I just found out today that Aetna approved my surgery for outpatient. Has anyone had this? Did it go ok? I am going to try and have the dr. do the peer to peer to try and get inpatient. I am worried about coming home to 6 kiddos the same day as the surgery. y'know?

Thanks for input and experiences!

I would push hard for inpatient, I could not even imagine coming home the same day and my kid is grown. I was in for 2 1/2 days, i did have a hernia repair too.

Hope it all works out for you ... good luck

I just found out today that Aetna approved my surgery for outpatient. Has anyone had this? Did it go ok? I am going to try and have the dr. do the peer to peer to try and get inpatient. I am worried about coming home to 6 kiddos the same day as the surgery. y'know?

Thanks for input and experiences!

I stayed for 2 days. I have NO kids and couldn't imagine doing that. Everyone's recovery is different but I think you'd definitely need at least one day to rest, get all the anesthetic out of you, and get x-rays to check for leaks. Best of luck to you, I hope you really push for the inpatient!

I did outpatient and looking back, I wouldn't do it any other way. I hate hospital stays - never seem to get enough rest with all the noise and nurses coming in all night to check the monitors.

Is there anyway that someone could take the kids for a night or two?

I had outpatient surgery 3 months ago and would not have done it any other way. At the time I was a little nervous, but less than one hour after surgery I was walking, drinking, and doing fine. I could not stand to lie in a hospital bed with all the beeping of the machines and have the leg compressors going all the time. I had 2 young kids at home and they were very careful. I just wanted to walk and walk around my home after the surgery.

I was officially outpatient and was worried. Doc said that outpatient does include overnight stay - they assume you go home within 24 hrs. If there is complications, the doc can convert it to inpatient. I was very happy to get out the next morning so it wasnt a bother. Actually left before doc could come around as I was fine and didnt want to wait just to chat with him as my nurse covered all my questions.

I would talk to your doctor and I am sure if he recommends to stay overnight, they will approve it. Congrats on your surgery!

I found out it is the 23 hr thing. I can stay that long...if needed the dr. will ask for longer then. I feel good about that because I tend to HATE hospitals and how much they bug you. My parents are coming to help with the kids....so that should be ok. (Yes, I have my dh but he works long hours and won't be able to take off work for this since he was just converted from a contractor to a Full-time Employee.) My kids are sooo excited for my parents to come.

Can I drive home after the 24 hours, or still need to have someone else drive me?

What's your condition after the full day at the hospital?

Can I drive home after the 24 hours, or still need to have someone else drive me?

What's your condition after the full day at the hospital?

You will definitely need someone to drive you home. Even if you feel up to it, remember your body is full of medications and probably narcotics. DUI is not something you want to mess with.

My surgeon didn't allow me to drive for a week postop. There's no way I would have wanted to be home the same day - I was still getting IV morphine and needed it for the first day. Day 2 I was miserable. I think I could have gone after 2 nights happily. Just make sure you do have help and don't try to do too much - even though you only see small scars, it's still a big abdominal surgery internally!

I definitely think it's moving towards outpatient therapy though - makes the surgery so much more financially attractive to the insurance company if they are only paying out $10K and saving tens of thousands on obesity-related illness.