2goldengirl

Forgive me, but the insurer isn't "forcing" you to do anything - insurance merely says what they will, or won't, pay for.

No, No, No. You have Managed Medi-Cal. You can't be forced to pay any "program fee" or for any supplements or shakes. By law, all you are responsible for are your copays. Period. Call IEHP and tell them that this doc is trying to overcharge you. They will remind him that he can't do this.

If he treats you this way he was no friend, best or otherwise. You deserve much, much better.

It isn't about the $$, it's about a proven procedure vs. an experimental one. Your insurance policy probably has a clause that excludes experimental or investigational treatments. I'm sorry you're upset, really. I hope your appeal comes through.

Well OF COURSE you have to brag! Even at goal, I fear my running days are over (I have lumbar scoliosis). You will totally rock this!

My PCP's understanding of bariatric surgery is that it's a "definitive treatment for obesity". She, my surgeon, and the program therapist all described me as "the ideal candidate". That said, I'm like @VSGAnn2014. Nobody scares me.

Aww, thanks, Babbs! As it happens, all that Fluid vamoosed in a big fat hurry. I have now lost 10 lbs since my surgery date 10 days ago. That's partly because, like most fresh post ops, I can't get in all my Protein and fluids yet. My new sleeve may have had an extra week to heal, but it hasn't had any more experience handling input than a brand-new one. It's a process.

Anybody wonder where I've been? Well. I was sleeved on Thursday, 3/10. I went home Friday afternoon (the following day). Before I'd been home 15" I fell in the garage (I missed a step cause I wasn't looking where I was going). I fell forward, and bruised my ribs in the front. By midday the next day I couldn't keep anything down and everything came back up nearly as soon as I'd swallowed it. Called the on-call surgeon, who told me to go to ER. They did a CT scan and I hadn't hurt anything in my fall, thank goodness - other than severely brusing my dignity. I got admitted and put back on IV fluids and meds. What happened was, the swelling from the fall combined with the postop swelling about my hiatal hernia repair site, and nothing was making it past my esophagus. The only solution was to keep me in the hospital until the swelling subsided. I came home today. I never had any nausea. I never had any gas pain. I did get motion sick from my wheelchair ride down to the car and on the way home today. My worst pain immediately postop was trying to get in and out of bed, especially my incision site on the right-hand side. After my fall, my worst pain was from bruising my ribs on both sides when I fell. A note on weight. I was loaded up on IV fluids during my first stay (everyone is), and came home 9 lbs "heavier" than preop. All I had to do was the math (and look at my feet) to know that. I've had another five days of IV fluids, about 600 calories a day (each liter of basic IV Fluid is about 200 calories from the dextrose). Fortunately, I have a body composition scale. I weigh a total .4 lbs more than my day of surgery - but here is the other info: my total body Water has increased by a bit more than 11 lbs. As a healthcare professional, this kind of thing is very familiar to me. Someone else might have gone through all this and panicked, thinking that they'd gained weight after 5 days of eating absolutely nothing. A scale that measures only weight isn't telling you the truth, because it can't. Honest.

I would suggest getting a referral to a gastroenterologist.

You are NOT being unreasonable - he is. Completely. Go stay with a friend or get yourself a hotel room and see how he deals with visiting family on his own.

Eating will not cause a leak. Didn't your surgeon give you guidelines on advancing your diet? Mine has me on full liquids for the first two weeks, purees the second two weeks, and soft foods after four weeks. The other thing to remember is that what sounds good to your head may not feel good to your new tummy. It's important not to make it work too hard before it's fully healed. At day 12, the most I might think of trying are a spoonful or two of refried Beans with a little cheese. I'd probably thin the beans with a little Water. My RD told me to "treat your new tummy like a baby's. One new food at a time, and only a little at a time".

The sleep study didn't cost me anything, it was completely covered by insurance. I have a 20% copay for DME, so the copay for the machine and supplies ran about $80 for the first three months.

I'm actually inclined to think it's a lack of fat as well as protein. That's just opinion, though - I have nothing to back it up with.

It doesn't work that way. Whether something is approved or not is about what the criteria are, and whether the information submitted shows that the member meets criteria. Period. It has nothing to do with what mood anyone is in or how skinny they are or are not. I'm one of nearly 20 individuals at my company who do this, of all shapes, sizes, moods, what have you. We're professionals. It's our job to advocate for the member, period. If something can't be covered, it's our job to help them to understand why not. This is true whether the issue is bariatric surgery, knee replacement, consultation with a specialist, or a medical equipment item.

It's totally normal, it's called a post-op fluid shift. In a few days, it will shift in the other direction. Promise!

Totally normal. The fluid will shift in a few days, I promise. My feet looked like a pair of puffer fish!

Most people throw a run of PVC's from time to time and never know it. What does your doc say?

What a fantastic achievement! Own it!

Thrwoing confetti over here for ya! Celebrate!

I've got mixed blessings here. I never had a bit of gas pain or bloating. I did, however, get readmitted for five days because my hernia repair got so swollen that I couldn't get anything down. So I'm like a brand new postop now, even though I'm nine days out. I purposely pour myself only an ounce or two at a time, so I have to get up to get more. I'm taking only plain Tylenol (pills, the liquid is way too sweet for me). I even find Protein drinks too sweet, so I'm diluting it with Fairlife milk, which is nearly as high in Protein, and cuts the sweetness. I certainly hope my staple line appreciates that I gave it a week to heal without putting anything in it!

*throws confetti* Yay, you! Celebrate!

I'm nine days out and struggling for every ounce. I was readmitted for five days because there was so much swelling around my hiatal hernia repair that my esophagus swelled shut and I couldn't get anything down. That's very, very unusual. I'm taking in teeny tiny sips. They told me not to worry, just keep working on it.

Ask to speak to the Office Manager. Explain your situation and that you can't get past the Insurance Coordinator. That may help.

I think it's how you order. Whole fish, for example, is a very common menu item in several different styles. Things like garlic prawns would be great. Some of the meat + veggie entrees can be ordered with double the protein portion. Rice & noodles are off the table, obviously. Interesting question!