[bttrflyjudy]

Hi, I'm in the thinking stage of getting the ry bypass surgery. I have talked to my insurance company and know that they will pay for 90%, so what I need to know is a ball park figure of how much the total is going to cost so I will have some idea of what I will have to pay out of pocket. I found out that the Dr.s cost alone out of pocket will be approx. $1,300. If this is going to cost too much there is no way my husband will support me in this. I am 50, have a bmi of 41.1, and have health issues that scare me. I would appreciate any advise and support, and your forum looks like the place to start. Thankyou, ~ BJ

[JLR12679]

I think the average total is about 25,000. for everything. But that is just an estimate of course. You should ask the doctor the give you info on cost. They should be able to tell you in there billing dept. I would call and inquire and if your husband doesnt support you in this because of money just explain to him the the costly amount of money you will be paying for addl medications with out the surgery, explain that over a lifetime it could add up to thousands upon thousands of dollars, for example, just one month of my medication for insulin resistance is 25.00 I have been on that medication for 6 years already. I have already spent 1800. on that one pill, Over a lifetime it can be lots more. My mom who is on 2 types of meds for her diabetes plus 2 other meds is paying 100.00 +per month times that by a year and she is spending 1200. If she were to get this procedure then she would most likely cut her meds by 75%. saving her 800.00 a year. When I finally get the surgery done I will not have to be on any of my medication any longer. So that is a savings of 300 a year just for me and my surgery is 550 + 500. so after 3 years I will be saving money. No arguement with my husband after he heard that!

Plus if cost is an issue most doctors take payment arrangements, Im paying 25.00 week till my surgery, this will have the 550. that needs to be paid up front almost completely paid by the time I get clearence!

[bttrflyjudy]

Thanks Jessica, Any information I can get will be a great help. I live in Wi. and the closest Hospital that my insurance will cover me is about 2-1/2 hours away from where I live, but the place is suppose to be the very best in our state. I just got my bloodwork done for my yearly check-up, and they are telling me that I am pre diabetic, along with high blood pressure, high cholestrol, and slow thyroid. Thats why I'm getting worried about my health. My husband keeps telling me that if I ate less and excersized more that I wouldn't have a problem. If it were that easy I would have lost weight a long time ago. I will continue getting all the info I can, and hope to convince him. Thanks ~ BJ

[bttrflyjudy]

I also would like to know if any of you who have had the ry surgery have had any complications, what they were and how they were dealt with. That is something that my husband and I are both concerned with. The Center in Neenah Wi. where I would have this done say that complications there are rare, but there is always the chance. How many of you had the open ry surgery or or lap ry surgery? If I do this I would hope to be able to do the lap ry. ~ BJ

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, bttrflyjudy, thank you for joining us.
I hope you'll be able to find the answers you need here.

Okay, about you, you can tell your DH that even with excellent supervised nutrition and exercise program, the amount of weightloss you can achieve will probably be less that normally expected. This is because of your low thryroid function. If you have any other hormornal disfunctions as well, that also will contribute to the obesity factor. In other words, will power is not always at the root of the problem. There are certain illnesses that dispose you towards obesity, and certain illnesses that the medication needed will predispose you towards obesity. There are those who develope unhealthy eating patterns to deal with their emotional issues. Whatever the cause, these have to be addressed as well as the obesity itself, and at the same time, unless the obesity is dealt with, it isn't easy to resolve whatever problems you have. If you are developing health issues, as well as the future cost, it may well be that you won't have the time to wait for your weight to come off in the conventional way--the longer you have been overweight, as well as how much excess weight you have, the going will be slower-- in time that your health issues will be effectively resolved.
Hope what I'm trying to say here makes sense.

Good luck in convincing your DH.

[bttrflyjudy]

I just tried to get him to read these posts, and he doesn't seem interested. Maybe I can get my Dr. to talk to him ~ BJ

[fr1endly2]

HI BJ!
MY bills just for surgery not including the pre op clearances for the surgery from various specialists were 27,000.00.
I had to see a cardiologist, pulumonary specialist, Physciatrist, have a gall bladder sonogram, an upper endoscopyl see a nutritionist all done prior to surgery. EVERY surgeon has different pre op clearance requirements but these tests performed by the doctors also come with costs.

I didnt have any complications and I am one year pre op. I had my surgery JUNE 1, 2005 and i have lost 143 lbs. I feel great and feel this is the best
thing I did for myself. I am in complete good health.

WELCOME to the boards and i look forward to getting to know you thru your posts!

[MoniqueD559]

OK well I am in the myst of getting this surgery done also. I just had my seminar last week and now I have a list of appointments that I have to do. For instence; I have to see a nutritionist, Psychologist and then I have to get a full physical from my primary doctor. Then after I get all those test dont I go back to meet with my surgeon to get a one on one cosulation. Then I guess they see if my insurance will approve me. And then I guess I wait for an appointment for surgery. My case is very rare. I am 23 years old and PCOS. Polycistical Overian Syndrome which is a hormone disorder in the overaries causing me to be obiese. I was just reading all these bulletons for some kind of support and advice. If you have any please share. Another thing is I dont know if I will be able to afford the other cost incurred.

[bttrflyjudy]

Hi MoniqueD, I wish you lots of luck on your upcoming surgery. I have decided to try once again to lose it on my own, as it would cost us quite a chunk out of pocket that our insurance don't cover. I recieved the results from my bloodwork/yearly checkup a couple of weeks ago and found I am pre-diabetic. I am already on meds for high cholesterol, and slow thyroid. My blood pressure was up to the point that they'd like to put me on meds for that too, so I am trying seriously (because I am scared for my health) to lose this weight of at least 75-100 pounds. In the last two weeks I have lost 5 lbs. by switching from diet pepsi to water (lots of water!), leaving sugar and salt alone, eating fruits, vegies, and lean meats, eating bread and potatoes sparingly, and having my garden salad without dressing. I put a sprinkling of shredded cheese on instead with Natures Blend seasoning. I tried having some sugar free/fat free ice cream sweetened with splenda, but found that splenda gives me the diarea, so I won't do that again.
I have never heard of PCOS before, but I hope your insurance will cover so it can be taken care of. You are so young to have such a problem, but once it is done you will have a whole new life ahead of you.The gals on this forum are very supportive, so keep posting and they will reply. Good luck to you ~ BJ

[fr1endly2]

HI MONIQUE!!!
JUST wanted to let you know that i am PCOS and lost successfully
with the surgery.
I experienced 14 year of infertility due to my PCOS.
KEEP my fingers crossed that this all works out for you
and i look forward to getting to know you more thru your posts.