You are a bulk eater and you are looking for WLS that will permit you to continue being a bulk eater? What am I missing? WLS really honestly isn't for everyone. If you are looking to continue your eating habits then surgery can make you quite ill. I wouldn't go for any procedure until you are in a place where you can make some substantial changes in your thinking and behaviors. Sorry, I realize this is an old post but I had to respond. This makes no sense. You will not lose weight if you don't cut down on your food consumption.

While I don't doubt in the least that this doctor does this practice of having you pay up front and then filing your own insurance, that is insurance fraud on the part of the doc. Docs do this so they don't have to write off their contractually agreed upon amount. If the insurance company and the doc write a contract and agree to $12K for a $17K procedure, HE AGREED TO THAT! He can't turn around and charge the patient the other $5K. It's fraud. That is the whole idea behind the contract. Someone should tell the insurance co's what he is doing. While there is nothing wrong with a patient paying up front and having the insurance co reimburse the patient, there IS a problem with a doc charging a patient for what he (in writing) agreed to write off. Makes one wonder what he owes Medicare in fraud. I used to work for a neurologist that did this sort of thing. That's why I quit, I wanted nothing to do with his fraudulent practices. He did end up getting caught, had to pay a lot of money in fines and reimbursement, and almost lost his license over it. This is a big deal and quite serious.

He is a different doctor who does RNY. If I decide to go MGB it would be Dr. Dasher. Melissa

I agree!! I feel I was given enught information propr to surgery, plus there is a wealth of information available. But I don't think enough information is provided after the surgery. Besides the obvious physical changes there are so many emotional changes. Not to mention how people now respond to us. I believe this education needs to be provided after surgery because prior to we are not going to understand it. We just don't know what we are in for. We are so excited about losing weight and feeling and looking better that it is hard to imaging that some of these wonderful changes are going to be difficult. I have not found the support groups all that helpful for those of us who have been out a while. I had Lap RNY 3+ years ago. Those who are still on the honeymoon don't understand. Plus, they don't always want to hear about some of the downside. Would I do it again? Absolutely! No question. But i do wish there was more out there for those of us who are a little further down the WLS road.

Marilyn, I'm so sorry for the loss of your "best friend". I know how that feels. I also know how it feels to find a new best friend. After my divorce I thought I was through with men. I was heart broken. I had broken my promise to God, and I didn't feel like I could go on. I was so disappointed, but knew I had done the right thing (he was abusive). After a year of morning the loss of my "soul mate" (and attending group therapy), I started dating again. I had no interest in finding a new "soul mate", I just wanted enjoy life. I liked "playing" with men, but didn't want to keep any of them. After 5 years of being single, and really loving it my new "soul mate" arrived in my life. Just when I least expected. We have now been together for 10 years, and I don't know what either one of us would do without the other. I hope that you too will find a new "best friend" someday. In the meantime enjoy your new life the best you can. If your are still have difficulty letting go of your ex you may think about group therapy or something along that line. I joined a church group "relationship rebuilding". It was a God Send! TTFN Lady