Ok guys, now for my trials and tribulations

First off, I  totally just assumed that when my husband switched jobs - that his new medical insurance would cover me to follow up with a new bariatric surgeon.  WRONG.  My PCP put in a referral and it got denied.  Not a covered benefit with our plan.  We have Kaiser Permanente now.

And, I am so not happy with the PCP!  I went to him complaining of daily nausea AND told him of the attack I had in August that I believed to be my gallbladder.  He didn't take me seriously I don't guess, because he didn't send me for any test to check into that.  I then go back to him complaining of shoulder pain (right side) and still nothing.  I have since found out that's a sympton of gallbaldder trouble.  Last week Wednesday I had such a bad attack - I was writhing in pain for HOURS until I went to the emergency room and found out I was full of gall stones so they admitted me and took care of that!!  I also had asked him at that visit if HE could take care of my bariatric needs - mostly Labs of course.  He said No, that he didn't know anything about bariatrics.  I told him I just need my labs checked regularly.  He then says he has no idea what they are looking for with labs.  I told him I could give him the list of labs.  He still says no - and told me I am in quite a pickle!  Nice eh?  So, I deifnitely need to fined a new PCP.

I thought for sure that my nausea problems would be corrected with getting the gallbladder out.  Well, I am still suffering.  First thing I put in my mouth in the morning, whether it be drink OR eat - sets me off.  Some days are worse than others.  I am just a week out from gallbladder surgery so maybe I need to give it more time before getting so frustrated?  I dunno.  But really, it's getting so OLD.

I am not being compliant with the RULES>  I cannot stomach any protein shakes/powders - and haven't been able to since about 3 weeks out from surgery.  So, needless to say I am severely lacking my protein amounts on daily basis.  I am worried - I don't want to get sick.  I can't eat much.  Frankly I am surprised that I have lost as well as I have for not eating enough.   I haven't stalled once.  So while I am SO HAPPY that I have lost almost 100 lbs and feel so much better to have all that strain off my body, I am very sad and frustrated at the same time, because my quality of life kind of sucks right now ( oh my gosh I know it could be much worse - but being nauseated for the first half of every day is a PITA).   I just wish I knew if this was normal?  Or is there something going on in my pouch?????  

So there's my story.  I am going to get on the phone right now and try to start an appeal process with kaiser to see if I can get follow up care with a bariatric surgeon.  

Wow, I hope you feel better soon! I hate nausea more than probably anything else in the world. Except a good tooth ache.

I just wanted to comment, I have Kaiser and am very happy with the bariatric department--I know I'm in a different state and all--but it does seem to be a mysterious land unto itself. Once you get IN to bariatrics, it's great; but nobody else at the hospital seems to know much about it. My PCP is I think unusual because she has a few patients in bariatrics; but a lot of dr's don't know diddly about it. I'm wishing you the best of luck, I know you will get it straightened out! Sometimes the beaurocracy can be so frustrating, I know. Persevere!

Yes Kaiser is a mysterious land unto itself!!  I really liked it at first - but now not so sure what I think.  My PCP has supposedly started the appeal process - I'll try to find out more tomorrow.

Hi Suzy-

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles with your PCP and the whole insurance switch.

It sounds like you are still early out from your gallbladder surgery.  I would say give your body some more time to heal and take things slow.  Our bodies are sensitive and gall bladder surgery is a major operation on your body.  Regarding the nausea problems have you tried other avenues (immediate care etc..) or even talking to your pharmacist about meds to help the nausea?

Have you considered speaking to the local bariatric program that you want to follow up with and getting information on follow-up appointments regarding cost factors if you have to be a self-pay patient.  You might also ask if there are ways they can code things to have it covered by insurance.  Have you tried calling the insurance company yourself to verify what you were told by your PCP regarding no follow-up coverage and asked for your plan documents in writing so you can see the verbiage?

We need to get you back to feeling good and getting in your protein and keeping hydrated.  Speaking from experience dehydration can cause nausea and can be a contributing factor to you feeling worse.  Have you tried different types of protein drinks example: whey proteins with soy milk verses non-fat milk?  Something that is not milk based at all?  Could you be lactose intolerant? That is something else that can cause nausea.  Our bodies all respond to dehydration differently.  If that is an issue for you since you haven't been getting things in you may need to get some fluids through an IV.

If there are other issues going on (again speaking from my personal experience) you may need to have and endoscopy to look at your pouch.  Not sure how all of that would relate with your insurance company and if it can be covered as a routine procedure rather than something specifically related to Bariatrics since you have no bariatric coverage..  Just something to think about when you do find someone to follow up with.

I would encourage you to search for a new PCP and find one who will listen/hear what you are saying and one that is willing to give you some follow-up care post operatively. I know that's not an easy process but stay on it and find one you are comfortable with.

Have you tried contacting your original bariatric program or the one in your area to see if they have a means of referring you to PCPs close to home?  I know my bariatric program has a list of PCP's in the immediate area who they have built relationships with and therefore refer between each other. 

I hope some of this is making sense.  I'm throwing out a lot of ideas and I'm not sure if you've already tried any of them.  I know how frustrating/overwhelming it can be at times.

Let us know if there is anything we can do to help!  Think positive things will get better :)

Hi Trac!

I do have a scrip for Ondansetron - and I am starting to take it first thing in the morning.  I was forgetting I had it (stupid me) ....so I took it today and I still had some nausea. 

Great idea about contacting the bariatric dept for self pay.  That thought had crossed my mind and I think I will call the dr that has been suggested to me (not in the Kaiser network but will accept other surgeon's patients) the surgeon IN the Kaiser network does not accept other surgeon's patients..so even IF my appeal gets approved - I might still be out of luck eh?

I have not tried soy milk, but it's something I've been thinking that I should try out.  I was also directed to a website that has LOTS of different samples.  Going to order some.  Also I guess I could try to add just a TBS of powder to a smoothie - better than nothing right?  The entire scoop..ugh!!!!!

I wish I could get scoped to see if there's something else going down there.  I am going to suggest it to my PCP and see if he can help me out there.  As far as my original surgeon helping out - he's in Michigan - I am down here in GA.  I saw him before I left and I asked if could point me in the direction of anyone and unfortunately he doesn't know of anyone down here.  So I am on my own. 

So wish me luck.  I want to get this resolved and get on with my life.   Thank you so much for replying to me!!

Hi Suzy,
I am so sorry about your nausea! I had to take some anti-nausea pills for a while, they helped me. I know there are several kinds so maybe if the one you have isn't helpful, maybe another one will.
I am concerned about your protein comment. You have got to have the protein. Right after surgery I could not tolerate much but found a little pouch drinks from a local store that were in fruit flavors and I tolerated them well, they are 70 cal and 15 g protein. If you message me an address I will send you some samples of them I have left. They mix up like crystal light.

It is early from your gall bladders surgery so don't give up hope yet. It can take several months for your body to adjust to your gall bladder being gone. It has to relearn how to deal with things. I am confident you will see some improvement with time.

Let me know how you are. I will send those packets right away if you want to try them, they were a life saver for me!

Hi There!!

I am a bit better the last couple of days.  I have been taking my nausea pill first thing in the morning.  Today my tummy is feeling "iffy"  ugh.  But overall I think I will survive.........

SO your protein drinks are powder??  What is the brand??  Sounds interesting......

Sorry Suzy, I've been out of town. The drinks are powder, they come in individual pouches and in a variety of fruit flavors. I get them form :Healthy Weight Supermarket" in Springfield Missouir. I am at work and for the life of me cannot remember the brand name. Healthy weight has a web site if you want to look it up. I will send you a couple to try before you invest in them if you would like. Let me know.
I am glad to hear you are feeling some better! Hang in there. (that quote cracks me up these days...like what choice do we have but to hang in there!)
Cheryl