Considering DS, how to afford vites, protein shakes?
I'm just getting started on the road to WLS, so it could be up to a year before I have a WLS but I am strongly thinking about DS. My main concern is affording the stuff I'd need after the surgery. I'm on disability and get only $730 a month, and I also get $160 in EBT SNAP a month. That's about it. I have Medicare. I know my drug plan does not covered iron supplements, so I assume it wouldn't cover and other vitamins other than a prenatal vitamin. So many vitamins are quite expensive, as is the protein powder and shakes I will need. Does medicare cover any of it? Are there any special programs? I have a BMI of 60 so I greatly need some drastic weight loss, and DS seems like the best to help me achieve that, but the costs after surgery are just staggering!
I'm actually on disability for bipolar disorder, but I've been doing better. I'm only on it because I need insurance. I have other health problems going on right now, however.
Short version: I plan to get off disability when I can physically handle work and can get insurance some way other than with SSDI.
Welcome!
You've made a great choice. The DS has the best results of any bariatric surgery for percentage excess weight loss, for maintenance of that weight loss, and for resolution of almost all comorbidities.
Some vitamins are expensive, but some can be purchased either at CostCo or when on sale at local drug stores. For example, the "dry" D, A, and K that you can't find just anywhere are pricey, but I get my multivits (NOT just a prenatal!) at Costco, and zinc when on sale whereever. You can also find calcium citrate at CostCo and elsewhere, just make sure you take the full dose, as it takes 2 pills to equal a 500 mg dose.
As far as protein shakes go, most of us don't rely on them, esp after the intial recovery period, because we have such a wide variety of protein choices and can use any cooking method. We don't have to just eat lean meat, we can eat any cut of meat because we absorb ony 20% of the fat we consume. This makes it much easier to eat normal food and not rely on protein products. This is not to say that cost isn't a factor, as protein costs more than carbs, but it does give you lots more choices.
And frankly, you would face the same protein needs with gastric bypass, but with less options. Less vitamins too, which might save you a little money. But also consider that the more weight you lose and keep off, the more able you will be to find employment and earn the money to buy the stuff you'll need to stay healthy, and the DS is more likely to give you that option.
Larra
I am more than 10 years postop and have never relied on protein shakes. If I needed shakes I would find a way to buy the expired stuff for cheap. Someone would be willing to sell it rather than throw it away. GNC often sells the almost expired RTD shakes for $1. If you are serious about WLS, start stockpiling now. Most vites will last a long time in a cool, dark place. I spend between 3 and 4 hundred per year on vites. I watch for sales and purchase mostly from Puritan or Costco.
I think food will be more of a challenge than vites. A high protein diet also means high food bills. I think I would eat a lot of eggs. 6lb cans of tuna are $9 at Costco. Then I would buy the rest of the ingredients at the 99cents Only Store.to make a great tuna salad. That big can of tuna is 800 grams of protein! The big tuna salad would cost @$15 but it's enough protein for a week. Turkey always goes down in price around the holidays. I buy and roast as many as I can and freeze packages of plain cooked meat.
The food would be a major change for you. Most people who don't have a lot of money exist on a high carb diet. Carbs are cheap and filling. You will have to nearly eliminate carbs from your diet. Think protein all the time.
Yeah, I know about the protein. I will really have to stretch my food stamps. It will be tough for sure. I'm hoping there's some way I can get medicaid to help with the cost of some of the vitamins or something. I keep seeing these ads on the site here saying stuff about medicare and insurance covering some supplements and shakes. I dunno.
I had my DS as my ticket off disability. I'm not off yet, but I am in school (hiatus right now for skin removal) studying to become a bariatric dietician.
It has made moving a bit easier, and I now have medicines that are effective for my autoimmune disorder. Before, the only thing that would work was prednisone, which only added to the weight issue.
It was the surgery that convinced me that I wanted to get credentials so I could help others like me. That, and the bad advice I got from some of the dieticians I encountered.
It may be different in your state, but Medicaid won't cover vitamins in mine, even though they are medically necessary and prescription strength. Also, because I had a good job before I became disabled, my spend-down is so high, they never pick up anything, anyway.
Most of the high potency stuff that we need you can get from Vitalady, or check amazon, eBay and luckyvitamin.com.
HW 405/SW 397/CW 138/GW 160 Do the research! Check the stats!
The DS is *THE* solution to Severe Morbid Obesity!
If cost is an issue, you might as well bundle RNY into your dilemma as well, for they also require lots of supplements to keep healthy. The ones who make a point to keep healthy spend just as much. With a BMI as high as yours, the DS would be a great recommendation for you.
Now, on the vitamin subject - while it is very convenient, you don't need any special vitamins or prenatal vitamins, and you can piece together what you need, taking advantage of local BOGO sales and stocking up on things like multi vitamins (just take double-dose of a Centrum equivalent), calcium citrate, zinc, B12 and C. For the A, D, E and K, ignore the expensive bundled multi's for these and get dry versions of these in mega-doses. The doses we need are only available online. I like to buy from Vitalady on these if the pricing is similar (because she does a lot for the wls community), but if I find a really good deal on Amazon, I'll take advantage of that. My cost is around $40/month.
Protein drinks may be necessary the first 6 months just to get the required protein in, but you can eat strategically and on the cheap and not need protein drinks at all as soon as you can eat more. I keep some around just in case I have a crappy eating day, but a pouch of Jay Robb egg white powder lasts months. How do you afford them when you need them? You're likely not hungry for any food, so buy those along with the little tidbits you will eat.
Valerie
DS 2005
There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes
You learn to shop around for vits and protein powders, comparing qualities to costs. Fortunately, the internet opens a lot of doors to availability and lower costs.
It's good you are thinking about this before hand - because it does matter. I spend around 50 dollars a month to maintain on my vits, around 20 dollars a month for protein powder (I get most of my protein through food).
My grocery bill is about the same. I used to eat around 300 dollars a month in food before the surgery, and that was a lot of food in carbs. Now, I eat a lot less food by weight, but much more expensive protein sources. Looking for sales on turnkeys, expired meats, hamburger, and eating a ton of eggs in everything really stretches the food budget. You get better at looking for sales on this, or buying from Zaycon.com in bulk.
Costco used to be my first stop for all proteins, but now their prices are the same as my local grocery stores. The quality is better on meat, but the price is the same. (If I didn't have a free card, I wouldn't pay the annual fee any more.) So I shop my local stores and when I see a sale, I stock up big and freeze it. Having a freezer really helps with this eating plan.
I think the DS would help you the most with a BMI of 60.
