MommyX1

I am pretty sure I'm going to have to do self pay, and I was wondering what the experience is like for others who have done the same? I have information on a few different finance companies but I havent called for preapproval because I am scared they will tell me no (silly, I know) I have decent/good credit and a great job but I've only been at the job for a few months so I'm a little worried that will hinder me. I also have this fear that I will finance this and then something will go wrong... I wonder if insurance would pay if I had a complication, especially if it was something life threatening? Anyone have any experiences with something like that? I know if all else fails I can save up but it would prob take at least a year to save up that much money and I am ready to do it NOW haha

I am just curious to see what the hair loss was like for everyone!

tiffy-I just noticed that you are 28lbs *below* target weight! That has got to be an amazing feeling-actually out doing what you were hoping to achieve:) And yeah, I def have a love affair with my hair- I have these big cheeks that only look normal when my hair is down. But I can do pony tails and root lifter if it means that I can leave these size 22's behind forever!

Well maybe I will get lucky and not lose as much... I've had three surgeries this past year and havent lost a whole lot of hair (that I have noticed) And I will def stock up on these shampoos and supplements. I think the reason its so scary for those of us who havent had surgery yet is that as a large person, the only things that you can really do to make yourself look really good (like if your going out or dressing up) is by taking extra time to do your hair and makeup. And to think that one of the only things about myself I really wouldnt want to change is going to change is pretty scary! But most of you who have already had the surgery dont seem too broken up about it, and I'm trying to remind myself of all the cute clothes I'll get to buy:)

Well I agree its a fair trade-getting a thinner body along with thinner hair:) Esp since it will grow back. Has anyone tried womens rogaine or prenatal vitamins (or asked their doctors about it)

hey I'm in macon:) I was wondering too about maybe taking a prenatal vitamin before the surgery (staring now I guess...) my hair and nails were PERFECT during my pregnancy:)

Hmm about the hair loss with anesthesia, I havent had the sleeve yet but I have been unfortunate enough to have had three surgeries this past year, pretty evenly spaced out, and I havent noticed any excessive hair loss. I guess the one that is most similar to sleeve was getting my gallbladder out. I'm hoping and praying I'll be lucky to not lose much! I did lose a TON after having my baby, and after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, but the only reason anyone noticed was because I shed all over the place:'(

Ok I knew there was hair loss, but I didnt realize it was extensive enough to need a wig! I'll be honest, that scares the $% out of me! I mean I think its a fair trade, a few months of bad hair days for a life time of good health but I'm still worried.

I'm also an ICU nurse, and I agree with PCindy. Plus, the 'resp depression' usually is the patient breathing too slowly or not deeply enough, not WANTING to breathe and not being able to. Its exactly like someone who drinks a massive amount of alcohol and then passes out on the couch. The reason its given over two mins is so that it dosent irritate your vein and burn like crazy. I cant believe that doctor didnt just admit what they did instead of leading you to believe that you have some sort of problem with the drug. very scary:(

Hello all:) I just joined this forum just so I could post in this thread:) I am 24 years old and a new RN just graduated in May and got my dream job in Neuro ICU at a level one trauma center:) I'm from Georgia and have decided to have weight loss surgery and after many hours of research I think this may be the way I am going to go. I was going to choose lap band but the idea of a foreign object in my body for the rest of my life makes me more than a little nervous! I am 5'4 have hung around 200 most of my life but after the birth of my daughter I shot up to 260 and have yo-yo'd for the past two and a half years due to my newly diagnosed hypothyroidism-and now cannot lose ANY weight :'( (and my tsh levels are under control) I have three main reasons for doing this- Of course I consider the idea of cute clothes and nice shoes but my number one reason for doing it is I dont want to be sick when my daughter is my age. I dont want to be on dialysis or having my foot amputated or getting infections in skin folds. I just want to be 'normal'... whatever normal is:) My final reason is that I feel like a hipocrite... being a fat nurse... its like a doctor who smokes... or a cop who does drugs. It just dosent seem right. And I cant help but feel like co-workers judge me, or the doctors judge me... because Its 'so easy' to lose weight right :svengo: oh and one more reason! I want to get family pictures made:) ones that I can actually be proud of

I'm from the US... It would seem like the govt insurance (its called medicare right?) would pay for the surgery, since in the end it would save money when you are not as sick as you get older... but I could say the same about my own insurance company! They would possibly cover it, but only at 30% and just by the numbers I have gotten so far from doctors I would be better off just paying for the whole thing myself. I havent made up my mind for sure yet though... I might run it through insurance just to see.

Thanks for all the info! I usually try to get my montly payment as low as possible too, so I can have lots of wiggle room:) it seems like the smart thing to do to me. And according to my doctor, his quote includes 'EVERYTHING' including all testing fees hospital fees and up to 9 fills a year after the surgery.... but this is just the info I've gotten via email, I havent gone in for a consult yet because I am still researching and dont plan to do surgery until the first of the year (just started new job, dont have any leave until oct or so)

Hey, havent had band surg yet so I dont know what complications from that are like.. BUT I have had my gallbladder removed- for me it was somewhat like heartburn in the front and a throbbing, aching pain in between my shoulder blades. It somewhat feels like hunger, but I also had nausea and vomiting. It almost always followed a very greasy meal and sometimes I would have a dull ache on my right side midway between my armpit and waist.

sorry if this is too personal but how much are you paying per month? My credit score is well above 600 so that makes me feel a lot better:) thank you for that info. my doctor is gonna charge a little more than that but I have some of it charged up, and he said it includes 9 fills per year (I'm not sure for how many years tho) and good point about the investment:) but I really do think that there is NO PRICE on your health, and even if it was twice that much I'd be willing if it meant I get to live longer, and healthier (and not starve the entire time, haha)

You know, I was thinking about what the costs would be after copays and everything-prob not a pretty sight! not to mention the extra steps I would have to take as far as past history and psych evals and all of those lovely things... And its also funny that you make the mention to the cost of the car, to celebrate graduating college and getting my new fabulous job I was planning on getting a brand new car. (not that anything is wrong with my car now) Well if I just DONT get the car, and instead get the surgery, I think the end result will be much better-less chance of dying before I get to meet my grandkids:) I'm only 24, so I know that losing all of this weight NOW will greatly improve my quallity of life, and I've been yo-yoing since I was 17 with the end result of being bigger now than I've ever been.

anyone havae any experience with them? esp if you work at mccg

Hey guys I'm new here but this is the doctor I am thinking about using:) I was wondering if any of you guys have secure health plans of Georgia? also anyone from the macon area? I have been thinking about weight loss surgery since I was really young, I always said if I wasnt happy with my weight by 25 I would do surgery and I turn 24 next week:) I dont see the point of wasting any more time, even if I have to do self pay. How long did it take you guys to recover? I am an rn so I spend lots of time on my feet and I'm hoping I dont have to take too much time off

I have hypothyroidism too. That is insane that your sister was skinny with this disease! It didnt seem to affect my appetite at all haha. You would prob still have a weight prob without it but it def makes it a LOT harder to lose and keep weight off. I am also furious that my doc didnt check me sooner, I kept telling her I couldnt lose weight and she didnt believe me:) BUT alas even though I am on meds now I still have trouble losing weight. It is easier than it was but I still think I'm going to need lapband. The major difference I discovered after getting on my meds is that my brain seems to work better and my body is not sore all the time anymore. Also my hair quit falling out!

I'm so happy I found this post:) And I think its awesome that your doctor let you talk to both of those women. And congrats on your success:) I hope I am in your place soon

That doctor wants you to try that "new diet" because he will profit off of it. The company that created that diet is prob paying him good money, not to mention all the office visits you would have to pay for. I would get a second opinion:)

I've been thinking about this a lot too... I'm a nurse and I just know all of my co-workers are going to judge me so I think I might keep it to myself. I havent decided if I'm going to tell family yet... I've only told 3 people:)

I was hoping for a little advice from some of my peers:) I have a BMI of 43.4 My doctor has put me on phentermine for the second time last month. the first time I lost 30 lbs which brought me to a BMI of 38. I was very excited but quickly regained the weight (later discovered I had hypothyroidism, which is why we are giving it a second go) anyway, after much thought and research I've decided that I want to get lapband and I think I could get it financed, but I know it wont be for about 6 more months since I just started a new job, and I am trying to decide which is smarter: to quit the phentermine trial and not let my BMI get below 40 so the chances of insurance approving me are better that way or to do the diet and lose some weight in the possiblity that I could lose the weight without the surgery? I just know that odds are I will regain the weight and I had to do that to myself ya know? But I know also that for approval you need a medically supervised diet for 6 months so in theory this could be my diet? thoughts? advice? similar experiences? also btw I have no comorbidities other than high cholesterol, and its only 8 points too high.

Thanks guys for the replies! Phentermine does seem like a miracle drug while you are taking it and I agree, the best part about it is the energy. It makes me feel like a 'NORMAL' person that I can go to work and then come home and cook dinner and play with my child and wash dishes without falling down on the couch like a sack of potatoes lol. I even exersized and dieted last time with the meds and I still regained but I guess I was hoping maybe I could just blame it on the hypothyroidism. I think I am going to talk to my doctor about the surgery... I'm actually really scared to bring it up, I dont know why.