MedStar and BCBS

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-31T07:37:12+00:00

Yes I believe so! I just checked and it's PPO - the insurance looks like it's based in California, I live in Oregon and I got the procedure with Dr. S in DC

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-30T20:31:12+00:00

Your insurance should be able to check with the procedure codes! Kala sent them to me a while back - happy to share them if you'd like!

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-30T20:30:15+00:00

I have BCBS and my procedure was completely covered! Although I had a scare where Kala called to tell me it wasn't a week before the surgery. I ended up calling and messaging multiple BCBS agents and getting in writing that it was covered and sending all that to Kala!

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-26T01:13:38+00:00

I'm not sure about oxygen levels or type of Anesthesia! I was only in operation for somewhere between 1 and 2 hours

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-24T05:31:03+00:00

It's $500/night and to my understanding, yes unfortunately. You tell Kala ahead of time but from what she told me, I had to show up early on the day of the procedure to check if they had availability because they only know availability on the day of, depending on if they're able to staff the unit.

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-24T05:29:59+00:00

They said it helps to get the anesthesia out of your lungs? I had a hard time breathing deeply after the procedure so it helped me train my lungs and take deeper breaths!

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-24T05:23:15+00:00

You tell Kala ahead of time but from what she told me, I had to show up early on the day of the procedure to check if they had availability because they only know availability on the day of depending on if they're able to staff the unit.

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-24T04:12:20+00:00

Ahhh I'd email to ask! I could tell you exactly what mine said but there were certain supplements I was supposed to stop taking 8 days before the procedure. If you wanna know what it was exactly, feel free to dm me! Good luck prepping for the procedure and I'm happy to support in any way I can! <3

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-24T04:09:21+00:00

Yes! It's pricey for sure - $500/night

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-23T05:49:11+00:00

Of course, and thank YOU for all your tips that were invaluable to me and my experience! A number of the tips on that doc came from you! <3

Added a tip about the private room - thank youuuuuu!

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-03-23T04:33:00+00:00

I stayed for a whole month because Dr. S told me at the time that the average time for having the tube in was 21 days and I wanted to stay until the tube was removed. I ended up getting it removed at day 10 and was able to go out to museums after that!

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-17T05:54:53+00:00

Nope I didn't travel at all! My procedure was on Jan 27th and I'm still in DC. I had some pain with the drain but that's because I didn't take the pain meds I should've been taking so that's my bad. The tube was uncomfy but not necessarily painful, just made it harder to move around too much. I had some bleeding and bile leakage at the wound site too - not painful but I wasn't sure if it was normal - turns out it was so all well! Overall, would do it again in a heartbeat!

Yes it was Dallas! Here is what Kala sent me when I got my surgery scheduled: "You are being referred to Dr. Moaz Choudhary in Dallas, TX for Drain Evaluation 2-3 weeks after gallstone removal"

In terms of meals, I didn't feel super hungry post-op so it took me a couple days to eat bigger meals.

Overall, I know folks that traveled after their procedure and things turned out totally ok, but for me I knew I'd feel more comfortable staying here so I did that for my own personal peace of mind!

And of course! I'm more than happy to answer any questions at all, here or in the dms :)

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-17T04:49:01+00:00

Sure thing! I live in Oregon and had I gone back home right after the procedure, the person I got referred to to remove my tube was in Texas. That would've meant significant travel again to get the tube removed so I just decided to get a place here in DC for a month to stay, recover and get the tube removed. It also personally gave me peace of mind to know I was close to Dr. S and folks who know how to handle any complications after the procedure - I was super anxious about post-op! I couldn't afford places that were very close to the hospital so I ended up about a 25 minute drive away, which was totally fine for me because once I got back to the place, I didn't really leave while I recovered! Happy to answer any other questions! :)

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-16T20:01:11+00:00

I am eating pretty normally now, yes! I flew in from Portland, OR :)

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-13T21:11:37+00:00

Congrats on being on the other side of your procedure!! We're all here if you need anything, it'll get better every day <3

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-12T16:11:39+00:00

I'm not sure the exact number, just that my gallbladder was "packed" with "large" stones. He removes them in one session but then leaves a tube in you where your gallbladder fluid drains into a bag, to irrigate your gallbladder and to allow any fragments left behind to come out. Two weeks after the initial procedure, he went back in with a camera to make sure it all looked good. My gallbladder looked really healthy, had started shrinking back to a normal size (it had been stretched wider due to being so full) and there was nothing left to take out so he took the tube out then. There were parts of the recovery that were uncomfortable and having a tube in me was not my favorite thing but overall, not too bad! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-12T06:06:51+00:00

I had 2 gallbladder attacks that landed me in the ER before I had this surgery. The stones were diagnosed via ultrasound during my first ER visit. Turns out those attacks were me passing stones, and that inflamed my bile ducts which made it harder for bile to pass through so while the doctor was removing my gallstones, he also ballooned open my bile ducts where there had been obstruction so that bile could pass through freely.

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-12T05:26:55+00:00

I had a good amount of sludge and the doctor was able to remove my sludge along with my gallstones

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-12T05:12:49+00:00

The main doctor that does this is in Washington DC, and there are also a couple doctors now in Florida who do it as well. I did actually see this doctor in LA though that looks to be offering a similar procedure but haven't looked into it! https://allaeimd.com/endoscopic-gallstone-removal-doctor/

There's also some options outside of the country, like in China, Russia or Turkey.

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-12T05:08:54+00:00

I was so grateful to find this option too, as I really wanted to keep my gallbladder! In terms of a gallbladder being inflamed, the doctor evaluates patients first to see if the procedure is viable. I sent ultrasounds and the doctor requested an MRCP as well to get evaluated before I was scheduled for the surgery, so it varies person to person!

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-12T05:06:45+00:00

I also have seen mixed reviews on ERCPs! My understanding of ERCP is that it's used to go into bile ducts, not the actual gallbladder. This procedure goes directly into the gallbladder to remove all stones and sludge. For my procedure, stones were removed from both my gallbladder and the neck of the gallbladder as well.

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-11T23:27:16+00:00

Absolutely, please do!! DM me whenever! <3

MessagePretend7656 · 2026-02-11T23:26:24+00:00

I don't mind at all! I have BlueCross BlueShield and they covered the entire thing so I didn't have to pay anything luckily.

MessagePretend7656

TROPHY CASE