New here and looking for some advise

I have been overweight for more then 10 years and I am just sick and tried of feeling the way I do. So I have started to do some of my own research on weight loss surgery. I have tried every diet out there and I never seem to loss anything. And if I do loss anything it is a real small amount and I put it back on with in a month. But recently I have been having lots of mood swings and very depressed. Unfortantly we don't have insurance so I will end up paying for this out of my pocket it I do end up doing. (No insurance cause noone will cover me because i am overweight Crazy right)

I'm a SAHM three boys who make my life very hecktick and a husband who doesn't think I need to lose anything (he's a real sweetheart) and I recently returned to school to study to be a nurse. I want to lose the weight for them, I realized this summer that my weight is holding all of us back from having a good summer and that is really upsetting to me.

I didn't know how I need to go about this. Do I contact me PCP and talk with her before I contact a surgeon? Who is the best surgeon in NH? What is the cost and is there any type of financial assistant that anyone knows about?

Like I said just looking for some advise I would like to have all my ducks in a row before I present this to my family.

Thanks in advance.
Nancy

I'd start by attending one of the informational meetings.  There are a lot of really good programs and good surgeons in this area, so you're lucky in the regard.  Lots of options.  All of the programs (I believe) have informational nights, where you can go and learn more about the process.

I don't know what the cost is.  For some reason $15K sticks in my head for lapband and 30K for bypass, but I don't remember the exact figures, OR what those numbers included.  (For example, if you go through the Portsmouth program, you have to pay for behavior mod classes, meetings with a nutritionist and physical therapist, and the psychologist before surgery.)

I think your best bet is to attend one of the informational meetings to learn more.  Her'es info about the program I went through:
http://portsmouth.icu.ehc.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomConte ntID=D3D28BFB-4FD8-45C3-A96A-2074E862DA4E

Other people can pipe in and give you the links to the other programs in the area.

Hello Nancy and Welcome to the boards.  Others will join in, I'm sure, about doing this self-pay.  I have insurance - I'm very glad to say.  So far as I know, all of the surgeons doing WLS in NH require you to go through a pretty extensive program that involves pre-op weight loss, psych evaluation and behavior or lifestyle modification classes, support group attendance, and several pre-op testing procedures.  I believe all must go through the programs regardless of who's paying the fee.  If I am wrong about this others will correct me.

Like you, the negative affects my obesity has on my health and lifestyle are more than I can tolerate.  But I am having surgery on Sept 16th for me.  It really is all about me.  I am happy to have my family's support and I look forward to being able to be more active with them but the surgery is to increase my health and improve my life - not theirs.  My program has drummed in to my head the importance of accepting total responsibility for this choice and all of the lifestyle choices that will be necessary to make this surgery 1) safe and 2) successful for me long-term. 
There is so much good info here and so many good people.  I think you'll find us good company.  Best of luck - Treading

Hi, Welcome aboard.  I agree that you need to go to an information meeting to find out more.  You may also want to go to you obgyn and have a hormone level taken.  I know when I started menopause, depression and mood swings were a daily occurence.  I don't know how old you are, but menopause can start as early as your late 30's. 

I didn't think of that cause I am only 29. I do plan on going to my pcp and having a physical and blood work done to make sure everything is ok. I will keep that in mind when I do go. Thank you


I would like to thank all of you for the advise. I have found a seminar that is in my town next month so I am going go to that and see if that will give me more information.

Thank you

Hi Nancy:  I went to the orientation session at CMC last week and they mentioned the surgery costs (for those without insurance) to be $23,000 for LB and $38,000 for R-N-Y.

Good Luck!

Hi Nancy,
Welcome to the Board. 

You should definitely attend an informational meeting.  Locally, CMC, Dartmouth-Hitch**** Clinic, Portsmouth Regional and Parkland (I think) hold them.  Usually, they're held monthly.  Also, I went through Tufts Medical Center for my RNY procedure last September.  They're meetings are also held monthly - 3rd Monday of the month.  I think the total cost may have been around $26K, but I'm not entirely sure.  My experience with Tufts has been very positive. 

In any event, if you are looking for funding ideas, you could check your retirement savings (although I would think long and hard before touching that money, if you have it), however, some plans allow you to withdraw - not borrow - the funds without penalty for medical procedures that are not insured.  Also, there are medical credit cards out there.  I don't know much about them though. 

Finally, you should also talk to your PCP about your plans.  He/she may have advice to offer, and you're going to need him/her to support your decision because this is will be a lifelong change for you. 

Good luck!

I would of course first of all get in with your PCP and have a physical.  There can be lots of reasons for depression....some of them clinical and some of them situational.  I have dealt with both in the past.

Secondly, call around and find out information on those information sessions.  I go to Dartmouth Hitch**** manchester and theirs is always the second friday of the month and you do need to preregister.  Each and every program will have its own unique set of requirements.

One word of caution that you should know of.  Self pay can be a risky thing.....in that if anything does not go smoothly...it can cost you much, much, much more than the 'surgery' cost.  A simple trip to ICU can be very expensive---  You should be aware of that and realize that the numbers you are given are for a 'smooth' 'no complication' surgery.  I had looked at this when I had an ins. that had an exclusion....and it scared me right out of it.  My ins. co would not have covered anything stemming from the surgery like complications.  Not to scare you, but to make you aware.

Michelle

Just FYI, these numbers people are throwing out like 15K lapband, 30K RNY, etc. is what the surgeons office will be charging you for his/her services.  This is not the total cost.  I went through the Portsmouth Regional Hopsital program in Portsmouth, NH.  My surgeons total cost was about 30K, but everything all totalled up came to about 65K.  Three days after surgery I had a minor complication that involved me going back to the ER, then ending up back in the hospital for about 24 hours.  Which I'm not even including in the 65K figure.  Also I need labwork done at 6 months, 12 months, and annually from then on out for the rest of my life.  My insurance covers some of the $1,000 cost to have a full set of lapwork done looking for vitaman deficiencies, but I still pick up quite a bit of that. 

The only way to go on the "cheap" is to go to Mexico for one of those drop in, have surgery & fly home deals.  The problem is that without the prep work I had to go through - behavior modification classes with a psychiastrist, pre-op required weight loss, all the information & support groups - I don't think I would be sucessful long term.  I'd be one of the 20% who go through all of it, loose the weight, go back to the same lifestyle as before, and then slowly regain all the weight again.  Plus some. 

If you have medicare coverage you might be able to find a program that will accept that.  I don't know if any of the Concord/Manchester area ones do.  Portsmouth Regional Hospital doesn't yet, but maybe one of the other programs do.  I agree with everyone else that the place to start is the informational night, it's free and you'll learn alot.  Plus they have time at the end for Q & A so the program coordinator or surgeons themselves can answer any other questions you have. 

Good luck!