Lulu5

I started to feel much better around 6 days postop. Today I'm 11 days postop and each day it gets better and better! Hang in there!

Postop day one was the hardest for me. Sounds like you're doing great! I hope it only gets better for you from here!

The day after my surgery was the worst! I wouldn't let my hubby bring the kids to see me. But by the 2nd day post op, I looked and felt better and they came to pick me up from the hospital.

I'm 10 days post op and had my first scrambled egg (egg beaters) this morning. I at the entire thing (took 30 min) and I felt fine during/afterwards! I'm trying puréed egg salad tomorrow!

Is the ricotta cheese necessary? I'm lactose intolerant and can't have it. Wonder what I could use as a substitute?

The first few days was basically liquids but for the first month I am to eat purees. After that, I transition to regular food. I had no pre-op diet either.

I'm 5 days postop and I still get that tightening in my chest when I drink or sip broth/soup. I have tried different temperatures and I go slow, but they all feel the same. When does this pass?

Hello all! I had my surgery 4 days ago. I only had one day of nausea (day after surgery) and the pain hasn't been bad at all. I am having problems getting in enough liquids. I get that tightening sensation in my chest. I've tried different temperatures and room temp seems to be the best, but I'm craving ice cold water. I hope everyone is doing well!

Just to follow up, I finally got BCBS, in writing, to confirm that there is no 30% charge for drugs/agents for inpatient care. I hope this helps. They said: "for covered 2013 inpatient stays you would be liable for the $150 per day, $750 maximum co-payment for the hospital, that includes anesthesia, supplies and equipment; you have no liability for doctor's visits while you are an inpatient at the hospital, but you are liable for a $150 co-payment for each surgeon which is a separate liability. The 30% co-insurance usually applies to outpatient services, at a doctor's office or outpatient facility."

TheMoment: Yes, keep us posted. I spoke with my hospital today too and BCBS and BCBS says my copay for the hospital is $150/day and $150 to the surgeon and I "may" be responsible for 30% of the drugs/agents used during my stay, but it all depends on how the hospital files the claim. When I spoke to the financial advisor at the hospital, she said she would research this and get back with me. I do know that all services I will recieve are from a preferred provider at a BCBS Excellence Center. I just don't want any unexpected bills in a couple of months!

Thanks everyone!! I've already confirmed that the surgeon, hospital, anesthesiologist, and everyone else involved are preferred providers. Again, thanks so much for your input!

For anyone that has already had surgery and you have BCBS Federal- Basic, did you have to pay for 30% of the drugs/agents (anesthetics) that were given to you during your surgery or the medications that were given to you while you were in the hospital? I'm getting conflicting information. I was told by the insurance company that anesthesia is covered 100% but I'm responsible for 30% of the drugs or agents used during my surgery. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

China mama, have you recieved any other bills? My surgery is next week and the hospital has already asked me to pay my co-pays up front ($150 for the surgeon, $100 for the hospital) but I haven't heard anything about being responsible for 30% of the drugs used during my surgery. I know a few months ago you said you had not received a bill for anesthesia drugs, is that still the case? Thank you!

Milk counts towards your protein and liquid requirements. It's a two for one deal!

I received my approval letter today from BCBS Fed (Yay!!) but I'm kinda confused by the verbiage. It states: "We have reviewed the preauthorization request for INPATIENT CARE and authorized it as medically necessary. This authorization is effective for the service we've defined above." The part that confuses me is the INPATIENT CARE part. Does that mean the WLS? I'll call BCBS on Monday to confirm, but for now, I just wanted to see what others experiences were. Thanks!

I'm interested to see your outcome. I too have BCBS fep basic and will be submitting to the insurance company for approval in about 1-2 weeks.

Mokee, the only reason I did the sleep study was to hopefully find out I have a mild form of apnea and that would count as a comorbidity for me with my insurance co. I think that's why most people follow through with this test, so it will help out with insurance approval. If this weren't something my ins co was looking for as a comorbidity, then I wouldn't have had the test. I am thankful my results were negative, that just means, for insurance purposes, all my other comorbidities have to count. But I know of others that have apnea and use their cpap and love it!

My surgeon had me fill out a questionaire as part of my inital paperwork and said my score reflected that I could possibly have apnea. He sent me to a Pulmonologist and she ordered the sleep study.

Elliott, I just had my sleep study as well. My dr told me she was ordering a 'split' study: 1/2 the night they monitor me and if they see I have apnea then the other 1/2 of the night they would fit me with a cpap mask and monitor me. My dr told me that traditional sleep studies have you come in the first night for monitoring. If they discover you have apnea, then they have you come back for a second night so they can fit you for a cpap mask and determine what level of oxygen you need. So it sounds like to me, they think you have apnea or else they wouldn't have you come back. Btw, I don't have apnea (I'm happy, but was at least hoping for mild apnea) so they didn't wake me up in the middle of my study to fit me for the cpap. Because of that, I knew when I woke up that I didn't have it.

That's sad he said it was stupid. I hope your new PCP is supportive. We need all the support we can get!

Keep us posted about what the Ins Co says. I too have BCBS Fed and was told by my surgeons office that I only needed 3 visits as long as I discuss weight loss/exercise at those 3 visits. My first appt was June 25, second was July 25, and final will be Aug 26. I've met all my other requirements so as soon as I'm done with the the Aug 25 appt my surgeon's office will submit to the ins co.

My sleep study last night was terrible too! I didn't sleep much at all!!! I maybe got 3 hours at the most. And they never hooked me up to the cpap machine so I'm assuming I don't have apnea.... but the tech couldn't say. I guess I'll have my results within the next week or so. I'm exhausted today!