Re: AJ and other Baltasar Post-ops

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/11/2001 1:01:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

msnoaccess@... writes:

Hi Crhis...I'll see if I can help alleveate some of your fears. Believe

me...the ones you listed were on my list too!!

> My #1 fear is the plane trip! I live in CA so it is a very long trip

> and use of those tiny bathrooms...UGH! I flew on Canada 3000 and had no

> problem fitting in and moving around the bathroom. I've not been on a

> plane in ALONG time. I was having aniexty attacks...but it was okay! Try

> to get a travel agent to do your tickets so you can get seats that dont

> have seats in front of them. I don't know your size is, but I was 415 lbs,

> 5'8 and I felt the problem was more with the space between the rows of

> seats more so than the seats themselves. I did buy myself 2 tickets...it

> was a good thing as it allowed me to sit with more space and move around

> more.

> #2, I've heard he has good hospital care. What was your experience?

>

> I had excellent care. The nurses are first rate and Dr. B. was there every

> day but Sunday 3 times. He will come by in the morning and check on you.

> Again when he comes in for his 3pm surgery and then on his way out. He is

> never rushing you and always answers anything you have to ask. The nurses

> didn't speak more than a few words english, but it was not a problem and

> Dr. B. speaks fluent English. I was very pleased with the care I received.

>

#3, How has it been dealing with the horizontal incision? This severs

> the abdominal muscles which take a long time to heal. I don't

> understand why he does this beyond the appearance of the scar.

>

I'll tell ya why. Because at 5 weeks out I no longer had any problems with

my incision, not even soreness or anything. The gals in my group here are

still complaining about the bra bothering their incision. I think its a

quicker healing, less painful way to go and yes...in the end your incision

will be hidden with your tummy tuck..a nice little bonus!!

> #4, What are you doing for followup care?

>

>

Dr B sends you very detailed instructions, extra copies for your drs here and

then you can follow up with your PCP. Once you are home unless you problems,

you only need to go in for your blood work and quick check up. Dr. B. is

also wanting to be sent your test results and he also is available if you

have problems and your dr is unsure how to correct them.

> , If you had complications at the time of surgery, was this covered

> by the $10K? If you had some after coming back home, did your

> insurance pay?

>

> Dr. B. is a fixed fee. No matter what happens, you won't have to pay him

> more. The only thing you will pay for are extra tests, your room and food

> and anything like the cost of the OR if you had to go back to surgery. One

> person that had complications a while ago I think said her complications

> (she was there for along time) only came to an additional 7,000 dollars. I

> will say if you have complications that is the place to be if you don't

> have insurance to pay the tab!!

~*~ AJ ~*~

Age 37 5'8'' Post op 7/24/01 Open DS

self pay - Dr Baltasar -Alcoy Spain

07/24/01 BMI 64 415.1

08/24/01 BMI 58 386.5 -28.6 lbs!

09/24/01 BMI 55.8 367.1 -48.0 lbs! -37.75 inches

10/08/01 BMI 54.3 357.1 -58.0 lbs! -50.0 inches

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/11/01 4:01:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

msnoaccess@... writes:

<< My #1 fear is the plane trip! I live in CA so it is a very long trip

and use of those tiny bathrooms...UGH! I could barely clean myself on

a trip last year and am now 25 lbs heavier! I truly am freaked about

this. Maybe the first class bathroom is bigger and I could sneak in

there? Or is there an airline with better facilities? I think I was

on AA last time. I swore I'd never ride a plane agane after that trip!

>>

Hi, I haven't been to Spain, but I can comment on the planes. I go to Europe

from Michigan often and in fact returned this Monday. I can say that I

haven't found anyone's bathroom is better than another, and first class is

the same as coach altho used less often and therefore cleaner usually. Maybe

not eating any food would help you to have to use the bath less, and making 3

or 4 stops along the way would help? I find that flushing on the plane

several times during my visit in the bath means that I don't leave too bad a

smell ( but then I'm pre-op also). And I find the cleanup very difficult also

in such a small space. Standing while using tongs helps and making use of the

sink helps, and putting one foot on the seat if you can, but you can only do

what you can do. Sorry to be so graphic. Or...you can take a ship and not

have to worry at all! Taking a ship takes about a week, and by the time you

fly back you'll weigh less. Good luck

Sheryl

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/11/01 8:50:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

msnoaccess@... writes:

<< Ouch! Boy $7000 is peanuts compared to in the US. His fee does

include the normal hospital stay, right? I will check the website but

it's good to have the info here. Did they have rooming in for a

companion? My daughter could go with me. That is one thing I think is

wonderful about Dr. K. One of many!

>>

There is a bed (futon sorta couch) that is for your companion...my girlfriend

went with me and she did great on it! They also provide food for the

person with you!

Keep going with the insurance...just know that you can have surgery no matter

the outcome! It is less hassle staying in the US....but I am really glad I

did it...it was worth the little extra stress of flying!!

AJ

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 10/11/2001 1:01:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> msnoaccess@y... writes:

>

> Hi Crhis...I'll see if I can help alleveate some of your fears.

Believe

> me...the ones you listed were on my list too!!

>

> > My #1 fear is the plane trip! I live in CA so it is a very long

trip

> > and use of those tiny bathrooms...UGH! I flew on Canada 3000 and

had no

> > problem fitting in and moving around the bathroom. I've not been

on a

> > plane in ALONG time. I was having aniexty attacks...but it was

okay! Try

> > to get a travel agent to do your tickets so you can get seats

that dont

> > have seats in front of them. I don't know your size is, but I

was 415 lbs,

> > 5'8 and I felt the problem was more with the space between the

rows of

> > seats more so than the seats themselves. I did buy myself 2

tickets...it

> > was a good thing as it allowed me to sit with more space and move

around

> > more.

We're the same height and I weigh 340, so this news is good. But

those Canadian planes must be a LOT bigger in there, becasue when I

flew last I was 325 and had a helluva time. If I'd had a BM I

would've had to spend the whole flight in there! LOL

>

>

>

> > #2, I've heard he has good hospital care. What was your

experience?

> >

> > I had excellent care. The nurses are first rate and Dr. B. was

there every

> > day but Sunday 3 times. He will come by in the morning and check

on you.

> > Again when he comes in for his 3pm surgery and then on his way

out. He is

> > never rushing you and always answers anything you have to ask.

The nurses

> > didn't speak more than a few words english, but it was not a

problem and

> > Dr. B. speaks fluent English. I was very pleased with the care I

received.

> >

Yes, I've heard it is good, and good to get it confirmed.

>

>

> #3, How has it been dealing with the horizontal incision? This

severs

> > the abdominal muscles which take a long time to heal. I don't

> > understand why he does this beyond the appearance of the scar.

> >

> I'll tell ya why. Because at 5 weeks out I no longer had any

problems with

> my incision, not even soreness or anything. The gals in my group

here are

> still complaining about the bra bothering their incision. I think

its a

> quicker healing, less painful way to go and yes...in the end your

incision

> will be hidden with your tummy tuck..a nice little bonus!!

>

>

>

> > #4, What are you doing for followup care?

> >

> >

>

> Dr B sends you very detailed instructions, extra copies for your

drs here and

> then you can follow up with your PCP. Once you are home unless you

problems,

> you only need to go in for your blood work and quick check up. Dr.

B. is

> also wanting to be sent your test results and he also is available

if you

> have problems and your dr is unsure how to correct them.

Well these are both good news. I know he's a good doctor so I'm not

surprised by any of this, but it is nice to hear it first hand.

>

> > , If you had complications at the time of surgery, was this

covered

> > by the $10K? If you had some after coming back home, did your

> > insurance pay?

> >

> > Dr. B. is a fixed fee. No matter what happens, you won't have to

pay him

> > more. The only thing you will pay for are extra tests, your room

and food

> > and anything like the cost of the OR if you had to go back to

surgery. One

> > person that had complications a while ago I think said her

complications

> > (she was there for along time) only came to an additional 7,000

dollars. I

> > will say if you have complications that is the place to be if you

don't

> > have insurance to pay the tab!!

Ouch! Boy $7000 is peanuts compared to in the US. His fee does

include the normal hospital stay, right? I will check the website but

it's good to have the info here. Did they have rooming in for a

companion? My daughter could go with me. That is one thing I think is

wonderful about Dr. K. One of many!

Thank you VERY much for all you information, AJ! It makes me want to

just go there and forget the insurance hassles, but I guess I'll keep

fighting. I can't spend that much just because I feel like it!

Chris

>

>

> ~*~ AJ ~*~

> Age 37 5'8'' Post op 7/24/01 Open DS

> self pay - Dr Baltasar -Alcoy Spain

> 07/24/01 BMI 64 415.1

> 08/24/01 BMI 58 386.5 -28.6 lbs!

> 09/24/01 BMI 55.8 367.1 -48.0 lbs! -37.75 inches

> 10/08/01 BMI 54.3 357.1 -58.0 lbs! -50.0 inches

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh God, won't we ALL be glad when such contortions and miseries are

no longer necessary?!?! Although I forgot about post-op odors in such

small spaces. Remind me never to get a seat near the toilet! LOL

You know Sheryl, I never thought of going by ship. I wonder if those

bathrooms are any more spacious? There are some real deals for short

trips like Princess cruises and stuff, maybe there are for cross-pond

as well. And hey, nothing like an unlimited buffet for the pre-op

binge!! LOL Thanks a lot for your ideas!

Chris

> >>

> Hi, I haven't been to Spain, but I can comment on the planes. I go

to Europe

> from Michigan often and in fact returned this Monday. I can say

that I

> haven't found anyone's bathroom is better than another, and first

class is

> the same as coach altho used less often and therefore cleaner

usually. Maybe

> not eating any food would help you to have to use the bath less,

and making 3

> or 4 stops along the way would help? I find that flushing on the

plane

> several times during my visit in the bath means that I don't leave

too bad a

> smell ( but then I'm pre-op also). And I find the cleanup very

difficult also

> in such a small space. Standing while using tongs helps and making

use of the

> sink helps, and putting one foot on the seat if you can, but you

can only do

> what you can do. Sorry to be so graphic. Or...you can take a ship

and not

> have to worry at all! Taking a ship takes about a week, and by the

time you

> fly back you'll weigh less. Good luck

> Sheryl

[Guest guest]

A cruise is excellent for a DSer! Food galore and plenty of protein to

boot! Ive been on 3 of them and its the ultimate way to vacation . Unpack

your suitcase once for the entire week and the bathrooms are private of

course! Its vacum flushed so be prepared for a sucking sound LOL

Judie