self pay and process

 hi all!i went to my first aprn consult and decided im going to self pay. tomorrow i meet with the nutricianist and phycologist. i am told i have too see 2wice. has anyone else in ct done self pay that can tell me process from start to finish and length of time too. 

I'm not self pay, but just want to make sure you know that after you are banded you will have to go often for follow up care, fills etc. I know a lot of self payers didn't really think of this beforehand and it became a problem. Lap band is unlike other WLS with the aftercare, it will be a lifetime thing. I hope it all goes fast for you and you post any questions you have along the way. I believe with self pay it may be faster because you will not have to "fill the slots" as you would with insurance.  Good luck!

What Mari says about fills and follow up care is true.  Fills at my doctor's office cost $275 a visit.  In one year I went in for fills 6 times.  Then the next year I went in another 5 times. It's a very slow process and they have to give you small fills or risk over filling you. Now I go in once a year.  Now remember that's just average.  If you have any problems that requires unfills....you then need to to come for refills.  This could really add up.  I'm not trying to scare anyone off.  I'm just trying to realisticaly point out the possible costs of upkeep.  I know if I had to pay full price I don't think I would have been able to eep up with the costs.   

 I was self pay but in Missouri. It was a fairly quick process. My fills and after care were covered for one year after surgery date. After that it will cost me 250 per fill or unfill.

 miss mary,
how long was ur self pay process from start to surgery?. indont see alot of people who self pay and the process time.

 I was only a month. Had to do lab work but thats it. Very quick.

If you're doing self-pay you can usually have the surgery within a month. I was self-pay and I had to have an upper GI, chest x-ray,  EKG, and some lab work. I think that was it.

I would NOT do the band however untill you have COMPLETELY researched it. I'm guessing you don't know as much about it as you think you do. For instance, do you know that some have the band and never lose an ounce? That some NEVER reach restricion? That it is possible to have a slip, erosion, or esophageal dysmotility and have to have the band removed in the first month or two? That even if you do have better luck than that...........that MOST bandsters have their bands removed by 5 years? That some bandsters just lose weight because of vomiting?

I would not recommend the band to my worst enemy.

CHOOSE YOUR WLS WISELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually it is just a "tool" for some. Many of us that get the band never get a tool. The band is very much a crap shoot. But if you're confident that you  will be one of the LUCKY ones that actually gets a tool then good luck to u.