I thought I’d provide you all an update on where I am with having surgery. Dr. Schwartz’s office called a couple of weeks ago on a Friday evening to let me know that my single case agreement with Aetna had been approved. All I would need to pay for all the surgeries would be the $2900 deductible and everything else would be covered. This is a huge win, especially since all of this occurred with one submission of paperwork. The surgeon had a cancellation for February 17th and I took it.
The minute you get a surgery date, there are many plans to be made quickly: travel arrangements, care arrangements, pre-op clearances, lists of things to bring, and doctors appointments.
My husband and I learned early on that the covid restrictions were a little bit hefty for a double trip to CA, to just sit in a room and for him to not be able to go in to any pre, or post-op appointments, or be there on surgery day. We opted to use Pearl Recovery Retreat and have them pick me up from surgery and provide nursing care after surgery. Of course you know I’ll provide a review after surgery. I immediately booked airlines, and other hotel arrangements using points and airline credits left over from before covid, when I used to be a very frequent traveler.
I had two or three phone calls with the surgeon’s office to ask questions, and a form from work to fill out, which they worked on immediately. I got a big paperwork packet from the office as well that provided some expectations for care before and after surgery. I also got dates for pre-op, surgery time, and two post op appointments set. Dr. Schwartz’s office also arranged for me to have a covid test before surgery with a doctor in the same building.
I consulted with several ladies in my support groups and got lists of things to bring and not bring, which I’m sharing with you below:
- Double Absorbency Bed Pads – this is for catching the massive amount of tumescent fluid mixed with blood that will leak for a few days.
- Dark Colored Top Sheet – for hotel
- Measuring Cup – for measuring output of drains. This gets recorded 2-3 times a day
- Shower Curtain – for hotel bed
- Tylenol – I seriously don’t want to be on big pain meds long
- Poise overnight pads – dual use here including possibly having to tape them on my leg for the flight home if I’m still leaking. I know it’s gross, but it’s better than leaking everywhere.
- Cloth Tape – taping down pads
- Coban – this is the wrap stuff they put on your arm after a blood test, to hold down bandages
- Black Maxi Dress – to wear on plane home over whatever get up I have over the compression leggings I’ll be wearing to hide who-knows-how-many-poise-pads I have taped to my legs. (grin)
- Hibeclens – soap to use 2x before surgery
- A New Razor – so I can pretend like I shave regularly in the winter, and all the places I don’t normally shave.
- Baby Wipes – I think you don’t shower for a week, so…
- Thermometer – for checking for signs of infection
- 2 dark colored towels – for who knows what emergency
- Dry Shampoo – I’m going to wash and braid my hair the morning of, but by day 4, it’ll be time for a freshen up
- Q tips – for cleaning around incisions and drains
- Trash bags – for throwing all of this gross stuff away before I leave
- Benadryl – in case the compression makes me crazy itchy, or just so cranky that I need to be knocked out
- Inflatable elevation pillow – elevation is a must to keep swelling at bay after surgery
- Aquaphor – lotion to help healing once compression is off. This was recommended by the doctor
- Loose dark pants – in the off chance I can wear them
- Slippers – dark
- Dark colored sleep shirt
- Finally, printed surgery confirmations for travel
- Note a couple of folks have recommended some supplements that I want to talk to the doc about on pre-op. If he thinks I should have them, I’ll grab them at a local Walgreens or CVS. These include electrolytes (powdered), an Arnica supplement, and a Bromalein supplement.
For me, I had to move some savings around and that took a couple of days, then I called the office and paid my $2900. I still have some expenses, that I think I will save for a blog after surgery to kind of give you an idea of what it was like for me. Of course, everyone’s expenses are different, but this will just capture one perspective.
Finally, I met with two doctors here to have cardiac clearance and an EKG, extensive labs, and a physical. I also needed a med change for blood pressure due to my classic White Coat Anxiety. Gotta love it. Tomorrow, I will verify that all these tests and clearances have made their way to the doctor’s office and I’m all set.
A day or two before I leave, I will have some meds called in to my local pharmacy – I think an antibiotic, and a pain med, and then something to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis post-surgery like a Lovoanox injection (seriously, no big deal), or Eloquis (?).
Once I get into town, I’ll relax for an evening, then get up for an 8 am pre-op, then covid testing, then I have to go buy some protein shakes to drink after surgery (3x/day). I should get a couple of calls from the doctor’s office after that to finalize times for the next day. I think that catches up where we are for now. But have I mentioned that I’m super ready to get these legs fixed? I keep looking at befores/afters and hearing how much other ladies like me have had their mobility restored and pain reduced from even one surgery, I cannot wait!!!
