Esorami

The first Dr I went to charges $7000.00 for his fee! I quickly found another Dr that I like much better and his fee is $1500.00. I could do it free, (no extra Dr fee) but that means I would have to drive out of town and by the time I made all those trips I would have spent just as much or more. Didn't your Dr tell u about his up front fee? I would search for another Dr that doesn't charge that much. Search and ask those that have been banded by him already. Good luck.

Huh? September Sweeties? Are u having surgery tomorrow? :smile:

I am 4 days into pre-op protein shake diet, surgery date Oct. 6th. We have to go to my hubby's brother's 50th wedding anniversary and 70th birthday (same day) this coming weekend and the host says she is having taco dinner catered. What am I to do for this situation? We will go, but I need suggestion for handling this. I am doing fine on the protein shakes, & sf Jello not hungry at all. :smile:

Today I added some Crystal Light to my vanilla Bariatic Advantage shake and it was yummy. If u want to get some Crystal Light it might be helpful. I used grapefruit flavor which I love.

I have the same issues, so I carry string cheese's and unsalted almonds all the time.

Well I have to restrict caffeine so for 2 days I have been having 1/2 decaf and for 2 days now I am sleepy all day. I only have coffee in the morn, so not sure why this all day sleepiness. Disgusting.

I am allowed 3 shakes a day and a Lean Cuisine type 300 cal for dinner for the first week. (300 cal meal is the key) If I crave crunchy, red bell peppers and celery. After that, it's shakes, sf Jello and popsicles for a week until surgery day. I am using Bariatric Advantage choc and van and it is pretty good.

I am also doing the Bariatric Advantage choc and vanilla, 2nd day for me. Today for lunch I added a small peach and cinnamon to the vanilla. I partially froze the water first. I hope I can last on this. Tomorrow we have to go out of town and don't know what I am suppose to do about my shakes. Anyone have ideas? We will be with other people so don't want to be too obvious. I have only told close family so far. I am 12 days from surgery date! :smile2:

The first Dr I went to charges $7000.00 just for his up front fee! I came home and searched out another Dr that doesn't have a huge fee and he is much nicer and easier to talk to. He has a perfect surgery success rate. His fee is $1500.00. I would look for another Dr if it were me.

@ PuppyBandit Yes, I will have to crush or at least split them into 1/4's. Forget how it is worded. She ordered calcium crystals and chewable vitamins and they arrived today. For my hormones, I wear the patch thank goodness. Love that patch! :rolleyes2:

My pre-op liquid meals arrived today, not sure how this will taste. It is Bariatric Advantage meal replacement, choc and vanilla. I will start tomorrow morning. Met with the dietitian yesty and she says for my 2 week pre-op diet, I can have 2-3 protein shakes during the day and 1 Lean Cuisine type 300 cal frozen meal for dinner for the first week. After that, it's protein shakes, then clear liquid the last day. Challenging and worth it all. Today I am making my appt for pre-op visit at the hospital. :rolleyes2:

I am paying $1500.00 fee not covered by my insurance. But...if I want to do it at a hospital that doesn't charge an upfront fee, it would be out of town and the trip itself would cost almost as much as the fee. Doing it close by, any after care will be closer than driving out of town (more money).It includes the drinks and things we have to have before and after surgery. Including the use of a trainer at the workout room, and a few extra's that I forget at the moment. The first Dr I went to charges $7000.00 for the extra fee! No thanks.

Got my surgery date today for Oct 6th. Now I am getting nervous and as usual afraid of failing. @ va_viv....yes I did the upper GI and it was fast and easy. Took longer to get the hospital gown on than the test took. I will meet with the dietitian next week and find out about pre op fasting. Yuk. Can't believe I am really on my way.

At his seminar he listed all the aftercare that was included, but there are so many others that get by just fine w/o all the a/c he is proposing. I asked Medicare, and they were not much help. I met with Dr yesty and he says most Dr's charge a fee like that. I doubt that they charge anywhere near this amount. I don't know where to find a Dr that does the LB in my area. Medicare couldn't help me with that either.

How do I find a Dr that takes Medicare and doesn't charge thousands for aftercare? I asked Medicare today and she was not helpful at all.

I got the Dr. refusal yesty because I can't pay the $7000.00 after care fee. I have Medicare and Anthem BC. Bummed and still hoping to get it done somehow. :thumbup::scared2:

That's good to know about the protein. I had never checked the Greek yogurt label. I cannot gag down plain yogurt, but adding splenda and fruit can make it a lot better.

Kristy29... Why don't u just buy the sf (splenda) fat free fruit flavored yogurt? I get the Dannon light n fit or the store brands. 70 cal.

I will meet with the Dr for the first time Thurs, and I attended his seminar Saturday. I have a feeling I will have the same issue that u had at your Dr's. During the seminar he focused mostly on the gastric bypass. I will have to do some wheeling and dealing like u did probably. Thank goodness u stood ur ground. I plan to do the same.

Can anyone tell me about aftercare? Will there be charges for after care that aren't covered by insurance?

I don't know anything about Dr. Arturo Rodriguez in Monterrey, but my girlfriend and her 2 sisters were banded in Mexico several years ago and they were very satisfied. They have all lost their weight and kept it off for about 6 yrs now. Seems like Ortiz was their Dr's name. They said there were people from all over the world there getting it done. And that it was the cleanest facility they had ever seen. And very nice staff.

amberzee1.....Wow, congrats! And good luck. I still need to fill out the papers for the Dr. Starting to get discouraged, I found out the Dr wants $7000.00 besides what the insurance pays. That is not what I want to do. I assured my dh that we woouldn't have to pay anything.

I have Anthem also, and wondered if u got approved yet?

I am curious about what part Medicare and BCCA will pay for this. After the surgery, is that it and we have to pay for everything else? Fills, or Dr's visits, etc.? I attended a seminar today and they said insurances only pay for the Dr. and hospital stay. They offered an extra program that includes lots of after care for $7000.00 that they said Medicare won't pay! Yikes.

tinksmom, BTW how did the cherry juice work? Did it do any good for ur arthritis?