are a smoker you may have to be smoke free for a certain period of time.

As to recovery, even with an easy recovery and no complications, you may need/want to take more than a week or two.

Even if you have cash in hand, if your surgeon is good, you can expect that a busy bariatric practice will need more lead time to schedule your surgery.

Have you even had your initial consultation?

[hdw85 48]

I would say agree that it will depend on the surgeon, but I would guess you will have to have some sort of pre-op diet. I would have no way been able to go back to work that soon. I missed 2 weeks of work and was still slow moving when I went back.. Good luck!

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[kraek9 28]

My surgeon is requiring many test, sleep test, blood work, stress test, see a phycologist and nutritionist. All of that will take more then a week just scheduling it. My follow up visit is a month from my first consultation and I hope to have all my test complete by then. I am a private payer as well.

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[shoodle72 61]

In my situation I also have the money to pay. I have had to have a Barium swallow test, an upper abdominal ultrasound and have to have 2 weeks of Optifast liquid diet before surgery. Also have to meet with the dietitian and a psychologist prior too.

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I will be off work for 3 weeks. I'm scheduled for 21st October 2016.

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[Thecloude1 342]

Some will not do it if you don't have insurance...mine doesn't ...good luck

[shoodle72 61]

I have insurance. I have to pay $3900 on top of my insurance as I'm in Australia. Without my insurance the surgery costs about $20,000.

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[Valentina 2,642]

Some people go to Mexico. There are clinics there that do "assembly line" WLS. IF you have no complications, and have a job that isn't too physical you could POSSIBLY get your WLS done and be back to work within your time off guidelines.

Would I have WLS under that those conditions? No way!

Be kind to yourself. Take the time to prepare, have the surgery and then recover. WLS is NOT a miracle cure for obesity. There's much to learn.

I drove myself home from the hospital and continued with my life as if I never had WLS to begin with----in the hospital, had WLS, did swallowing test, drove home, got on with my life.

​I do NOT recommend you do the same.

Take the time.

You deserve to do this the right way.

Be kinder to yourself-----you deserve it.

[shoodle72 61]

In Australia, they won't let you drive for 7-10 days post op. Also have to be picked up from the hospital into the care of a 'responsible' person.

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[nmf0318 58]

1) My Bariatric Center has you get all of your pre-op appts in and then they schedule you for surgery.

2) Also, I see that most people spend a week to three off for recovery.

Your milage may vary. It seems very dependant on the doctors and insurance protocol.

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[laceemouse 631]

My insurance requires less testing than most and no long supervised diet or anything. My surgeon only requires 3 days of a liquid diet prior to surgery. Right now I am waiting for insurance approval. MAYBE with self pay you can move to getting a surgery date quickly, but the idea of going back to work that soon after surgery sounds pretty terrible to me. We are all on a liquid diet for a while after surgery, very low calories, most people are tired and have to take it easy for at least a week after surgery, and even then they struggle.

[Leather'nLace 187]

My entire process took just under 6 weeks. After reading this forum for the past few weeks, I'm pretty sure my process was insanely fast compared to pretty much everyone.

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[shoodle72 61]

In Australia our public health (Medicare) doesn't cover this type of surgery at all. You need top cover Private cover to have the surgery. There is also a gap payment for my surgeon which is $3900. This covers my anaesthetist, the surgeon's assistant and 3 years follow with the surgeon and dietitian. Most of the other surgeons in Sydney charge a gap fee of at least $5000 and also charge an additional $1000 for the anaesthetist's fees.

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[kimberb 323]

Kaiser recommends two weeks for recovery. If your job includes lifting 3 weeks. The surgeon that spoke at our class today said all healing would be done by 3 weeks. I asked specifically if that included swelling and he said yes. I was a little surprised by this because of all I've read on this forum.

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