HappytobMe

Thanks for your response aelovelady! And congrats on being so close to your goal. I am just waiting for surgery date - will be early Sept and I will be so glad to get started on this journey (although everything really started back in early March with my first informational session!). In some ways, it seemed like everything took such a long time to get to this point. I am sooo ready.

Hi, I am now planning to have surgery in Mexico as a self-pay after being denied twice by insurance. I am wondering what type of medical follow ups are usually needed after gastric bypass? I have a nutritionist at home that specializes in bariatrics so feel that I'm ok there, but what about hands-on medically? Are there any stitches that have to come out etc after returning home? For anyone who chose to go to Mexico, can you please share your post-surgery experiences for follow up care? I will be able to contact my surgeon as needed with any concerns etc, indefinitely and will stay in Mexico for 6 days after the surgery, but I am wondering about any medical things I would need to have done when I return home where I have to be physically present. My US surgeon (before insurance denied me) is not supportive of my decision to go to Mexico, but I feel comfortable with the surgeon and hospital I've chosen - but I think it would be awkward to have to go back to the US surgeon after surgery in Mexico. Thanks so much!

I got denied a second time this week by my insurance. I was on a teleconference with 4 doctors paid by the insurance company to be there, and 3 insurance employees for a half hour. Just a little bit stacked against me, huh!? It was a sham. They said because I had had some success losing weight in the past (20 - 30 lbs) that I "hadn't exhausted all my weight loss options yet." The problem, as everyone here knows, is that if you starve for a bit on a drastic diet, of course you will lose some weight. But I've never come close to losing the weight I need to lose - not even half! I too have a hernia with severe reflux - never thought of asking insurance to cover part of that! I thought it was all or nothing. I'll call my insurance tomorrow. Anything to lower that bill will be helpful and reduce the personal loan we're going to take out for this.

I am in the same situation as you, considering self paying for this. I was rejected last week by insurance as well; just sent in an appeal. I have a BMI of 37, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and severe GERD, and osteoarthritis in both knees. The insurance person called me and said with a BMI of 35 (where did that come from?!) and co-morbidities that weren't "imminently life-threatening" that they would not approve. As an example, they said someone had to be on 3 bp meds and still not have it be controlled...In my appeal I noted that most medical personnel would consider someone 100+ lbs overweight to be in a life-threatening condition, and that obesity is a serious disease with greatly increased risks for heart attack, stroke etc without any other warnings, and that my doctor considered this medically necessary for me. I will go the self pay route and finance it if I have too. I am in upstate NY so costs are especially high, and my doctor gave me a ballpark estimate of $25k. I have had Independent Health for years, and I am praying that the appeal will be approved, but not feeling very positive right now. I've done all the other pre-work, and am just ready to schedule surgery and start my new life!

I was thinking sleeve all the way at first (a simpler operation, less time under anesthesia etc), but my endoscopy came back that I had erosions from gastric reflux. My doctor said that the sleeve can make reflux worse (I believe the stats were as high as 30% having gerd issues after the sleeve) and recommended rny, which actually can improve it. I hadn't even really considered rny at first, but am currently waiting for insurance approval and will go ahead with the rny in August. I also actually like the fact that rny has the very unpleasant "dumping syndrome" if you consume too many sweets - I am a chocoholic and I am glad to basically have this become a non-choice for me - get that right off the table for me! Good luck to you!