shan2321

Hi all! I just got my surgery date: 10/26! I start my pre-op diet 10/12. So excited! I've already stocked up on shakes... if anyone is still in need of some.. CVS has had Jillian Micheals, EAS Myoplex and SlimFast shakes on 75% clearance. I definitely should not run out...lol I got the six packs of slim fast for $1.74 each! Good luck to all!

Personally, I'd choose the lower out of pocket cost (and I want to come to TN! my lowest here is $16,400). I'm optimistic my surgery will work :-) and if something does happen you have that extra $ you saved in the first place to help pay for any isues. Also, I tend to think erosion is over time, so probably wouldn't happen in the first 6, 12, 18 months anyways... Remember, the purpose of an insurance company is to make money (not to pay for services) Good luck!

One seminar I went to the guy had been banded for 5 years and had lost 71 pounds. He also liked the finer things in life like burbon and cigars....lol but has maintained that weight loss though he said he needed to lose more. I guess it all depends on the person and how committed you are to making it work.

I'm still pre-op, but I had my gallbladder removed when my daughter was about 20 months (I think she was around 20lbs then). The first two days were hard with lifting and bending over, but tolerable with some OTC pain meds.... I kept my daughter in bed with me so I wouldn't have to deal with the crib... lol I'd say take advantage of any help that's offered the first few days. My parents came down to see me when I had that surgery and helped a great deal when I got home. I think kids tend to understand when Mommy is hurting too... they might not know why, but at least my daughter tended to be a little more gentle and behaved during that time... Good luck!

Thanks for the awesome advise all! I've gone to the two seminars they offer in town and called up a bunch of other places. Looks like I'm going to go with the local dr and lifeisbeginning... I LOVE your questions! What's seems good about the surgeon I'm choosing is that he answered most (if not all) of those already! Scheduled my one-on-one consult for Thursday 8/25! I even applied online for CareCredit and got an instant $8,800 (18 months no interest yay!) That's a little over half! I'm so excited to get started! Thanks again all!

Ok, I'm in need of some advise... I'm a self pay and I'm trying to figure out who to go to for my surgery... My options so far..... Local surgeon in my hometown - all inclusive with a year's worth of fills and follow up (outpatient) $16,400 initial consult would be my $40 ins co-pay Plastic surgery center 7 hours away - all inclusive and 1 fill (outpatient) $9,000 free consult Mexico - all inclusive $5,000 not sure about consult My gut is telling me the doctor in my hometown but my wallet is telling me the other places..... Thoughts? Others who self pay, what is your determining factor?

That's very helpful. Thank you! Does that price include hospital stay, aenestesia etc? Got a response from my benefits coordinator.... You are correct, this is not covered by CHP, nor is it covered through BCBS. Majority of insurance companies will not cover the surgery anymore even if it is medically necessary. CHP does have free Diabetes Prevention and Weight Management Program for CHP Members. Basically meaning "I don't have an answer and that's just how it is, here's the lame program that they do offer instead that doesn't work" Grrrr..... I'm going to keep asking questions until they can offer a real reason.. and in the meantime I guess I'm just going to have to price out options...

Ok, so I'm scheduled to go to a seminar on Thursday so I figure I'd call my insurance this morning to find out what the process is (because I know they cover the procedure in general). Well the moment I said lap-band and gave her my member #.. she said my group (basically my employer) doesn't cover it! I'm so pissed off right now. Not only do i pay over $400 a month for family coverage, but they think it's better to pay out on all my other issues (diabetes, high cholesterol, had my gallbladder removed, etc.) than offer this one surgery. seriously... B.S. I have an email in with my benefits coordinator to see if there is anything that can be done or if the other insurance my company provides would cover it... so we'll see if anything.... Man, I'm not a foot out of the gate and BAM! Brick wall. How depressing. For those that have financed the surgery, what were your average total costs? What about having done in Mexico? What about those ads you see on the right of the forum screen? All advise would be greatly appreciated. I gave up once, but I have to have this done this time. I have to make it work. TIA

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm in Tallahassee I will definitely be updating on my status. Thanks!

Hi all! noob here :-) Looking at getting banded. I'm 29, 5'6" 228 lbs (37 bmi) with diabetes (type 2), high cholesterol, gallbladder removed due to gallstones, loads of fun stuff.... I briefly looked into bypass in 2006, but then chickened out. At that point I wasn't diabetic, I still wanted to have a child and i was only about 33ish BMI then. After my daughter was born, gestational diabetes turned into type 2 and the weight went up :-P I've done diets before including 6 week body makeover, taking phentermine, atkins, the whole 9..... Since I'm to the point where I'm not looking to have any more kids and my health is deteriorating like crazy (not to mention my mom who is diabetic is fighting with kidney failure, congestive heart failure, gall stones, etc etc.. she's got a laundry list) I figure it's time to start fighting again. I miss being athletic, but with my health as it is, my stamina is shot and it's quite frankly embarrassing. :-( Anyways. Just wanted to say a quick hello. Planning on going to a seminar next Thursday to get this whole thing going again. Hoping that insurance will cover it, haven't talked to them or my primary yet, so I'm REALLY at the start!