For those of you who have had DS, I have a few questions as I look at my surgery options.

1) Did anyone have the surgery away from home?  Whichever surgery I have, it will be done in Nashville, which is about 3 1/2 hours from my home in Memphis.  I don't like being that far from my doctor after surgery, but it's the only option.  Going on the assumption that the surgery will be performed laparoscopically, did anyone else have to travel after being discharged?  Was it painful?  Did they have you wear stockings or take other precautions against blood clot?

2) My bedroom is upstairs, and I would greatly prefer to be there.  Were you able to climb the stairs okay once you got home?  Again, this is assuming the surgery is done laparscopically.  I know open DS would be an entirely different story.  The living room would be nice, but it's not ideal since I have a housemate.  I'm planning on renting a comfy recliner and putting it in my room, and I'll have plenty of help from my mother post-op for help with liquids and moving around.  I'm anticipating intense back pain in the following week or two after surgery because I have a herniated disc and spinal stenosis, so being on my back for surgery is going to exacerbate that.  Just hoping it won't be a problem getting upstairs to camp out until I can move more freely again.  That was a long explanation when all I really need to know is could you climb the stairs.  : /

Some folks that travel, as you are planning, stay for a week or 10 days in the same town with their surgeon until just after their 1st check up. There may be a hotel close by that can accommodate someone recovering from surgery. If you must travel back home right after surgery take very slowly and stop and get out of the car to walk often. Use a pillow across your stomach for support and cushion.

You should be able to slowly climb the stairs to get to your room--sideways and one step at a time. I understand your fear about the back pain post-op. I hope the pain meds they have you on will help that.

--gina 

Most of the Nashville hospitals are quite accommodating for out of town patients.  Some have hospitality houses; ask your surgeon's office staff.  Baptist, Centennial, Saint Thomas, Vanderbilt, and the VA hospital are within a few blocks of each other.  Several hotels in the West End area give discounts for people who are in town for medical reasons.  Many, many people have to travel to Nashville for specialty care.  In my part of TN, it's just expected that someone in your family will eventually have to go to Nashville sometime for something.  Fortunately, the business people around the hospitals understand this and are very helpful.  I have stayed at the Extended Stay Hotel Nashville/Vanderbilt and would go there again if necessary.  The Extended Stay has a kitchenette if you have a family member going with you.  It will save money on meals. I've also received discounts from the Holiday Inn at Vanderbilt.

Google is your friend; you may end up finding a deal that works out great for you.

 Don't be surprised if you're required to spend a couple of weeks in town.  My doc required you to stay within an hour of her for two weeks, when complications are most likely to occur.

For stairs, I was able to navigate stairs just fine - albeit s l o w l y....and my DS was open.  Hubby helped me in and out of bed the first few days home, but I was pretty self-sufficient after that.  Those who hovered to help were assigned household chores.  

My surgery was two hours away from home. I almost had to stay close for a week after my release. Coming home from the hospital was not painful to me. I was aware, however, and nervous about other drivers cutting in front of us.

I could climb the stairs to our second floor where our bedroom is just fine but I was not comfortable in bed. I did best in my recliner chair for two weeks after surgery.

I flew to CA for my open revision and had to stay about 10 days. I was climbing stairs, very slowly, about a week out while staying with family. Figured it was good exercise.

Hello, best of luck on your journey. I had my DS a week ago today. Instead of recovering at home with my 9 year old, I opted to go to my mom's. I stayed in her upstairs with a mini fridge and bathroom nearby. The first day climbing the stairs was a bit uncomfortable, but by day 2 I was fine to go up and down a couple of times a day. In fact at 1 week post op I climb stairs with much more ease then I did pre-op. You will be fine. Everyone is different. I see those people who say " I didn't take any pain pills after I left the hospital" lol! Not me! I'm still takinig 1/2 a pill twice a day for mild discomfort because it helps me to be able to walk as much as possible. I feel great considering I'm still toting this drain around and am able to walk 1/4 mile several times a day. I was terrified of going home from the hospital, and the steps scared me too. But there was no need to worry, everything worked out great. You will do awesome!!!

 Hi,
I have not had my surgery yet but I'm shooting for fall I should finish up all my requirements for my insurance company in Aug. I live in Maine and I'm going to have my surgery done in Michigan with Paul Kemmeter. I'm still undecided if I'm flying or traveling by car but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.  I will be there 10 days to two weeks.  Good luck with your surgery.

Trish

I had my DS in Nashville, and traveled 2.5 hours by car the day I was discharged. Mine was done open, but it really wasn't as painful as I'd prepared myself for. Traveling wasn't especially uncomfortable, but getting into and out of the car was. On my surgeon's advice, I stopped twice and got out and walked around. I wore compression stockings in the hospital, but not once I was discharged.

Climbing stairs was VERY hard for me---but I had VERY bad knees, too. I rented a recliner, but found it uncomfortable, probably because I'm so short. (It was very painful for me to get out of it.) My neighbor then loaned me a lift chair, which was heavenly!

About 18 months later I had a lap hernia repair, which was nearly as painful as the open DS. Surgery sucks! (*grin*)

I live in Nashville and used Dr. Houston. He is AWESOME. My travel home though short was not painful. I live on the third floor of an apartment complex and Dr. H had no worries about the stairs. If you need an angel here let me know. I would say the trip home you would need to stop every 45 minutes and walk, but the dr. will determine that as well. Good luck. If you have any other questions about Centenial just ask. I love them and their follow up is one of the best in the country.

Preachermomma, I do have questions about Centennial and Dr. Houston!  I tried to get the answer to this today, but the answer was kind of vague from Centennial.  I probably should have called Dr. Houston's office, but I had just called them to find out what the copay is for the actual surgery so I can plan ahead.  They don't take QMB through medicaid, so I'm going to have to pay the copays out of pocket and get reimbursed.  Anyway, I digress, I REALLY need to know what Dr. Houston requires for follow ups.  When was your first, and then the subsequent follow ups?  I've got to know this stuff ahead of time so I can save accordingly for the hotel stays.  By the way, I used to live in Nashville, and I love it there so much.  Such a cool city and I miss it a great deal.

Oh, and what is an angel, pray tell?

Please keep in mind my DS with Dr. Houston was almost 4 years ago...

His follow-up schedule was every 3 months for the first year then every 6 months for two and a half years.   At one time, he reserved Fridays for his patients who had to travel long distances so they could use Saturday for the trip home.  He also was very good about making follow up phone calls.  He even called me at work one day to inquire how much protein I was getting in each day.  The further out I got, the less he called.  Yet if I needed him, he was always available.

I paid a $250 deposit for Dr. Houston's fee.  I left it on the books for the first year for my co-pays.  Holly and Elizabeth are Dr. Houston's staff.  His number is different from Centennial's Bariatric Center.  Talk to them directly.  They are very helpful and super friendly.  I would not talk to anyone but them unless they tell me to talk to someone else.

As for angels, I can't remember if anyone has answered.  I didn't have one here on OH, but I did have one in a friend who had the RNY.  She was a terrific mentor.  The angel is someone who keeps the board informed of your operation outcome in the immediate post-op period.  They might also be a mentor.  Each couple works out the angel duties according to what each is comfortable with.  Some of it is done by phone.  I guess I was an angel for a friend who had the VSG because I went to Nashville and waited for Dr. Houston to come out of surgery then I called her relatives in Michigan and New Hampshire to let them know how she was doing.  We're co-workers as well as friend so I probably did a little more than I might have for someone I didn't know in person. I also went to Nashville to drive her home after she was released as she has no family in the area. Some angels don't even live near their angelette.  I know of a woman from KY who had her surgery in TN and her angel lives in NJ.  Everybody kept in close touch by phone.  The relationship is as unique as each person is who is having surgery.

If you want to PM me, please feel free

That's incredibly helpful, K9ophile.  Thank you!  So, you didn't have a follow up a week or two weeks after your surgery?  I really hope he's still like that, that would be terrific.  I think Holly is the one for whom I left a voice mail asking about Dr. Houston's surgical copay.  It would be helpful if I could pay it out.  Did they do a credit check or something before agreeing to that?

Oops! I forgot that I did go to see him one week after discharge so that he could remove my drain.  You may not have one.  I was Houston's first DS.  I think he was very vigilant with me for that reason.  Now that he's much more experienced, his routine for follow up may have changed.  One thing that I can't imagine him changing is his dedication to his patients.  He truly does care.  He is an excellent cutter.  The dietitians need to learn more about DS patients, yet they have learned some things.

I don't think they did a credit check, yet I could be wrong.  It probably depends on insurance and other things.  I have insurance through my employment and my husband is retired military so we have Tricare as our secondary.  I am very fortunate that my surgery total costs were a little over $500 out of pocket.  There was the $250 deposit, but I got that back.  My psych exam was $295 and all mine to pay.  I stayed at the Holiday Inn the night before for a discounted rate.  All the rooms at Centennial are private and my husband slept in my room with me on a very uncomfortable chair.  Hey, it was FREE!  He had surgery there for a man problem and I stayed in his room on an equally uncomfortable FREE fold out thing; the things we do for loved ones  My husband did have to pay for his meals.  I mean he could have had my broth, jello, and tea since I felt so bad that I left most of it on the tray. Nom!

 Hi kati  this is rivertaz I am having DS on 08/07/2012 at Centennial and Dr. Houston and all the staff there is great. I had my first visit with Dr. Houston on June 5 and they set me up in no time. could have had surgery on july 3 but put it off til August. Holly is great we met right after meeting with Dr. and everthing was set up in one day. she also told me a follow up is 1 week after surgery. I go Monday July 16th for all my pre-admission, pre-op class with nurse and dietian have UGI, labs and EKG all done in one day.  Now my insurance pays most but I do have a 500 deductible and have not meet it yet they say so I have to pay 200 up front , but Holly and everyone there are so friendly and they will work with you about the payment.  Good luck with you and hope to meet you at a support meeting.. 

OMGoodness, Dr. Houston is my surgeon also. I go for my consult on the 16th. I was hoping to have my surgery before school started back for the very reason, that I am afraid I will be required to stay in Nashville since I live 2 hours away in middle Tenn but I understand they are scheulding for late August.  There is no way that I can stay that long, I may have to put my surgery off till Fall break.

Maybe when I see the Dr. on the 16th, I can get some of the questions answered since I am wondering about the same things you are. When is your consult???

Small world!  I don't have a consult scheduled yet.  I do have one scheduled at Vandy on August 21st, but for various reasons will most likely be canceling that one in favor of Dr. Houston and Centennial.  I just started the process with Centennial this week and heard back from them today, so they still have to get the records from my PCP and I have a psych eval next week here in Memphis.  Hopefully that'll get the ball rolling enough to get me a date for a consult!

Dr. Clements at Vandy is where I started and I loved him, with Vandrbilt Baratrics..but they do not do the DS. Who are you seeing at Vanderbilt???

When I go on the 16th, I will ask the questions you and I are wondering about and will let you know if you have not already gotten the answers you are looking for. I will send you a friend request if you don't mind.

When are you hoping to have your surgery??

I chose Dr. Melvin, but I've never met him.  I just based it on reviews of his character.  I have yet to actually meet a bariatric surgeon, other than the first one that led the seminar I attended in Memphis.  I keep hopping to another clinic because of one wall or another.  Hopefully the third time's the charm with Dr. Houston.

That would be terrific if you could ask those questions, thank you!  I'll also be eager to hear how your visit went for you and just anything you want to share about it.  I'll live vicariously through you until I eventually get there myself.  :)

I'm hoping to have surgery ASAP.  I'm sure it's wishful thinking, but I'm hoping it'll be late August, or no later than September.  I'd have it right now if I could.  It's so miserably hot here and it sure would be nice to have a little less insulation around my body.  :P

I noticed that Centennial doesn't say anything about pre-op testing like an edoscopy or stress tests.  From the seminar, it sounds like they only do them if they see a need.  I actually have an endoscopy scheduled next week for a suspected icky gall bladder, so I may need to have removal surgery and heal from that first.  We'll see... so many questions and variables, I've been driving myself mad on a daily basis.

Unless your gall bladder needs to come out ASAP, I'd try to get it out at tha same time as your DS. My surgeon took mine and my appendix, "just because". That would mean you'd only have to be put under once, and only have to recover once.