incolorado

I did not read this entire thread...but cost should be an obvious difference, at least in the US. For those of us who are self-pay and scraping up every last penny we can find, the band is much more affordable in the US ($9900 for my surgeon in Denver). Isn't the sleeve more like $15-20k in the US? I realize Mexico is an option, but I really wanted to go to someone local. Therefore, financially, the band was the only real option for me.

I am Sept. 1 too. Can't wait!!!!

I have what I thought was excellent insurance. I was wrong. We pay nearly $1200 per month for our premiums for our family. Still, the company (Rocky Mountain Health Plans) has a complete exclusion for any kind of WLS. So I could not even try. (And forget about switching insurance companies, because I have developed hypertension, so I am now marked with a "pre-existing condition" --- ie, will be denied if I apply anywhere else). I am paying $9900 out of pocket for Dr. Brown in Denver, which is reasonable I guess, but as far as I am concerned, paying as much as we do already for health insurance, it is just shameful that NONE of this is covered. It is nothing more than a $9900 "tax" in my view. This is a great example of how insurance companies routinely "ration" health care. What else would you call it?

I knew the band was for me when I heard this one...I love greek style yogurt! The best.

I was told I would be getting the smaller one and a low-profile port....because I carry most of my weight in my lower half. :thumbup:

Robin, I have been wondering whether I can make the almost 7 hour drive home the day after my surgery, which is scheduled for 1 pm. I am starting to think a 3 night stay will be better. Tough because we have to leave our 4 kiddos at home, and they have school.... Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience!:thumbup:

Geez, I just read what I wrote and it sounds like an advertisement for Dr. B! Not meant to be that way! Just info for you since I personally did not find as much online about Dr. B. I think this is because he does so many insurance-paid surgeries and his low self-pay rate may not have been in effect for long? I don't know. Good luck! :thumbup:

Hi there, I am new too. Dr. K seems like a great surgeon, everyone here seems to rave about him! I am also self-pay and getting banded 9/1 by Dr. Brown, another Dr. in Denver with Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute. I thought I would let you know as far as I can tell, he is another excellent choice in Denver. When I was reasearching surgeons in Denver, I did not find much info on this site about Dr. Brown, so I hope this is helpful. To be honest, the main reason I chose Dr. Brown is because they were able to see me and schedule me for surgery so quickly (from start to finish less than one month). After my first appt. I was really happy with the choice, everyone in their office was so great. Dr. Brown also charges $9900 for self-pay, which includes 3 months of free fills then $50 per fill. I did not meet Dr. K, but it seems like some of the main differences are pre-op diet -Dr. K does low carb, Dr. Brown (and Dr. Metz in the same office) do 3 days clear liquid pre-op. Dr. Brown has you meet with a social worker/psychologist, which I found really helpful - more of a chat and support session than a "test" or anything like that. I don't think Dr. K requires any sort of psych. meeting. Dr. Brown also requires a meeting with their nutritionist, as well as a separate nutrition class (taken with other pre-op bandsters). This was hugely helpful. And all of these requirements can be accomplished in one day. I don't know if they do phone consults. One final difference might be that Dr. Brown & Metz do the surgery at a regular hospital, and he encouraged me to stay overnight in the hospital if I feel like it after surgery. When I said, well, I'm self pay, so I can't afford it, he told me not to worry, the most they would charge was $600 but they usually do not charge for overnight hospital stays since their self-pay band surgery is a package deal worked out with the hospital (St. Luke's/ Presbyterian). This is not something they actually advertise, probably because they don't want everyone to stay overnight for "free." Not that I would be all that excited about staying overnight anyway, but it is good to have the option. Also, Dr. Brown's practice is a "Bariatric Center of Excellence," for whatever that is worth. I think that just means they do a whole bunch of WLS. I have also heard great things about Dr. Snyder in Denver. However, he is closer to $15k for self-pay. Either way, it sounds like you will be in good hands. Best of luck, and I hope to meet you as well as the other Denver ladies soon! :thumbup:

Awesome! You look fantastic! I hope I have similar success.

I am so sorry! You must be devastated. I am around the same BMI as you and same goal weight. Unfortunately my insurance has a blanket exclusion so I am paying out of pocket. (Makes me furious that they can refuse to pay for ANY WLS for anyone, no matter how much they need it, and especially when we pay over $16k per year in monthly premiums and otherwise cost the insurance co. virtually nothing! ) Anyway, sorry for the rant. Just wanted to let you know, if you are able to consider going the self pay route (even with financing), it is VERY quick and easy. Less than a month from first phone call to surgery date for me, and zero hassles. Good luck, don't give up! :confused:

I only have to do 3 days - but it is severe, just crystal light, broth, sf popcicles & Jello. What did you do to survive? Any tips? Thanks!

I am getting surgery in a couple weeks and I have told my husband, kids, and mom. I really want to keep it at that. I live in a small town, and if one person knows, the entire town will know. This includes the major gossips and people who would talk about it non-stop and in a very negative way (I know this because I have heard the commentary about one person who had plastic surgery - I do not want to be the subject of similar commentary). The problem is I have to go out of town for surgery, and we will be leaving our kids with friends for 2-3 days, and asking other friends to handle the after-school activities. So probably 3 other families will be helping us, at least (we have 4 young kids). What can I say? What would you say? That you were going out of town for business, or is there some other surgery I could say I was having? I am not sure how to handle this, but I am certain that I do not want this to be the town's business. OOps, I did not realize this was the twenties board. Maybe I should post somewhere else...but let me know if you have ideas!

Good luck to you, I hope you get approved soon. I am in the same boat, high cholesterol, high bp, plantar fasciitis, family history of diabetes and heart disease. About a year ago I had a BMI in the 30s (with all the same issues), but managed to "diet" my way up to BMI 40. I am paying for surgery since my insurance does not cover WLS at all. I still fit in size 16/18s, which I guess some people consider "not that big", but my health issues demonstrate that it is WAY too big for me. I live in the land of the ultra-fit, with every single one of my friends quite thin and in very good shape. Honestly, the only fat people you see in our town are tourists! So although I have less to lose than some, I am painfully aware of that weight every waking moment. I too have been dieting since I was 12, and although I could lose, I could never keep it off. This has gotten more and more difficult now that I have hit the 40s. I am still planning my strategy for keeping what I consider a private medical concern private. I have told my DH, kids, and mom. That is it.

Thanks for the encouragement! I know I can do it. Hearing that other people lived through it does help!

Wow, clear liquids only? For 2 weeks? I understand liquids including Protein shakes, creamy soups, but clear liquids are like virtually no calories! broth has like 50 calories a cup right? The rest is all sugar free, zero calorie stuff. I just read the dr's instructions again and it even said "do not strain soups, only clear broth". So much for straining the wonton soup or cup of noodles - that sounded good! Thanks for the encouragement and advice to drink constantly!

I am not even supposed to have decaf coffee on the clear liquid. Only decaf tea, no coffee at all. No Protein drinks, no cream soups either.

I first looked into the band about a year ago, ordered the lapband info kit, but thought "nah, I'm really not big enough for that." HA! Proceeded to gain 30 more pounds, try and fail WW another 10 times, Atkins another 2 times, Fat Flush once, and various other things in between. I was looking for the next diet -- thinking okay maybe Jenny Craig? I never did that one -- when it hit me: NO MORE DIETING! That very night I told my husband I wanted the surgery, he totally agreed and supported me. Within a week I made my appointment with a surgeon for the following week. At that appointment (just last week) I was scheduled for surgery 3 weeks later. So, for me, it will be almost exactly one month from first call to surgery. At this point, I am just wishing I had taken these steps earlier and not wasted this past year with useless, time consuming, and expensive dieting, which only served to add another 30 pounds. I have been dieting nearly 30 years of my life, non stop! I cannot wait to get off the yo-yo roller coaster!

oops, see below...

Thanks, I was thinking any kind of Protein would help. Like those Special K Protein drinks. I will have to see if this is allowed.

OMG you did 3 weeks of this!?! ONLY Clear Liquids? That is like 300 calories a day or something! Wow. Good for you!

Awesome! You look amazing. Thanks so much for sharing, so inspiring to those of us just beginning.

Same question here - but we have 6.5 hours to drive home! DH wants to leave the day after surgery so that he can get back to work (surgery is scheduled for a Tuesday). Is this realistic? We are staying at a hotel.

I have a 3 day clear liquid diet. Seems like having a protein shake thrown in there would make it much easier, but I am sure I will manage. :thumbup:

I am having my surgery done by Dr. Brown in Denver, he and Dr. Metz at the same practice charge $9900. The surgery is performed at St. Luke's/Presbyterian hospital, with all the resources of a major hospital available. Dr.Kirshenbaum, also in Denver, is about the same. I did get some prices from Mexican surgeons, the cheapest was Aceves for $6300. Dr. Rumbaut was $7900, Dr. Ortiz $7300. I had the same concerns about aftercare, and it is much easier for me to get to Denver. Realizing now how often I will be going in for fills/checkups, I am really glad I am going to a U.S. doc. That said, I would consider Mexico for plastic surgery -- no need to go in monthly for fills!:thumbup:

Hello, I am thrilled to have a September 1 surgery date! So close! I only have to do a 3 day clear liquid diet ("only", ha ), and until then I appear to be in "last supper" mode, eating all the stuff I am afraid I will miss. I am not too worried about it since I have just 3 weeks till surgery and I know I will lose on the liquid diet (last time I did one of those, with some food, I lost 11 lbs in 3 days). Good luck to you all, and I look forward to hearing all of your stories.