Marc from NYC here --

I have been reading all of your post and you all sound great and congradulations on all of your progress wt loss, and return of your self esteem.

I had decided to do this one year ago -- and a situation came up that I could not at that time.

Well I have now realized that it is no longer a choice. I am literally dying -hypertension sleep apnea and have begun an agressive saving plan to have this surgery. The irony of this is that I am in the field of medicine(as a Physician Assistant) in a small office in NYC. We serve the poor and the office does not provide benifits. I am considered to be an excellant clinician but I can not take care of myself. It causes me alot of shame embarassment and guilt.

I may have to have this done in Mexico and frankly do not want to go there - I realize the physicians there are excellant and have been checking them out. It is not Mexico or them it is the fact that if I got into medical trouble I do not have access to them immediately.

Anyone aware of persons here in the states who do banding for non insured patients? The folks at NYU do but I called them and they want 26,000. That is way out of my range.

I have seen on occasion the term PB - what is that ? I see it associated with over eating post banding but do not know what the initials stand for.

Frankly (and I am not suicidal) but sometimes I feel that there is no hope as I can not ( despite many attempts to control) can not control my eating. This has and is rapidly having a great cost and continuing to the ruination of my life. Then I detest the idea that if I were man enough then I could do something.

Well enough for now and hopefully I have no alienated anyone with my raw gut feelings.

My email is silentfades@aol.com.

Again thank you all for sharing - you have encouraged me in a great way.

Marc

ps double post also in mens forum but wanted to reintroduce myself here as well -- thanks for listening MG

Hi Marc. I remember your heartfelt post from last year and am sorry that you haven't been able to be banded yet.

I've heard of several US surgeons who do bands for much less than the $26K that you were quoted. However, you want to be quite close to your surgeon, I guess.

You may want to check out the NY thread in the US bandster support area. There must be someone who is doing the surgery for less.

Good luck with it.