Our support group wasn't well attended last night but we were able to help a fellow out that was 3 months post-op. I think he has way too many doctors and dietitians, so he's not sure who to listen to. Of course, we patients chimed in to confuse him even more.   

He's a LW but had several comorbidities going in to his DS surgery. Now his insurance company wants to deny his labs and "see" results of his diabetes treatment, etc. lol  He doesn't have diabetes any longer not because the treatments the insurance company agrees to pay for were working at all.... Anyway, his PCP took our surgeon's lab script and copied it over under her name so they would be covered by insurance for his treatment of diabetes. What a nut roll!  

Anyway, the dietitian is looking for ideas to serve as topics for future support group meetings. Any ideas?  I think she decided to have a protein shake tasting next month but we're not coming up with a lot of new ideas and need some help. Thanks.

--gina
 

Gina, did his insurance pay for his surgery?  If they did, I don't know how they can not pay for the follow-up.  Mine paid for my surgery but last January stopped paying for WLS, I was so afraid they would stop paying for my labs and follow-ups, but someone I know went for their 2 year check and they paid without a problem and they have already paid for my labs for my 3 year appointment.  So even though they are no longer paying for WLS, they are continuing to pay for the follow up care for the ones that had it under them.  I don't know if they would pay for follow-up if they did not cover the surgery though.

Has she done Vitamins?  Exercise? Plastics?  Maybe a low-carb meal tasting and everyone brings a covered dish with the recipes. 

Got to get to work.  I really need to get some things done today!! 

Hope everyone has a great day.

Linda

My best to him! I hope they get all the crap figured out so he can get on with his life.
Maybe she could bake a crustless quiche and bring in recipes or have everyone bring in their favorite DS friendly recipe. I say make her feed you! LOL

Can you write which topic were already covered so we don't repeat? Also some topics are worth repeating after some time has passed.
Topic ideas:
Eating at a restaurant or family/work event and managing choosing what/how to eat without hurting our newly arranged bodies.
Vitamins/importance of regular blood tests and their meanings--to not only rely on our GP or dietician to say everything is okay. We need to keep on top of our blood test results either in Excell or a file to monitor if GD Forbid a number changes we can more rectify the situation with a tweak here or there.
Discussion on vitamin and food shopping for where there good sakes on quality items. I'm sure people come from more than one area and hearing about a sale on CaCitrate or protein powder might be a real budget breaker.
Mikimi in Israel

Thanks, guys. Background on the patient with insurance issues...his insurance picked up bits and pieces of his pre-op tests but he was self-pay. He's used to the Canadian system so all this insurance hoop jumping crap we deal with is blowing his mind.

Thanks for the support group ideas. Some good ones here that I'll pass along. :)

--g

Glad to hear that his PCP was willing to work something out so he could get his labs.  My PCP also took the list of labs from the Vitalady list you sent me and put his name on it.  They have never once questioned it.

 I am not in a support group and wish that I was.  Anyone in Indy want to start a support group with me?

1.  I would love a class that covers high protein, low or no carb snacks.  

I do well at my 3 meals but I do snack because of low blood sugar.  It's always a stretch for me to find easy, delicious snacks that are low carb.  I want to reach for the chex mix or other non healthy snacks.  I want to hear from eveyone who has a great snack idea.  Although I love the bars, I stay away from them because I tend to gain weight when I eat them and they call my name from the pantry.  I'm on a cottage cheese kick lately.  It's not the most convenient when on the go though.

2.  I would love a class in breaking the body dismorphia phase that I am in.  

There must be some helpful ways of getting beyond this.  At one and a half years out I still have no idea of how small I am.  I wear a size 2 or a 4 but still think of myslef as large.

3.  I want a class in meditation.  I think it would be very helpful to be able to clear my head when I am having head hunger.

4. I want a class in understanding suppliments.  I still struggle with this.  There is so much to know about what to take and when.  Also in recogonizing a quality suppliment.  

5.   I want a class in reading and understanding labs.  

Okay I could go on.  Wish I could go to school to become a nutritionist and specialize with sleeve patients.  I need to quit talking about it and just do it.  I always wanted to be a nutritionist but thought, "who would want to go to a fat nutritionist?"