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Question Regarding Self-Pay Fills...



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I have a question to ask your opinion of... I thought I knew which way I was going to go, until tonight. So, I thought I'd run it by the forum in a couple of places, to get your valued opinions.

I am self-pay, went to Detroit for surgery. Fills were covered for 90 days. Anyway, the cost of us driving there, hotel, etc. adds up of course; After 90 days, the fills are $150.

I've received info here regarding fills about 45 minutes from me for $95. at a center.

Then, I called a very personable Doc who was recommended here (he's 5 minutes from me at a local hospital. I called his office to inquire if he'd do my fills. He called me back personally and provided me with his pager #, which I've used twice & he's called back quickly in both instances. Anyway, his office charges $130 and will attempt to bill your insurance. However, he has a $500 (self-pay fee) to take over your care - to become your band doc. You can call on him from now on end for all f/u band care and he sets you up with a nutrionist, if necessary.

Question: Would you pay the $500? Or just go to the center for $95.

Thanks for your feedback.

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If you like him over Detroit the money would eventually add up. Have you looked into the fill center? Do they have good customer service? If the service is comparable I would drive the 45 minutes. If the service is no where comparable then that brings it down to a choice between saving money or having good health care. For some there may not be a choice because they can't afford the $500. If you can then again break it down to the simplest form

Save Money

or

Better Health Care and support.

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Thank you so much for your thoughts - I really the idea of knowing I have aftercare right at my back door. I have made the appointment and believe yt's the best choice.

Thank you

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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.
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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. 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.

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