GassyGurl

Each insurance is different. The best thing is to directly ask your coordinator and insurance company directly.

I have fepblue and was told to not drop below 35, which shucked because I was 35.6. But there are plenty of others here who had no issues.

Best wishes!

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My husband I are long term sufferers. It's awful and I hope you feel better soon.

My husband gets relief from lysine. For me, massive doses of Vitamin C work.

If you have a good dentist, see if they can help. They have a magic potion that will instantly cauterize and totally get rid of the pain. Debacterol is the name. Hurts like heck, but only for a few seconds.

Many pharmacies also have a magic mouthwash. I think you need a rx, but they will mix it up and some find relief.

Hope you feel better soon! (recovering from 4 myself)

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I lost 22 lbs with it in a year. I never had that blissful feeling from eating. Or drinking, I never once even had a buzz from a drink. But it also killed my sex drive.

Once I stopped, the weight came back, and now I'm pre op. But I do think it permanently rewired some of the food /reward centers in my brain.

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The 2016 and 2017 basic option standard benefit clearly says 3 months. Have you tried logging into your fepblue account to send them a secure message? They're great about answering quickly. It sounds like they made a mistake.

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Has anyone backed out of their surgery due to NSAID being prohibited after?

I have lots of joint pain, most of which will be helped by weight loss. However, I doubt weight loss will help the bone spurs causing pain with my finger joints. There is also signs of rheumatoid arthritis, but it is better with naproxen. Based on testing, I assume the rheumatoid swelling will be back when I stop the naproxen.

My 1st surgeon said celebrex was OK, but I had to leave him due to their Cash price being too much.

New Dr, says no NSAID ever. Doesn't offer alternatives.

Now, I'm confused. One minute I feel like I should cancel the whole sleeve surgery because the thought of hand pain for life scares me. It's bearable on NSAID, awful without. I feel like my choices are fat, (and everything that comes with) and somewhat pain free, or thinner and healthier, in pain.

Should I do the sleeve anyways, then go back to the rheumatology doc and reevaluate? I admit, I don't know how many plan B options there are, other than what I found on Google. But surely I am not doomed for the rest of my life, right?

Or Find another dr who allows celebrex/NSAID? If I go this route, are there tests or anything we can do to ensure I'm not getting an ulcer?

There is always hope for future arthritis treatment too. Who knows what they'll be able to do in a few years.

What would you do? (I've asked doc, they just say no NSAID, ever). I guess I'm worried about trading one problem (fat) for another (pain).

Am I over thinking it?

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My insurance would have disqualified me if I dropped below. That's part of the reason I switched to self pay. I couldn't bear the thought of keeping my weight on (my highest ever) for 4 months.

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51 minutes ago, Dixie02 said:

Dr tagger is still running that special ? I didn't see it on his website . Wow I'm also low BMI which is 32 and originally going to Mexico due to the outrages prices I get here in the US. If I can get the same deal I might just switch over.

I just booked yesterday so I'm sure he is. I had great results emailing them, I heard back like next day, got a consult within a week and booked yesterday. I haven't put anything down yet, partial payment due 2 weeks prior to surgery, then the rest the day of.

BTW, there are some differences between him and Dr wizman. I think Dr wizman uses two facilities and offers BLIS insurance. Dr Taggar only uses coral springs medical center and doesn't offer BLIS.

I would have been happy with either, I think.

I got my date today! August 11th. I live in SC but am going to FL to see Dr Taggar, about 10 hours away.

I'm low bmi, and I tried to go the insurance route, but it didn't work out, so I'm now self pay ($8899). I have really high BP, cholesterol and arthritis. I am definitely not a healthy fat person! I'm an unhealthy "not that fat" person (as some love to say). And I look forward to changing my relationship with food.

I have a ton of work to do, online psych evaluation, visit my PCP for EKG, blood work and clearance. Oh, and do a pre op nutrition class via Facebook live.

No real pre op diet, but I've been doing shakes a few times a day for over a month. I will probably do my own liquid diet a few days ahead of time. I've lost 10# so far.

HW 195
CW 185
SW TBD
GW TBD (Dr said 130, but that sounds impossible to me!)
5'2".

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My Dr doesn't do one. He just does the air test in the OR.

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Please keep us posted! The reason I'm doing the self pay route is because one of my 3 years bmi is under 35. Both the insurance company and surgeon both said I'd be denied. I didn't even want to risk it, because my surgeons self pay rate was $18,000. I just chose another surgeon with a better self pay rate.

I hope you're approved!

My friend swears by cauliflower rice. You can make it, or buy it in a steamer bag in the frozen section. Seems to be a hot item nowadays.

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really that's an awesome deal . does that include a night stay at the hospital or is it out patient

i wouldn't want my stomach back but i guess it's the thought of getting rid of body parts i can never get back in case something else goes wrong. i felt the same way when i got my knee replaced. the new fake one is way better but five years out it still freaks me out that my real knee is gone forever. i know that's weird but i'm afraid of turning into darth vader. more machine than woman. having the foreign lap band inside me doesn't bother me. i think i'm afraid of getting cancer and needing my digestive system back or something. but losing the weight will make my cancer risk lower

How many of ya'll traveled for surgery? How did all of that work (compared to going to Mexico). Was it out patient? How many days before /after? Etc....

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Has anyone that's gone to Mexico for Bariatric surgery had any issues with your security office traveling out of the country for medical reasons?

We have to fill out a pre travel form detailing flights, contacts with foreign nationals, hotels, etc and then do a debrief when we return.

The form is simple enough, but I'm wondering what other folks have experienced with a government job and Medical Tourism.

Thanks!

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I don't have medicaid either, but make sure you understand if your policy has a weight history requirement. Mine requires 2 years above 35 Bmi, with no dropping below. I was 35 in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017. Since I was slightly below during 2016, they wouldn't cover me.

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The best cash prices are going to be Mexic. Other than that, I've seen $8899 with Dr wizman in FL, $9995 in Charlotte and 10kish in Vegas. These are for the sleeve. Some places also fix a hernia via insurance and charge a smaller (5kish) amount for the sleeve.
Hope this helps!

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For me, I think I have sort of been in denial. I thought I had only hit my high weight twice, 2015 and now. Plus, I thought my HBP has only been for a year or so. Looking back at records, I Originally hit my high weight back in 2013, and my HBP has been longer than I remembered. Crap!

I used to think "I'm not that fat", but now I have begun to realize that i really am, and have been, for a while. The pain, the medications and research are opening my eyes. My Dr told me once your BP goes that high, the damage is done. And that sort of scared me into action.

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I am embarrassed that I can't do it on my own. I'm successful at everything else, but I've never been successful with my weight. You're not alone!

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It depends. I have fepblue and they will not treat a claim for complications any differently based on where the surgery was performed, whether they paid for the surgery, etc. Can you send your company a secure message?

Each policy is different. There are people here who have been told complications aren't covered, but then there are those of us who said they are.

You can also buy a post op complication policy that covers a certain amount for a certain period of time. So if you get a blood clot, stricture, leak, they reimburse you for those.

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So I've read a few stories of people who have a hernia repair paid for by insurance, but pay cash for the sleeve. The overall price seems to be drastically reduced vs the full self pay price.

Dr's around here (SC) have never heard of this. What's the norm? Any experience on finding someone who does this? Can you share your experience?

I'm approved for Mexico, but figured this is worth a quick investigation.

Thanks!

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BTW, I'm still researching myself. I'm trying to go to Mexico.

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Dr Taggar in Florida is currently $8899.

Dr umbach in Vegas is around 10k.

Dr Borland in Louisiana is $9800.

Roper in Charleston, SC is $18,500

There is a big practice around Charlotte that was advertising $9995.

Dr Kim in Texas is a good deal too, and seems to advertise a good deal if you have a hiatal hernia and insurance.

Hope this helps!

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Dr. Illan starts his Surgeries after 2.p.m. and usually Ladies first (He is such a Gentleman). I Promise this will be the Best Decision you have ever made. I was so impressed that if time allows I will never have Surgery in the States again.

Marinagirl makes a good point. My insurance and book reads "2 year history of over 35 Bmi.". I've seen some people say they submitted one weight per year to quoalify. My insurance company (fepblue) told me that I had to be above 35 the entire 2 years (I couldn't do). Dropping below disqualified me. Also, I wouldn't be allowed to drop below 35 during the 3 months supervised diet. There was no way I could do that!

One thing that I've learned here is the insurance requirements are all over the place.

Another thing some people do is have a hernia repair or gallbladder removal and vsg at the same time. Insurance covers a portion and they pay cash for the sleeve.