Dr. Kim in Celebration
A lot of your hunger might be head hunger. It does feel similar to regular hunger, but if you're full (or satisfied-ish) it's probably head hunger. You really have to pay attention while you're eating. You may not recognize when you've actually had enough to eat. Eating carbs will make you hungrier. I found that when I went on a gluten free diet, it was hard for a couple of days, but I was able to recognize the head hunger. I was still able to have potatoes and didn't react as strongly to that.
Now I'm on the pre-pre-op diet - no starches, not even potatoes. I will probably never be able to have bread again. You can pretty much eat a little of everything at some point after surgery, but for me that would be like giving an alcoholic a beer. I think I might be able to eat pasta, but the big thing after surgery is that you have to eat protein first because that's what your body needs most in order to keep working. Your pouch will be so small that you may not have room for much else, at least for a while.
I don't know if they talked about the size of your pouch at the information session. They said that at first it's the size of your thumb, but that Dr. Kim makes it so that when all the healing's done and you're eating the amount you'll be eating the rest of your life, you'll only be able to eat 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food at a time. You can, of course, stretch that by overeating.
Did your advocate email you? She should have given you an idea of what you will owe and who you need to see. If she's done that already, I would go ahead and schedule your psych eval and nutritionist. You need to have a letter of medical necessity from your primary care physician. You should contact your insurance yourself, if you haven't already, to find out if they have any requirements you need to meet.
Wait until you have your first consult with the nurse practitioner at Dr. Kim's office before you work on the other clearances. They will go over the surgery, give you a diet to follow, and tell you which clearances you need. I made my appointments in the lobby downstairs as soon as I left my consult.
As far as I know, there are only two nurse practitioners who do the consults. I had Tina. She can seem unfriendly, but don't let that turn you off. She's good if you can handle her personality. The other one has a friendlier attitude, I've heard.
Also, the cost for the psych eval, nutritionist, and any office visit copays for the clearance doctors are not included in the total your advocate will give you. I really wish they had told me that at the beginning, because my parents are paying for my out of pocket expenses. We thought it would just be $3100. Dr. Ferguson doesn't submit to insurance, so the psych eval cost me $360. My insurance doesn't cover nutritionists, so that cost me $57. I've had two office copays for the cardiologist, and I'm sure I'll have at least one for the pulmonologist.
I have not heard from my advocate yet. They said to give them 6-8 days I think it was.
I have seen several complaints about the $600 for the psyc and nut.
I have Medicare and BCBS. 100% of my hospital is covered and 90% of the surgeon is covered. I will submit the $600 for the psyc and nut. I have a max out of pocket of $1,300.00. We’ll see what surprised I encounter. I may have to sell some property…lol.
Are you able to do an easy payment plan for the balance?
