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New here.. insurance denied.. considering Mexico



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My doctor referred me to a location but I didn't see the surgeon cause my insurance was denied. I work for a small company and bariatric surgery isn't covered. Mexico is cheaper and I plan on using my 401K funds to pay. I haven't discussed this with my doctor as of now but I plan on doing so this week.

I briefly had the discussion with my mom today! I plan on going to Mexico and she most definitely doesn't approve of that! The next time I mention it to her everything will be paid for. I'm just afraid of the judgement that I will get from my family. I've always been the fat sibling. I've always been forced on diets that never seemed to work. When I started managing my weight on my own, I started at 356. I'm currently 294 but I lost that with eating right, working out and adipex. I didn't want to become dependent on pills so I figured this will help. I actually want to just go and not tell anyone besides my friends but I don't want my parents to not know. I talk to my parents everyday so it will he kinda hard to keep something so serious from them.

I'm 31, not married, single, no kids.. how do you all deal with this or have dealt with it?!

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I'm going to Mexico for my surgery September 20.

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I had surgery in Tijuana in early April 2017. I went alone and had a great experience. I was treated very well, received excellent medical care, and have experienced no complications post-op. Make sure to do your homework and select a surgeon (and hospital) with top notch credentials and don't use price as the main deciding factor. There are many well qualified bariatric surgeons but some are better than others, just like in the States.

I arrived in San Diego on a Sunday morning, was picked up by my surgeon's driver, was driven across the border with a couple of other patients (that I hung out with periodically during the week), was taken to the hospital for pre-op testing, overnighted at a great hotel in a safe part of TJ, had surgery the next day, spent a few days in the hospital, stayed 2 more days at the hotel, then was driven back to San Diego. I spent a week there total, which gave me adequate time to rest and recover. My surgeon visited me twice a day in the hospital and once a day at the hotel. I told very few people my plans so I didn't have to deal with their bias or misinformation about surgery in Mexico. I found a lot of my time that week to be enjoyable and relaxing , like a mini vacation from my normal life, crazy as that may seem.

One thing I suggest is to be completely honest and transparent on your medical questionnaire so your surgeon can recommend the right procedure for you and properly prepare for your surgery.

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I absolutely agree with you about research . It sounds as though we may be using the same hospital and set up . I'm very excited about this life change. Beyond ready . I'm 5'3 and 260lbs . I don't know where I lost me ... but I'm ready for me to come back . The struggle is real . How are you doing since your surgery ?

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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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.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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