3 Weeks Post Op & BC EOB

[MsLisa71]

Today marks 3 weeks post op and I'm down 28 pounds! I'm advancing to soft foods and doing well. This is my last week off work so I'm hoping to get a handle on what I can tolerate so I know what to pack for lunch and snacks when I'm back to work next week. Think I should also buy a mini fridge for under my desk!! (I've been so blessed to have a full four weeks off; I have enough time in with my employer that my extended illness bank covers all of my leave....so I'm paid for the entire time off.)

I started taking my measurements about a year ago and I am down a total of 27 inches in that time; 7 of those are since surgery. It's getting to where most of my clothes are too big....pretty soon my hips won't be able to keep my jeans/capris up any longer....a fine 'problem' to have. I've started posting/selling a lot of items to make a little money to buy some things in the next size down.


I've been walking a minimum of 40-60 minutes a day and it feels good. I've even invited friends and some family to go take a walk with me around the local lake and have had some great conversations when they have been able to join me. If not, I just listen to music and enjoy the fresh air.

Blue Cross sent a notice that a claim had processed and lo and behold it was for the facility portion of my surgery. $83,286.65 is the total bill and so far they have only "approved"/paid for room and some of the drugs.....they are currently saying the 'amount I may owe' is $28,875.99!!!! Uh, yeah.....guess who will be on the phone with them first thing in the morning?! Of course I see this over the long weekend when there is no one to contact. I just keep telling myself, my surgeon did the pre-auth, I did all the requirements and checked all of their boxes.....it's just a mistake. But I will feel SO much better after speaking with them tomorrow and making sure this gets straightened out.

[Juanita62]

You're doing awesome!!

[tonewbeginnings]

Lisa, so glad things are going so wwll. Certainly great to have those four weeks off so it won’t be so stressful going back to work for you. Well you won’t have to pack a lot of food that’s for sure. I just bought some small, short but wide mouth mason jars to premake me meals. The glass is nice to eat out of and can be microwaved as well. I even got some nice plastic screw on lids since the metal 2 piece tops they come with rust when you wash them. Hope your reentry back at work goes well.

[Stacey03]

Yikes to that bill but obviously a mistake! You sound like you are doing amazingly well! Take it easy when you get back to work :-)

[Pudsley]

Oh My ! thats a big bill.

Hope you get it sorted. I am sure its a mistake.
You are doing really good, I really admire your energy going for walks. Sounds to me as if you are really in the swing of this.
Well done You !
I am sure you will find lots of wonderful things for your lunch box keep it varied and realistic of how long it takes to eat something.

Wishing you well.

Let us know what happens with the bill. Typical that you received it when you could not speak with anyone, sorry you had the stress of that.

Take Care.

[MsLisa71]

"Blue Cross sent a notice that a claim had processed and lo and behold it was for the facility portion of my surgery. $83,286.65 is the total bill and so far they have only "approved"/paid for room and some of the drugs.....they are currently saying the 'amount I may owe' is $28,875.99!!!! Uh, yeah.....guess who will be on the phone with them first thing in the morning?! Of course I see this over the long weekend when there is no one to contact. I just keep telling myself, my surgeon did the pre-auth, I did all the requirements and checked all of their boxes.....it's just a mistake. But I will feel SO much better after speaking with them tomorrow and making sure this gets straightened out."

Spoke with the most pleasant and helpful Customer Advocate at BC. She sees that this appears to be an error and will be working on it. Unfortunately 7 days must elapse from the date the claim is originally processed before she can go in and try to push each line of the claim through, but she has marked a reminder for herself to review and work on it on Mon of next week as well as call me back with a status update.

Not stressing.....just praying that she can get it all to work properly.

[sraebaer]

Don't worry, sounds like a big mistake. Congrats to doing so well, now the fun starts! I'm sure you will find going back to work no big deal. My only issue going back to work was people saw my teeny-tiny bowls of whatever I was eating and were shocked. I just told them I was watching my portions to try to lose weight.

[KiwiGal]

Well done so far - you are doing great.
The walks with friends and family sound wonderful. My partner and I walk after work each day and it is a great time for us to catch up with each other without any distractions.

[Christie13]

I am sure they will sort the bill. Dang....that is huge, though. I think my surgery/hospital stay total was like 35-40K before my insurance deductions. So your bill was quite a bit larger to begin with. Funny how there is no consistent thing with the sleeve. From pre op to post op to insurance requirements to pricing. LOL. The only constant is that this surgery ROCKS!! Congrats on your success so far. Hopefully all your insurance is sorted out quickly.

[MsLisa71]

The only constant is that this surgery ROCKS!! Congrats on your success so far. Hopefully all your insurance is sorted out quickly.

Truly so many differences!!! I must agree though, this surgery does ROCK!!! I bought two pairs of size 16 jeans today....I've been wearing 22's still and just can't keep them up. LOL I haven't worn a size 16 in like 15 years, maybe more? I am so very pleased that I took the leap. (Not that I want to pay the nearly $30K!!! They do need to figure that out!)

I appreciate the encouragement!

[MsLisa71]

You're doing awesome!!

You too!!! Look at you under 185!! Nice work!!

[MsLisa71]

My only issue going back to work was people saw my teeny-tiny bowls of whatever I was eating and were shocked. I just told them I was watching my portions to try to lose weight.

Work is the only place I could NOT hide my surgery from - I work in the OR for the hospital I had my surgery at. Good and bad....I knew my entire surgical team BUT everyone in the department knows since I was their patient. Then of course, I knew all the transporters that took me for tests and some of the DI people, etc. But I will be the poster child I guess. I look at it as extra support and they truly understand the difference that this surgery makes for people...and if they don't they will see it firsthand very soon as they see how much I've changed already in 4 weeks (when I return).

Bring on the teeney-tiny bowls!! LOL

[MsLisa71]

Yikes to that bill but obviously a mistake! You sound like you are doing amazingly well! Take it easy when you get back to work :-)

Thank you for the encouragement. Saw my primary doctor today and he gave me the same advice to take it easy when I return to work. I need to truly keep that in mind...there's no way to "catch up" 4 weeks of work. I just need to do what I can and not work long days like I sometimes do. Ease in.

[Christie13]

Truly so many differences!!! I must agree though, this surgery does ROCK!!! I bought two pairs of size 16 jeans today....I've been wearing 22's still and just can't keep them up. LOL I haven't worn a size 16 in like 15 years, maybe more? I am so very pleased that I took the leap. (Not that I want to pay the nearly $30K!!! They do need to figure that out!)

I appreciate the encouragement!

You may want to find a good second hand store for jeans/pants until you stop losing super fast. If not you will waste a lot of money. But seriously, go you!!! It is only going to get better!!

[MsLisa71]

You may want to find a good second hand store for jeans/pants until you stop losing super fast. If not you will waste a lot of money. But seriously, go you!!! It is only going to get better!!

Thanks - I do not want to spend a lot on 'in-between' clothes as I call them. I got a couple steals at an outlet mall the other day; one pair of jeans for $6, and another for $9!!! That and second hand stores will keep me clothed for awhile! I've also posted my bigger clothes on Poshmark to try and sell. Sold one piece already that paid for the jeans.

I hate to waste money!! LOL