Nebraska aftercare Dr's

I'm considering Lap band surgery out of state or maybe even in mexico.\ Are there other members who have gone this route? If so who do they use as aftercare providers? As far as I can tell the 4 Dr's in the Omaha area who do the lapband surgery do not accept aftercare patients. any sugestions?

I live in Kansas, but I'm just 20 minutes from the Nebraska border. I had my surgery in Mexico and I too checked out the Drs in Lincoln and Omaha and I believe you are right. I couldn't find one that would even return my call. For my first fill I used a surgeon in Atchison Kansas by the name of AK Tayiem, and the fill was $150. Tomorrow I leave for Mexico to see my surgeon and have my second fill. I decided that I really wanted this second one done with fluoro and by the time I pay the Dr in Atchison and the hospital fee to have fluro, it's cheaper just to fly back down to Tijuana and see my original surgeon. As far as general aftercare, like the incisions and weigh-ins, I use my PCP. He's been very good about it. I live in a very small town of about 1000 people and I'm the first person here to have the lapband done and my PCP had never even really heard of it, so I gave him the book that came with my band and he's seeing me once a month just to keep track of how things are going and to keep an eye on things. Good luck in whatever you chose to do. Dawn

Robert, I know that Dr. Benjamin Hung in Lincoln does fills for patients that had Bands placed elsewhere. Give his office a call. If you have insurance, most require just a co-pay for a fill appt. If you don't the office will have a rate set for fills. Again call his office to get further information. Why are you considering out of state or Mexico? Just curious. I was banded 6/7. If you have any questions, please let me know! best of luck..Shelly

Just curious - Why did are you going to Mexico or out of state? Especially if you require any "out of the ordinary" follow up?

I am Omaha, LapBand with Dr. Sudan. If you are looking for payment options, here's my self pay advice: Watch your interest rates! I saw one company charging 15% interest for a medical loan. If you have to do that, well, then you have to...but there are other options you should explore first. Remember, you don't have to take all the money from the same place -- you can do 1/2 from 1 place and 1/2 from another or even from 3 or 4 different places. Make sure home equity isn't an option -- if your mortgage amount isn't the same as the value of the house, you might have some equity. You can do a line of credit or a second mortgage. These can be good options because interest rates (I think) are around 6% and the interest on these would be tax deductible. Other options: I took a loan from my 401(k). You can take out 1/2 with no questions asked. You do pay interest, mine was 6%, but when you pay the interest back, you pay it to yourself--not to someone else. I have 5 years to pay that back. I put some of it on credit cards. On an existing card I had, I had an offer for 1.9% interest for 6 months. So I charged on there what I knew I could pay off in 6 months (a good chunk actually cause that's where my tax return went to) before the interest rate went up to 20-some %. Tax return -- are you getting one? If you're close to open enrollment, you can enroll for a medical reimbursement account. I don't know how much you can have taken out of your check, but it's a nice option to do because you can take it all out before you've paid into it. Example: let's say you want $200 a month to go into the account--that adds up to $2400 a year. Once the account is started, you can take that whole $2400 out right away and pay the surgeon...then each month, you put your $200 into it -- it's like pre-paying the surgeon with money in the account BEFORE you put the money in the account. Personal loan. You might qualify for a personal loan from the bank....doesn't have to be for any particular reason...just go to the bank and see if you qualify for a personal loan and see what the interest rate is. Good Luck!

Thanks for all the sugestions and information. The reason I'm considering surgery elsewhere is strickly a money thing. I have 2 insurance policies with United Health Care (mine and my wifes) both have exclusions. If I have the surgery I'll be self pay. Surgery in Mexico is 5-6 thousand less than it is here. I've found a few places in the U.S. that charge between $10,500-$12,000 which is more affordable than $15,000-$20,000 that it cost here in Omaha.

Mine was about $14,500 with Dr. Sudan in Omaha, self-pay, but that was LapBand. I also have UHC and although they wouldn't pay for the surgery, they're paying for all my fills and post-op care (I just have to pay my co-pay). Good luck! jayme

Robert, I had the lapband with Dr. White in Omaha. Self pay charge was 16,500 but my fills are free. It might have been cheaper to go south of the border for the surgery, but in the long run I think the follow up care will cost more. That is why I opted for surgery in Omaha. At the time Dr. Hung was not doing the lap band in Lincoln which is where I work. Denise

Hi!! I just wanted to let you know I went to Mexico for surgery, RNY in Ensenada and I had an absolutely wonderful experience!! Many people here Mexico and just think the worst! I had the best care I have ever had in Mexico and I have had multiple surgeries at Good Sam in Kearney. You may want to check out the South of the border forum on this site. There are many people on there who have had the lab band in Mexico and could give you much information! Good luck on your journey! Amanda