The luxury of choice--stay close to home, or does it really matter?

[Over and Out 29]

Hi everyone,

I have what may be an unusual situation in that I am not "settled" in my life. Because of illness and disability I am temporarily living in a small town (less than 200 people) in the middle of nowhere. Once I lose weight and get some orthopedic surgery, I am going to move.

Here's my dilemma. I have started a program (two nutritionist visits) in one clinic that is 60 miles west. Very good reputation. There is also a clinic about 50 miles east, also with a good reputation. In my imagined (hoped for) future, I will be living in the town that is 50 miles east, which places me 110 miles away from my doctors if there is a complication in the coming years.

I am wondering if I should switch over to the program that is in the town where I will be living; it seems to make more sense to me that in case of emergency the hospital has my records and the surgeon and staff are right there.

I'm getting a bit nervous because as I research RNY I keep seeing a lot of folks going back to get gallbladder surgery, or other emergency surgery for problems related to their RNY even years down the line. It just seems like it would nice to be in the same city as your doc.

So--Is it better to have your surgeon nearby or does it really matter, as long as you have good medical care available?

Thanks for any advice you can give me, I am questioning everything right now.

[GreenTealael 24,857]

Can you find out if you have to start over or if they can transfer your records and use the NUT visits towards your requirement?
If so go for it!

[Sadiebug 206]

I would base it more on the overall program than the surgeon/surgeons office if there are any differences. My program offers nutritionists and free NUT appointments for life following surgery. They also have exercise classes, in person support groups, cooking classes and all sorts of other things. I haven't had any complications (knock on wood!) but I have absolutely taken advantage of all of those other things since I live very close. I know there are others who used the same surgeon as me but live much farther away so they can't utilize all of the other services...and they struggle. I also know some individuals who have moved away from our surgeon and have really had a hard time finding a new doctor who will take them on board which is another thing to consider. If you really love the surgeon/program 60 miles west that you've started with you could go ahead and ask the group 50 miles east if they would be willing to take you on post-op and just plan on switching to them at a point in time after surgery.

[frust8 962]

Good idea Sadiebug, I am 50+ miles from my future hospital and surgeon. Going to take your advice to[emoji171] Thank You.

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

[TakingABreak 2,733]

1 hour ago, Conflicted said:

So--Is it better to have your surgeon nearby or does it really matter, as long as you have good medical care available?

My insurance required me to go to a "Blue Distinction Center" for Bariatric surgery. I had to go about 3.5 hours away. It was a hassle. You don't realize how many appointments there will be. My insurance didn't require much, but I had to go up for a initial consultation, nutrition class, a bariatric class, a pulmonary clearance (and it had to be from the doctor's that would be monitoring me after surgery), pre-surgical appointment, pre op testing, and then all of the after surgery appointments. 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year. If you do the math, that is a lot of visits to a doctor that isn't nearby. I know that 50 miles, isn't 3.5 hours but... just keep in mind that you will have to go many times. There is already enough stress around surgery, and traveling doesn't lighten the load.

[frust8 962]

Yeah but no one closer does RnY! My local hospital started in November doing lap band and sleeve, that's not what I require. I'm already on Dexilant for my GERD, gastritis and Hector my little baby ulcer from too many NSAIDS. Trying to keep him asleep so he doesn't grow and either bleed or perforate someday. Thank goodness I have insurance because Dexilant,costs $350 a month and that's at Wal-Mart where medicines are cheaper, they would charge much more at the other local pharmacies. I have gone through 2 sets of bariatric requirements, only 1 requirement I could do locally, the rest back and forth to Columbus. Why have I not had surgery yet? You would have to ask the stupid son of Seabiscuit the Horse who capriciously kicked me to the curb February 20th. The excuse I was given was so bogus, basically he and his 2 partners had themselves a little meeting and decided they didn't want to do my surgery. I'm sure Medicare/Medicaid paid them and all the other doctors I was sent to for consults handsomely.What did I get out of it? The fuzzy end of the lollipop, sorrow, frustration and a temporary lowering of my self-esteem. I cried for a few days, picked myself up, dusted,myself off, looked myself in the mirror and said F*** the 3 of them, I'm going to still have this surgery, called the 2 other Center of Excellence hospitals in Columbus, made appointments, attended 1 seminar Match 9th, liked what I heard, filled an application and in April 25th I have an appointment with OSU staff psychologist Dr Kramer for 2 hours 10AM-noon, after that since program#1 released everything to them, signed a release form March 9th, barring any further questions or requirements I could have surgery in May. That's how things stand now, I don't drive so the transportation I've had to be ingenious about, called in past favors, been transported by my local senior citizen center and once had to hire a taxi,from local transportation company, that I'm still paying off in increments. They aren't as worried about that as I am, they don't have to come up with the money and besides they know where I live. There is the current status of the Frust8tion Kid, ME[emoji13]

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[Over and Out 29]

Okay, now you've got me thinking. . .

I tried to look up the quality of the two places. Even though I have heard from people who have had surgery in both places and loved their programs. The one I've started is a comprehensive center, while the other is a low-acuity center (which I don't quite understand--but I do know I am going into a specialized clinic and I think the other is part of a hospital setting). (the ratings are from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery).

I looked up my surgeon vs the one I'd have if I switch. Mine is older, and thus has more experience, and is also a specialist in the GERD clinic they have there (I have a nasty hiatal hernia caused by gastritis/GERD) His name is followed by "M.D., FACS," so his training has been more rigorous. There are 3 other surgeons (all FACS) there as well. In the other program they have one doctor, an M.D.

I don't know about the long-term followup in the one I've started, other than that follow-up appointments are required and support groups recommended. One of my big frustrations right now is being too far away to get to support group meetings because I can't drive at night (and these are dark, lonely, country highways). But I don't know if the new one I'm looking at even has support groups, I have searched the web and can't find anything, even though it is a much bigger city. Hmmmm... I'm starting to like the idea of sticking with where I am and then transitioning the aftercare.

[Over and Out 29]

2 hours ago, Sadiebug said:

They also have exercise classes, in person support groups, cooking classes and all sorts of other things.

This is what I need! Especially the cooking classes. Everyone laughs when I say I don't know how to cook, but I am dead serious. I want some kind of community-ed class that starts with the absolute basics. If you hand me a chicken breast I have to get on the internet to figure out the temperature to cook it at and for how long, much less trying to put any kind of actual flavoring on it, lol! I'll have to check on what their program offers post-surgery.