Just got an email saying to expect delays in my pre op approval and prep program process. Trying not to feel selfishly bummed when I’m so ready to jump into this. Anyone hear of surgeries being postponed due to the growing seriousness of the pandemic? I imagine it’s inevitable.

18 minutes ago, Lrdoflamancha said:

I just heard that the CDC is suggesting that all none essential surgery be postponed. For up to 2
months effective immediately. I suggest you call your clinic and confirm.

I went to the site. This is what it says:

Inpatient facilities

• Reschedule elective surgeries as necessary.
• Shift elective urgent inpatient diagnostic and surgical procedures to outpatient settings, when feasible.

If your surgery requires you to be admitted as an inpatient, then it could be rescheduled. It also says that if the surgery is inpatient elective, then consider shifting it to an outpatient setting.

I already know that my procedure will be done in the outpatient surgery section which is housed in a different building that is connected to the main hospital. If you don't know if your surgery will be done as an inpatient vs. outpatient, then that would be what I would ask -- especially if your surgery is to be done within the next week or so.

Also, these are interim guidance from the CDC -- meaning that they are recommendations at this point.

Also, I think that if you have had your pre-op appointment, you should already know where to go; my hospital will call the day before for the actual time of the surgery and when I'm to show up.

I'm not scheduled til 4/9...hopefully this is good news for me. I am also going to a surgery center...although they operate 23 hours a day (don't really know what that means).

It's MY time!

This is from yesterday's New York Times:

The Coronavirus Is Forcing Hospitals to Cancel Surgeries
Hospitals in coronavirus hot spots like Seattle and New York are postponing elective surgeries, hoping to conserve their resources as the outbreak escalates.

The surgeon general is echoing the CDC recommendation that all elective surgeries be canceled. GAH! This is so crazy and overblown!!

3 minutes ago, Cia2020 said:

This is so crazy and overblown!!

maybe - but maybe not. I'm paying attention to what's been happening in Italy and am a bit worried that could happen here if people aren't following the CDC recommendations. But I think whether or not your hospital postpones elective surgeries may depend on where you're living. Some communities are being hit harder with this than others...

I don't know if it's overblown or not, but if the SG said that, that's not exactly what the CDC is saying. I would just advise everyone who has scheduled surgery in the next week or two to contact your surgeon's office tomorrow to confirm the date. As I said before, the CDC is making a distinction between inpatient and outpatient services -- at least for now.

This is one of the many articles about his recommendation as well as one from the College of Surgeons.

https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/03/14/surgeon-general-elective-surgeries-coronavirus-129405?PC=EMMX20&refcv=pTnoAAgMfQreIdKn.0.0.48735.714

5 minutes ago, Cia2020 said:

This is one of the many articles about his recommendation as well as one from the College of Surgeons.

https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/03/14/surgeon-general-elective-surgeries-coronavirus-129405?PC=EMMX20&refcv=pTnoAAgMfQreIdKn.0.0.48735.714

Thanks for that. Apparently the CDC got its recommendations from the College of Surgeons because it's exactly word for word what I posted above.

@Mello1 Or vice versa. Major medical advisory boards all tend to collaborate in events like these. I left a message for my surgeon's office scheduler, but since it's the weekend... UGH! I hate not knowing.

1 minute ago, Cia2020 said:

@Mello1 Or vice versa. Major medical advisory boards all tend to collaborate in events like these. I left a message for my surgeon's office scheduler, but since it's the weekend... UGH! I hate not knowing.

I know, right? It's awful and this always tend to happen over the weekend when you can't call anyone to find out anything. Try not to worry. We are on the bubble for sure and I've been fasting for 15 days and counting. Not to mention having arranged to take time off of work that I would have to either return or take vacation leave (which is what I will probably do because outside of this surgery, I'm not trying to be anywhere else right now).

Yeah, I feel for everyone in this situation right now. My hospital hasn't banned elective surgeries yet, but they very well could. Which will effect my surgery date. I've volunteered to go earlier if they have any cancellations, but I'm not really expecting anything at this point. I will certainly be bummed out to have to wait an extra ?? amount of time, but will use it to get healthier and drop some more pounds to make the surgery safer when it does happen. That's all I can control right now, so that is what I'm trying to focus on. Best wishes to all!

Just got off the phone with the Bari Office. Surgery still on for Wednesday. I won't pack anything until the hospital calls with the time tomorrow though.

16 minutes ago, Mello1 said:

Just got off the phone with the Bari Office. Surgery still on for Wednesday. I won't pack anything until the hospital calls with the time tomorrow though.

you may be fine if it's Wednesday - I think it'll be a couple of weeks before the hospitals really get slammed. But then, all that depends on where you live..

At my preop classes now but just found out that my surgery for 3/24 is probably cancelled. Will know by the end of the day. ☹️?

My surgery was TOMORROW and they JUST called and CANCELED it! So I’ve got to do this liquid this all over!!! I’m so upset!