I know this sounds weird...but do you have to have someone there at the hospital while you're having surgery? I don't have any family members near me and I have only shared this with a couple of people who are unable to take off work. They can insure I get there and am picked up. I'm praying all goes well and they can be on standby if a situation arises. Has anyone done this "alone"?

@@280journey --

I may be repeating an earlier note; don't have time to read through the whole thing.

In general, hospitals require that a surgery patient be escorted off premises, not necessarily all the way home. It's a matter of their insurance requirements. Once you're out the front door of the building, they aren't responsible.

As to your personal items, most have lockers in the OR prep area. Just leave valuables at home; no need to tempt fate.

You'll be occupied before being taken in to the OR, so your own company pretty much would be in the way. A few different people will come to you with questions for various records, whether your surgeon's or the hopsital's and whatever/whomever else. The questions are repetitive, so if you can, try to have them all at once. I did that 30 years ago for a night-time appendectomy. As people came to me with their clipboards in staggered fashion, I asked them to wait a few minutes so that we could all work together. A small thing, but I felt a great sense of power over the system. And saved being bored from repeated question and repeating myself.

@@280journey I did and it was no problem at all. I was glad not to have anyone hovering around me in the hospital that I felt like I had to entertain or look nice for. The hospital was well-staffed with nurses and nursing assistants and they took care of all my needs. The only thing I needed to make special arrangements for was making sure that my eyeglasses and overnight bag made it safely from the pre-op staging area to my hospital room, and the nurses took care of that too -- I just had to make them aware, because usually they take that stuff to a family member in the waiting room to look after it.

Thanks for your comment. I will definitely need my glasses. I'll probably have my ID and insurance cards in my bag also. Do I need to take a debit or credit card with me just in case?

I would bring something so you can get prescriptions on your way home. Best of luck to you!

@@280journey I did and it was no problem at all. I was glad not to have anyone hovering around me in the hospital that I felt like I had to entertain or look nice for. The hospital was well-staffed with nurses and nursing assistants and they took care of all my needs. The only thing I needed to make special arrangements for was making sure that my eyeglasses and overnight bag made it safely from the pre-op staging area to my hospital room, and the nurses took care of that too -- I just had to make them aware, because usually they take that stuff to a family member in the waiting room to look after it.

Thanks for your comment. I will definitely need my glasses. I'll probably have my ID and insurance cards in my bag also. Do I need to take a debit or credit card with me just in case?

I would bring something so you can get prescriptions on your way home. Best of luck to you!

They took my belongings and kept them safely for my but specifically did NOT want me to have any money or debit/credit cards--sent mine home with my mother in law. They also has me leave any jewelry at home (even my wedding ring). They did let me have my phone and kept it for me with my glasses/contacts and toiletries and such. See if your doctor can give you the prescriptions ahead of time so you can fill them before surgery. Mine did both with my WLS and with my plastics.

Thabjs, everyone for your comments. They are truly helpful.

Thanks, everyone for your comments. They are truly helpful.

I told ZERO people. Only you guys. I took an uber home from the hospital. It was a piece of cake. No one has even noticed.

Wow! I've told a couple of friends, but no family. I'll be alone too, my husband will be home with the children, and I prefer being alone when I'm sick anyway! Has anyone noticed you're eating differently?

Not one! And I keep my premier shakes in the office refrigerator so evidently no one is familiar with that brand that it generally has to do with surgery but the weight-loss is coming off so danged slowly that no one has noticed that either. I usually nibble at my desk all day so I do the same thing and no one, seriously, not one person has noticed anything. almost a little disappointing. Lol

I've lost about 25 lbs in 6 weeks - and I'm low BMI. The one thing I did mention is that I get up and walk in the mornings so if anything maybe people think that that's helping a little bit. Lol

As long as there is someone there to bring you home they shouldn't have an issue with it. Honestly, after my recent neck surgery I made my mom and fiancé go back to the hotel (my surgery was out of the area) I just wanted to sleep. The nursing staff wil keep an eye on you and just let them know you are by yourself and I'm sure they will step up their game even more

I'm going to be flying alone to Prague for my surgery, so I'm a little nervous. I know people react differently to pain levels etc, so I'm hoping I'm on the more comfortable end of things so that I can deal with caring for myself and getting through the airport on the way back. My family knows, so they will take care of me once I make it back, but for the actually surgery it's up to me.

Yes, I flew to Mexico alone. I told my sister about by decision a few days prior to leaving, that was almost a year ago. To date she is the only one that I have told. For me, I did not feel alone, I had my sleeve sister with me. There are a lot more people that do this alone that what you would think, but there are always someone around giving you the needed support.

I know this sounds weird...but do you have to have someone there at the hospital while you're having surgery? I don't have any family members near me and I have only shared this with a couple of people who are unable to take off work. They can insure I get there and am picked up. I'm praying all goes well and they can be on standby if a situation arises. Has anyone done this "alone"?

FYI you should be able to get your prescriptions filled before your surgery so you don't need to stop at a pharmacy. Just make sure you get that squared away with your surgeon's office in advance.

I went to Mexico on my own, while my husband stayed with the kids. It was fine. I had a seven hour return travel and it really was not bad. Being in the hospital by myself was fine; it allowed me to nap a lot.

I'm doing this alone too! I'm struggling to find someone who can give me a ride home

I'm going to be flying alone to Prague for my surgery, so I'm a little nervous. I know people react differently to pain levels etc, so I'm hoping I'm on the more comfortable end of things so that I can deal with caring for myself and getting through the airport on the way back. My family knows, so they will take care of me once I make it back, but for the actually surgery it's up to me.

Best wishes to you with your surgery.

I'm doing this alone too! I'm struggling to find someone who can give me a ride home

Awww...I hope you find someone.

I am, tomorrow. DH passed out when I was explaining the procedure to him at home. He's passed out before while visiting people in the hospital. He just doesn't do well with medical stuff. There's no need for him to be there so I told him to stay home unless he really wants to come visit after I'm back in my room.

The program I'm going with is really awesome. At the final preop class, they have everyone say their surgery date so you can meet everyone having surgery the same day as you. Then I met another at support group. So now I know 4 or 5 people going through it at the same time as I am, so I'm sure we'll be roaming around together when we go for our walks.

You can do it. It will totally be fine. You're strong enough to make it this far. You can handle this.

Hey...just checking on you since your surgery was today. Hope all is well.

Let me know how you do, I'll be in the same position as you. I'll be driving myself to the hospital for surgery and then I will have two people to come to the hospital once I'm ready to be discharged, One is bringing the other one so she can drive me and my car back home, three hours away. I'm scared too but I'll get through it and so will you!

I sure will! The hospital is about 45-50 mins away from where I live. I can't imagine having to drive three hrs! Best wishes to you with the surgery. Keep me posted.