Kristina J.

Well here's what happens when a hospital charges. They send a bill with all their costs (I've heard of as high as 80-90K for this surgery!!! Then, the insurance company applies their negotiated contractual "caps" or "limits." So, for example, my hysterectomy bill came in around $37K, my insurance capped it with their negotiated pricing at $18K and paid a total of $17,500 leaving me with my $500 deductible. Does that make sense?? So, if you call just an average hospital and ask their "self pay cost" they are going to give you that top number... In the example of my hysterectomy, $37K. However, if you call a hospital or surgical team that specifically provides self pay options, generally they are more in line with the insurance pricing! So they may be quoting you $46K, but would only charge insurance $25K. And it's based on THAT pricing that the average self pay in the US is closer to $20-25K. Though some places have streamlined the process and have their cost as low as $10K or so for self pay (a lot to do with the cheaper Mexico competition), even in the US. Whew... You ladies with me?? Lol

Self pay if you went to Mexico (there is a lot of information on the self pay/Mexico board) is generally anywhere from $4-9K depending on location and surgeon. Most people seem to average around $5K. The best I've seen for self pay in the US was around $10K, so if you're not comfortable going to MX then there are self pay options in the US, and though you would likely still have to travel, it's not out of the country. They're more expensive than MX, but nowhere near the $44K mentioned. My insurance (expensive and usually great insurance) doesn't cover ANY bariatric at all. I chose Mexico because the hospital is 45 minutes from my parents house in San Diego and I am more confident in this doctors experience with lap band to sleeve revisions than the self pay doctors I talked to in my area (and he was much less expensive than my area as well obviously).

Congratulations!!!!! Your incisions look awesome. Get some rest... You'll have to start walking soon!

Your grandbaby is ADORABLE!!! I would want to take her with me wherever I went too!! Lol I have been reading a lot about this too, leading up to my surgery, since I am a stay at home mom to two toddlers! My 3 year old won't need to be lifted as she's old enough to understand that I "have an owie" and can't pick her up, but my 1 1/2 year old is still not talking much, even for her age, and just won't understand why I won't pick her up!! And they're each around 30lbs give or take. I have had quite a few surgeries and understand the importance of not lifting while recovering, but I will definitely have to ask my surgeon about his recommendation given my situation! I grew up in San Diego and am having my surgery in MX, so when I return to SD I will have PLENTY of help ... BUT... at home in Arizona, I won't have someone else home, since my husband won't be off the whole 6 weeks, I would need to stay in SD to have the help instead of coming home to Phoenix! I know I'll be aching to get home, but there's no way to get around lifting the baby in and out the crib for nap time and bedtime!! :-/ Ack... hoping there is some lenience if I lift carefully, minimally or in a certain way after maybe 4 weeks or so! Really don't want to be away from home for 6 weeks!! Lol but... if its what I have do to be careful and get healthy for these kids (and myself of course)... So be it!!! My parents and grandparents would be ecstatic if I had to stay the whole time! Haha

So, I wanna clear a couple things up after re-reading this thread and my post, after being humbled by a few of my favorite vets posts! I've publicly expressed my forum crush on Pdx before! And I want to be Antiband! Lol Every time this topic comes up, it takes the same course (I still don't know why I posted lol I should have know it would go on forever and to move along lol). The only real answer is that everyone is going to find their own level of comfort with what they want to say and why!! Yes, I am an open book but only because I'm that way with everything!! I am sure I don't value privacy as much as I should. Probably a product of my social media generation! Lol And others don't feel like its anyone's business!! And I don't think any of us have a right to judge each others decisions!! Had I not started out by telling everyone about my lap band, I don't know how I would feel this time around. And it is a whole lot easier for me to be open about it as a stay at home mom, since all my contacts are family or friends and not co-workers! Co-workers can be a very tricky situation with ANY personal information! After re-reading the OP (and admittedly, part of my post), it is pretty insensitive. And I think the part of my post saying I felt mean not telling my overweight friends could probably be edited for some sensitivity. These are very close friends that I have dieted and struggled with in a very open way for years. Changing my process with THOSE people and doing it privately, given our established weight loss "team" mentality seems unfair to me. But I don't feel like I would need to explain myself to every other overweight person I know! I hope that makes a little more sense. There a lot of reasons people choose not to tell people and just because they don't doesn't make them "liars" and certainly doesn't automatically mean they're ashamed or embarrassed!! My sister had WLS last year, and would be just as upset about that coming out as she would about her fertility issues. She is ashamed of neither, but is my polar opposite when it comes to personal privacy! As in, she actually values it!! Lol I am trying to find a happy medium between her and myself. I over share! Lol I don't necessarily think sharing means we are self centered. But maybe that was a counter point to being called selfish, and I get that. I share with those who want to know and don't talk about it at all with those who don't care. But I definitely don't think that not telling makes anyone a liar or selfish, and I'm sorry if my post implied that!!

I tell everyone, just as I did when I had my lap band placed. In fact, this has been easier since all I have to tell people is that I'm revising it, or if they're not familiar with WLS I say I'm getting it fixed. My biggest motivation in telling the truth has been that I have quite a few people in my life that also struggle with their weight. I felt like if I said something like "I am just eating smaller portions or healthier foods and working out," it would lead them to feel like I had just succeeded where they were failing still, and that just felt mean to me. I also know how hard this is, I've been through a WLS surgery before, and I know that the more people around me that understand what I'm doing and why, the more support and accountability I'll have as I move forward. Yes, there are some negative people, but my confidence in my decision and my need to be healthy far outweighs that. But I also understand not everyone is comfortable telling people. To each their own.

They didn't. They weren't home when it happened and the dog was apparently just loose. The neighbors called 911 during the attack, and afterwards, authorities took the dog because it had a bite record with animal control. I can only assume the owners know now, but I doubt we'd ever hear from them. It was a strangers dog, about 30 miles from my parents home. Luckily Dad is doing great though... Minus that finger! Lol

Congrats John! That's exciting news!! I'm finally ditching my band after 10 years in May!! I had prolapse issues twice. I chose to unfill and refill once, but once it happened again, I decided I was done. I haven't had much success at all since replacing my band in 2006. I think you made a wonderful choice. The reality is, you would likely end up anyway, as prolapse generally becomes a repetitive problem!! Have you discussed a surgery date yet?! There are quite a few band to sleeve revisions around here and I have yet to hear one person say they didn't have more success and feel better after revising!!

Congratulations!!! That is so exciting!!! Keep us updated!!!

100% agree BTB!! I have a pinched nerve condition in my chest/arms that generally effects 2 types of people, people who spend a lot of time typing, and athletes... But for me? It's because I'm fat! Lol The ortho doesn't even want to consider our options until I can lose 50-100lbs. It's not a condition only attributed to weight, why does mine automatically have to be?!? Now, I hope it is and it goes away as I lose, but I'll still be annoyed that I was given no other options simply because I'm overweight! As much as I want it to go away, not gonna lie... I would get some sick satisfaction out of heading into his office 100lbs lighter with the same symptoms! How insane is that? Lol So I guess it goes to show, even with a very supportive primary doc, there are plenty of docs left to judge me for my weight and choices!

Sounds normal as long as it doesn't start getting warm to the touch or have an odor!! I had that happen with my c-section incision with my last daughter! I thought my stomach was gonna rip open lol But after a few days, it healed up perfectly fine!! Keep it really clean and definitely contact your doc/coordinator to run it by them! Hope you feel better soon!

I've had to get all my meds in liquid for years from this stupid lap band! lol And most meds have a liquid version (I haven't had an antibiotic yet that didn't), but some of them do taste just as nasty as crushing a pill!! Lol BUT, If you get the liquid, many pharmacies will flavor it for you and it takes the harshest part of the medicine taste away. If your pharmacy doesn't do it, I believe it's Walgreens that will flavor any liquid prescription for you for like $3!! So hoping that once I'm sleeved, and recover, I won't have to worry about needing every med in liquid form anymore! I compete with my kids for their liquid Tylenol!! lol

But it made me laugh when I saw this thread after all that. I told him that the OP was hungry enough to eat a dog on the liquid diet and he said normally he'd say, "heavens no"... Today he might just be willing to serve one up! Lol (kidding of course lol)

Yeah, luckily they were able to patch him up last night well enough that he could go home around midnight. Poor guy had to have some bone removed from his finger so they could close it up. He's definitely lost that part of his finger, but he's seeing the specialist today to determine if he'll need surgery or just a little more bone cut off for functionality. He had a really good attitude about it though and is cracking jokes like usual Just a crazy crazy day!! Lol We've nicknamed him Alpo

That's great news!! I'm happy for you. I know you really didn't want it and you stood up for yourself. That's something to be proud of! And just because you don't have the filter doesn't mean you have to be susceptible to clots. They can still use injectable blood thinners. That's what I'm doing for my revision, even with a clot history. They aren't bad at all. Just a very very thin tiny needle injection in the tummy once a day for a couple days after surgery. I've done that for quite a few surgeries now (gallbladder, band removal, band replacement, 2 c-sections and hysterectomy) and the only problem I had was after my 2nd pregnancy, but the clot was pregnancy related (and I have now, 3 elevated clotting blood factors) and could have been avoided if I stayed on injection thinners when I got home, had we retested my clotting factors like we should have! I have faith that you'll be just fine. This is the beginning of a wonderful journey for you and it says a lot about how seriously you're taking your health that you stood up for yourself and even presented the doc with studies to back it up. With that attitude and determination, I just know you'll have soaring success!!! Good luck!! I'm not on lap band talk much since I'm revising to the sleeve and spend most of my time on the sleeve talk site, but I would love to hear how you do!! If you update this thread as you go, I'll be notified and can keep up with your journey, if you don't mind!

I'm fairly lucky in that my PCP has actually had WLS himself. I've only been seeing him for about 4 years but we've dealt with so many of my weight related issues in that time, one of them pretty severe. When I told him that I was considering a revision in Mexico due to ins having a bariatric exclusion, he was incredibly supportive. He has seen me struggle with the band and knows the power of WLS for himself. He's also had patients before me go and be very successful, so that helps his attitude about it too! He has been great, he even acknowledged that US doctors have a superiority complex over other countries doctors! Lol I would suggest finding a new doctor. I know few docs are 100% behind the decision to go out of the country, even if its your only option, but you shouldn't feel like you need to defend your decision to get healthy to your doctor. You need someone you can trust and won't hesitate to be honest with at all times!!

I would definitely talk to the doc about your thyroid. It didn't take but 30 pounds or so until my dad had to adjust his medicine after WLS! Good luck!!

Chopz, I am so excited for you to take this step!! I know the fear and the anxiety is a big brick wall, but your life will be so much better!!! And, I'm getting sleeved on May 11th!! Looking forward to watching you progress!!! Keep us updated!!!

Agree with all the above posts, but wanted to clarify that you actually can revise a gastric bypass to a duodenal switch, and most patients are successful after revision. With that said, I would go sleeve too. I watched my Dad's gastric bypass fail as he managed to eat right through it. He was 400lbs, went down to 220 and now is back up to 300-320. He isn't the only one I know either :-/ I actually know about the revision option because of others in his support group that have or are revising after regaining. Not that regain can't happen with other surgeries, but bypass seems to easily stretch and accommodate poor eating habits for weight regain. And that's not even getting into the malabsorption issues, of which he had plenty as well. Overall, the sleeve just seems to be a safer choice. Good luck!!!

A dog tried to eat my dad today... Does that count? Lol I'm so not even joking either! Made off with part of his finger!! Crazy day... Funny timing to run into this thread, but it definitely made me giggle!

I had two babies after my lap band surgery, and both were c-sections, though I don't think WLS had anything to do with it at all. My first daughter was sideways, so after 23 hours of labor with her banging her sideways head on my pelvic bone, it was time for her to come out and quickly. Lol My second daughter we just scheduled a c-section because I felt comfortable just going that route again (I found the whole process really easy, minus the 23 hours of labor before lol). My second daughter was breech so it would have likely been a c-section anyway. But I don't believe WLS had any bearing on either delivery.

When I had a hysterectomy earlier this year, in the states, I could see an operation going on as I was wheeled into my OR. In my case it was a large window in the door. Had I been walking and not in a bed, I probably could have seen everything! lol it seems bizarre, but I've had that here in the states too. I think it's the design of older hospitals. The newer hospitals I've been to here, I couldn't see a thing.

Jay, you're the BEST!!! I love reading everyone's MX trip experiences to help get ready for mine, but yours is a favorite of mine so far. Just enough detail, helpful pics and I appreciate how you included the annoyances, but kept it all in perspective too I've been through Medical Tourism before (in India actually), so I feel a little more prepared than perhaps the average first timer, but that certainly doesn't mean I'm anxiety free!! Other countries can be behind our home countries in technology and cosmetics, and it's good to know that going in. Really threw me for a loop the first time! But I love how you focused on the staff and the care you received, because once the I initial culture shock wears off, that's what really matters!!! Your hospital, doc and hotel are all the same as mine, and just 2 months ahead, so your experience is of optimal help to me, as I know it will be for quite a few others here. Sometimes it feels like we're all waiting in line in this section of the forum, asking people who got off the ride how it was! I really hope I can provide people with the same help after my visit, but I'm with you, I admire all the people who post so actively from the hospital and hotel... I can't imagine I'm going to want to chat it up just yet! Lol But we shall see!! Thanks again for such a helpful and detailed post. Your texts with your wife remind me of my husband... too funny!!