Tif Recovery

I don't think that even the Obamacare will help solve my problems with my insurance company :( So, looks like if I have to get the TIF done, I will have to self-pay ($14K). It is a big amount, but I am miserable enough that I am leaning towards shelling it out (whats the use of a rainy day fund without a rainy day!).

Now, I am trying to determine when to get this done. I have at least 2 road trips planned in August. My surgeon is giving me July 27th as a possible date. My question is - will I be able to travel (my wife can drive) during the first weekend of August (approx 5 hrs drive each way). Then, I may have another trip coming up later around labor day.

So, the question is should I move the date to sometime during the Aug 2nd week (they do the TIFs only on fridays apparently!) - or 7 days would be enough time after TIF to do long distance travel such as this one?

Thanks

I talked to a surgeon about fundo, and he said that TIF might be a better option.. I think his words were "because fundo is not [easily] reversible". From that conversation I got the impression that it was "reversible" to some extent, at least more than fundoplication.

But to PPIless, why not LINX? I think UCSD has quoted people $12k for the operation, and that should be easier to reverse than any of them. That's only 1 price I know of, but there are many implant centers who could probably give you a quote.

I'm asking because I'm considering self-pay for LINX myself, if my insurance wont cover it soon. And they don't even cover TIF after all these years, so I am not holding my breath for LINX.

Summary of my situation:
GERD symptoms not too bad, but bother me constantly. I can not take any medications (they start giving me terrible side effects). Nissen seems too invasive for my situation and LINX too - esp. because it would involve living with a foreign object on the soft esophagus forever. TIF - on the other hand seem like a good middle ground.