does anyone know if medicare covers the cost of a gastric bypass? im 44yo and extremly overweight. i had to quit my job ten years ago because of chronic pain and sever arthritis in my feet, knees, hips and back. and because of that i can no longer get any exercise and thus the weight gain, mostly in the past 7 years.   a few days ago i started having a shortness of breath and i think its because my lungs are being compressed from inside by my large stomach but i got to thinking i have been constipated for a few days, and i took a laxitive yesterday and today while napping my stomach did a large 'gurgle' and it felt like everything was settling and i could breath easier?   i went to my doctor today and told him all this and he agreed its possible that being 'backed up' can cause these kinds of symptoms? has anyone else ever had anything like this happen?