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Surgery Final Costs and Food



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Hi! I have had two appointments so far for weight loss surgery and I'm still not 100% sure which surgery I want to have, the sleeve or the bypass. I have Aetna in Ohio for my surgery (I work for the State) and was wondering if anyone here had bypass surgery and could share with me what their out of pocket was for the surgery? Thanks! Taking a lot of things into consideration with this process.

Second question: what are you realistically able to eat? Is this going to be a funeral to food once this surgery is done? I've heard of people a year out eating a handful of almonds and a Water for lunch and being so full. Is that the extent of the eating experience I will have? I'm kind of a foodie and live in an amazing culinary city. I know all things in moderation and all that, but will I literally not be able to dine any longer once I have this surgery?

Thanks for all the feedback, extremely new at this, and appreciate anything you'd be willing to share. Thanks!

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Hey, so i live in a big coastal city myself, and just had my bypass. I’ll tell you, yes, it’s a funeral for food. I always ate all kinds of things, and now I’m full off of 2oz of water.. your new stomach doesn’t have room for much else. I have no idea how people are drinking alcohol and eating other stuff.. you’ll feel very sick if you do. But this is the cost of wanting to get health or small.. however, other friends of mine who had bypass, after one year or more, eat and drink pretty normal now.. they just haven’t kept their weight off all the way... as for insurance? I’m in California and have medi-Cal , so in all covered. Only payed for Vitamins and my shakes.

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My surgery was in 2003 and revised in 2008. It is NOT a funeral for food!!! You do have to be smart. At first, there will be things your body doesn't want you to eat. But over time, I have found NOTHING that I can't eat. Just don't eat so much. If you go out, share or plan on taking a bunch home to enjoy later. I don't imbibe, so I can't answer to the alcohol; but it gets into your system much faster so people get drunk quicker. And those are all empty calories, so again, SMALL amounts. Hope this helps. And bypass is still the gold standard from my understanding. Sleeve preserves more stomach and stomach acids so the digestion is a bit different. Sleeve people: is this what you understand to be true?

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I'm 7bweeks out. Last night was hubby's class reunion, with a small buffet. I took, 1 tiny BBQ biscuit, a piece of roast beef, 2 crackers w cheese ball, 1 pudding shot and 1 chicken tender. I ate, a bite of chicken, 2 nibbles of biscuit, 1 cracker with 1T spreadable cheese and about 2T of pudding. I was stuffed! But I enjoyed every thing and was satisfied. I also nursed a glass of wine over 2 hours and never finished it. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything.

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

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Hi! I have had two appointments so far for weight loss surgery and I'm still not 100% sure which surgery I want to have, the sleeve or the bypass. I have Aetna in Ohio for my surgery (I work for the State) and was wondering if anyone here had bypass surgery and could share with me what their out of pocket was for the surgery? Thanks! Taking a lot of things into consideration with this process.
Second question: what are you realistically able to eat? Is this going to be a funeral to food once this surgery is done? I've heard of people a year out eating a handful of almonds and a Water for lunch and being so full. Is that the extent of the eating experience I will have? I'm kind of a foodie and live in an amazing culinary city. I know all things in moderation and all that, but will I literally not be able to dine any longer once I have this surgery?

Thanks for all the feedback, extremely new at this, and appreciate anything you'd be willing to share. Thanks!



I would say bypass.....I have had all three surgeries! Just to save $$$$. Now I have spent enough to have paid for it after all! Had my bypass on 9/25 and feeling great!


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Anyone's out of pocket will depend on your plan coverage - your deductible and out of pocket and cost sharing. My plan is 80/20 with 4200 deductible but after 7100 out of pocket it covers at 100%.

You have to research on which method of wls. I picked the sleeve because I did not want malabsorption and the % of weight loss for either is almost the same and I do not have significant acid reflux (no inflammation or erosion). The rate of weight loss for bypass is faster but you can have significant deficiencies. And the stomach portion that remains inside can develop ulcers from acid reflux because it is still hooked up to your body - my nurse at my pcp now has this issue plus b-12 deficiency after 7 years.

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I picked the sleeve when I had my band removed, its what caused me to get acid reflux, it is also known to cause it........

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