The Traveler

wow! great work everyone! today has been tough to avoid some yummy food (hardest day so far)

7 minutes ago, The Traveler said:

I hope everyone else is doing much better than I did.

So, I made this post and had my surgery on May 3rd. It went horribly wrong, so didn't want to scare everyone else. After the gastric bypass, I started vomiting blood, then it was old blood- but large amounts. On May 10th, they determined either the vomiting caused a hernia or vice versa. It would be a 30 minute surgery to correct it. During the anesthesia part of the surgery, I vomitted blood into my lungs (anesthesia aspiration). They immediately put me in a medically induced coma for 5 days to clear my lungs of the double pneumonia that developed. In total, I spent 19 days in the hospital. I have been recovering ever since. I have lost about 35 pounds (so more than half that I needed to) but physical recovery has been so much more of the challenge. I often wonder if I will recommend this surgery to others due to my complications, but I know they are like 1 in 5000 chances.

Hi Everyone, I hesitated posting as surgery was the third, yesterday was horrible and miserable but tonight it is getting better.

I have read that online support groups can make a big difference for the long term. Happy to have you all here.

Happy to have this tribe. My surgery is tomorrow, and I am nervous.

thanks for letting me lead the way 🙂

Is there a way we can make a little group to support each other?

Just heard today that my surgery is a go ahead (assuming a negative COVID test on Saturday) for next Tuesday. I am an American living in Belgium, and was surprised at the hoops you have to jump through to get the surgery

I had a gastroscopy and gallbladder ultrasounds, meetings with the endocrinologist, heart specialist, bypass surgeon, dietician, and psychologist. In addition, there was a blood test, urine test, and sleep study.

To qualify for insurance you need to either have a bmi over 40 or a bmi over 35 with an additional co-mortality of either high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea. Luckily, I failed the sleep exam as the other co-mortalities were not applicable for me.

Gastric bypass is close to 6000 euros, but normal health insurance covers 5000 of it. Luckily, I have another insurance that will cover the rest.

What is it like in other countries?

Thank you FarfelDiego

Hi All,

Currently, my surgery is scheduled for May 3rd. I was wondering if there were any other people on a similar timeline who I could buddy up with for support and discussion. It will be covered by the insurance IF the results of my sleeping test were negative. I find that out on Thursday. Then the surgery is a go ahead for the 3rd. I am anxious about both.