Can I really afford the DS?

After reading a recent post on vitamins and the cost of vitamins, it became clear to me that maybe I really can't afford the DS after all.  Sure, I can afford the vitamins, PCP and Specialist visits, thanks to insurance, and even labs, if they are coded correctly; however, I could not afford to pay for labs, dexa scans, iron infusions, or other various tests if I had to pay out-of-pocket for those things.  Also, if I somehow lost my current insurace, I could not afford to pay for COBRA.  This is worrisome and I'm wondering if I need to take a step back and reconsider having surgery.  There's no real answer here, just a little upset by reality is all.

You know, I found myself in a bad predicament a few years ago. Probably about 10. I was on disability and had multiple surgeries with stitches in my breast and thigh. My monthly meds at the time wa $1300 out of pocket a month. My COBRA ran out.I managed. You never know what the future holds. No one has a crystal ball to foresee what will happen. I also know I can't live life on "what if's" either.

The cost of obesity is higher. 

~Becky

As you said, there's no real answer but I wanted to let you know you're not alone in your worries.  I worried about the same thing and my insurance won't pay for anything that is weight-loss related, period.

I talked to my family, my PCP, and my surgeon and decided that I would rather have less money (or even have to borrow money from family) than be the way I was.  I rarely left my house, I rarely got dressed, I was turning into my mother and I just couldn't do that to my children and family.

There's no right or wrong answer, just whatever feels right for you and yours.  I just wanted to give you some support and let you know that I'm thinking about you and understand.

It's smart to be considering post surgery expenses.  Be sure to look at the other side, too.  It's called morbid obesity for a reason - because it is associated with serious health issues, even deadly ones.  There are costs, some predictable, some less so, some $$, some quality of life.  If you have not yet experienced these costs, you are lucky.  In the long run, MO will cause health problems if you live long enough.  My sleep apnea had serious ongoing $ expenses - so you bet I had to worry about losing insurance.  You know what else I had to worry about?  i had to worry that I could fall asleep with a car full of kids.

Worrying about the cost of health care is just a fact of life.  If you are a responsible adult, the only way I know to avoid it is a giant trust fund and a boat load of good luck.

This is in no way meant to encourage anyone to get a DS if they do not have a basic plan for providing for the predictable post-DS costs.

Thanks guys.  I've focused on other things like how to prepare for the inevitable insurance battle and the tiniest of details, while losing sight of the very real cost of the DS: essentials that, if push came to shove, I could not afford without the help of insurance.  I'm just upset by this and feel a little knocked down I guess.  I need to get my bearings and really mull over what I can and can't afford. 

 It is good that you are considering these things now. I had to do the same. I have been able to decide to go ahead with the surgery. But, if there is going to be a problem, it is so much better to anticipate it now. 

I am really grateful to this forum for giving us the real deal about life with DS. It is the best forum I have found. Thanks, to all of you vets for being so detailed and honest about what we will encounter!

Lisa

 What will it cost you to be heavy over your lifespan?  Diabetes isn't cheap either.

Yes, it's smart to think about these things and be aware.  I would have the surgery as long as I could afford the supplements, personally.

Yep, prioritization. My Dish bill would go before my suppliments and are right around the same price.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ruby!!