SoCalGuy6622

Hi All, I posted a while back about being interested in getting surgery at Blossom Bariatrics. After much going back and forth, them quoting me almost 19k... I decided to look more into going to Mexico. To be totally honest, I kept thinking I was off my rocker to go to Tijuana for a gastric sleeve. But after a ton of research, I decided that Dr Ariel Ortiz at OCC (Obesity Control Center), was the surgeon for me. I do have Kaiser Southern California insurance and while I was approved for surgery through them, in fact they would pay it all, it could take a year give or take for the entire process. Honestly, I couldn't wait a year and do their classes. For me, I have to get my health on track ASAP. Also, I understand nutrition from university classes I've taken, I have done a ton of reading and watching up on pre and post op protocols... and I didn't feel like the 2 month class through them online would teach me anything I hadn't already heard of or learned. I'm no expert, by any means... but I've definitely feel prepared and ready. Anyway, I reached out to OCC and immediately there was a totally different feeling in my communication with them in comparison to Blossom and the 4 other places I reached out to in Southern California. They were ON TOP of it all. They were patient with me (Olivia is who I spoke to most at the beginning) as I asked a million questions, I didn't feel rushed, like I was bothering them, like a number or like I was being "sold" a gastric sleeve. That's how I felt with the other places I had contacted. It has been completely seamless with OCC. I did take out a $6k loan through a company that does health care loans and I'm confident that I will thankfully be able to pay it off before the interest kicks in. But it all has been totally worth the out of pocket money so far. I've definitely had my fair share of surgeries in the past for other things, and I have to say, I have NEVER and I mean never, received the amount of communication and hand-holding as I have received through OCC so far. I feel totally safe to the point where my wife will be staying back at home with our dogs since they are basically our children. It's pretty incredible how the American Healthcare System is in comparison. The level of care thus far just makes me wonder what the heck is wrong with our health care system! LOL. Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience so far. I'm excited to have surgery in 9 days (October 7th). I know it wont be easy.. but it will be worth it. Feel free to reach out. I'll post once I am post op!

Hi all, so I’m having a bit of a dilemma and I was just curious to know what others would do in my position. My wife and I currently have Kaiser insurance here in California. Based on their program, it would be 10 classes (2.5 months) and then I would have to wait to get on the books for surgery, the person I spoke to said it could be up to a year wait. BUT, I have zero copay and the surgery would essentially be free. On the other hand, there’s the possibility of taking out a Care Credit loan at for $18.5k 0% APR and I could get the sleeve at Blossom Bariatrics by next month if I wanted to. I know it seems like a no brainer to just be patient and wait. That is the smarter financial decision. We do have to put a new roof on our house (or we could wait until next year) and we are definitely worried that if I take out an 18k loan… that our financing of our roof would come with a stupid APR and would ding our credit. We are in our 30s… no kids… live comfortably financially but not well off-which is why the 18k seems a little crazy, although the monthly payments are totally doable for me. On the other hand, I’m almost prediabetic, high cholesterol, feel like my eating habits are spiraling each day. I am genuinely upset that I feel like I’m turning to surgery as a last resort and tool. I’ve tried every diet, every app, every diet pill from my Doctor, I have spent thousands at this point for personal trainers, my mind is consumed with the state my body is in, I feel exhausted, not healthy and I also feel like it’s holding me back from progressing in my life/career. My confidence level, well, it doesn’t even exist at this point. I feel defeated and the amount of energy I use thinking about losing weight/getting healthy is maddening and exhausting. I feel as though one can’t put a price tag on health. I feel like the gross amount of money I spend on eating out nearly every day, buying food, paying for this diet or that gym equipment… would also be eliminated to an extent if I have surgery. So, I kind of feel like even spending 18k… I would SAVE in the long run. I have a ton of goals I’d love to accomplish over this next year… and I feel like the thing holding my back is my health/confidence/lack of energy. My wife is wonderful and we have long, real discussions about all of it. She’s kind of the financial whiz of our life and we are both wondering what the best option is. Spend the money… get my health on track ASAP… save money in the long run because I’m not eating out multiple times a day or buying whatever I think will help me finally get on track. (She also feels like this would help her as my eating habits are starting to wear off on her she says)…OR Wait a year stuck in this loop, possibly gaining more. But I'll pay nothing. There’s so much that can happen in a year… but I don’t want to remain stagnant, spiraling for a year… I want to jump start it and move forward and get this over with and move on. But I can’t figure out what the best choice is. Further, I'm so afraid that even using the sleeve as a helpful tool, that'll I'll just fail at that as well. Thanks for reading my vent. Would love to hear some of your thoughts.