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.

Credit card? At the minimum, have the saline removed, that's not too expensive?

I know my surgeon offered a payment plan to do the lap band (had I not had insurance), maybe talk to your surgeon and see if they don't offer something.

I'm in the same position! I really don't want to get a loan if I don't have to but I am so incredibly miserable. I'm almost at the point I will just go to the ER when it is urgent and hopefully get admitted. I had the same problem in April 2013 and insurance ended up paying for it.