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I sit and write this with a heavy heart. I came over to my mother's house this morning to find out that her husband had lost his job. What does this mean for me? 3 weeks before my surgery we no longer have insurance. I've been struggling and jumping through hoops the last year and a half... appeal after appeal and then I get approved and he is fired. He pays his insurance weekly so it is not the same as other monthly insurances, so my benefits are gone as of Friday. I had my pre op appointment tomorrow. I'm still in shock and so upset. I thought I was close to finally making the step to bettering myself. Currently I feel hopeless and let down. I'm going to try and stay positive but I'm not sure what else I can do. Thanks for listening guys. xx :'(

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That totally sucks. I had a hard time trying to get my surgery and failed at all my insurance options. Eventually I had to bite the bullet and get a loan through CareCredit which I've almost paid off! I have a feeling you'll find a way to get this done. It might not be tomorrow but it will happen. I am sorry you're going through this though. Getting your hopes up only to have them dashed out from under you is terrible.

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That totally sucks. I had a hard time trying to get my surgery and failed at all my insurance options. Eventually I had to bite the bullet and get a loan through CareCredit which I've almost paid off! I have a feeling you'll find a way to get this done. It might not be tomorrow but it will happen. I am sorry you're going through this though. Getting your hopes up only to have them dashed out from under you is terrible.

Yeah, my head hurts just thinking about it. A loan might very well be my last and only option. Thanks Gaither. :)

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That really sucks :( I can only imagine how disappointed you must be. I hope it all works out for you.

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The only reason you won't have the procedure is if you or your Dr says you won't. This isn't a cancel but a postpone. There is a reason you're not supposed to have this done now so trust and dig deeper to make it happen. Not trying to be flippant but hoping this makes you all the more determined. My thoughts for strength,understanding,and perseverance go out to you. It will happen. Hang in there!

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Is there any chance you can go on a Cobra plan with the same insurance carrier? It is expensive, but since you have the approval it might be something to consider. The only problem is the cost of the follow up exams and fills after surgery.

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You should be eligible for COBRA benefits for 18 months and it's a continuation of your current insurance so you don't have to get re-approved. It's not cheap, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $500ish just for you, but if you do that, it will still be cheaper than paying for surgery out of pocket. Also, if your dad gets re-employed with insurance benefits, you can discontinue the COBRA.

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I'm so sorry to hear that! I know when I was finally approved and was setting up my surgery, I was told my portion of surgery would be $250 - after I was approved and was actually scheduling surgery they called and told me my portion was almost $3000 - I was totally shocked and immediately in tears! Fortunately they helped me with financing and I had the band placed on Dec 21, 2012!

I know right now it seems like it won't happen. But where there is a will, there is a way. Stay positive and keep the faith! I had actually wanted the band placed since 2001...so if you want it - keep fighting for it! Good luck and keep us posted!

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I sit and write this with a heavy heart. I came over to my mother's house this morning to find out that her husband had lost his job. What does this mean for me? 3 weeks before my surgery we no longer have insurance. I've been struggling and jumping through hoops the last year and a half... appeal after appeal and then I get approved and he is fired. He pays his insurance weekly so it is not the same as other monthly insurances, so my benefits are gone as of Friday. I had my pre op appointment tomorrow. I'm still in shock and so upset. I thought I was close to finally making the step to bettering myself. Currently I feel hopeless and let down. I'm going to try and stay positive but I'm not sure what else I can do. Thanks for listening guys. xx :'(

I am so very sorry dear heart! This is devastating and something that I worried about in the back of my mind during the entire ordeal. My job is "safe" but you just never know. Wow. I'm going to pray that he gets an even better job, with more benefits quickly - I don't know if you and your family are religious, but I do know that the God I serve doesn't close a door without having a greater on for you to enter. Yes, this is a setback and my heart breaks for you but please try to keep in mind that everything in life happens for a reason. We don't understand it and yes, it is hard to accept when things don't go our way but I have faith that your dad will get new job and you will get your band soon.

Is there anyway to pay for COBRA for the next 30 days, just to get the procedure covered? You can worry about fills later, but for now see if COBRA is an option and if your band is covered under that policy, chances are it is.

Keep us posted.

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I'm so very sorry, I really hope it all works out some how :(

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Most Doctors will offer u options and you can ask them if there is anything you can apply for to help the process if u have good credit care credit might help and some Doctors have other credit u can apply for till it's paid off also I don't know if ur father was union but they have to pay I think it is 1 or 2 onths could b a bit longer for Insurance that he was paying for while working specially if he was laid off ,not sure bout if u get fired tho whatever ,but there is help somewhere so talk to your Doctor to make sure and ask a lot of questions so u can try , hopefully it will work out for u.

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It will all fall into place when the time is right. I've been denied and finally approved. There is a reason this is not happening now. I'm sorry for you and your family and your dads job loss. Just know this has happened for a reason and may have prevented you from something bigger. You seem so sweet and I know good will come your way.

Please keep us posted as we're all rooting for you!!!!

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Hey everyone! After hours of being on the phone with his HR department, United health Care and COBRA they have since decided that because he worked today, and was clocked in that he can pay out of pocket for his insurance for the rest of the month. It will be expensive but less than the surgery! All of your comforting words made me happy! Thanks guys! I was a big ball of mess earlier and now I feel much better. None of my fills and after care will be covered but my family is all pitching in to help me. Once again.. thanks! Without knowing about Cobra and other benefits I wouldn't be able to do this. I feel like as if they were giving me no other option until I read all of your comments! Keeping my fingers crossed!!!! :)

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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