Sharon1964

My surgeon said the opposite! Take it easy on your stomach and let it heal... no point in stressing it and making it work harder. I had one week of clear fluids, one week of full fluids (no dairy, no carbonation, no caffeine), then two weeks of purees (including scrambled eggs, applesauce, yogurt). Today I'm moving to soft foods like tuna, which will be for a week, then meat as tolerated.

The rates vary by county. You will need to find someone who lives where you live.

Okay, then ask the hospital and the doctor for an itemized list of charges. They are required by law to give this to you. Then contact your insurer or look at your explanation of benefits (eob) to see what the contracted rate is. Calculate your percentage of that. See if that matches the part of your eob that says "your responsibility is...". That's what your providers should be billing you.

My surgeon says no bread, no crackers, no Pasta for six months. Bread makes a gummy ball in your stomach that can block the stomach. My surgeon has had to take people back to the operating room for bread and for ravioli.

So when you marched up to them and said, "I heard you talking about me. If you have questions, it would be better if you asked me yourself instead of gossiping about me. If you must know, my husband has great insurance and it didn't cost me very much," what was their reaction?

Since there are so many different eating plans, we'll need to know what your surgeon's plan is to really help you. My surgeon's plan is one week clear fluids, one week full fluids, two weeks puree, etc.

Usual and customary doesn't apply to in-network providers. Only the fee schedule applies. Do you have a "maximum out of pocket" for the calendar year?

The fact that you're using the phrase "usual and customary" is worrisome. That means you went to an out-of-network doctor and hospital. The providers can bill whatever they want, the insurance company can declare an amount as U&C that has no basis in reality, they can then pay a percentage of that, and you're stuck with the rest. ALL of the rest. If you went to an in-plan provider, there are set fee schedules for every procedure.

Try this: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

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no-sugar-added applesauce

Do you have insurance? What is your coverage? What is your deductible? What is your out of pocket max for the year?

If you are using an in-network hospital, there is an agreed-upon rate between the hospital and your insurance company. It doesn't matter how much the hospital bills; they will write off anything over the "fee schedule" price. Example: Hospital bills $50,000 Fee schedule is $10,000 You have a 70/30 plan Your insurance pays $7,000, you pay $3,000, the hospital writes off $40,000.

Updated!

Here are the questions I asked my surgeon at my preop: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/347429-things-i-asked-my-surgeon-at-my-pre-op-appointment-today/ Within a couple of hours of my surgery, I was drinking warm broth. A pain pump was hooked up to my iv. I had a catheter because I requested one in advance. I'm curious what would happen if a patient asked their surgeon to leak test while they were still under instead of waiting a day (if that's his protocol). If you're leaking, they're going to have to go back in and do another surgery, so why not test while you're still under?

This early, I'm measuring everything - my stomach isn't going to tell me when I've had enough. One-third cup is a meal for me. Half of a greek yogurt container is a meal for me. Half an avocado.

There is really no way to know. Some people have a much harder recovery than others. I was shocked when my discharge nurse said I could drive myself home from the hospital if I wanted, since it had been more than 4 hours since I had pain meds. I declined, but I felt well enough to do it. I was sleeved on a Saturday and was back at work, at a desk job, on the next Thursday. Other people take two to six weeks off, and some need every single one of those days.

More insurances are getting away from the six-month nutrition visits. Mine, Blue Shield of California, dropped the requirement a week or so after I finished all of my requirements.

@@Babbs So true. Even before my surgery, I would make tacos and the kids would have them in shells and I would usually put the filling on top of lettuce like a taco salad.

If it were me, I would call my surgeon. In the meantime, go back to things that are easy on your stomach. Mashed potato, pureed Soup, mashed avocado, yogurt, pudding, scrambled eggs.

If you make tacos or burritos at home, you can use a low-carb flour tortilla.

I haven't gone through that, but as long as you don't miss a month, you won't have to start over. The requirement, if you have to do six months, is usually "six consecutive months within the last year" or "... within the last two years".

One day of full liquids (no milkshakes, no jamba juice), that's it. No bowel prep or anything like that. My surgeon said he just wanted your stomach empty.

Gotcha!

Calendar updated.