TinkerToyz

Thanks

Hey, I've been a RN for 37 years. Sleeved 7/10/12. Doing great, please add me to the group.

When labs, ekg and other testing is done depends on several things. Is the testing being done as a baseline or is the testing pre operatively. Some doctors want baseline results so any issues can be corrected prior to your procedure. The anesthesia department at the facility where your surgery is being done will dictate to some extent when your pre operative testing will be done. Some will only accept results within a specific time frame, and that time frame could depend on the particular lab or test. For example, if you are on certain medications that effect results, they may want the test the day before surgery or even the morning of your procedure. Just depends on many factors.

I was told to take them off on the third post op day to prevent scaring. I've been a nurse forever, and have never heard of taking them off that soon. I did as I was told and had no issues.

Please before considering any surgeon for plastics, make sure that surgeon is board certified to do the procedures you are considering.

I don't think insurance can deny coverage for a pre-existing condition as long as you have been continually covered by medical insurance prior to the new policy.

I totally realize that what is billed and what is paid is as different as night and day. Mine was billed at over $80,000 and the payment to the hospital was slightly over $28,000. Self pay at this same hospital is approximately half what the insured reimbursment ended up being. Insured people subsidize the self payers and the NO payers.

I had an email today from UHC inviting me to view my statements online. So I logged in to my insurance account and was SHOCKED. A bill for over $80,000 from the hospital was submitted. This does not include the surgeon's bill, radiology, pathology or anesthesia. The hospital has been paid per plan contract slightly over $28,000. Other bills are still pending. Either hospitals are taking a beating on self-pays, or subsidizing them with what insured patients are paying. All totalled, this process has been billed to my insurance at somewhere close to $130,000.

I was told it causes dehydration.

I have been a nurse in peri operative services (every area except the actual OR) for 37 years. I have NEVER seen a spinal done for a Cholecystectomy laproscopic or open. The gallbladder is definitelya bit lower than the stomach. I would think you would need a level of somewhere around T 6- T 7 for the stomach to be effected. Most epidurals for c sections are T 10 or lower. . Personally I would freak out if anesthesia even suggested a spinal for a VSG. I would think it would require that the level be high enough that you would need a ventilator. Not sure I'd want to spend the time for the spinal to wear off on a vent. Ask for a dvd.

Your insurance should cover it as long as you are covered at the time the procedure is done. I would not resign prior to having the actual procedure unless you plan to COBRA the policy.

I was driving on my 3rd post op day.

Carbmasters has a few tasty flavors other than the blueberry. I like the raspberry yum berry and the tropical fruit flavors too.

Be aware if your abdomen is REALLY swollen the comfy pants you wore in might not be as comfy on the ride home. I was sure glad bought a pair with me that were really loose post my pre op diet.

I work for HCA and have UHC. Easy route for me. I have 80/20 coverage with $400 deductible with a $3000 out of pocket max. So far I have had the following expenses EGD 166 to MD 75 to facility have not recieved a bill from anes yet. expect it to be around 400 10 to radiology for my chest xray reading. Cardiology Clearance bill pending should be 20% Psych Eval 38 Nutrition visits All 3 totally covered. VSG and Hiatal Hernia Repair. Paid 301 up front to md for VSG. HH should be about the same but will be billed for that. Hospital stay covered 100% Anesthesia charges still pending. From my initial consult to surgery was exactly 101 days. I was approved on first submission to UHC. It took approx 1 week to be approved.