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Surgery Final Costs and Food



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Hi! I have had two appointments so far for weight loss surgery and I'm still not 100% sure which surgery I want to have, the sleeve or the bypass. I have Aetna in Ohio for my surgery (I work for the State) and was wondering if anyone here had bypass surgery and could share with me what their out of pocket was for the surgery? Thanks! Taking a lot of things into consideration with this process.

Second question: what are you realistically able to eat? Is this going to be a funeral to food once this surgery is done? I've heard of people a year out eating a handful of almonds and a Water for lunch and being so full. Is that the extent of the eating experience I will have? I'm kind of a foodie and live in an amazing culinary city. I know all things in moderation and all that, but will I literally not be able to dine any longer once I have this surgery?

Thanks for all the feedback, extremely new at this, and appreciate anything you'd be willing to share. Thanks!

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Hey, so i live in a big coastal city myself, and just had my bypass. I’ll tell you, yes, it’s a funeral for food. I always ate all kinds of things, and now I’m full off of 2oz of water.. your new stomach doesn’t have room for much else. I have no idea how people are drinking alcohol and eating other stuff.. you’ll feel very sick if you do. But this is the cost of wanting to get health or small.. however, other friends of mine who had bypass, after one year or more, eat and drink pretty normal now.. they just haven’t kept their weight off all the way... as for insurance? I’m in California and have medi-Cal , so in all covered. Only payed for Vitamins and my shakes.

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My surgery was in 2003 and revised in 2008. It is NOT a funeral for food!!! You do have to be smart. At first, there will be things your body doesn't want you to eat. But over time, I have found NOTHING that I can't eat. Just don't eat so much. If you go out, share or plan on taking a bunch home to enjoy later. I don't imbibe, so I can't answer to the alcohol; but it gets into your system much faster so people get drunk quicker. And those are all empty calories, so again, SMALL amounts. Hope this helps. And bypass is still the gold standard from my understanding. Sleeve preserves more stomach and stomach acids so the digestion is a bit different. Sleeve people: is this what you understand to be true?

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I'm 7bweeks out. Last night was hubby's class reunion, with a small buffet. I took, 1 tiny BBQ biscuit, a piece of roast beef, 2 crackers w cheese ball, 1 pudding shot and 1 chicken tender. I ate, a bite of chicken, 2 nibbles of biscuit, 1 cracker with 1T spreadable cheese and about 2T of pudding. I was stuffed! But I enjoyed every thing and was satisfied. I also nursed a glass of wine over 2 hours and never finished it. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything.

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

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Hi! I have had two appointments so far for weight loss surgery and I'm still not 100% sure which surgery I want to have, the sleeve or the bypass. I have Aetna in Ohio for my surgery (I work for the State) and was wondering if anyone here had bypass surgery and could share with me what their out of pocket was for the surgery? Thanks! Taking a lot of things into consideration with this process.
Second question: what are you realistically able to eat? Is this going to be a funeral to food once this surgery is done? I've heard of people a year out eating a handful of almonds and a Water for lunch and being so full. Is that the extent of the eating experience I will have? I'm kind of a foodie and live in an amazing culinary city. I know all things in moderation and all that, but will I literally not be able to dine any longer once I have this surgery?

Thanks for all the feedback, extremely new at this, and appreciate anything you'd be willing to share. Thanks!



I would say bypass.....I have had all three surgeries! Just to save $$$$. Now I have spent enough to have paid for it after all! Had my bypass on 9/25 and feeling great!


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Anyone's out of pocket will depend on your plan coverage - your deductible and out of pocket and cost sharing. My plan is 80/20 with 4200 deductible but after 7100 out of pocket it covers at 100%.

You have to research on which method of wls. I picked the sleeve because I did not want malabsorption and the % of weight loss for either is almost the same and I do not have significant acid reflux (no inflammation or erosion). The rate of weight loss for bypass is faster but you can have significant deficiencies. And the stomach portion that remains inside can develop ulcers from acid reflux because it is still hooked up to your body - my nurse at my pcp now has this issue plus b-12 deficiency after 7 years.

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I picked the sleeve when I had my band removed, its what caused me to get acid reflux, it is also known to cause it........

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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!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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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