Talked to my surgeon today

I've been trying to reach my surgeon's offices for over a month now, left several messages etc.  Today I tried calling again and the phones wouldn't even connect.  I lost my temper a little bit about the whole thing (his staff has been a source of frustration for me more than once) - so I e-mailed him.  I didn't say anything bad but expressed my frustration about not being able to make my regular appointments with him.  I gave him my blood work results, my current weight, calories, and protein info.  Would you believe, he not only read it, he called me back within a couple of hours.  I am shocked personally! Anyway, he was pleased with my weight loss and blood work, and is going to have someone contact me for an appointment in July, as well as send in more orders for blood work (which I am not pleased about because I just had it done and just got a bill for $700 because my new insurance believes blood work constitutes a pre-existing condition and didn't cover it).  I am trying to get the insurance thing straightened out because they won't cover anything pre-existing until Jan 2009 unless I can prove I had insurance steadily for the last 18 months, which I did and have sent in the paperwork to prove.  Hopefully it will be straightened out soon.  He also said I should up my protein (I told him I average 80g and he wants me to up it to 100) and keep my calories around 1200-1400, which is quite a bit more than I am currently averaging most days.  I was surprised by this, but ok, I'm cool with it unless I stop losing.  Anyway, for those of you who've been around through my whole process, you know I have some issues with my surgeon.  We've had some problems with each other, and a falling out in the hospital after my complications (he accused me of lying about how serious my pain was so he didn't take it seriously enough - well that's my side of the story anyway).  I respect him and think he has the best of intentions, but I don't always like him so much.  I am truly surprised that he called, and quickly, considering how busy and frazzled they all seem to be all the time.  Maybe I will not judge him as harshly now. 

Jenn I remember how he treated you in the beginning and you had every right to be mad. however I am glad that he is taking better care of you know. I hope you get everything straighten out with your insurance company.

Good job on being assertive with your Dr......So many people are afraid of theor dr.s I'm onl afraid i'm not doing good enough lol  why does he want more blood work done?  Just diff or is he running the same tests again? Even though you have issues with him in my opinion its still good to keep them around those pcp's only know so much...

Well, I am glad that you finally reached him.  I did not know about the previous problems, but it would be really difficult for me to .be patient if I could not reach them.   Is it common for insurance companies not to cover your bloodwork?  Just wondering because with the DS I need to have blood drawn 4 times in the first year....then twice a year every year after that.  I did not know that I would be incurring such a large amount for bloodwork!?

No, most insurance companies cover your bloodwork no problem.  I changed companies though and its has been complicated - apparently everything under the sun is considered a pre-existing condition to BCBS.  Just be careful and read the rules.  Previously I did not pay anything extra for blood work.