*New to the group*

HI I'm new to the group, but have made my mind up that I wanna have the surgery! Need help what should I do 1st. And any information on ways I can pay for the surgery. Thanks in advance!!!!÷

Welcome What surgery are you trying to get?  

With your BMI, you REALLY need to consider the Duodenal Switch. The DS has the best long-term, maintained weight-loss stats, especially for those with a BMI greater than 50.

If you're going to be self-pay, then I suggest you consider going to Dr. Ungson in Mexico. MUCH cheaper than staying inside the US---and he's a world-class surgeon to boot. A friend of mine when to him, and took her mother along. Her mother is a nurse, and she said trhe standard of care was the best she'd ever seen. 

My bmi was 53.3 when I started my journey i am getting Vertical sleeve gastrectomy on 8/12/15 and I would research before you make a decision as to which surgery you want to have DS is the most ivasive surgery and has a lot of after care vitamins and complications one of my friends had it and she is very unhappy with all the problems she is having.  Not to discourage you but just make sure you research and then discuss your choice with your surgeon.  Ultimately it's your choice.

Yes, the DS requires a higher level of commitment to taking vitamins and getting regular labs done. For ME, it was really the only choice---I knew from a lifetime of failed diets that I was MUCH better at doing something---like taking vitamins---than I was a not doing something, like eating my favorite foods. (*grin*) It didn't really take long to form the habit of tossing back some pills every time I had a meal.

What sort of problems is your friend having? Does she belong to any of the DS-specific groups on Facebook? Sometimes those of us who have been living with this surgery for a while can give better advice than the doctors do.

First step is calling your insurance company (use the number on the back of the card) or checking your benefit book (available online or maybe through your HR department) to see if bariatric surgery is covered. If it IS covered, you can track down a surgeon who is covered by your plan.

Once you have a list of doctors, check their websites or call their offices to see if they offer informational seminars. Most do, and you can go see a presentation about the surgery, meet the doctor and his/her staff, and get more information about how to move forward.

Hi.  I'm just getting started too.  Do what sparklekitty said, and if your insurance says you need to do a medically supervised diet, get in to see a dietician right away - that's just less time you'll have to wait to get that requirement done.

IF you were a volume eater like me, a DS or VSG are pretty good surgeries. I would ask your new surgeon what is best, though.

Congratulations on taking control of your life and your weight loss journey.   ​

We suggest you research all your options for WLS and OH is the right place for that.  Once you have reviewed your options surgery wise and decided on one then your next step is to find a surgeon.  We can help you with that.     ​​ Here are some links that will be helpful in your research.

• RNY Gastric Bypass
• LAP-BAND® System
• Duodenal Switch
• Vertical Sleeve
• Realize-Band

​If you have not done so, contact your insurance company and verify if they cover WLS and if so what procedures.​  If you have Medicaid and or Medicare, contact them to verify if they cover WLS, if so, what procedures and if there are any pre-surgery qualifications you have to meet.  Ask for a list of surgeons in your area that take your insurance then we can assist you with contacting those surgeons on your behalf to get you started on your journey!  

Let us know if you need anything else at [email protected]

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