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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 Marrilee!  I love you name! I secretly always wanted a Ferret but I've got so many cats and a dog that I'm full up.  Congrats on your upcoming date!! Too bad they couldn't make it 10/10/10!!  Please feel free to jump in and join the conversation.
hugs, Y

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!

My name is Marrilee. My surgery is 10/11/10. I look forward to hearing all of your stories.

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.