Hello all. I am D, or TheCurvyJ. After much thought and consideration and watching a few friends shrink, I have decided to take the plunge and have VSG. I have chosen Dr. Alvarez and am in the process of having my patient file reviewed to be cleared for surgery.

My biggest issue is the money... Dr A is considerably more expensive than other doctors. When I think about going to someone else though, my stomach turns. I need to feel stable and secure in this decision and Dr A makes me feel confident in this decision. In addition, he is a few hours drive from my friend who will be coming with me. This way I can convalesce at her home instead of flying back right away. I was approved for $8500 through medicalfinancing.com. Dr A's financing rate is 9100, so there is a $600 shortfall that I am sure I can cover. My issue is that it will cost me almost $3K upfront to borrow the $8500 (1700 of which will come back to me after the loan is paid). Weird, right? I've never had a commercial loan before... only a student loan and an auto loan. I've never heard of having to pay to get a loan.

Unfortunately my credit is not the greatest and my debt to income is high because I purchased a car awhile back and I have some credit cards. I was declined for Fundmydr and I've not tried CareCredit because Dr A's office will not take a credit card. I'm in the position of having to secure a short term loan in order to accept the funding. Insurance will not cover this procedure and I don't have anyone I could borrow from, so this is pretty much my only option.

I'm determined to make this work, though. I turn 40 in March of 2014. Every year, I say I am going to be healthy by my next birthday and every year I am fat as ever. If I have my surgery in January and even lose 30lbs by my bday I will already be the smallest I've been on my birthday in over ten years!

Scared out of my mind about having surgery-- I have never had surgery before-- but so looking forward to having this done and stepping into a new chapter.

I went with Dr. A and couldn't be happier! You have made the best choice in my biased opinion! I am so excited for you! Unfortunately I had two previous abdominal surgeries so I knew what to expect. Being that it is your first make sure you stay in touch with any questions you might have on this site. It is a life saver! I am almost 40 myself and was fed up with the yo yo. I think you have made a great decision to get this done and if there is anything I can help you with let me know!!!

Check the reviews of that loan and make sure that your doctor takes it. I believe I was denied the initial loan but was offered a "no patient left behind loan". After reading the reviews, I didn't do it. Then I found out that my surgeon (Garcia) doesn't take it because of numerous accounts of customers getting ripped off.

I've been talking with the coordinator and everything looks good. My application is being reviewed and I should hear back soon and then I pick a date. I managed to find a private loan to bridge the gap I needed to get funding underway and my friend and I are discussing logistics. I'm MAD excited. Crossing my fingers that everything works out.

I didn't use Dr Alvarez but he would have been my second choice after my surgeon, Dr Aceves. ( Mine was closer to where I live so shorter travel time). I know several people who had surgery with him over the last few months and all are doing amazingly well! From what I hear, he is worth every penny.

The paying #3,000 up front is a weird loan IMO. I haven't heard of one like that. And I'll bet the interest is pretty high? Just throwing this out there, have you tried credit unions? They are more likely to loan than traditional banks. Another choice may be to cut costs like crazy over the next few months (cable, cut cell minutes, etc...) and give yourself the surgery for your birthday. That's what I did. I saved for more than 9 months and paid cash. I was even able to have it two months earlier than I had planned.

Whetever you decide, you are worth it!

Yes, I've exhausted all other options. Looks like I am good to go, just waiting on the $$$ to come through. What it is that because of my credit I have to put down a security deposit. As well the loan fees are not rolled into the loan, those are separate and I ASSume I will have to pay them both before they will fund. I'm just being prepared, it's really more about 2800, but when you don't have that much it may as well be a million.

Enormous sigh of relief.

Date confirmed.

Loan docs signed and e-filed

Monies paid

Freaking out commenced