ready4it

Am I freaking out too much? In June my dr's office submitted a request to my insurance for the lap band. I'd requested the RNY, but they thought I would have a better chance of approval based on my lower BMI and lack of co-morbidities. I was denied. On 11/27 my insurance approved me because my BMI was now 40. I hate to admit it, but I'd gained the weight I lost during the medical center's approval process (+ more) and was now eligible for the 3 main surgeries. The nurse coordinator asked what surgery I wanted and I said the sleeve because I thought it was the right choice for me. She said she wasn't sure because I'd had a history of gerd. I hadn't been having issues recently so I stood by my choice. I was scheduled for 12/10, then rescheduled for 1/10/13 due to conflicts in the surgeons schedule. However; in the last week and a half, my gerd has started really acting up again. I started getting nervous about it and kept going back to research the sleeve. Called the surgery coordinator this week to discuss if I should go sleeve or RNY-the nurse told me that any patient of theirs suffering with gerd only got worse after getting sleeved. They were not sure my insurance would cover the RNY, so they had to submit it back to insurance again. Now I'm super nervous that I shot myself in the foot, won't be approved for the RNY and then can't get the sleeve either because they won't do it on me. I feel like for me, the band would be a big waste of my time-but am affraid that will be the only option. Did I screw this up for myself?

I do. Once paperwork was submitted 1st time I was denied. It was quick-bmi too low for wls w/out co-morbs. Next time it took about a week for approval. Bmi is higher now, w/out qualifying co-morbs.

i am a lot like you crystal. i have never had surgery, but have lost over 70lbs with WW and am affraid no matter which i do, sleeve or RNY-i might fail. was planning on the sleeve-but am learning quickly that with my gerd, heartburn and reflux, i may need to have the RNY instead. hate being on the fence and am really affraid of getting another set back.

small world-i graduated from merced hs in 92.

gotcha-i admit, it did hurt my feelings a little at the time when i 1st met him and he said i may not qual because of my lower bmi, but that i might gain weight and later become eligible. looking back, not sure if it was a hint, fact or a jab but he didn't say it rudely. it was more matter-of-fact. still planning on the sleeve. they really didn't discuss it much throughout my classes because everyone was going RNY-so my memory is foggy on their process. how has your experience been? i asked alexis to send me some more info.

thanks! i was denied previously because my bmi was too low w/out the approved co-morbs. since then i've gained, due to stress and trying to jump through insurance's hoops i guess...and maybe a little giving up on myself. my hb had ali-he was good, but when i was going through it the 1st round i saw both ali and pierce 1x-don't recall a reason for prefering one over the other. honestly i've dealt more with other office staff than the drs. i was told the reason it was changed to pierce is that ali is out of the office a lot. i just want it done. what didn't you like about pierce?

got my new date-it's now january 10th! lord love a duck if there are any more changes i might go mad!

yes-that's what i was told this time. although i'm going to ask for a copy of the approval. the 2nd change was due to the dr.s schedule, not insurance. hoping all is good now!

thank you for the enouragement. it can be so easy to ge excited, then lose hope when disappointed. i am looking forward to being sleeved-and the day i am, i'm going to adopt your saying, i promise!

I received my date today-surgery is scheduled for 1/10/13. Am I excited? Well yes as a matter of fact I am. But this is the 3rd date I've been given, so I'm more scared that I'm going to get another, "I'm sorry but..." from my dr.s office. I've already heard "I'm sorry but you weren't approved" once, (at my pre-op appointment no less) and then, "I'm sorry but we need to change your date". That was the call I got last week once I finally got approved. Now I have a new date, 3rd time's a charm? I want a ticker at the bottom of my page-to do the happy dance-to be so excited-but I'm scared it's too good to be true, and it won't happen for me. 5 weeks-yikes...that's a long time to wait for the other shoe to drop. I guess I'll relax when I'm in the hospital bed right?

I'm in CA, but I'll be thinking lots of good thoughts for you both! While you're in surgery, I'll be doing my pre-op. Yep, I just got my date! Jan. 10th

ANH-funny story, the dr.s office actually submitted my 1st request to insurance with the band last march. i didn't know that until they told me i had been denied. they thought i would have a better chance of approval when my bmi was lower. not so sure i'd have gone through with it even if approved at the time, as i just don't feel the band is for me. there is a lot of maintenance and too much opportunity for me to control it. not a fan of that. i was totally pro-gastric bypass up until recently when i thought i was going to have get surgery in Mexico because of my insurance issues-then i started reading A LOT of stories about the sleeve, which led to more research, youtube videos, etc. now i'm 70% sleeve, 30% bypass, and a 100% nervous

@ My350z06, I have about 90-100lbs to lose. I'm worried that being able to eat the same things I do now (eventually and in smaller portions) will be my downfall. I love sweets.

Thank you both for sharing. It's very helpful to hear other's stories. I am very certain that the sleeve is the better choice of the band vs. sleeve, just debating the sleeve vs. bypass right now. These are both huge commitments and I'm ready for the hard work, I just want to choose my weight loss tool wisely.

I just recently chose the vsg-but now I'm scared I might have made the wrong choice? Doubts are flying at me like the witches winged monkeys in the wizard of Oz... Now instead of the newly brained scarecrow, I'm feeling a little like the cowardly lion and a lot like lost Dorothy. Am I headed down the right path or am I leading myself into the dark forrest? I'be studied the maps but they look so muck alike... Who else had a hard time choosing between the sleeve and rny? Or how did you choose vsg? I just want to get to the yellow brick road on the corners of health and weightloss.