WLS - How long out of work?
 

Hi All,
I am new here and just sort of looking around for something...anything...to help me lose this 100 pounds once and for all! Like many, I've been a yo-yo dieter for years. I've "played with" the same 40 pounds for the past 10 years, gaining and losing and gaining again. I always top off and stop around 235 lbs, but I'm only 5'3" and really need to be 135. I have 5 children and my husband has FINALLY had a vasectomy so I know my body won't have to take that abuse again;) . My concerns about WLS is that it takes both my husband and my income to support our family and I work only partime so I have no paid leave from work. If I were to have this done, how long would I be out of work? Also, my health insurance won't cover it because although I am "morbidly obese" by definition, I am Blessed to be what they consider "healthy"....IE, labs within normal range, no diabetes, my B/P is always low, cholesterol and thyroid check out fine. In fact, other than envirnomentally induced asthma, which I've had since a child, and two knee surgeries for patella realignments also due to something I was born with, I've never been sick. According to ins, no real reason to pay for surgery. How much is it out of pocket? Any suggestions for financial help? I know I am worth any cost, but don't wanna put my family in debt.
Thanks so much. I look forward to being part of this wonderful group!

Hi Shele,

I had lapband surgery and recovered very quickly. Exactly one week after surgery I was traveling on a plane to do a 50th wedding anniversary party for my parents and had to remind myself that I'd just had surgery, because I felt so good. Other people's experiences can be much different though - it's very individual. It also makes a difference what type of surgery you have, so it will be difficult to give you answers here.

It is also difficult to give you self-pay prices because they vary so widely depending on type of surgery and where you are. If I were you, I'd start researching both RNY and Lapband (there is also DS, but I think you aren't heavy enough, but I could be wrong). Once you know what type of surgery you want to have, you'll have a better starting point for doctor shopping. Besides, if you're going to have WLS, the more you know about it, the better off you are. Your expectations will be realistic and you won't wonder what the heck you did to yourself.

Also, have you ever had a sleep study done? I know that obese people tend to have sleep apnea, which is considered a co-morbidity. My insurance also considered other things (which aren't coming to my tired, old mind right now) co-morbids, so you might not want to give up just yet on the insurance company.

Chickadee

My 10 cents worth...

I was self pay also. I chose to go to Mexico. Surgery cost was $8500. The most important thing about getting the band is making sure you have GREAT aftercare. I could have flown back to Mexico for aftercare, but chose to stay close to home - but they cost me $250 a pop. (I shouldn't say pop when I'm talking about someone sticking a needle in my tummy...)

In my area (Texas) it's about $15K for self pay patients but many doctors include free fills for the first year with that price.

Good luck to you!

Hi. It sounds like you and I are in very similar situations. We just had our last baby and I'm about 100 lbs overweight and short too (5'1"). I don't have any significant health problems yet either. However, I'm hoping that the "yet" part will convince them to pay. Does anyone in your family have problems that would put you at higher risk?

I'm in Arizona, and here, the lap-band costs $10,000. They gave me a sheet with the prices of the other surgeries, but I can't recall them off the top of my head.

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Here in Washington State LapBand is $12,000.00 & RNY is $24,000.00 . I am self paying for RNY , thank god for home equity . I would think your knee surgeries would be a co-morbidity (making re-injury likely) , as would your asthsma . Your doctor should be able to word it right .

You can go to www.obesityhelp.com and you can look up the different kinds of surgeries there are out there. If I recall correctly they even have a link for you to go to if you need help in paying for surgery. As for the outta work part. I told all my regular customers that I would be out for two weeks..... This friday will be 17 weeks. It's been hard on Dh and I b/c we too depended on both incomes to make ends meet... but with me NOT cooking and NOT eating, groceries have dropped enough to make it without my check. I've had so many complications though... you just don't even wanna know.
Good luck,
Sharmel