My claim was submitted to Aetna on Friday. Yesterday morning I got a phone call that my surgery was approved. Two business day turnaround! I guess sometimes being really fat pays off. Suck it all you low-BMI people!

I am now he proud owner of a March 11 surgery date. I'm a little concerned because we have a vacation planned to go to the Grand Canyon on April 1st and then to my mom's house in Arizona on April 8th. Obviously I should be fine to fly by then, and walking around the Grand Canyon shouldn't be a problem (no plans to venture IN the canyons. Just hike around at the top). But what about swimming while visiting my mom's starting on April 8th? I will be exactly 4 weeks post-surgery.

Depends on what you mean by "swimming". If you mean casual swimming, cooling off in the pool, then I'm sure you'll be fine. Doing laps or vigorous exercise should wait till you are about 6 weeks or so out.

Thanks for the reply. I did mean just getting in to cool off and splash around with the kids. I also realized that when we get to my mom's house I will be five weeks out from surgery, not four. I will be four weeks out when we leave for the Grand Canyon. I'm hoping to have a quick recovery and some stamina built up by then to be able to do a lot of walking while there!