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My Journey began in March for surgery in SC, surgery is now in Mexico on June 27th
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StephieLynn 2 posts
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Raine 1 post
Hi Everyone,
I have been reading posts and doing lots and lots of research. My journey started in March when my lung specialist suggested I have bariatric surgery done. I am a state employee and just this year, the legislature voted to allow 100 bariatric surgeries to be paid for by insurance. When I booked the appt and saw the doctor, there were still openings in my area. I didn't have to go through all of the other required procedures because I had already had them. So getting to the actual appt day was very fast. Once all paperwork was submitted to insurance co. I get a call from the BCBS nurse telling me I was qualified to have the surgery, but I wasn't qualified for the state program because of a small glitch. (15 year state employee, switched for 2 years to Blue Choice and I just switched back to state standard 18 months ago. The requirement is two years as state standard policy holder.) She also said had I been qualified, I was number 18 on the waiting list for my area and that is would probably be at least another year. The one good thing that came out of my visit with the Dr. was the fact that I was leaning toward the lap band and he mentioned the sleeve and I didn't really know much about it, so hadn't considered it. He told me, that if they had to choose just one surgery to perform for bariatric patients, it would be the gastric sleeve. He said it is the one that has the least amount of complications and if most successful. THAT 10 minute conversation cost me $485! We are still fighting to get back part of that money because they should have prequalified me before scheduling me for an appt.
Finding this information out, set me on the path for other options. Unfortunately, when I checked into cash pay with that doctor, I was told the cash pay price was 20,000. I also have to have a hiatal hernia repaired, which insurance does cover. The BCBS nurse, suggested I talked to him to see about doing the hiatal hernia surgery with the sleeve surgery on the side to reduce the cash pay amount since insurance would be paying for everything else. So, I called to find that out and was told it would still be 20,000 for the sleeve surgery and they would bill my insurance company for the additional hernia surgery and I would still be responsibly any additional costs with that like my 20% that insurance does not pay. Lets talk greedy!
My research led me to Mexico. I have done a lot of research and I decided to go with Dr. Ortiz with Obesity Control Center. I must say, I am having my doubts after seeing so much being said about Dr. Aceves. (not that there is anything bad about Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Aceves just has a big following.) I even called them after I booked with Dr. Ortiz, but something keeps telling me to stay with Dr. Ortiz. There doesn't seem to be too many patients on here that have had Dr. Ortiz ao I think that is where my doubts are coming in to play with my mind.
I have been on the pre-op diet of liquid Protein shakes and a lean cuisine meal a day. I have lost 9 pounds in spite of having to attend a family reunion and 2 birthday parties without cheating, so that is pretty exciting but I must say it isn't how I want to eat the rest of my life. My surgery is the 27th, and we will be flying out of SC on the 25th so we will have a couple of days to do other things before the surgery. I think I am starting to get a little anxious, but I am hoping that is normal no matter where you have it done.