Wow it has been a life time since I was last on this forum!

I would love some advice right now as I am pretty much over this whole thing!

I was banded 10 years ago in Australia and have managed to lose (and keep off) over 150lbs.

Now I am living in the US (since 2004) and am having major complications where I cannot sleep at night due to choking on stomach acid. The band has to come out or I am at risk of Aspiration Pneumonia, which can be VERY serious. All options have been tried, so I am not here to ask for advice on that. My surgeon has advised me that the only option is removal or eventually severe illness. I am already wheezing and am weak due to the foreign matter constantly entering my lungs at night and choking me.

My good old band has done its job and for that, I am thankful.However, it is time to part ways. I am exhausted due to lack of sleep and completely miserable due to the discomfort it is now causing me. My surgeon says it has to be out by the end of this month.

One slight issue........ my insurance won't cover the removal. Not one little bit. It's excluded, even complications.

So I am desperate and don't have a spare $10K laying around to self-pay for this. I have explored the Mexico options, which look REALLY good but was wondering if there has been anyone else in this situation. I do not qualify for any loans due to past credit issues but am in the best financial position of my life and can easily pay back a loan if I actually did get one, which I won't.

Any assistance would be wonderful. I am too tired to even know where to begin.

Try looking on: self-pay & Mexico forum

That would give you a good start to see how others rated their Mexico experience.

--I wish you the best!

I wouldn't risk going to Mexico for it. If I were you, I'd go to the ER as an emergency. If it's an emergency to remove it- then they must do so regardless of insurance.

It seems to me if you go to the ER in the middle night, choking on stomach acid, and the problem is deemed to be the band then they'd have to remove.

It's worth a try. Good luck.

Been there and done that . It's an awful feeling. I did end up in the emergency room -twice in one weekend. The second time, the band came out d/t severe dehydration and complete obstruction of my stomach. I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. I would ask for a copy of your policy. They most likely won't cover revisions, but removal is different especially if emergent. You have to take care of your health first. If worse comes to worse, you can apply for financial aid thru the hospital and send them small payments monthly. There is also a great lawyer named Walter Lindstrom who specializes in dealing with insurance companies and barriatric approval, denials ect.

Best of luck and feel better.

Ten thousand dollars looks pretty cheap to me right now compared to what I am going to pay even after insurance pays their part. I spent seven weeks in the hospital, had major surgery to remove the band and repair the damage it had done. Also not fun laying in a hospital bed wondering if I was going to die. Hope you have some relief soon. God Bless!