good morning

good morning everyone.. Hope you all had a great weekend...i just needed to vent...i went for my plastic surgery consult Thursday..i figured it would either work or be a no way thing...i was told i could get it done if i have $3,000 upfront..don't know about you guys but i don't have that laying around..its like a carrot dangling in front of me...anyway i have been stressed..wanting to graze all weekend..damn i have came to far to give up now...have went from 459 to 230s..any advice or words of encouragement would be GREATLY appreciated..sorry guys didn't mean to whine...just stressed...hope you all have a great week :-)

Morning Randy, My weekend was pretty low key and relaxing thankfully. First, congratulations on your progress thus far. You've done very nicely. Second, you are not whining but letting out frustration and it's something many of us have or are going through so lean on us for support. Then, the steps seem just as long if not longer than waiting for WLS approval. However, we cannot give up or give in. There are some here who are of great resources that can help you with contacts and information regarding reconstructive/plastic surgery. Lastly, shop around and really invest time and energy into gathering information on financing. There are several options available.  I personally am going through this process myself and have had my 1st initial consultation and my out of pocket expenses are quite a bit more for what I am having done but with faith, arming myself with knowledge and the advice and tried and true experiences of others I am confident I will be able to take care of the funds part of things. I am still fairly new with this and so I'm still in the gathering information about financing and $$$ options but am learning as I go along and hopefully others here can shed more light on the information you may need. I wish you continued success and happiness in your life. I hope that you turn your stress into determination and realize how far you've come and that this is merely another steps (or 10 it feels like) to completing your WLS journey and thriving on Life. God Bless...

Good morning Randy so good to see you posting we have missed hearing from you. I too have some issues going on as well and sweetie you have came t ofar to let this stop you now. Im not sure who or what type of insurance you have? Who did you go see for a plastic surgeon? 3000 isnt that bad I was quotated 6000-12000.00 so different things have t obe considered. I know your down there in the far side of VA so not sure if thats where you went.  Fill us in w/ a lil more info as to what your looking for to have done and where? So maybe others around can direct you in the right locations. And what type of insurance you have. If you wish not to put here email me @ [email protected]. Not sure how close you are to Judt B but sounds like she has found a great surgeon her way who may be of some help. Let me know. And keep us updated w/ you and how your doing. When is your next visit w/ Dr Schirmer? 

Randy,  I am sorry you were so disappointed but there are more than one plastic surgeon around and maybe you have to shop around. Some try and work with insurance and some do not.  Has your insurance agreed to pay - if they have then you need to find a surgeon they will approve. I plan to start looking at this towards the end of this year or so and hoping that as I have an umbilical hernia I amy get some of it paid for... Good luck and don't give in! You can get through this! Jackie

Randy- I am so not at that point in my journey yet, but I'm wondering if you can get a loan of some sort? Probably not the ideal way to go about it, but at least then you could pay it off little by little...of course with interest you'd end up paying more.  Just a thought....Best to you!

Hiya Randy I am sorry for your disappointment!  Has your insurance denied you, approved you or the like?  I am having mine done in Tennessee. Dr.Bandeian in bristol, tn is doing mine.  If you want to talk further about this..please email me .. [email protected] hugs

Hey, Thank you all for your responce.. first off i have medicare..i went to UVA and saw Dr Drake, they said that medicare would not preapprove the procedure..therefore i have to pay the docs cost upfront, the $3,000 which isn't bad at all...and then sign a contract with the hospital that i would pay whatever medicare doesn't pay...thats no problem as i would pay anything i could to get this done..i did have some good luck today...was telling a friend of mine about the dilema..he has told me that he will help get this done..so its just a wait and see thing now..and my consult was for a panniculectomy sic, he said since i was cut down the middle he would cut it again and pull the skin around from my back..and the cut me at the crotch and the belly and pull it together and make me a new belly button...hope this all works...keep your fingers crossed for me everyone..