Were is all my Chattanoogians at?

[downsdc 0]

Hi slim-n-tn, how are you doing post surgery? Did you have to do a liquid diet pre-surgery?

[*slim* 2]

I did have to do the pre-surgery diet. I was supposed to do a 2 week liquid diet. Because my surgery was moved up 1 week, I ended up only doing 10 days. His pre-op diet is 6 glucerna shakes a day, 2 cups of yogurt (low fat), 2 cups of 100% juice, and all of the low or no calorie drinks (broth, crystal light, diet soda, etc). He doesn't make everyone do it. I don't know if he bases it on your starting BMI or what. It was tough the first few days, but by day 3 it was ok.

I am doing really well post surgery. My only problem is I am starting to get hungry. I get to start soft foods this week (scrambled eggs, tuna salad, beans). I am so ready to actually chew some food. I get to go for my first fill in a couple of weeks. I think I am ready, physically at least.

[Carrie_C 9]

I didn't have to do the preop diet. I think they go on liver size to determine if you have to do it or not. It will get better when you get to eat soft foods.

[*slim* 2]

I didn't have to do the preop diet. I think they go on liver size to determine if you have to do it or not. It will get better when you get to eat soft foods.

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?

[Carrie_C 9]

I'm not sure what they base it on either. I think maybe it is where you carry your weight. If you carry a lot in your stomach, maybe that's how they determine it, but that is just a guess. All of my weight is mostly on my butt and legs and arms. So maybe that's why I didn't have to do it. I don't know. They didn't weigh me right before surgery either. They weighed me at my preop class, which was a few weeks before my surgery, and they didn't weigh me again until my first followup after surgery. So I don't know. I go for my third fill on Wednesday and I'm wondering what it will cost.

[*slim* 2]

I go for my third fill on Wednesday and I'm wondering what it will cost.

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

[Carrie_C 9]

I didn't have to pay anything for my first one, but my second one cost $60. I am going to have to talk to them about that, because according to my insurance, it should have only cost $30. I think they try to overcharge people on things. That's the only complaint I have had with their office. Johnna is not good at following through with the insurance stuff. My surgery was in May and my insurance deined the surgeon's fee because he wasn't in network. But all she has to do is appeal it and they will pay. She told me 3 months ago that she appealed it, but I called the insurance and they said they haven't even received an appeal. Meanwhile, the doctor's office keeps sending me bills for $6100. I keep calling Johnna, but she just keeps giving me the run a round about it.

[*slim* 2]

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.

[downsdc 0]

I am self-pay, and I was told that the fills first year are $50, and then $125 after the first year. I'll verify that when I have my conference with Dr. Ponce on 10/14.

[downsdc 0]

I was also told (via email) that the follow-ups are included in the price first year. After the first year the follow-ups are $45.

[*slim* 2]

I am self-pay, and I was told that the fills first year are $50, and then $125 after the first year. I'll verify that when I have my conference with Dr. Ponce on 10/14.

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.

[downsdc 0]

What is the post-op diet from Dr. Ponce?

[*slim* 2]

What is the post-op diet from Dr. Ponce?

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

[*slim* 2]

I was also told (via email) that the follow-ups are included in the price first year. After the first year the follow-ups are $45.

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).

[downsdc 0]

Since I'm doing self-pay, I'm trying to nail down all of the costs. I even shopped around for my Upper GI - I had it done at Dalton Imaging for $225 (referred by Dr. Ponce). It was at least a hundred dollars more at Chattanooga Imaging. They filed with my insurance but I don't have a lot of hope that my insurance will pay it.

Other that your consult and your pre-op diet, were you required to do anything else prior to surgery (psyc eval, etc) and if so was there an additional cost?