Question:
Would you do again if you had to pay out of pocket?

my insurace won't cover this surgery so i'll have to take a 2nd on my house. is it worth it? would all you post-ops do it again if you had to pay for it yourself, or was it just great because of not having to pay personaly for it?(not including the obvious weight loss effect) i need to know this before i make my absolute final decision to have or not have this surgery!    — KERI L. (posted on March 21, 2001)

March 21, 2001
Keri, I have thought long and hard on the answer to this question and for me I think the answer would be YES! I am only about 8 weeks post op,I had the Lap RNY on January 15th. I have lost 47 pounds and feel terrific. My blood pressure is lower than it had been in 10 years, I no longer have acid reflux and I can climb a flight of stairs without having to sit and rest at the top. I hope this tool continues to work with me, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Best of luck.
   — marlene R.

March 21, 2001
In a New York minute! I'd find any means possible, and I'd do it again even if I knew the chances were high that I would land in bankruptcy court.
   — [Deactivated Member]

March 21, 2001
I had to make that choice a year ago when I needed revising. I said, "What if.....?" And my husband said there was NO WAY I would have to go back to my former near-death status. AS it turned out, my ins DID pay for revision, but we were willing to do WHATEVER, rather than go back to that perpetual illness that was my life pre-op.
   — vitalady

March 21, 2001
My daughter and I had our lap RNY surgeries last year. She was self-pay, and there is NO doubt in her mind that she would do this again in a heartbeat. She has lost 185 lbs. in the past 14 months and has literally been "the butterfly emerging from the cocoon". She is completing her college education, has become engaged, and is planning her wedding for October. She had no co-morbidities pre-op, but her morbid obesity had created a reclusive lifestyle without the ability for any meaningful social or physicial activities. Even though she did not have diabetes or hypertension at the time, she was quickly developing joint problems and could look at my multiple health problems and see herself in only a few more years. This has been the best decision that we ever made for ourselves, and money has been the least important factor! Best wishes with your decision.
   — Diana T.

March 21, 2001
Keri...I have double insurance coverage....I spent a year fighting the ins cos and saving up(just in case)...ended up a Self Pay.....I am 8 weeks post op LAP RNY 48lbs down...BEST MONEY YOU WILL EVER SPEND..(Although if you had asked me the after the first couple weeks postop you would have had a debat on your hands-rough ride first couple of weeks)...did this now because I was in perfect health except for my obesity...during the surgery, however, they found pre-cancerous tissue in my throat which was directly related to my obesity and had I not had this surgery it would have progressed.
   — Debora H.

March 21, 2001
Keri..I might add..if you are a self pay and ins doesn't dictate where,when, how etc. on your surgery...really shop on your surgery...I was so thrilled that I had my surgery done LAP with one of the best LAP Surgeons in the country and it only cost me $18,640.00 for the best(I'm a big LAP fan now)...I had to fly across the country to get what I wanted for my money.
   — Debora H.

March 22, 2001
Absolutely! I'd do it again self pay if I needed and with a 2nd mortgage or home improvement loan! I suggest that option to people all of the time! It is funny how we'll take out a second mortgage to pay for so many things - cars, college, building on a gargage, paying off credit cards, etc. -- then have such a struggle deciding to use this option to a LIFE-SAVING operation! Go for it! Best wishes!
   — Cindy H.

March 22, 2001
I'm a pre-op, hoping for insurance, but I've thought about this too. Go back through your records a couple years. I found that I paid $4,000 in 2000 on weight loss or weight-related medical problems. That's as much as I pay for my car. It will be harder for me to do self pay, but my body is worth more than anything to me. If I have complications, I'd have to go into my home equity as well. I can't tell you what is important to you, but look at the other things you've spent money on and ask yourself if they were as important as your long term health and happiness. :)
   — kcanges

March 25, 2001
I'm a pre-op who is also a self-pay. I know it is going to be worth every penny! I have my consultation today and I'm really excited! I don't have to wait for insurance approval and I've been told as soon as my pre-op testing is complete, I can have the surgery. Therefore... I should be a post-op in about two or three weeks. I've spent thousands in my life time on my weight loss efforts. This is the first one I feel will really be worth the money. I'm purchasing for myself a worthy tool that actually works!
   — Malinda M.

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