Re: Surgery far away from home - Neil

[Guest guest]

Hi Neil,

Well, I am contemplating the worst possible - I intend to

go to Dallas alone and have nobody there. Upper nad lower

or lower only - still up to me. Banded. Post op - check-ups there

as long as I am there and then monthly visits (of couse at my

expence). This is all I know. I am yet to put up

a plan for the rest.

> > I am planning to have surgery very far from where I live (surgery

> in

> > Dallas, I live in Las Vegas). Anyone who has or planning it done

> > similar way - how do you handle all the inconveniences (rent

> > appartment or hotel, food, etc.)?

>

> You didn't really provide enough information for people to

formulate

> a useful response. For example, do you have friends and/or family

in

> Dallas? Why are you doing the surgery away from home? What type of

> surgery are you having? Are you expecting to be banded or wired?

Have

> you discussed a post-op visit schedule with your surgeon or are you

> going to receive followup care from a local/Vegas OS? How long are

> you planning on staying in Dallas post-op? What's your budget or

plan

> for local living expenses and return trips in case of followup?

>

> --Neil

[Guest guest]

Hi Neil,

Well, I am contemplating the worst possible - I intend to

go to Dallas alone and have nobody there. Upper nad lower

or lower only - still up to me. Banded. Post op - check-ups there

as long as I am there and then monthly visits (of couse at my

expence). This is all I know. I am yet to put up

a plan for the rest.

> > I am planning to have surgery very far from where I live (surgery

> in

> > Dallas, I live in Las Vegas). Anyone who has or planning it done

> > similar way - how do you handle all the inconveniences (rent

> > appartment or hotel, food, etc.)?

>

> You didn't really provide enough information for people to

formulate

> a useful response. For example, do you have friends and/or family

in

> Dallas? Why are you doing the surgery away from home? What type of

> surgery are you having? Are you expecting to be banded or wired?

Have

> you discussed a post-op visit schedule with your surgeon or are you

> going to receive followup care from a local/Vegas OS? How long are

> you planning on staying in Dallas post-op? What's your budget or

plan

> for local living expenses and return trips in case of followup?

>

> --Neil

[Guest guest]

Hmmm, if I was going to travel just to get a particular doctor, I

think I'd go to SF for Cammie's doc. If I'd known she had such an

outstanding result prior to my own surgery I probably would've done

just what you're contemplating, except I have friends in SF I

would've stayed with.

You know the phrase - " hope for the best, prepare for the worst " ? You

should keep that in mind going in. I was supposed to be banded post-

op, but ended up wired shut for 4 weeks. If I was in your shoes, I

would put in a decent amount of prep work. I'd arrange for living

quarters close to the doctor's office for 6-8 weeks. I'd plan on

going down a few days prior and cooking up a storm and filling the

fridge and freezer with soup and smoothies, and a goodly supply of

Ensure for the pantry, and load up the living room with books and

movies. You might infer here that I would go with an apartment rather

than a hotel. Basically because you need a fridge and stove for your

food, and you'll want as few interruptions as possible immediately

after the surgery.

You would also need not only a rental car but a limo service. The

limo service would be to drop you off at the hospital and pick you up

afterwards, and take you to the first one or two followup visits with

the OS. You may not be in any condition to talk during the first week

post-op, which is why I would set up a limo service rather than a

taxi - you can explain your needs/condition in advance to the limo

driver. A better alternative would be to get a family or member to

come take care of you for the first week, though.

One thing to strongly consider is if you can get post-op care locally

in Vegas. That way you could go home after a couple weeks and just

followup with a local doc. You never know when you might have an

emergency requiring a trip to the OS. In my case I had an infection

at about 4 weeks post-op that totally freaked me out and had me

running to the doctor the next day.

Best of luck to you. I hope it all works out.

--Neil

> > > I am planning to have surgery very far from where I live

(surgery

> > in

> > > Dallas, I live in Las Vegas). Anyone who has or planning it

done

> > > similar way - how do you handle all the inconveniences (rent

> > > appartment or hotel, food, etc.)?

> >

> > You didn't really provide enough information for people to

> formulate

> > a useful response. For example, do you have friends and/or family

> in

> > Dallas? Why are you doing the surgery away from home? What type

of

> > surgery are you having? Are you expecting to be banded or wired?

> Have

> > you discussed a post-op visit schedule with your surgeon or are

you

> > going to receive followup care from a local/Vegas OS? How long

are

> > you planning on staying in Dallas post-op? What's your budget or

> plan

> > for local living expenses and return trips in case of followup?

> >

> > --Neil