*slim*

She had it at the beginning of September I think. I know when I went to pay for my part of the surgery, she had already had it. She looks amazing. The $1000 probably is a part of what you were quoted. I had to pay that on top of my portion of my insurance charges. I was also charged the $250, but they billed all but $75 to my insurance. I ended up paying $95 of that.

You just need to keep it in perspective. Everyone's weight loss is going to be different. There are people that know that this is hard work and are following their doctor's instructions to the letter and still aren't losing weight. It doesn't mean that they won't lose weight, it just means that their experience is going to be different. We didn't put the weight on overnight, so we can't expect it to drop off overnight.

I did have to do a psych evaluation and a nutrition class. They sent me to Memorial for that. It was $95, but that paid for both of them. The people at Memorial said that it would have been $50 if we were using their surgeons. I didn't get that, but I guess we are never supposed to understand the inner workings of billing and insurance. Also, supposedly, 4 or 5 more visits with the counselor and also use of Memorial's exercise facilities are included with that.

I was just thinking about since you are self pay, they charge you differently. They are going to push to get as much money out of my insurance company as possible. They actually charge you a few thousand dollars less as self pay than what they charge the insurance company. I bet in the end, they will do the same for the fills. I know that all I get is a global period of 90 days that supposedly I don't have to pay for visits (I still have to pay for the fills).

week 1 Clear liquids (broth, apple and grape juice, and crystal light) week 2 full liquids (blended and strained Soups, thin mashed potatoes, creamy soups w/no chunks, yogurt w/no chunks) week 3 soft foods (soft boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, refried Beans, tuna) week 4 regular foods

That wouldn't be so bad. I guess I was so excited about everything else, I didn't think to ask about the cost of fills. I had assumed (never assume) that they would be like regular office visits since they do them there at their office. I found out later that they filed them as procedures. I don't know how my insurance will handle that.

You should visit chattanooga some time. Not that were are the mecca of travel destinations, but we aren't too bad. I had a cousin that was a pastor in Johnson City, but lived in Knoxville. i never got to visit. I love your ticker.

I think that as long as you are going what your surgeon's office said to do, you are ok. I know one of the books that I read about WLS, their post op diet started soft foods on day 7. I think especially since you were feeling so bad, that they just moved you up a litte.

Welcome! I understand, I want to chew something myself. Drinking your dinner just isn't right.:tt2:

They are very high cost. I had accepted in my mind the first fee that they quoted me. I was not ready for the extra $1000 "fee" that they charged me on top of my 10% coinsurance. I don't understand how they can have any type of fees that can't/won't be charged to insurance. That is just so over the top. You would think that with the amount that they charge, the first year of fills should be included in the price. I don't know when you were last there, but Johnna had her band placed. She has lost quite a bit of weight. I almost didn't recognize her at my 1 week appointment.

I was charged two fees. The first fee was $95 (my part from $250) which pays for the consult, filing insurance, some kind of online educational class, and my pre-op class. I still had to pay $95 to the hospital for the nitritionist visit and psych evaluation. The second fee was $1000. I have no idea what exactly it covers (apparently not much since I still have to pay for fills), but he was the most experienced surgeon under my insurance. The other doctor under my insurance only did gastric bypass until this year. He did my gall bladder surgery and did NOT do a good job when it came to my incisions. So out of pocket to my surgeon's office was $1400 ($305 was my 10% co-insurance).

All I can say is WOW! What an awesome job that you have done!:tt2:

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I hope that they will be able to treat this so that you can keep your band. I will continue to pray for you speedy recovery.

I made lentils today. They were a great hit. :thumbup: Thanks everyone that responded with recipes.:tt2:

I wondered about the fill costs too. Johnna told me they would bill my insurance to see what happens with my first fill.

Hi. I knew it was the shrink the liver, I was just never quite able to understand how they knew what my liver looked like without some type of x-ray or something. That's why I wondered if it was based on your BMI, you know, a higher BMI=more chance of fatty liver. Then, they never actually weighed me again after my pre-op class. Did they weigh you before surgery?

Do you like the Muscle Milk products?

I have done a search and could not find the answer to this. Is there a way to change the default font and color for replies and new threads?

I am curious to know how you dealt with your healing incisions. My incisions are itching so badly. I am one of those people that can't leave a mosquito bite alone, so I am really struggling to not mess with these.:thumbup: Did you find anything that helped with the itchiness?

I won't get to get a fill until October 23. I do get to start mushies Thursday and I am so glad because I am starving. I wish that I could get my fill before I start them so that I don't over do it. I hope you do well with your fill.

That is so good. I really hope that I can feel that way soon.

I'm doing pretty good. I actually slept in my bed last night without it hurting! woohoo! How are you doing? Are you doing better?

well, it did until I went to another page and came back. now it's not working any more. Alex, can you tell what is wrong with it?

I can't believe it! It worked!

hmmm. let's see if mines works.