mila1013

this really depends on many factors some are how long your were banded, what complications you have and the experience of the surgeon with revisions. it can include issues of scar tissue, adhesions, etc so yes band to sleeve revision increases complications and mortality rates, how high those are depends on your specific complications with the band, unfortunelty my complication rate is much higher as I have severe complications post banding for example, if your band eroded into the tissues, that is a condition that cannot be band to sleeve in one operation but requires 2...

depending on the loan co yo use it can be a pain. I would not let this interfer with my surgery, find another if the one you have is crapy. On the question if you are doing the right thing, that is a decision only you can make no single surgery is appropriate for all people, you have to pick what is best for you and it is not just based on a couple of factors. feeling unsure, scared just before surgery is normal, make sure you are going into the surgery knowing this is what you want , and you can deal with your stray thougths of am i doing the right thing etc, you will do great Mila

LOL sleep studies are interesting ha? I had mine 8 years ago and i only slept 77 minutes total, cause of all the sh_t on me like you stated. oh well that was enough time forthem to diagnose me with sleep apnea. some of the questions they are -do you snore, are really for your partner to be able to answer......keep jumping the hurdles, cause that is just one day closer to getting it approved good luck to you Mila

it is normal to have these concerns pre surgery, try to find something that relaxes you, some calming music perhaps, there are many books out there you can get today how to prepare for surgery. you will do great, congrats

Carrie you will be fine, research is great but remember your source and don't take it out of context. every surgery has risks, you have to accpet is it morbid obesity or the risk of complications, when you can make that decision you will not turn back

hi Jen, welcome to the site, I am not sure the 2nd paragraph? Are you saying your dr said he wanted to do it in 2 steps, remove band then do sleeve months later? depending on the severity of your band complications, once step is not possible, as in my case, having the band for 8 years, i have severe long term complications, i had the band removed this year, and i am waiting to see if some of my complications will improve and i will be allowed to recieve the sleeve. hope all goes well for you Mila

same boat here, i have BCBS also, if your insurance policy covers RNY and band you have a great chance to overturn the investigational denial, appeal, and exhaust all your appeals do not just accept what they say,

hope you hear something real soon....

I would not say anything, negative comments can appear when you thought they would be supportive. it really is no one's business what or how you do, furthermore in actuality you will be eating less, healthier and exercising more, other details are not necessary. nope, no coworkers, managers no one will know....

hi welcome, congrats on your surgery. surgeons have their own requirments for pre op mine is similar to yours -No pre op liquid diet, only one day before surgery -I will have a hospital stay (as i am a revision patient) -clear liquids only 1-2 days post op, full liquids 2 weeks again welcome aboard... MIla

horrrray, you and I will be band to sleeve revisions only days away from each other..... MIla

fat chance of that (LOL) insurance days are numbers, we know that, they know that, but they will deny all they can before that. will make no difference what you send them, you can send them RNY will cause your children to become baboons, (ok this is not true i am making a point here) you can send them band will cause you to lose your arms and legs to grown more appendiges (ok this is not true i am making a point) they are goign to deny you just because it is a sleeve, keep appealing till you get it overturned. heck most people dont appeal so they have nothign to lose.....keep working on it everyone, don't let insurance co tell us morbid obesity is not a disease and don't need to be treated MIla

congrats how exciting it is for you. all that hard work, enjoy your new body Mila

by all means appeal if you qualify for bariatric surgery and they are denying you a certain procedure (sleeve)

well that would depend as to why your are having your band removed? if it is just cause you don't want it anymore, no, no insurance will pay for that. If you have an implant failure-well documented complications via endo and flouro, every insurance co pays for a medically necessary removal. it is not the removal that is the question it is the revision that is the question. now from band to sleeve that is the trick, sleeve is considered experimental/investigational by many insurance co, even though competent medical evidence is repelet that that statement is false.

glad you got rid of that first surgeon, would not have been there for you....good luck with the appeal

Welcome to hell, ahhhh insurance bs is always great. first I don't know your specifics, longer surgery, complications etc? first ask your hospital for an itemized receipt. then get the EOB that state the amount that is billed, then the amount the insurance co allows and their payment. If you followed all the rules, in network etc. then they can not charge you amount billed and must accept the usual and customary rates. for example amount billed 4,000 amount allowed 2,000 our payment 1,700 while the hospital can bill 4,000 you are responsible for the 300 only. umm btw insurance co and hospitals make mistakes all the time. Ask for all itemized receipts and request via your insurance co your EOB and you could also ask for the anesthesia, hospital bills that you have it you paid in full what kind of discount you get, that is common also. Now if you violated your subscriber agreement for any reason, this will not apply. hope all goes well.

hi all, not sure where to post this but I was wondering if those who were a band to sleeve revisions that developed a leak could chime in? I know tiffykins had one, but not sure who else? or if you know someone else who has had a leak on here, i think there was a gal heftynetty or something like that? but i can't locate her? anyway any info on how many people have had this complication post banding would be appreciated, and for those who have gone through this, i am very sorry. I will travel down the band to sleeve sometime in the future, waiting now to heal....thanks for you help Mila

ya i know i am in the same boat, it is for your health, depending on your band complications it cannot be done in one surgery (and especially if your banded erroded into the tissues that is a definite no) and sometimes the surgeon can't tell till you are on the OR table....band to sleeve leak complications are 5xs higher because of the band, make sure you have a good dr to do the sleeve-hope everyone does well....

hi all, Today my denial came for the sleeve. It states: "based on the clinical information provided, our medical director has determined that this request is not medically necessary. According to the BCBS Medical Policy for Bariatric surgery, Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is considered not medically necessary as the literature does not support that this alternative procedure demonstrate both that it improved the net health outcome, and that the overall benefit/risk ratio for the procedure was at least as good as gastric bypass." so while they say not medically necessary it is actually a investigational/experimental denial. Does anyone know of articles that state that sleeve is at least as good as gastric bypass? thanks all in advance for your help Mila

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea before my surgery (lapband) while every hospital and surgeon is different I will give you my info. They will want you to bring your CPAP with you. The surgery actually has nothing to do with sleep apnea, it is the aftercare. Once out of surgery I was taken to a "high-risk" ward and my heart was continuously monitored (not necessary if you dont have sleep apnea) with leads etc. It is a precaution, there is nothing to worry about, you will be ok, it is more of a way to monitor you post op...... Mila

you look great! thanks for this post, nice to see how people are doing with the sg, you seem content, look gorgeous, and loving life....looking forward to the future of getting healthy... Mila

thank you all for taking the time to reply, my interpretation of the denial is that it is not medically necessary because it is considered experimental, they don't actually say it but that is what they mean. gotta love bcbs.....I believe thier time is limited and that in 2011, sg will be a covered benefit but till then we have to appeal....so that is what i will do...

Britt thanks for posting this, I will be in the same boat as you band removed, last week, bmi doesn't qualify, geesh it is a revision, after a while this whole thing is just foolishness, what can we do but to keep appealing, I should have my denial letter next week.....thanks again.... Mila

ohh sorry, it will be very difficult for you to get insurance approval for that low of a bmi. insurance co follow the NIH for bmi requirments. you can still self pay if that is an option? good luck....