Iniysa

I am coming up within the next few months on my surgery and I am trying to figure out how much the average person WITH 20/80 (any) insurance has to pay up front. I know it will be different for most people because different hospitals charges different amounts. But if you can give you the amount you paid to the hospital before going in for you own surgery, that would be amazing. Thanks! P.S. I have met my deductible.

I am BCBS TX as well. How did you find out the exact amount?

Blog Post 5: Bariatric Nutritionist Part 2. Getting ready for the Gastric Sleeve. http://youtu.be/fA0AwIgiUUo

Thanks everyone, I have BCBS 80/20 with a $3000 out of pocket cap. I am really hoping it's nowhere near that. Guess I will call my hospital to ask if they let you pay it out. Thanks and please continue to answer my original question, I am still interested in the numbers.

Good luck!!!! Tell us how it goes!

Hey, fellow Houstonian here! I will be sleeved hopefully come July at NW Medical Center with Dr. Turnquest.

So I finally told my immediate family that I'm getting the surgery. Mom J just gave me some family history I should tell my surgeon but otherwise seemed excited. Mom K and Dad however... Though they did not have the freakout session I had convinced myself they would have, they are trying to subtly talk me out of it. Mom, went online and is now addressing every possible complication. I address it with them calmly and show I know and understand that complications may arise. My dad keeps bringing up all the people he knows who had WLS (most of which had the band) and how it didn't work for any of them. Sigh. It's good they care and I'm glad they are not freaking. I've made up my mind, however. I'm ready to move forward with my life. Happy Easter everyone.

Good for you! We have to do what's right for us.

Maybe a little mashed potatoes.

Oh wow, please let us know his reaction!!!

So I am a few months away from my surgery and my mom calls to tell me I might have 'soft tissue.' My grandma had surgery when she was younger and the staples just tore right through. Then my aunt had the Bypass and the same thing happened to her. So although I am not letting this stop me, at all. Now I have the 'what if's' stuck in my head. Leaks scare me.

http://youtu.be/Io2YpiQ8zcM

Hey Beatriz! I would love to keep in touch with you. It looks like my surgery won't be until June. Still jumping through insurance hoops. If I had the money I would have already gone to Mexico myself and had this done. LOL.

My NUT told me today that he would be afraid to eat anything with seeds in it, like tomatoes. He said that because there is an incision site, he would be afraid the seeds would get stuck in there and become a massive problem. Is this a danger? Is there a time when you CAN start eating things with seeds again? I love tomatoes, I have an entire tomato garden growing quickly. I knew it would not be on the menu at first, but will it ever? Thanks!

I had my first appointment with my surgeon today. I have one more month with my NUT before they send in my info to my insurance. That could take a month, then I will just have my pre-op stuff (Upper Endoscopy and Gallbladder Ultrasound) and I will be cleared for surgery. I am hoping for June. Good luck with the pre-weight loss! You might try the pre-op liquid diet. From what I hear, people are loosing a lot of weight with it.

Do the surgeons near you hold little seminars? They do here in Houston, Texas. Almost all of them have at least one a month and I went to several before I found a surgeon I liked. Each seminar is a meeting with the surgeon and his head nurse. I learned about the surgeons and the procedure. Then I was asked questions. If they don't have these seminars where you are, start making some phone calls. Call the closest ones first, or the one's at the hospitals you know. Then move out to further locations if needed.

I am still pre-surgery. Had my second NUT visit today and he mentioned it. I will not be having anything with seeds in it until I am given a green light. LOL Thanks for answering.

The word general surgeon is a comfort to me. If something goes wrong they don't have to call someone in because that's not there specialty. They are extensively trained in mostly everything, so they can begin to fix the problem right away until a specialist can make it. I would be worried if my gen surgeon had not done a lot of gastric surgery however. I know mine does them all the time, so I'm not at all worried about his ability.

No idea about the sedative, but good luck! You'll be fine, just relax.

My NUT told me today that 1000 calories is the aim. Most seem to go lower then that though. Depends on how far along you are.

I will be taking 2 weeks of vacation then I am going to get a doctors note to be on light duty until I am aloud to exercise as my job has a lot of pushing, pulling, bending and lifting heavy objects.

Although my appointment with my surgeon is tomarrow, keep the ideas coming for others as well. The list so far: Bougie Size Pre-op Diet Post-op Diet Stomach - Staples? Glue? Stiches? Combo? Incisions - Tape? Glue? Stitches? Cathedar? Approximately how many cases are done by your practice each year? What is your conversion to open rate? Am I awake when the catheter is put in? What is the average hospital stay? Will I have a drain? If yes, when will it come out? What are your complication and mortality rates? What is the most common complication you have seen with this surgery? Do you recommend certain Vitamins? Shots in the stomach to prevent clots? Pain management in hospital & at home. Lifting restrictions? How long? When you can return to work/driving? Doctors Note? Diet restrictions and length of time? Follow up care- how often? how long does it take him to perform the surgery? Pre-op testing? Nausea medication if I need it,? Aloud to have gas-x strips? Do they do a swallow study before being discharged to home? Leak Testing? Exercise restrictions Incentive spirometer?

I'm sure I can find this topic if I look long enough through old posts, but I would like some fresh perspectives. What are you going to ask? What did you ask? Or what do you WISH you had asked? Thanks for all the advice!

I'm with Dr Turnquest as well. Love him.

I am also going to be with Dr. Turnquest. Can't wait!