My ins. co. does the physician monitored weight loss. My problem being if I lose any weight I won't be morbidly obese & I won't fit in the insurance guidelines for surgery. I would then have to be self pay. So, I'm kind of scared about spending the money. Can you please advise?

Well, I don't know if you were interested in hearing from someone who went to MX for their surgery or not, but that's what I did because my ins wouldn't pay. It cost me $7,700 plus airfare and it was well worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. There were four of us who went and no one has had a single problem. We've all lost and are satisfied.

One of us had been 'jumping through the hoops' for almost a year and had spent A LOT of her own money on all the tests, etc...and the psych was still telling her she wasn't ready.

Well, Miss Not Ready Yet has lost about 80 pounds since August 13, 2007!!! and is doing GREAT!!!

I self paid too. I took out a personal loan for two years and it has been so worth it. I would do it all over again.

I am in Illinois too and was banded by Dr Watkins!

I'm self pay too. I just know by spending that kind of money, I sure want to be compliant with my diet and exercise.