Did preop process require a lot of personal time?

skinnyoneday · 05-15-2008, 10:38 AM

Hi everyone,

I am still not sure whether I will be able to get banded (don't know if my insurance will cover me) but I was just wondering if the prep stuff (psych evaluation, nutritionist, consult) required time off from work. I only plan on telling my family about it and plan to use vacation time for the surgery so I don't want to take too much time off from work.

TIA

YoungNy · 05-15-2008, 10:40 AM

I'll be honest, I must have gotten on my supervisers nerves so much in the past 6 months. I ask for days off and to leave early and to switch my days off. It wasn't that bad those, in total I took off maybe 4 days. And left early 3 times. It was worth it though.

mandi78 · 05-15-2008, 11:10 AM

I had to miss a lot of work for pre-op appointments, evaluations, etc

CanHardlyWait · 05-15-2008, 11:11 AM

I have to say that here in CT my doctors were so accomadating to schedules. Alot of my visits were in the evening after work and some on weekends. I think maybe I left early once. I had a need to work and did not want to use up all my personal time as I have little ones and well all that time is needed for just in case things. I think if you communicate your schedule they will do their best to work around it for you.

JRT Mom · 05-15-2008, 11:12 AM

I've been lucky so far--I work night shifts for 13 hrs so I only work three days a week and haven't had to miss work to get all the testing done.
But I had to warn them that I might have to take six weeks off (lifting requirements in my job description) right in the middle of summer--now THAT was scary!

make33 · 05-15-2008, 11:22 AM

This entire process does take total commitment and discipline--AND a LOT of time, between the workup process, the surgery, and then the doctor's visits afterwards.

My first nine visits to the pulmunologist, the cardiologist, the psychiatrist, the upper GI, the stress test, all the labworks, etc. were scheduled by my Bariatric Center--and they simply called me and give me the dates and times--and I was expected to show up. (and some of the doctors were 50 miles away)

I am very very fortunate that I have a workplace that is very understanding--and if you go through with this, I hope you do too...

bodybutter64 · 05-15-2008, 11:43 AM

I did manage to lose a lot of time from work I really think it depends on your doctors office and when they can schedule things like upper GI's etc- some of the tests done at the hospital took me out of work for hte morning or the afternoon- I never told my family until the week before surgery I didn't want the extra pressure of them being worried- I am taking a week of vacation as well.

Surgery date for me is May 19th have to be at the hospital at 6:45 am.

LundyLane · 05-15-2008, 11:44 AM

If you work Mon - Fri it will cost you some time off.

Psych Eval took about 2 1/2 hours (mostly written test) cost me 1/2 day

Nutritionist first time took 1 hour and I got a evening appointment (I think you can with most)

Pre-Opt Testing took 1/2 a day (I had to take the whole day off)

Then you got all the other little appoinments that take up time at the doctors office so if you can get off a 1 hour here and a 1 hour there you may be able to swing it. But the top one are the big ones

Good luck

sunflower00 · 05-15-2008, 12:08 PM

Each doctor is different so you might want to ask your doctor's secretary about that.

For me, all my pre-op testing was on the same day. It was a full day (9 am to 6 pm). I called on sick that day

Then for my consultation I only had to arrive one hour late to work, which is totally fine at where I work.

My operation is scheduled for May 27th. I am taking a one week vacation for operation + recovery.

msjessy · 05-15-2008, 12:43 PM

I'm not done with my pre-op testing yet. I'm trying to cram it all in a month and so far I've had to request 2 days (1-full day, 2-half days). I tried my hardest to get appts that accomodated my schedule, but some of the offices only did clearances first thing in the morning or early afternoon on select days and there were NO weekend appts.

Like another poster said, the Nutritionist appts are usually the flexible ones. I had mine at 7:30p last Monday.

My job is home-sourced so I *HOPE* to only take 2-3 days off, at the most. I also have a 1yr old daughter so I try to save my PTO for when I have to tend to her emergencies.

Good Luck. I know in the end all of this will be well worth it!

slim2be · 05-15-2008, 04:56 PM

It taks being persistent, organized, and the Doctors you chose. I only had to take 1 day off for all my pre-op testing (which was for the upper GI that are only done in the mornings). I also have the advantage of getting out of work at 2:30 in the afternoon. All my appointments were scheduled for around 3;00 in the afternoon. I was really lucky with my pulmonary Dr. because she's in a large office and was able to get me in the same day for the stress test. That was an unexpected surprise. Another thing that saved time was that I scheduled my nutrition consult., psych. evaluation, and first consult meeting with my Dr. on the same day( they're all in the same office). Yes, that was a busy afternoon, but it was worth it to me. I completed all my pre-op testing in 3 weeks.

HlthySoon · 05-15-2008, 06:13 PM

It took several days for me. I had to take part day for the psych eval. and then half day for the nutritionist apt. full day for pre op testing. Another full day for stress test plus surgery time off that was 3 days so your talking about a week of total time. Thats not including the 5 visits after surgery within the first year for my doc. So its time consuming but its all worth it in my opinion. I have a great workplace and my supervisor is extremely supportive!

skinnyoneday · 05-15-2008, 06:16 PM

Thanks for your responses everyone. I guess it doesn't sound too bad. Did any of you go to NYU for the procedure? If so what was your experience?

strikeuptheband · 05-15-2008, 06:25 PM

I live 2 1/2 hours from where my doctor is. I took off a day for the psych eval, and another day where they booked my physical therapist, dietician, bariatric coordinator meeting and an evening support group all on one day! One visit left next tuesday to see surgeon and pre registration at the hospital. Then I will take 2-3 days off after surgery. I have a desk job so I doubt I will need much time off. Good luck to ya!

strikeuptheband · 05-15-2008, 06:26 PM

OK and anyone know how to make my ticker look like a ticker? I copied and pasted it just as it was and didn't change anything!