former_vbg

I couldn't concur with you more! I ended up switching surgeons because their office tried to pull a fast one on me which ended up being insurance fraud. I had and still have in writing where a Dr. in Denton, TX was supposed to NOT have any program fee's and I would ONLY be responsible for my deductible and co-pay amount which at that amount would have only been a few hundred dollars. TWO weeks before my scheduled surgery, they tried to tell me I needed to pay $2,000 to make up for the cost for my surgery that the insurance wouldn't cover. I immediately knew something was wrong. I was on the phone to Aetna quicker than you can say 1,2,3, was assigned a supervisor and that supervisor from Aetna even intervened on my half w/3 way calls to the Dr.'s office to find out what they were doing. They are NOT allowed to bill me for anything that they are contracted with the insurance for. They are REQUIRED to submit ALL services through them, and then once processed, then and ONLY then, are they allowed to bill me. This is the safety net for patients so they don't get reemed by the Dr.'s office. As much as I hate insurance companies in general, I really appreciated their help during that time. They were told what they were doing was not allowed. I have since turned that Dr. and Dr.'s office into the AG and the Ins. Commissioner for the state of TX. They are allowed to collect money for these stupid program fee's because they know the insurance companies don't cover them. But, ALWAYS check with your carrier if you have any suspicions of what you are being billed/ asked to pay, ESPECIALLY, if its up front.

Well, let's hope your Doc cares about his patients after the surgery. The best way to find out is to try to find other patients who are several months out from his office. They will be your best source of information. You might even google his name to see if you can find others who have posted about him, and then just send them a PM or something and just ask them for their opinions. You might even get lucky and see posts about that stuff. Another place to check for that stuff is www.obesityhelp.com. Good luck! p.s. You are right, I really like this place. It's a great source of information and support!

Good to know!!! Really, I need the arms, tummy and legs which there was a CPT code for the tummy (w/out the muscle tightening) and one for maybe the legs too- have to go check that again. I will ask about that too. And, yes, good point about doing the surgery all at once if possible. I'm ok with my face I think, will see what the surgeon says and report back here next week. Again, thank you!

Thank you, but then wouldn't the surgeon try to push me for a breast reduction? I'm hoping to just get them brought up and get some bounce back. :-)

This lady was one of 3 recommended by my PCP. I looked at all of them and settled on the one that seemed to have the most experience dealing with WLS patients. I looked at her gallery of photos and for the most part I thought they were ok. It's hard to know when the ones that don't look as good what the reasons were. When I was at my heaviest weight, I was a size DD. After doing some reading, it appears that depending on whether your breasts are made up more of fatty or fiberous tissues depends on how they will turn out. I really don't think I want anything added. They just look like flat tires right now, I mean serious BIG flat tires. They have gone down to probably a "D" size, but am not running out to buy bras. Just curious for anyone who has had a breast lift if you have any words of wisdom, questions to make sure to ask. I've already been documenting w/my PCP skin rashes and such. And, since I still have about 45# I want to loose, she may suggest waiting which is ok, cuz I may need more time documenting rashes if I'm going to get the ins. to pay for this. I took down the CPT codes someone else posted. Boy, wouldn't that be cool to get them to pay for that. Thanks for any thoughts/ suggestions!!

How did your surgery turn out? Just curious if you have anything you would do differently?

Most docs call these "program fees". It's just another way to add money to their bottomline. My doc charged $325 and proclaimed all these "benefits". Yeah, whatever. It was a waste for me as an out of state patient. I know a couple of his in-state patients and they also think his "program" is a joke. Just makes it more obvious it was to add to HIS $bottomline$. Other docs are better and actually care about their post-op progress, mine does not. It was allllllll about the $$$ baby....

Those test results are really not that bad. By the title of this post, I thought you were going to say that you learned you weren't a candidate for surgery. I don't remember the % of Americans, but they say a HIGH number of people are Vit D defficient. I was as well, but I did NOT want to take pills, so they had a shot which was 600,000 units. I had my bloodwork done 3 mths after surgery and it came up from defficient to low side of normal and bloodwork again just a month ago and now it is 37 and that is on the high side of normal. The shot cost me $45, but it was WELL worth it not to have to take pills everyday. I have a serious gag reflex with pills. Even my PPI is a disolvable tablet. Seriously, this stuff is not bad and like others have said, having diabetes show up is a good thing for ins. approval.

The family of Lisa Ehrenholz, a 37-year-old mother who died in 2009 days after gastric bypass surgery at The Ottawa Hospital, has filed a $4-million negligence and malpractice lawsuit against the surgeons and the hospital. Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Ottawa+Hospital+faces+lawsuit/5849743/story.html#ixzz1gTow7ARy

Don't feel bad and as much as I hate to admit it, I gained nearly 40# in about a 5 1/2 month period. I wasn't even approved yet, but after I checked to see that I met the conditions of my insurance, I remember sitting at this board reading and reading, doing my research, but all the while scarfing down all the stuff that was my comfort food. It embarrasses me to even admit that here. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has done that though. Yes, how stupid of me to be on a board for WLS and there I was eating and eating like food was going out of style. It wasn't that I was afraid I couldn't eat it later, but just that I wanted to indulge because I could and I was gonna have that surgery so what the heck, it would come off then. So, then once I decided on what surgery I was going to have, then I started the approval process. I didn't have to do the supervised diet or even any liquid diet before surgery- just the standard 12 hrs before surgery thing. So, yeah I went WAYYYY bannanas and yes I might even be at or much closer to my goal. But, to be honest, I don't have that many regrets. Not saying I recommend it, cuz it's not healthy and there are many other reasons. I guess what I'm saying is that what you are going through is normal and just do your best to contain it if you can. Things will work out though.

Still doing the clear liquids since Tuesday evening and have dropped another 4#. I plan to do this another couple of days, then ease back into my low carb program. #45 more # to my final goal, 5# to my xmas goal. Surgery weight: 271 Starting Halloween weight: 195 Current weight: 180 Xmas Goal weight: 175 Final Goal weight: 135

Thank you. I would NEVER go back to Forest Park again, that's for sure. I know some have had good experiences there, but their nurses were horrible. I would call the button needing more pain meds, and nobody would come. Finally when they would come, they would send an LPN down to see what I wanted and then nobody would come back. Once I asked for the trapeeze bar to the nurse, told her I was having trouble getting in and out of bed. You know what she says? Just reach up on the handles above your head and pull yourself up. I'm like you stupid dumb @sss!! Yeah, I just had abdominal surgery and I'm gonna be able to do that. Finally after enough complaining I got the trapeze bar. And, because my own doc never bothered to come see me the next day, the "on call" staff dr. was going to release me. She walks into my room and says, "I see you had the DS surgery, I think your ready to go home". I'm like wtf.... whose chart are you reading, cuz it sure damn wasn't mine. If it was, we had serious issues! I refused to deal with her any further. If she couldn't bother to take 30 seconds to read my chart before walking in my room, she had NO business "treating" me. Grrrrr

Do you happen to know what size bougie your doc used on you? I've also heard that sometimes if the docs makes the stomach too curved that these things can happen, or also what they call the "hour glass syndrome" where the stomach just contracts because of the way the surgeon makes his cuts. It sounds like you are fine now, just wondering. Glad you are doing better!

I had my surgery June 21st, 2011. I was an out of state revision patient. I had surgery at Forest Park Medical Center. When I first drove up, I became alarmed because it looked like an oversized high rise car dealership building. It is a pretty new building, but it is not a hospital, it is a surgical center only. I was told this was a hospital, so I started becoming concerned that if something went wrong, would they be able to do whatever was needed. I had to fill out all kinds of paperwork which went pretty well. They drew blood, and had all kinds of trouble which is odd cuz my PCP office never had issues drawing blood. At one point I asked one of the nurses about whether they were able to handle emergencies if something went wrong during surgery. She pointed to this mobile unit with various things with the paddles and such, wasn't very reassuring to me. I guess what happens is they try to stabilize you and then you get rushed by ambulance to a "real" hospital. So, my surgery was scheduled for I think 3pm that next day. I reported in at 1pm, he was running behind, was there by myself so it did provide more time to worry about the "what if" scenarios. Finally, I was called back and changed into the wonderful gown. I ended up in that wait area for probably another hour or so because Dr. Stewart was running behind. This started to really wear on me because I was getting really nervous the more time I just laid there and had nothing to do but look at the walls and curtain in front of me. They have a patient advocate that came by which I really liked, very nice lady. She talked to me to see how I was doing. A little later when she walked by she looked in on me and saw I had tears streaming down my cheeks even though I was fighting them. She said she would see if they could bring me something. They said they had to wait until I saw the anisthesiologist because i had to sign some forms and I couldn't be under the influence of any drugs while signing the papers. The anisthesiologist came to talk to me, Dr. Stewart and a few different nurses. Finally, I got my cocktail while in that waiting room and the next thing I remember is waking up in my room which I am thankful for. Don't know how they moved me around, don't really want to think about it, but I guess they have procedures for that stuff. I didn't have any bruises, so I guess it went ok. I woke up with a lot of abdominal pain. I also had a tube, but I think because I was a revision patient he wanted to be sure the excess Fluid had a quick way to escape. Like several others they would wake me at 3:30am to draw blood. VERY annoying, plus after 5 tries they couldn't draw any blood. I was about ready to slug somebody as they were poking me like a pin cushion. I'm like wtf!!!I finally told them to stop. Plus, I was NOT impressed that many of them were not using gloves at any point when trying to draw blood which is a DIRECT OSHA violation. I should have said something right then, but was feeling pretty vulnerable so I didn't. I understand to find the vein it is easier to do it with the finger touch, but by god when they do the actual draw, gloves should be on. Yes, maybe I'm a bigger risk to them, then them to me- but nonetheless. My surgeon Dr. Stewart didn't bother to see me until 2 days after my surgery, he might be a good surgeon, but has horrible bedside manners and is really a "sleeve n leave'em" kind of guy. He has no intentions of ever seeing his patients again after surgery to be quite honest. I had to call his office to find out if he was going to see me and their response was, "well, he's pretty busy, he will try". I was like "wow".... pretty disappointing. I was discharged 2 days after surgery (a Friday), and had my post op visit the next Tuesday, where I had the drain removed. It was getting to be a big nuisance anyways. From there, I drove home my 8 hr drive. I was soooo glad to be home. I had a lot of pain from the carbon dioxide they used during surgery, mostly in my left shoulder. Then, about 2 wks later, I developed a pain in my lower left side that anytime I coughed, sneezed or moved in a bending fashion would be horrendous. I called my docs office and it took 3 DAYS for someone to call me back and that was probably only because I kept calling. Dr. Stewart's office does NOT answer their office phones. You end up having to leave a voicemail and "hope" they call you back. This wasn't that way when I first contacted their office about surgery, but he evidently can't keep people to stay working at his office very long (high turnover). So, hard to say the reasons, but given my personal experiences, I have my opinions. Anyways, am just glad to have the surgery over with. As of today, I am down 90# and have about 45# more to go. I hope to be finished by next Spring. The weight loss has certainly slowed down the past month and a half, but I'm determined to get to my final goal. With my 1st WLS 13 1/2 yrs ago, I got down to 162# and started dating someone who had very poor eating habits and made it very hard for me to stay on track. I was so excited to be in a relationship, I lost track of focusing on me which is my fault. I WILL NOT make that mistake again. I will get to my ultimate goal of 135#, although with the loose skin, it's hard to say if it will be exactly that since the loose skin weighs too. I finally feel ok about how I look even if I'm not at goal yet. LOVE being able to cross my legs easily, sit in chairs without feeling like I'm sliding my hips through a suction cup, wearing jeans more often (used to just wear sweats in my off time cuz they didn't restrict me so bad even if they looked horrible- I didn't care how I looked). I'm back to riding my horses and not feel like I'm hurting their back carrying my fat butt around. Going to reward myself with a trip to Europe next Spring where I will be riding classically dressage trained Andalusion and Lippizan horses. I'm so psyched! But, most of all, so glad to be getting my life back in more ways than one. I would do the surgery over again in a heartbeat!

Well, yesterday I went back to the clear liquids. Am tired of this darn stall. Am sooo thankful for this tool because I wouldn't last a day on clear liquids before. I'm not hungry persay, but do kind of have a desire for "real" food. I'm going to stick to this for at least a week though. I'm planning a trip to go see a friend of mine living in Germany next Spring and I'm also going to have an opportunity to spend a week riding classically dressage trained Lustiano or Andalusion horses in Portugal. They have a weight restriction of 180 and w/out clothes I'm only 4# over that, I want to be AT goal by the time I get there- so I'm determined to get this going!! Surgery weight: 271 Starting Halloween weight: 195 Current weight: 184 Xmas Goal weight: 175 Final Goal weight: 135

I have never had any hint of issues with any sort of dairy products before. I'm also ok with having issues now though. I never thought I would ever see the day where the thought of eating chocolate would make me not feel well. Pigs must be flying cuz that day has come. This has just been a new experience for me, kind of odd feeling to get so sick over eating stuff that was once considered my best friend when I needed some food for emotional comfort.

Same thing this week, still bouncing between 186 and 188. Saw a nutritionist this past week and she thinks even though I'm eating 3 meals a day that I'm not getting in enough calories. She suggested I add in 1 or 2 servings of milk a day plus a fruit. I have now learned I am lactose intolerant. I drank some milk this past week, had a little sugar free pudding and a little ice cream (a test of another milk product) and very little of each item had me cramping and in the bathroom shortly afterwards. I think I may try Clear Liquids for a week or two and then go back to my Protein. Need to break this stall!!!

Thanks everyone. I never really gave much thought about what things had dairy in them until now. I am not too upset though because causing me to get sick when eating chocolate is a good thing. Kind of like touching a hot stove. It's not something easily forgotten. It certainly will make maintaining my WL easier.

As a kids, I was a HUGE milk drinker. As an adult, I still liked milk but soda became more of my preferred drink. Anyways, I've had some milk a few times since surgery and didn't have any issues until fairly recently. I have noticed that my desire for different foods were changing which I expected from reading other people's experiences. I know lactose intolerance was also a possibility, but figured if it would happen it would have happened before now. Anyways, I've noticed over the past few months that my sweet tooth cravings were GREATLY diminished- great! Then, I started noticing that sometimes I would feel a little sick after eating a single size chocoate bar or something (as a treat). I was thinking maybe because my body hadn't had sweets in so long that my stomach was having trouble processing such rich food. Ok, so my weight loss has stalled for almost 2 months now and I went to go see a nutrionist last week who has a lot of experience working with people who have had WLS. She thinks I'm not getting in enough calories even though I'm eating 3x a day. She suggested I add 1 or 2 servings of milk per day to help with calories along with a fruit each day. So, I bought one of those small milks at Quick Trip (says 2 servings). I only drank maybe a 1/4 of the bottle and my stomach started hurting within maybe 10 minutes. I can't remember if I had to hit the bathroom right away or not. Tonight, I was going to buy another milk, but decided to try a small ice cream just to see what would happen since its also a milk product. I had maybe a 1/2 cup tonight and within 10 minutes, stomach cramping and I've made 2 trips to the bathroom back to back. I was also visiting my gma over the weekend and she served up some sugar free pudding and while the reaction wasn't quite as severe, I had small stomach cramping shortly after eating that too. So, my only logical reasoning here is that I'm now lactose intolerant. I can't say I'm really all that upset because chocolate and me had been life long friends up until now. If I eat chocolate now, I don't feel so good. This also happens when I eat junk food which I know has likely little to do with being lactose intolerant. I just find it odd that I'm only now seeing such drastic reactions to milk products 5 months out. cheese still seems to be ok, but that's usually added to something like eggs or something else being cooked. Anyone else have any experiences becoming lactose intolerant since surgery?

You are not alone! I keep bouncing between 186 and 188 and it just seems like loosing weight the past month and a half has been like pulling teeth. I might do the same thing and go to all liquids too. I have an appt w/a registered dietician tomorrow to see what she thinks. My surgery was out of state, so this is someone I went to for part of my insurance approval- but she is pretty familiar with people who have gone through weight loss surgery. Want her opinion on what is happening. My size 12 jeans are fitting pretty loose though since a month ago. Still so hard to not see the scale move when I'm staying on the program!

No, it was something that just came up in conversation when I saw her at Thanksgiving. She didn't know I had had surgery, and told her. She thought it was really neat, and has an interest herself. She currently has a BMI of 41 and has several other health issues. In fact, she is considering going on disability. I don't know all the details on that- but I guess the best thing is for her to call her state medicaid program since it appears maybe the state gets to dictate the different types of allowable coverage. The only thing I would be concerned about in seeing other people post about this is that it looks like calling people at Medicaid often becomes pretty futile as they aren't very forthcoming or helpful. Does anyone know the CPT code Medicaid uses for the VSG? Maybe its different for different states- not sure how that works. It seems to be the same between private insurance companies. This is just all new territory for me.

I had Dr. Daryl Stewart. Fine surgeon, but HORRIBLE bedside manners, and WAY OVERBOOKS his office appts where you end up waiting long beyond your "scheduled appointment".... Don't expect to see him again after your surgery, and you may not even see him in the hospital after the surgery itself. You will see one of his assistants if you go back for post-op follow ups. I was out of state, so I will never be going back. It seems he has high turnover in his office staff which I suspect is the chaotic manner in which he runs his practice. Sometimes I guess he schedules as many as 5 surgeries in one day which I only recently found out from another patient.

I'm trying to look at your pictures and every time I click on one, I get an error saying the pics aren't available. What am I doing wrong?

I had private insurance (Aetna) and didn't have any problems getting approved and they paid the bills- thank god! I have a friend who is very excited at the success I have had with the sleeve, she is younger and on Medicaid currently in Missouri. I told her I wasn't sure if Medicaid had this as a list of approved procedures. Anyone with experience or know anyone who has gotten Medicaid to pay for the Sleeve?

I concur with the advice already stated here. Aetna only pre-approved a 1 night stay also, but I ended up staying 2 nights. I knew that going into surgery and so when they wouldn't release me after 1 night due to not getting in enough fluids and such, I made sure to talk to someone from their admissions to be sure they were on top of this. What they told me is that they would be submitting contacting Aetna that day to let them know why I wasn't being discharged and that it wouldn't be a problem. I made it clear I couldn't afford a 2nd night stay on my dime. I didn't have any issues with the billing thank god, but I did worry for a few months that I would start getting misc. bills on this. Aetna told me that after surgery, the hospital has up to 6 months to submit bills, so technically I have 1 more month before they could sneak something in, but I'm hoping that won't happen. The key is did your Dr.'s office or the attending Dr. while you were at the hospital do the proper paperwork/ insurance approval for the 2nd night. Your in a vulnerable position after having surgery and should be able to rely on the medical professionals to know what needs to be done in these situations.