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Hi ladies/dudes!

I am just starting this journey and am trying to do a little shopping around in the event BCBSNC will not pay. My BMI is around 33-34 and I have high cholesterol and (possibly) type II diabetes. I found a surgeon near Charlotte that charges 11,800 for sleeve but wanted to get some ideas from those of you that have looked around.

Travel is not going to be an expense factor as I have plenty of frequent flyer miles and Hilton hotel points to take me anywhere. I travel to Columbus, OH at least every 6 weeks or so anyway so that might be an option.

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Travel is not going to be an expense factor as I have plenty of frequent flyer miles and Hilton hotel points to take me anywhere. I travel to Columbus, OH at least every 6 weeks or so anyway so that might be an option.

Theres always Mexico...

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Hi ladies/dudes!

I am just starting this journey and am trying to do a little shopping around in the event BCBSNC will not pay. My BMI is around 33-34 and I have high cholesterol and (possibly) type II diabetes. I found a surgeon near Charlotte that charges 11,800 for sleeve but wanted to get some ideas from those of you that have looked around.

Travel is not going to be an expense factor as I have plenty of frequent flyer miles and Hilton hotel points to take me anywhere. I travel to Columbus, OH at least every 6 weeks or so anyway so that might be an option.

$15,500 over here in San Antonio texas but that included beautiful care for 3 days in a private hospital with a huge room that had a place for your guest etc. . . took out a loan at 3% so that is not too bad either. . .yippee almost paid off!

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Theres always Mexico...

I actually looked at one surgeon (Cervas) prob didn't spell that right, but it was almost 10,000. If I'm going to spend anything over 8 or 9, I'll probably stay in the states. I actually had a boob job done in Costa Rica, so I'm no stranger ot Medical Tourism. :lol:

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$15,500 over here in San Antonio texas but that included beautiful care for 3 days in a private hospital with a huge room that had a place for your guest etc. . . took out a loan at 3% so that is not too bad either. . .yippee almost paid off!

Thanks T.O.D., that really is a pretty sweet deal!

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Thanks T.O.D., that really is a pretty sweet deal!

yes it is and it included 1 year of follow up care as well, included the hospital and the surgeons (you get 2), the anesthesia dude, the 3 days as i said, medication etc. . . i think it's a great deal and the best part, you get USA care

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I am going to Mexico to have surgery next month with Dr . Ramos Kelly and it is costing me 5300 and that includes 2 nights at Hospital & 2 nights at a Hotel. There are several good Doctors over there with great prices just where ever you go and who ever you pick please do lots of research. I hope you find a great dr

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I am going to Mexico to have surgery next month with Dr . Ramos Kelly and it is costing me 5300 and that includes 2 nights at Hospital & 2 nights at a Hotel. There are several good Doctors over there with great prices just where ever you go and who ever you pick please do lots of research. I hope you find a great dr

What was the deciding factor for Kelly over the others?

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Well I like that he is from the US and he keeps you a day longer at the same lower price. I also couldn't find realy anything bad against him besides one infection , which is a risk anywhere you go. I was first going to use Dr. Almanza Reyes but there was just to many negative things with his past for me to be comfortable. He was only a few hundred more and I like that you recover in a hotel not a recovery house where my guest may not be able to stay with me. In the recovery house if there is nit room your guest must go to a hotel at your expense.

I hate to bash a Doctor who has never treated me but he was just not a fit for me. I just had a bad feeling in the pit if my stomach that is gone now. I hope I helped and maybe we will be in Mexico around the same time

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If you're going to Mexico please don't decide by the price. I know everyone wants to save money because this is very expensive. Choosing a doctor whose skill level is in question with a lot of people getting infections after surgery, is not a good choice. The price may very well be lower, but research any doctor you are thinking of . It's easy to research a doctor to find out if the people who went to them and the facility which they practice out of , got any infections or leaks.

This is your life. You a putting your life in someone's hands who is going to cut off 85% of your stomach.

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17,500 here in San Francisco, where EVERYTHING is arbitrarily expensive. The surgeon fee is 10,000, hospital is 6500, and anesthesia is 1000. I asked if I could opt out of the anesthesia, no go. :/

I'm shooting for 2/10 if I could raise the cash. I was 100% sure this is what I wanted until last night when I read that post about the catheter... no one ever mentioned that before. My resolve has since returned. Phew!

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    • 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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.

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      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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