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Self payers....financing options?



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I am probably fortunate that I had the moneyn savings. I had worked real estate in addition to my regular job for about 5 years so I saved a little enst egg. Having said that, I have no regrets in spending the money even though there are layoffs at my job and I will give you my reasons.

A. I feel better than I have in 10 years!

B. I had the first NORMAL blood sugar reading I have had in over 10 years! WOW!

C. Everyone says how great I look and I know it is true.

D. If I have to look for a new job employers will look at me a bit more favorably,(though I am still fat) just not as fat and just overall look better!

E. I am spending a bit less on medications.

F. You can't put a price on your health.

If you have to use all your credit cards to do it and you know you can pay it back even if little by little, DO IT! If you have ahome see if you can get a 2nd mortgage ( i know not easy. ) If you have a 401K or 403B take a loan out against it. FInd all the crap in your house you don't use and sell in on e-bay or Craigs List. I mean EVERYTHING! Have a yard sale and out the money away. STart cooking more and don't go out to eat and save that money. Turn off your cell phone or cable or Netflix for afew months and start saving $$.

JUst my 2 cents. :thumbup:)

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I'm one year out, I'm self paid. I used CareCredit. My question to others, what did you do about office visit and fills after your one year was over? I feel like I'm been left out in the wind to dry. It's like you can't even go in for a weigh in without even being charged. It's very upsetting. So, how do you handle it?

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My surgery will be $15,000. I have $2000 and the balance I am borrowing from my boss at a 3.5% interest rate which is very generous! I am doing a 2 year payoff which is very aggressive but I do not want this to linger any longer than necessary.

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I got a personal loan from y bank with a 7% interest rate. I had my surgery through True Results and since I paid in full up front it covered my surgery and a year of aftercare and fills.

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Just a quick note for those who HAVE NOT had your surgery yet.....ask how much it will cost to remove it should the need arise. I know it is not something you like to talk about and figure "that will not happen to me" but I am now in the position just over a year after paying nearly $18,000 to have it put in! I have been having issues that never came up as a possible problem that will possibly require removal. Espophagitis/gastritis for the past 6 months. I had a good 6 months of the band then had to have my gallbladder removed. It has been problematic every since! I am not convinced it is my band and will see the doc tomorrow about it (his office called me to come in and discuss removal ~ that is not a fun call to get!) Here I sit feeling like I made a bad investment. I worry about weight gain (glad I did not get rid of all my clothes!) I will not opt for any other surgery. WE will see what he has to say tomorrow.

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My dr. Dr. Spivac does not charge. The hospital bill is around 3400.00 out of pocket for removal. If needed. Good point, I did ask.

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I was lucky and got a bank loan with reasonable interest. I looked into the medical loans but the interest was staggering

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My surgery cost $14,500 and this included hospital stay, anesthesiologist fees, any x-rays they ran at the hospital, 2 fluro's, free fills for the first year, and a 90 day "warranty" if you will. I had $2,000 in savings that I used. Then I used a credit card that has 0% and wrote a check from it bc my surgeon's office charges 4.6% on the amt you charge to credit. I then opened another credit card to charge the remaining amount. This card has 0% 24 months, so in my mind, it's kind of like paying same as cash. I am very careful with money and put all of my extra on these cards. I had surgery on April 25th and I've paid back about $1,500 so far. Mind you I'm in my early 20's still working 3 part time jobs, so if I can afford it, I'm sure you can find a way to do it on a salary! Good luck!!

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My surgery was before the changes in the credit market. But, for what it is worth:

I was self-pay. I used care credit. My total cost was about $14,000.00. I asked a lot of questions at the hospital and asked to be released at 23 hours so I was not charged for an overnight. I think I checked in for surgery at 7 am, stayed that night, and then they "checked me out" at 6:30 a.m. but let me stay until 10 am or so until my doctor made his rounds. My doctor was at the Wish Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, but it closed a few years ago :(

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I did mysurgeyloans.com as well, great customer service but I agree...very expensive. I do however have a word of advice for anyone using dr.gonzalez in TJ his assistant or U.S contact (dr. Serrano) can be super shady when it comes to money! All I have to say is if you use this particular dr go with cash or credit so they don't play games with you otherwise you'll end up paying in the end and I mean that littereally!

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I'm one year out, I'm self paid. I used CareCredit. My question to others, what did you do about office visit and fills after your one year was over? I feel like I'm been left out in the wind to dry. It's like you can't even go in for a weigh in without even being charged. It's very upsetting. So, how do you handle it?

I know exactly what you mean. My year is up and I went in for just a weigh-in and was sent a bill for $115. I haven't addressed it with the doctor yet. I didn't even get a fill!!

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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!
      · 1 reply
      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. 💗

    • 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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