I'm curious to know how much Bariatric Surgery (Gastrtic Bypass, etc) costs. Is it covered by insurance? Medicaid? What are the steps one should take? What are some after-effects?
203063
As far as cost, it is my understanding that it costs around $25,000 (in Houston) without insurance coverage. There are a few insurance carriers that still cover it, but many have dropped it from their policy or offer it only as an optional coverage to businesses, many of whom do not accept it. I don't know if Medicaid covers it or not. There are many risks involved with gastric bypass, but there are just as many benefits to be gained. My mother had the surgery about 1 1/2 years ago & it completely changed her life. She made the decision that, yes, she may die on the table or have complications, but with the life she was living, being morbidly obese, she was killing herself anyway. It is not a decision to be made lightly & I encourage you to research the surgeon that you are considering using...find out what his/her track record is & contact people who have used him/her.
639588
my mother and sister have both had gastric bypass surgery. in the surgery the dr will remove part (most) of your stomach - so that there is enough left to hold a couple ounces. they also cut the small intestine then attach it to the new stomach pouch. alot of drs are doing the surgery laproscopically so that you don't have to be cut all the way open. this just involves a couple very small incisions. after the surgery, for the first few weeks, they want you to eat just a little bit - we're talking like an ounce of jello - things like that. then you can proceed on to pureed foods - then finally to "normal" foods again. you just can't eat as much as you did prior to the surgery. they also recommend that you eat several small meals a day rather than  a couple large meals. i know with my sister - she found that she couldn't drink very much with her meals because the fluids filled her up so much - so you might have to drink in between meals. but you need to keep your body nourished well - since the stomach is so much smaller - the food doesn't stay in your body as long - and doesn't have as much time to absorb all the nutrients the body needs. drs recommend taking vitamins after the surgery to help with this. if your really considering this - make an appointment with your family physician. once he agrees that this is a good choice for you - he will give you a referral to a surgeon. once you visit with the surgeon and discuss the surgery with them, they most likely will have you go for a psych test(don't worry - this is pretty standard) - they just want to check your emotional state, and make sure that you want the surgery for the right reasons. If you are really serious about losing the weight, this could be a great option - but you have to be completely devoted to the new lifestyle. i wish you all the best and good luck with your decision.
281080
$5,000-$20,000 depending on what kind of surgery you need. you better get some insurance.
228558
There are other options, check out lapband surgery. It is a band that is placed around your stomach to reduce it's size and restrict the opening so it empties slower. It is a gradual weight loss vs the quick loss by bypass surgery but the risks are so much less, it is done laporscopically and your recovery time is about one week of light duty. \nCompared to bypass the results of weight loss after 18 months are the same, so you lose it slower but after a year and half the results are equal to the bypass with out the risks. You can have fills to adjust the tightness of the band and it can be removed if for some reason need be. Once you have done the bypass there is NO turning back. Get informed, don't jump into something your not comfortable with. If your insurance covers bypass it probably will cover the lapband. One warning, it is a tool only, you have to be committed and follow the rules. It works!
342406
If she was back at work that fast then she had a lap band procedure and not the gastric bypass. Bypass surgery is major surgery and very risky. Some people have died from it. The lap band is much safer and it is reversible. Please consider your options.
463038
I have not had this surgery but as a nutritionist/dietician college student I have studied a lot about it and would not recommend it to many people; especially without going through all of the other options first.  That is diet and exercise.  This is the way that weight should be lost because it is natural.  Gastric bypass is something not natural so that is why it is so serious, and they still do not know the long term effects of it.  I have known two people to die of gastric bypass surgery because of the results of the surgery afterwards.  It is very serious and has many side effects.  Also, if the person who is having the surgery uses food as their comfort then they are likely to go into deep depression after surgery.  Sorry to give a lot of cons.   Only your doctor can tell you exactly what is right for you.  See a Registered Dietician AND an M.D. Be careful of the doctor that you choose; some are just out for money and will tell you to go for surgery so they can just have more money.
608759
I've tried it.  The $7 weekly (or whatever they advertise) is not all the expense you'll occur.  That's the good part.  The part that will be very expensive is when you buy your food products each week/month from them.  This will certainly run you into the hundreds of dollars.  Also, they do have a plan where you can go out and buy your "own food", but this takes a lot of guesswork and creativity on your part each meal on how much to eat (calorie-wise, fat-wise, carbo-wise, etc.), portion to eat (in conjunction with the above-mentioned "wises"), creativity as far as not having to have the same old meals each day, etc).  The only good thing about buying their foods is that each one is already proportioned as to the amount you will have each meal, so you won't have to count calories, carbs, or anything else; but doing so costs you dearly.  \n\nPlus, having a membership for a year (which most people do that want to lose more than 10 pounds because in the long-run it's cheaper) will cost $100-150 +.  The membership includes all follow-up nutritional visits you may have during this time frame, including weigh-ins, consultations, etc.  \n\nThey do have supplements, but you do have a choice to buy them or not...the place I went to did not "push" the supplements on me....they told me I could buy them (expensive) or I could just wait and see how the initial plan was coming along before deciding to do so.  \n\nSo, you see, that $7 advertisement that have on television is JUST THE BEGINNING.  Get your checkbook out and ready!
165285
Hope this helps, Mr. Bob.\n\nhttp://groups.msn.com/GastricBypassSurgerySupportGroup
96577
Rivera,\n\nGood for you! Kudos! Keep a positive attitude, and you should be fine. If you start feeling depressed, go back to or at least call your doctor! I have a friend who had a gastric bypass surgery, a couple of years ago. She looked great for a while, but still felt like she was fat, even though she was at her ideal weight. She became anorexic and became very ill. She has been in therapy for quite a while, but I don't think she is out of the woods yet. She is very much underweight now, and it will take her a long time to get back to being healthy.
361248
I had the roux-en-y\n\n\nI had gastric bypass surgery in April 2005.  I started out at 268, now I’m 180 and holding, after  1 year and 7 months.  These links will help you in many ways to make a decision if this is for you or  not.  I vote yes, because it made such a difference in my life. I was taking 8 pills a day, and after my surgery, I lost my diabetes.  The way they do the surgery, takes your diabetes away.  I no longer have to take glucophage, and I no longer  have high Cholesterol or high blood pressure.  I’m down to 2 pills a day.  I went from a  size 26-28 to a 16-18.\nMost people struggle with paying for  the surgery.  Go to this site, it is a great support system for you, because it’s only people who have had gastric bypass.  Every insurance program has been rated, and you’ll get tips on how to deal with your insurance company, as well as, surgery tips, food tips, and just support. http://www.obesityhelp.com/\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/HQ01465\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass-diet/WT00007\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass-surgery/AN01378\nVitamins I take…  you have to be very faithful about taking them after surgery, because you can become very sick if you don’t.  There were recommended by my surgeon and nutritionist.\nhttp://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=301120&navAction=jump&navCount=0&id=prod403359\nThere is a very good web site by a guy named Basil White.  He’s a govt. worker and a comedian.  He walks you through everything. Very interesting. He had the surgery and did well.\nhttp://www.basilwhite.com/gastric/\nSome other helpful links…\nhttp://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/Obesity/Gastric_Bypass_Surgery/\nhttp://www.stapleclub.com/general_info.htm\nhttp://www.locateadoc.com/articles.cfm/1454/1337\nhttp://www.dhmc.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=2&org_id=28&morg_id=0&sec_id=0&gsec_id=35507&item_id=35508\nArticle about a couple in FL who lost 300 pounds\nhttp://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBJKJXH4VE.html\nhttp://www.connectionwls.com/\nhttp://www.mygastricbypass.com/\nhttp://www.gwdocs.com/health/eHA-eHA_Content_C-Generic_Content_Page_Template_1131123706877.html\nGood luck with your surgery and new life!
629221
Gastric Bypass Surgery /gastrectomy/stomach stapling /lapband (all types of weight loss surgery) is very safe nowadays.It is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges obesity surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.\n\nI have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as obesity surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your lobesity surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.\n\nMy cousin got her obesity surgery after delivery in India through the forerunners healthcare .She is more than very happy with the results.She has lost 65lbs in 5 months.She just paid 25% of the amount she was quoted in USA and is all praise for this forerunners healthcare company.hope this helps \n\nhttp://www.forerunnershealthcare.com
550208
i had 2 MRI's taken (both were for my back) the cost was $900 for the first one, and the 2nd one cost $1200. Shocking isnt it? My out of pocket was 20% as insurance picked up the rest. I now live in europe and my husband has had an MRI done, the cost to him was 0 as its socialized medicine. Somethings wrong with the american health system big time!!!!
159569
Medicaid does pay for bariatric surgery, however there are quite a few hoops to jump through before it happens. There needs to be documentation in your medical record that you have tried extensive dieting without success. You also need to show evidence of serious potentially reversible medical problems which can be directly linked to your weight (Diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) Even with all of this, sometimes people are denied coverage.
647761
I did some google research hadenough......you're right......out of the ten articles I found and read there was no mention of starvation or malnutrition.  Who said that garbage anyway?  Where have I been, I missed that one too.  They're closing because we can't keep up with the costs of all their ailments.  Where does that leave us Americans for health care?  So our health care costs will rise again just so we can keep a few hospitals open for us Citizens.
369941
Here's some really good links that will help you make a decision.\n\n\nI had gastric bypass surgery in April 2005.  I started out at 268, now I’m 180 and holding, after  1 year and 7 months.  These links will help you in many ways to make a decision if this is for you or  not.  I vote yes, because it made such a difference in my life. I was taking 8 pills a day, and after my surgery, I lost my diabetes.  The way they do the surgery, takes your diabetes away.  I no longer have to take glucophage, and I no longer  have high Cholesterol or high blood pressure.  I’m down to 2 pills a day.  I went from a  size 26-28 to a 16-18.\nMost people struggle with paying for  the surgery.  Go to this site, it is a great support system for you, because it’s only people who have had gastric bypass.  Every insurance program has been rated, and you’ll get tips on how to deal with your insurance company, as well as, surgery tips, food tips, and just support. http://www.obesityhelp.com/\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/HQ01465\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass-diet/WT00007\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass-surgery/AN01378\nVitamins I take…  you have to be very faithful about taking them after surgery, because you can become very sick if you don’t.  There were recommended by my surgeon and nutritionist.\nhttp://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=301120&navAction=jump&navCount=0&id=prod403359\nThere is a very good web site by a guy named Basil White.  He’s a govt. worker and a comedian.  He walks you through everything. Very interesting. He had the surgery and did well.\nhttp://www.basilwhite.com/gastric/\nSome other helpful links…\nhttp://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/Obesity/Gastric_Bypass_Surgery/\nhttp://www.stapleclub.com/general_info.htm\nhttp://www.locateadoc.com/articles.cfm/1454/1337\nhttp://www.dhmc.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=2&org_id=28&morg_id=0&sec_id=0&gsec_id=35507&item_id=35508\nhttp://www.mygastricbypass.com/\nhttp://www.gwdocs.com/health/eHA-eHA_Content_C-Generic_Content_Page_Template_1131123706877.html\nGood luck with your surgery and new life!
259943
Actually, there's really nothing much to the surgery. I had a lapascopy(not sure of spelling) it's where they use a camera.All they did,was to cut 4 tiny incisions which are not noticable at all unless I point them out. If you opt for the surgery, it's usually just an overnight stay and you're good to go home the next morning unless there are unforseen complications like in my case. Don't mean to scare you but I had unforseen complications but this is very very rare. It was only because I was already in such grave(no pun intended)condition. I thought I was just suffering from real bad heartburn so by the time I took my self to the emergency room, my gallbaldder was about to burst, so I was rushed into surgery and the doctor doing it didn't get the whole infection out or something. But you should have nothing to worry about. I was a rare case. Everyone else I seen in the hospital during my stay went home the next day just feeling fine and dandy. Good luck in whatever you decide. I would opt for the surgery now before your condition worsens like mine did.
103939
I just had the surgery December 12th 2005 and I was 4'9" 220 pounds . So far I have lost 54 pounds so I'm at 166 right now and still losing . I havn't had any comlications and never have been sick . I feel great ! The reason a person loses so much is because the stomach is reduced a lot smaller than normal . I get about 500 or less calories a day . 1/2 of the calories being from one protein drink . I take vitamins daily . I am not hungry like I would be on a regular diet before so that really helps in losing weight too . A lot of people say people like myself have take the easy way out . Easy way out haha they have got to be kidding . There is a lot a person can not have after this surgery not that I'm complaining but this is not like a regular diet where you can stop the diet and start eater sugary foods again . So knowing that I can't have things also helps with me losing the weight . I have no regrets about this surgery . I'm working my way to get between 100-115 pounds and I am so determined to do so . Tell your sister good luck !\n\nAngel