Will2014

Hi Alex. I guess I noticed on your home page it lists 4 surgeries: VSG, Roux-en-y, Lap band, and gastric sleeve plication. I was surprised to see no mention of my chosen Duodenal Switch procedure. As someone who was recently rejected for DS by my insurance company, I guess I'm a tad annoyed that what I consider to be a SUPERIOR procedure is given discriminatory treatment in favor of lessor ones. Shouldn't the procedure with the very highest efficacy rate for weight loss, as well as for lessoning the risk of regain, be prominently displayed here? Haha! As an RN who's researched this subject extensively while deciding my own path, I've become a bit of a zealot in advocating for DS. It's NOT perfect...but IMO it's the best. Thanks for the ear Alex!

Hi Elisabethsew, Dr. Jose Rodriguez Villareal out of Star Medica Hospital in Juarez. I couldn't get approval for the DS procedure from my insurance, and as I view it as my best option, I chose to self pay rather than compromise. Gratz on all your success! My fingers are crossed that I'll be as fortunate.

Best wishes Preop! Please let us know how it ALL goes. My surgery is about a month after yours....so you better believe I'm anxious to hear all about your experiences.

I too am pre op. Gonna have my DS surgery in Mexico in about 6 weeks. Can't wait to get it done! Kinda ticked my insurance didn't cover it forcing me to self pay, but I refuse to be dissuaded. Very excited dreaming about a "normal" me down the road! I recently hit 412 lbs and realized how critical my physical state had become. I'm trying to lose weight before my surgery to shrink my liver and give the doctors more room to maneuver inside me. I hope I can lose at least 30lbs...and that that amount will be sufficient to give me a successful outcome. Best of luck to all here pre+post ops!

I think Postop is asking the correct question Leann. Insurance companies have as their goal, as do all corporations, how to maximize their profits. If they can reject your request...of course they will. I'm guessing you have already resolved most, if not all, of your existing co-morbidities (hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea,etc.) as a result of your excellent efforts resulting in losing 72 lbs. Grats for that by the way! And please do remind yourself that you have worked damn hard and accomplished a great deal by doing that. Don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself with others and feeling badly about your results, although I understand your desire to reach your goal. I think you may need to go out of pocket to have another procedure- like converting to a duodenal switch. But I encourage you to speak to your insurance company to confirm that. If you do have to self pay, remember that MANY options are available to you. Most Dr.'s allow for financing procedures, and cheaper alternatives such as going to Mexico (such as I'm planning to do) exist. Stay positive lady! Best of luck in your future decisions.

Hello all! I have scheduled my DS surgery for a couple of months from now. Kinda scared, but mostly excited and resolute in my resolve to be successful. I weighed in at 412 lbs recently, and that was when I realized I had to make this decision if I planned to remain on this planet for much longer. I'm 52 yrs old and have clearly failed in all previous efforts to address my super obesity problem though conventional means. Now it's time to embrace a more effective solution. I think it's nice to have a place to come to learn from others who have had, or are going to have, the same procedure as me/us. Best of luck to all here who are brave enough to choose the path of action over helpless inaction in our war against morbid obesity. I wish you all great success and happiness.