Hi everyone. My names Chris and I have a surgery date for 17 December. I'm in Australia and have been really excited and looking forward to the op. I'm not covered by health insurance at the moment so it will cost me approx $15,000 to have it done now. If I wait a year I can get $9,000 of this covered.

I've only told 2 people about my upcoming surgery and I guess I may be starting to second guess myself (and panic a bit). I'm kind of turning over whether I should wait for another year to save $9,000 or if getting it done sooner will be worth spending the extra money.

What are your thoughts on this?? Im really getting indecisive. On one hand I know that this is a lot of money to my family but on the other hand I know I could benefit from putting my health first and getting on track now. I've always been a big fan of instant gratification (probably how I got to this place I'm in now) and I wonder if I'm being selfish when this money could be paid off the mortgage or something. I'm actaully getting it released from my Superannuation which is something you can do in Australia if your condition is considered life threatening. This has been approved so theres no problem there.

Anyway, this is becoming a long story but I would like your thoughts on what you think. Is getting a 12 month head start worth nearly $10,000?

Thanks for listening.

Chris

This is a personal choice. If I were going to save $9,000, I would wait one year, but that's my opinion. Money's hard to come by these days. Also, I would try to lose weight on my own during that time, but I would definately get banded. I'd be careful not to gain any weight while waiting, depending on how much you have to lose. Good luck.

Oh I forgot to say, if money is available and spending it doesn't stress you out, then by all means get it done Dec. 17th.

What would concern me is not having health insurance for the long run. What if there are complications and revision surgery is needed down the track? My surgeon will not operate on self pay patients for this reason.

I would be too impatient to wait though, if I could afford it I'd go the self pay option, but I'd ALSO take out health insurance, simply because I believe in it and would feel very exposed without it.

You are in a pickle, because on one hand $9,000 is a fair bit of change, but on the other side a whole year is a LONG time to wait for a live changing surgery.

Since I am a self-pay myself I know what it feels like to part with cash. I feel like I can give this advice: Go for the surgery now.

Because:

-you don't know where you will be in a year, so it may not be for sure "money in the bank". As a result you may have to pay next year, and you will have wasted precious time getting well.

- It is only money this is your health that we are talking about. I put health way before money.

That being said; you must do what works best for you. Good luck and I hope that whatever happens you are happy with the choice you make.

My brother wants to have the band done as well but wasn't covered so joined a private fund recently. His dr told him that even though he is overweight his health is pretty good (no guarantees) and to wait until his insurance kicks in. If your health is good then it might be worth the wait but if not, then I would go ahead with it. I also would be worried about complications and having to fork out all that extra cash.

Where in Australia are you from? I'm from Sydney.

I beleive the concept behind letting you take it out of your super is that you are expected to have a longer life expectancy and better general health not being obese and will therefore be able to work longer and make up the money that you spent. I think its a fantastic idea. And its not like you are spending available funds on your band instead of a holiday for your family or something....

I have health insurance, but had I not had the extra $5000 to top it up, I would have gone the super route for sure. I'm impatient and wanted the surgery yesterday when I decided to go ahead with it.

I'm just over a year out from my surgery and I feel great. This is your life and your health you are paying to improve. I agree with Amy, that in my opinion is more important than money any day.

Chris

I was self pay (we re-morgaged the house) and am now looking into private health for further down the track.

The reason for me doing it this way was when you look at the facts - I am a heart attack waiting to happen. Like you I also have a family, the sooner I did something about my health the better...

I say if you can afford to take the money from your super, go for it. Like the other Amy said 'health is more important than $$' ,and She Smiles also put across a good point re: longer life to earn the super back.

I was banded only 3 weeks ago, so by all means I'm not an expert - but I'm pretty sure, so far, that I'll never regret taking the steps to try to make my life a healthier one.

Good luck to you in whatever decision you make, all the best.

Amy

Chris, personally speaking I wouldn't let $9k stand between me and my happiness. Good luck.

Sades, Im from Sydney too. Thanks everyone so much for your help - I really appreciate feeling like I can get some advice.

I think Julie is right - I shouldn't let 9K stand between me and my happiness! It's amazing how booking in for a lap band operation has made me think about how many times in my life my weight has stopped me from doing something, caused embarrassment or just made me feel plain miserable and not even able to socialise. I've been remembering moments even as a young girl that I was made to feel shame or embarassment because of my weight. I have joined a health fund and this will kick in after one year but I think the sooner I go ahead with this the better. I guess I've been fotunate to be able to release my super and get a surgery date so soon!

Well I have a different suggestion for you. Spend $1000, and fly to Mexico, get it done, stay a week so you feel safe and secure. Then go home and use someone local for the follow up, thats what many people do. I did. In Mexico it will cost about $7500. Also, they can get you in very quickly in Mexico, I only had to wait two weeks to get scheduled. I went to Dr. Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico. I had a great experience, no regrets. Wish you well.:biggrin1:

Chris:

The sooner the better to a healthier you. Don't think about the money unless it is something that will stress you out about because added stress isn't good either. I wish I'd looked into it and done it three or four years ago.

Best wishes for your success.

Sue

I had done alll the research, I made my appoinment at the surgeons office, had the money in the bank ready to self pay for the op, I was mentally an emotionally VERY ready for the operation.....

Then I felt like all my dreams came crashing down when the surgeon annouced that she no longer operated on people without private health insurance. She continued on by giving me examples of how things can sometimes go wrong and self pay patients can end up being up to their eye balls in debt at the end of the process. She said that she would hate to see me or anyone else end up in this position. She told me that, as there was no urgent pressing reason for me to get it done now, that I should go home and organise some private cover and come back in the months leading up to the end of my 12 month waiting period.

Boy did I cry and cry (and I dont cry very pretty). It was such a blow. She was lovely about it all and insisted that the 12 months will fly by.....

.... AND IT DID! I had the operation on the 26th October. It all went well and there were no complications thankfully. Looking back now at the waiting period - it was just another 12 months where I grew more determined than ever that this band was for me! I had no panic or fear before the operation - just excited about FINALLY starting the next phase of my life. The difference between you and me is that you have to make a decision - I had it made for me by the surgeon.

The icing on the cake was that I now have $9000 + in the bank there for me to go out and by all of those outifts that I will be needing. Good luck with your decision.

Littlelove, lol, surgery in Mexico aint cheap from Australia!

Sades, Im from Sydney too. Thanks everyone so much for your help - I really appreciate feeling like I can get some advice.

Who's your doctor? I had mine done through North Shore Weight Loss Surgery... they at at the RNS Private Hospital. Drs Steve Leibman & Garrett Smith. I've had a great experience with them so far. Good luck with your decision.