Bariatric Surgery in Louisiana

I have been researching my options for a few weeks now.  It looks like the price for self-pay is about $15,000.  My issue (other than that being pretty damn expensive) is that I'm worried about hidden costs.  A friend who had the surgery a number of months ago mentioned that her total ended up being $21,000.  Another person I know said $16,000.  I contacted my top choice (so far) and requested an itemized breakdown of the costs for a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  Here is my email and the reply:


Good Afternoon,

I am interested in having vertical sleeve surgery through Dr. -------.  I will be self-paying, so I was hoping I could get a complete, itemized breakdown of the costs.  I see that you list $14,800 as the cost, but I wanted to find out what is not included in that cost.  A friend of mine had VSG (not through Dr. ------) last year and she said the cost was more like $21,000 including post-op labs.  Another friend said her costs were about $16,000.  I just want to make sure I know how much I will have to save up in order to be able to have the surgery.

Also, I would be interested in coming to an information session.  When are the dates and times over the next couple of weeks?

Thanks,

Kelly

Our fee for a VSG includes everything standard to the surgery, ie. Pre-op testing, hospital fees, overnight stay, anesthesia, physician fees including consultation and post op visits for 5 years, physician assistant fee, and 90 days of post op complication coverage. The only thing not covered is the surgery clearance you will need to obtain from your primary care physician, and any other specialist that you see (cardiology, pulmonology, etc.).

I see that you registered. The next step would be to call the office to schedule a consultation with Dr. ------.

Thank you, 

------- Office Manager for _________________________ ------, MD Bariatric Surgery

So far, so good.  It sounds like the cost would be $14,800, which includes everything except for pre-surgery clearance from my PCP and any specialists.  Right?  

I called the office this morning to find out if they offered a free seminar/information session.  I was told that yes, I could come for the seminar, which is free, but usually they also schedule a consultation for you with the surgeon at that time.  The consultation fee is $150.  I know it seems like a small deal, but this troubles me.  I very clearly asked for all the costs, and I feel mislead.  What else wasn't I told about?  I honestly need to know if I need to save up $14,800 or if I need to save up $21,000--no small difference!

I passed on the consult for now.  I think it's still a bit early to meet with a surgeon.  The absolute earliest I could have the surgery would be December, but it's more likely going to be next February or April.  It's my intention to share on this blog my journey.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Back to the drawing board...

So yeah.  Not surprisingly, I have been eating in unhealthy ways for a while now.  It was very hard getting back on Ideal Protein.  It also got very expensive, and we were having trouble paying for it and the bills.  In the end, though, it's excuses.  I messed up and as usual I gave up and gave in.  So where does that leave me?

I am severely obese.  I have an extremely unhealthy relationship with food.  I eat to cope, to escape, to feel, to numb, to celebrate, to have something to do.  Food is my go to for everything.  I am surrounded by food and by eating situations.  Does food addiction exist?  I don't know, but I know that something is wrong with the way I handle food and eating.  Do I have an eating disorder?  Possibly--but not the usual culprits.  I'm not anorexic nor bulimic.

A couple of years ago I did a lot of research into bariatric surgery.  I didn't exactly give up the idea, but I put it on the back burner because of how expensive it is and it seemed very drastic.  Well it's back on the front burner.  I have tried almost every diet.  I've had some temporary successes, but I've never changed my relationship with food.  I am going to save up to have a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  It may take me a long time to save up the money, so it's a long ways off.  But this is important to me.  I am important to me.

In the meantime, I am beginning to closely examine my eating habits and my relationship with food.  I have been reading and journaling and thinking.  I feel like I'm slowly getting some answers.  I want to change, and I can feel that I am so close!  I am going to keep exploring and I will break this connection with food somehow.

Back on track...?

Okay so I've been on this kind of on again, off again kick since Christmas.  I've gained back a good bit of what I had lost, which really sucks.  Of course, that's me reverting back to old habits when I've been off.  A major fear I have is what will happen once I lose the weight.  How will I possibly maintain the weight loss?  It's hard to do the right thing.  But in the end, this is important to me.  I know I want to do this and I know I need to make it a priority or it's never going to happen.  There is no such thing as the "right time" or even a good time to start.  It's about deciding that this is what I want and what I need.  I've also decided that I need a more specific goal.

So...

Yesterday was Day 1 of  Ideal Protein take two!  My morning weigh-in was 232.7.  The day went well and I had no problems.  Of course this is day two, which is always the worst!  I have been dealing with headaches so far, and even a little bit of upset stomach.

When I decided to start again, I knew I needed to address a few issues.  Planning.  I think one of my biggest problems is when I am too tired or stressed to make food.  So I decided that I had to have a plan.  I have committed to cooking my meals for the week in advance.  I did this yesterday, and it ate up a good percentage of my saturday.  I cooked about 5-6 meals altogether, freezing several of them.  I know we will eat at a restaurant at least once or twice this week so we should be good.  I also made all my jellos and puddings for the week.  We have a ton of little containers in the fridge--all ready to go!  I really, really think this will help me survive.

The other decision I made is that I am doing this.  Totally doing this.  Even though I have two weddings and a trip coming up in the next two months, this is my priority.  This is more important than eating cake or McDonalds.  My most important goal is to get below 200 pounds.  And it needs to happen by July.  I know that if I don't set a specific and attainable goal, then it becomes way too easy to let myself fall on my face.  Or stuff my face.  So there it is.  Written down and decided.  I know I can do this.  I lost a little over 30 pounds in three months.  I should be able to lose 33 pounds in three and a half months!  So that's my goal.

I will also start walking daily--especially during the week.  I don't have to drive anywhere or do anything during my lunch time at work, so instead I will go for a short walk.

So there you have it.  I am determined to make this year count.  I will turn 40 in December, and I really want to enter my 40s feeling great about myself.