beachlover09

I have 21 days of full liquid diet of which I have completed 5 days. I stocked up on chicken broth, but it just doesn't taste good anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to eat? I can have anything as long as it can go through a strainer. Any help would be much appreciated!

I had my surgery October 3rd. I received my bill, and it says I owe $1612. Everyone I have talked to on these forums said they only paid $150 copayment. My insurance rep told me that if I could get someone else's ID number, she could compare to see what the problem is with mine. Is anyone sweet enough to give me their ID number? Or I can give you my insurance rep's name and number. You can call her or she can call you to get the info? I would appreciate it so much! I was expecting only a $150 copayment and not this crazy amount. Thanks so much.

I found out that my surgery was billed as outpatient surgery. If you have basic plan, you pay $150 co pay for outpatient surgery, plus 30% of all agents and drugs. So, the $1612 is 30% of my staples and drugs I got while in the hospital. I am paying $800 my part for the staples alone. One shot of zofran for nausea was $423, my part was $126.90. If I would have stayed for inpatient surgery, I would only have to pay $300 total for two days. I would definitely talk to your surgeon and make sure you are going to be inpatient. My surgeon's office nor my insurance rep failed to tell me this info. It could have saved me over $1300. UGH. Oh well, at least I'm not paying the total $41,800 that the surgery actually cost. Good luck Mel34. Keep me updated with your progress.

Congrats on the start of your journey! I have Basic Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield, and I had surgery in Texas. My doctor just documented that I came into his office for weight loss management. He provided the insurance company with a letter explaining that the surgery is medically necessary, provided my weight history for the past two years, and listed the diets I have tried within the past five years. It was a one-page letter. The beginning of the entire process was a breeze. It got really annoying once my surgeon's office turned in everything to the insurance company. It was submitted August 21. They sent a letter to my surgeon on September 7th requesting documentation of the nutritionist visit (that was already submitted). We didn't get the letter until September 16th, and it was re-submitted. I called the insurance company on September 19th to make sure everything was okay. They said that I was approved. My surgeon's office called, and they told them the same thing. So we scheduled the surgery for October 3rd. On September 29th, my surgeon's office called for a pre-certification (something they do a few days before the surgery). BCBS said that I wasn't approved, and they are waiting for the further documentation. After we provided a "approval code", they said it was a "reference" code and not an approval code. Needless to say, I wasn't actually approved until a million phone calls later - the Friday before my surgery on Monday. I was a wreck - had been on a liquid diet for two weeks not knowing if I was even going to be approved at the last minute. SO, my point is - stay on top of everything. When you call, get a reference code to each conversation. When they say you are approved, have them fax you a copy (the mailing takes forever). If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I am two weeks out, and would do every single thing all over again. I'm down 25 lbs since the beginning of my pre-op diet. Such an amazing feeling! Good luck with everything!!!

I am so glad I am not the only one feeling like a hair is stuck in my throat. My husband thinks I am crazy because it was all I talked about last night. It is absolutely driving me crazy. Funny, I am only two weeks out from the surgery and such a small thing is driving me crazy. You would think the liquid diet would be more bothersome!! Did you ever get any relief? How long did it take, or what did you do?

I am trying to join the October Sleevers group......where can I find it?

I am scheduled for surgery October 3rd, but I have yet to feel anxious. I am wondering why I am so calm yet excited. I guess I am just ready for this new journey of my life. I hope to keep in touch with everyone that is having surgery during this time so we can progress together. Best of luck to everyone!!

Thank you for the support! I am feeling somewhat better today, but I still have a lot of pain. I am just waiting until I am five days out and hopefully I'll feel better. Feel free to ask me any questions. I know I had a million questions before the surgery. I'm excited for you!

I really appreciate the positive thoughts! I'm really not sure how the pain is different, I just know that it is intense. I didn't even take pain meds when I got home from my c-section. With this surgery, I can tell immediately when it is time to take my pain meds again. The left side of my abdomen is constantly hurting. It is where they had the pain pump inserted. That what the worst part.....having a huge ball hanging from one side and a drainage package hanging from the other side. You couldn't sleep because you were constantley worried about pulling those out. I do feel somewhat better today. I am not near as nauseous, but I still have horrible pain. Oh, and the gas pain is ridiculous! The Gas-X stripes don't seem to help at all. I have a friend that had bypass surgery and she wasn't in pain for as long so I guess it just depends on the individual person. Thanks again for the support! I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you all for the support. I was sleeved on Monday around 1:15. I didn't wake up until around 4:30. They said everything went fine, but I wasn't prepared for the pain I would feel when I woke up. I realize I just had major surgery, but it was 10x more painful than my c-section. I am home now and still struggling to get liquids down. I have managed within the past two hours to get some liquids to stay down. I am just taking it one day at a time. I know it will all be worth it in the end.

So, as many of you know, I have had an extremely hard time with my BCBS Federal insurance. I was told over the phone on September 16, 2011, that I was approved and a letter was in the mail. My surgeon's office called as well and was told the same thing. On September 22, 2011, I got a letter in the mail dated from September 7th that they needed further documentation. I called and my surgeon's office called as well and insurance said that they have everything they need and I am approved.....even gave an "approval code." I had all my pre-op tests done, after calling insurance and getting a run around about the costs of the pre-op tests. Today, my surgeon's office called to do the pre-certification, just to see the exact costs that insurance is going to pay. BCBS told them that I wasn't approved and they were still waiting on the additional documentation (that was sent in earlier). After they found the documentation, they sent it to the nurse for approval. They tried to contact her but couldn't. Finally, I get a call saying the nurse is aware that the documentation is not there and it may take another 30 days to be approved. My surgery is scheduled for Monday. Please send me some positive thoughts before I hurt someone. This has been the most frustrating thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. My dad has stage IV kidney cancer and started new treatment this week. They also started him on new pain medicine, and he doesn't handle pain medicine well at all. So, I need to get this surgery behind me. I just wish the insurance wouldn't stall on everything.

The time has FINALLY come! I get sleeved tomorrow. The nerves still hasn't hit me yet, I am just ready to get it over with. I think the worst part is leaving my child. Other than that, I am really excited. So, does anyone have any advice or tips?

Thanks!!! I appreciate it!

Thank you all for the support! I really appreciate you all. I honestly don't know what I would have done without this website and all the wonderful people on the forums. God bless you all!! See you all on the losers' bench. Oh, that feels so good to say!

My office is going to put together a get well basket for me for my surgery on Monday. What will I need? They asked what I would prefer, but I have no clue. Any suggestions?

Congrats! When is your surgery date? Where are you having it done?

Good luck with everything. If you need anything, I am here! I have been there, done that. The best advice I can give is to not give up. Once everything has been submitted to insurance, call them A LOT. Keep informed and never give up. My surgeon's office said that my case was something that they have never seen before and that they usually have good luck with BCBS Federal. Hopefully you will have a much smoother process! Keep me updated!

Thank you so much, especially for prayers for my dad. It has been a long hard road and today they found a large mass on my mom's colon. I am praying it isn't cancer. Lord knows I can't handle much more.

Thank you both!! I just got off the phone with BCBS again, and they said it was approved as of today! I got an approval code, and they are faxing the confirmation letter to me. Twoboysandagirl, thanks for the prayers because they worked!!!!! Thank the Lord!

I have BCBS Federal insurance (Basic). I have had more trouble getting answers for everything that I have to turn to you all for some help. First, I was told I was approved on the phone. Then I got a letter in the mail stating they needed further documentation. I called to ask what the deal was and they told me I wasn't approved. My doctor's office called and got it all straightened out. So, I am scheduled for surgery on October 3rd. The hospital called me to schedule my pre-op testing, which includes blood work, EKG, and upper GI test. I called the insurance to see what those tests would cost, and they told me the blood work is covered, but the EKG would be $75 co-payment, and the upper GI was considered surgical so it would be $150 co-payment. When I look in the book, it says $25 co-payment and $75 co-payment. I also called the hospital to see how much my surgery and everything would be - they said 20% was my responsibility. I didn't even get to the pre-op testing because I know 20% is wrong. Can anyone shed some light on what are my actual costs? Oh, and I almost forgot.......I got a bill for $390 for my psych evaluation, when it clearly stated in the insurance book that I should only pay $25 co-payment. When I called to question BCBS, they had no explanation. They said they would send it to their team lead. What should I do? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thank you so much!!!!!!!! I don't know what is going on either, but the people working at the call center for BCBS know absolutely nothing. It is amazing how many different answers I get when I call. And as for the 20% of the surgery costs, the hospital actually told me that, but they are going to look into it further. So you paid a total of $450 for the surgery and $25 for the psych evaluation? What did you pay for nutritional counseling? (I only went one time) I think when I go have my pre-op testing on Tuesday, I might just not pay anything and tell them to bill me. This is ridiculous. I recently had a child with this insurance and only had to pay $100 for everything - hospital stay, c-section, doctors visits, ultrasounds, etc. It was a breeze - no arguing or anything. So why would I have to pay so much for WLS, and why the headaches of everything? Such a pain! Anyway, thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

After 30 days, I finallllllly got approved for the surgery! I have BCBS Federal insurance. I am so excited, and my surgery is scheduled for October 3rd. Any tips or advice for the pre-op diet or the surgery is greatly appreciated!

How do I do that? lol

Thanks, everyone! Yes, it is GREAT news for the weekend! I was beginning to get disappointed thinking I was going to get denied. I am so glad to get the exciting news.

BCBS Federal has had my paperwork for eight days and still no response. I just called and they said it is still in review. The suspense is absolutely killing me. They said to give them 30 days!!!!!!!! I just need to vent because I don't have anything else to do. From what I have read on other forums, most people with this insurance got approved in less than two days. I am just hoping nothing is wrong. Thanks for listening. I know you all will understand my frustration.