Just got my approval letter and have a question

[missheidi47 127]

I've read a lot on the forum but haven't posted before. I got my approval letter from insurance and the procedures listed were sleeve gastrectomy, liver biopsy. I don't have a date yet because I still have to have a sleep study (his requirement, not insurance.) Did anybody else have a liver biopsy along with their surgery? I wasn't told that there was anything to be concerned about. I will try to call the surgeon tomorrow, but we are having a winter storm in Charlotte, and don't know how quickly they'll get back to me. Southerners don't know what to do when it snows!

Thanks, Heidi

[samuelsmom 670]

I have no idea why this would be a part of the surgery and I think you are definitely wise to call and ask the surgeon.

[mrsmith901 18]

My surgeon said a liver biopsy is normally done while they are in there as a routine test. My approval called for a liver biopsy and "whatever necessary items" just to give them wiggle room if they get in there and need to stitch something or do something else.

[GreenEyes604 753]

A liver biopsy is routine for my surgeon. They do one while they are in there just to make sure there are no problems.

Biopsies are quite normal when you are having different types of surgical procedures. Many years ago I went into the hospital to have a hysterectomy. My doctor told me that he would do a biopsy of some of the surrounding tissue just to make sure that nothing was developing. Fortunately for me when he did the biospy they found carcinoma cells that they would not have found if he had not done the biopsy. I'm 100% ok now, but if I'm having any type of surgery done, and my doctors wants to "check and make sure", they definitely have my permission, and its not like you're going to miss a microscopic piece of tissue either... LOL

[missheidi47 127]

Thanks!