Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Want To Get Gastric Sleeve Surgery But...



Recommended Posts

Hi I finally joined this site after lots and lots and lots of research and reading from here. Well here is my problem...Im 22 and I live in Georgia...well technically Alabama lol and I've been thinking about getting sleeved for a looooong time. Im in college so of course i dont have a lot of money, so I was going to try to self pay and either go to Louisiana to Dr. Borland or drive to Mexico for Dr. Kelly (I HATE flying). I've kept trying to throw clues to my mom that i really need this surgery but she always says "girl you dont need that. Just cut back and exercise." Im actually growing a wee bit tired of her saying that. Ive been trying basically my entire life. So obviously she is not on board, so Im just not going to tell her. I'd rather not have to do that but it seems like I have no choice. Dr. Broland is $9800 i think and Dr. kelly is around $5600 maybe. i know price wise Dr. Kelly is the smart choice, but thats over a day's drive from here, while Dr. Borland is like 8 hours AND I'd still be in the US. But I think I really want to go to Dr. Kelly. So a few questions to you guys...

-how long do you think it would take for me to actually be on my way to have the surgery from now? like if i called them and talked about whatever on the phone...

-i hear the price for dr. kelly includes everything except for flights. are there any surprise costs? (another reason why i dont want to do this without my mom or someone who knows about things like this and the "real world" lol

idk im sorry. my brain has completey forgotten any questions i wanted to ask :(

I'd love any information you could give to someone who has her mom handle basically everything in life...except my bills haha. Im mainly worried about the insurance part of things like copays i guess anything would be helpful

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Look up Dr Kelly on this site. I know that someone here wrote a long and glowing review of her trip to Mexico to be sleeved. She almost convinced me and I had my surgeon picked out very early in my process.

Good luck, whatever you decide. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

thanks :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ky, Look up KellyL. She's the one with the full rundown in her profile. :) I don't know how to link you to her or I'd do that instead. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am glad you are making this decision when you are young. You will have time to really enjoy it! The only regret I have about the sleeve is not having it sooner. Good luck. Your mom will come around. Sometimes you have to just do what is best for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×