okayestmom

Grew up in Northern California, born and raised going to Kaiser. That price is a little disappointing. I am going to Texas Bariatric Specialists surgical center in San Antonio. $9000.00 no insurance. Would be $12 or 13 if I needed to be in the hospital for the surgery. That number is strictly surgery cost and all follow up. Did not cover pre-surgery requirements. If I had kept my work insurance and not kept the VA as my primary my max would have been $7000 and my surgery would have been in a “teaching” hospital with a much lower success rate. My employer only pays half for the insurance (non-profit), so really same as paying out of pocket for me.

The last thing I needed to get my surgery date was a CPAP machine. I decided to go through the VA for this, because they appeared to be pricy. They scheduled me an appointment after I sent my primary physician the results of my at home sleep study conducted through SNAP diagnostic. I paid $375 for the sleep study test which was done over the course of three nights. The VA scheduled me an appointment date that I thought was fairly far out, when I asked about getting an appointment sooner, they advised I had to have a physician appointment in order to receive the equipment. So, I am excited about getting this last little bit done, but I can wait. I get to my appointment and the guy in front of me is asleep, in a wheel chair, and on oxygen. I go to the counter and make sure he is checked in before I check in. As I am waiting in the lobby I witness every other person checking in do the same thing I did. I am feeling good about people and my fellow vets taking care of each other. The nurse (LVN) calls me back for vitals and the standard questions start. I interrupt her and ask, do you really have to ask the same questions for every single visit? She said they have to because so many vets commit suicide. So I answer all her questions without her asking them. No, I am not depressed, suicidal, having trouble at home, in an abusive relationship, or homeless. Next stop Doctor right? Nope, it is another nurse (I think nurse practitioner, but the fine print was too small to read). He spends 10 minutes advising me why SNAP Diagnostics isn't really very good and that their algorithm for determining pressure is outdated. Why they are going to go ahead and provide a VA CPAP even though the VA in-house sleep study is so much better. He then tells me how dangerous it was for my oxygen to go down to 77% for 20 minutes and how I stopped breathing 22 times. I am thinking, I read the report before I gave it to you, I want the machine, you don't have to talk me into it. He then describes how the new machines works and it is pretty cool, they calibrate automatically based on your breathing. Then I am thinking why did you spend all that time telling me about the math problem SNAP uses to calibrate pressure if the machine is going to do it automatically anyway. Then he says, we will see you back in a month or so to get you fitted for your CPAP. Wait, what about my dangerously low oxygen? I really wanted to go off, but instead stated, I thought the reason I had to wait so long was for a physician appointment in order to receive a CPAP. He then advised that this is my physician appointment. I really don't care if they count a nurse practitioner appointment as a physician appointment, but I am thinking to myself I can read and your badge and it does not say Doctor, so someone is lying to me. But alas, I know if I don't stay calm I will not achieve my objectives. So, I explain to him that I will have to pay out of pocket again to re-do labs if I do not receive this CPAP machine. I also tell him that I know I can buy one on amazon or go through the medical supply store that SNAP recommended. He starts telling me why those are both bad ideas and I tell him I have to do what I have to do. He then says he will see if he can get them to double book so I can see the Doctor today. Then he has the gall to say that my appointment will cause other 100% disabled and service connected vets to have to wait longer. So, I sit back out in the lobby feeling a little guilty, when I get called back sooner than expected by a tech who fits me for the machine and goes over all the instructions in less than ten minutes. She was super nice and wished me luck on my surgery. I thanked her for squeezing me in and told her how much money she saved me. So, I will have my surgery date by next week. Since I am not officially on a pre-op diet I am going to have a 97 calorie shot of vodka later to celebrate not losing my sh** at the VA.

Oh my gosh was your husband in desert storm? My husband has cysts on his pancreas and adrenal gland, COPD and messed up ankle that is held together with bolts (the only thing they found service connected). Waiting the 25 years for lawsuit is just not worth it. We have/ had so many service friends with Philadelphia positive leukemia. The ones that are still here went to MD Anderson in Houston. Those counting on the VA are no longer here. The adrenal gland cyst causes him to lose weight, so he has to eat a lot of high calorie stuff. We are an interesting pair...

Thanks to you and your family as well! It is nice for someone to acknowledge that it takes work not lose it .

My insurance through the VA does not cover VSG at all. Mexico would be cheaper, but I am only going as far as San Antonio. We all choose different options based on what is best for us. I had/have a lot of guilt over spending this much money on myself. I know it is the best thing I can do for my health, but still have all those feelings that come with being told obesity is a choice that people make. Well, I did put food in my mouth, but I have lost and gained so many times...I know I need this tool to help me be successful. Sometimes it is harder to ask for help than to do things on your own. I don't think choosing this surgery was an easy decision for anyone with or without insurance. I could go on about the health care system, but I think that would be more appropriate for the rant section.

Frust8, Tell me more about this tibia fracture. I injured my knees while attempting to jog in 2015. X-ray of right knee, stated I needed immediate treatment due to a well oscillated bone. My Dr. and the nurse I saw in orthopedics decided it was congenital. I insisted on the referral to ortho after my Dr. diagnosed my injury as arthritis, it is the VA so I never saw an ortho doc, just the nurse. I know exactly when I hurt myself, but did not hear any popping sounds. Long story short, our bodies do eventually heal without medical intervention. When the swelling improved you can actually see the bone chip. It is about the size of a dime and a quarter inch thick. Plus when my knee is bent there is some change in skin color. Needless to say I have been shaving my legs since the 5th grade, I think I would have noticed if I was born with that. Plus my daughter noticed it when she was visiting and asked when it happened. Admittedly, one knee did not hurt more than the other, they both hurt. They said it was hip knee petella syndrome and my cartilage apparently looked good on the X-ray. At this point it doesn’t hurt, but it took forever to heal and there was no over the counter meds that helped with the pain. I guess I am just always going to wonder what I actually did to myself. Also, now I don’t trust them to tell me if it is safe to run again. I feel they did not recognize how swollen my knees were or give me pain meds because I am fat. Maybe if I know how you mangled yourself I can figure out what I did. Thanks!

You got cool-aid! We had to drink from the hose and don’t come inside until the street lights come on. Seriously the first time I let my kids drink from the hose in front of my husband he almost had a heart attack. He was sure they were going to die of some illness. Never really thought about it since I had done it my entire childhood. Also, if there was an injury DO NOT bleed on the carpet!

That is exactly what my Mom did after her surgery when she was full. Sometimes the hiccup came with a loud burp and other times just the hiccup with a small gagging sound. She had the RNY back in the 90's. This why I am going to be super careful eating out after my surgery. I don't want to be the loud burp in the restaurant!

Thanks for the info and the sources! I do believe I will be saving a few bucks!

I was taking an equate multivitamin and my Dad saw it and said, you know there might not be any vitamins in that. I was like what! He then advised that the FDA does not regulate vitamins, and that he gets his from Costco because they lab test their supplements. I don't have a Costco near me, so I just looked at what brands they sell and switched to Centrum. They sell gummies as well, do you know why your dietitian doesn't approve of gummies?

My whole family has different coordination issues. It takes us longer to put things into muscle memory, but when we do, we tend to excel at it. Don't give up on the jump rope! Just make sure it isn't one of those heavy plastic ones leaving whip marks on your shins...

I believe choosing to do self pay has at a minimum saved me some brain cells. My health care is through the VA, but they do not cover bariatric surgery. Every health complaint I brought forward during routine physicals was met with "you need to lose weight, have you tried our move program?" The move program is an app that is less useful than myfitnesspal (think government tech). My surgeon did require a sleep study, swallow test, nutrition, and psych evaluation. I learned I had sleep apnea, a hiatal hernia, and I am crazy (just kidding about the crazy). Also, I have low vitamin D. My blood pressure is high, but they always retake it and decide it is okay. So, after providing the VA with my sleep study that I paid for, they will be providing a CPAP for me on the 20th. I will get my surgery date after I have the CPAP. The VA also did a portion of the labs (the ones they do at the annual physical anyway). I paid for the rest of the labs. Ultimately, I can't deny their sound medical advice, I do need to lose weight. I just need some help. My Mom had an RNY back in the 90's when it was not that common, she never got skinny, but I believe it prolonged her life. I also believe she would have lived even longer if she was able to get the surgery prior to her multiple health issues. She made it to 72, her Mom only lived to 62. Side note-Mom also served in the military she was in the Women's Army Corp. Joined for the GI Bill only to learn after that the WAC were not eligible for the GI Bill. No worries though, the world keeps changing and I used my GI Bill!

I am sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better soon.

All my blood work was borderline everything bad. The surgeon told me I was making a good choice getting ahead of the problems. I am currently waiting on the VA to give me a CPAP machine so I can get a surgery date. They won't give it to me with out a physician appointment for fitting and what not. They did get me an appointment in a 30 day window, so can't complain. I get it next week and then should have a date. I am so tired of being fat. I am not unwilling to work, I just need a little help.

I hope you are feeling better soon. I have a friend that felt better after two days, that is what I am hoping for after my surgery.

Am I the only one that has their feet go numb on the elliptical after 20 minutes? I thought it would be great because of joint problems, but I do better on the treadmill using arm strength when my knees or shins are hurting. My feet also went numb on the bicycle. Now I am wondering if I am just weird...

Way to go!!! Keep the posts coming so we know we can keep going too. Not as impressive as yours, but made my circles on the Apple Watch my kids gave me. I chose intermediate on exercise.

Not crazy at all, a gained weight after my first appointment to get the sleeve. Then I got serious after answering all those psych questions. Plus my clothes hurt, but I didn’t want to buy a bigger size. I gave all my medium size shirts to my daughter, but still have my smaller size jeans and work pants because I am shorter than her. My smaller size stuff is cuter and I am excited to wear it again one day...I am one pound away from my weight at my first appointment now.

Recent Events-I was 217 at my initial appointment in February, I did some celebration eating...As I learned more about the process and filled out the 5 million psychiatric questionnaires at my last appointment I realized I needed to get my stuff together or this surgery isn't going to help me. I work at a school and lost 20lbs over the summer with a personal trainer twice a week. I gained it all back plus some after school started. When the weight gain started getting serious is when my husband got COPD (along with many other desert storm vets). I quit smoking before him to encourage him to quit. He also has a tumor on his adrenal gland and has to eat a lot to maintain his weight (the only time I saw him thinner is when he returned from desert storm). Then my Mom died. My daughter went off to college, my oldest son got commissioned after college ROTC (he stayed at home and went to school while serving in the Texas Guard). He is a 1LT serving in Iraq right now. He is stationed at Fort Hood which is close to our home so he should be back in a couple of months. My youngest son is in his JR year of high school, but got ahead by earning lots of high school credits in middle school. He plans on completing his remaining 2.5 credits at an online high school so he can start college in the fall (community college at first so he will still be at home). One advantage of paying out of pocket is that I don't have to have insurance approval, so I am confident the surgery will happen. Since I work for a non-profit they only cover half of the insurance cost for employees and the VA costs me $0 per month. I already pay close to $300 per month for my youngest son to have the worst *** insurance available (there was a cheaper option, but no providers in my area accept the insurance). I won't lose the house if he has to go to the hospital, but he is only covered to go to the Dr. twice a year with a $40 co-pay. Then it is out of pocket until we reach the $7000 deductible. I think I would save money just having catastrophic and paying for individual appointments. I say that to say, yes I complain about the VA a bit, but the available health plans in my area suck even worse and you have to pay for the privilege of waiting for the "health plan" to approve treatments instead of just doing what you and your Doctor think is right.

I tried to create a profile and thought once again I am the special ed old person that can’t figure out this app. Glad I read your rant, because I now know I need to set it up on my computer. Later for sure. I am pre-op 5’5 47yo female highest weight 223lbs current weight 220. Goal weight 140ish? I just want to feel better. Packed on the weight after I quit smoking in 2013. Ironically I think I could breath better when I was thinner and smoked. I am a veteran and the VA does not cover the sleeve. I got care credit for the surgery and used my tax return for the labs and studies the VA would not cover. If I had not done this on my own I would not have found out that I have a hiatal hernia and sleep apnea. The VA is at least going to provide the CPAP machine after I provided them with the sleep study records. I won’t get a surgery date until I get the CPAP machine from the VA on the 20th. When I complained about symptoms related to the hernia a year and a half ago my VA Dr. told me to lose weight. My surgeon is going to fix the hernia at the same time as my sleeve. All I know for sure is that my surgery will be on a Monday because I am doing it at the surgical center instead of the hospital. Reading the posts here has relieved some of my anxiety and answered a lot of questions (some I didn’t even know I had). So, thank you to all who have shared their experiences.