Newbie - Pre-Op - Moving from SIPS to DS

[JenKapNC 2]

Hi guys, my name is Jennifer and I am new to Bariatric Pal. I was 3/4 of the way through pre-op for the SIPS/Loop-DS/SADI-DS procedure when NC BCBS decided to stop covering it and deemed it an experimental/investigational procedure. My co-worker had SIPS a little over two months ago with the same Dr group and insurance. Talk about frustrating.

Looking into regular DS with Dr. Sudan in Durham. He seems to be well-respected for that procedure and the office is still close to me. A little overwhelmed by the Vitamin regimen that the DS will require, but consider it as my responsibility for allowing my weight to get this way.

My mom suffers from SMO and co-morbidities and I don't want to be in the same place. I have 4 kiddos, the youngest of which is 13 months and I plan to be around for a lllloooonnnngggg time.

I hope Dr. Sudan's office will accept the pre-op testing that I have already completed and allow me to keep moving forward in the process.

Thanks for all your stories everyone. You are inspiring.

Obese for 20+ years and MO on and off through that period.

[Postop 405]

Welcome. Hope your journey keeps progressing. I know it sure can be frustrating.

[emp409 5]

Hi! I'm in NC too - Wake Forest. Had DS with Dr. Ng at Rex Surgical about 3 weeks ago. I've heard good things about Dr. Sudan too but I've had an excellent experience with Rex Surgical Specialists. Let me know if I can answer any questions! Best of luck to you! By the way, I switched docs/practices mid-stream and they accepted all of the testing I had already done.

[SIPSGrammy 27]

@@JenKapNC have you contacted Chrissy @ Bariatric Specialist of NC? She is the insurance person... she got my SIPS approved! I just had my surgery on 6/8/15 @ REX. I have United Healthcare and my original surgery date was June 1st, until Connie called me and said it was cancelled..something about the insurance and the hospital. But it all worked out and got it pushed through.

[Mojo56 88]

Hope things worked out, Baraitric Specialist did my SIPS in Nov and BCBS of NC covered it!

[JenKapNC 2]

@@JenKapNC have you contacted Chrissy @ Bariatric Specialist of NC? She is the insurance person... she got my SIPS approved! I just had my surgery on 6/8/15 @ REX. I have United Healthcare and my original surgery date was June 1st, until Connie called me and said it was cancelled..something about the insurance and the hospital. But it all worked out and got it pushed through.

@@Mojo56 and @@SIPSGrammy -

United is still covering the procedure. I was at Bariatric Specialists too with Dr. Enochs. He will do a DS with a 300 cm cc so that insurance will approve. I have NC BCBS. I'm still keeping my appt with Dr. Sudan to discuss common channel length and surgery risks, but NC BCBS won't approve SIPS for me, at least not right now.

As far as I know all the other insurance companies are still covering it.

[SIPSGrammy 27]

@@JenKapNC

You will make the right decision for you. Keep us posted on your progress!!

[ZombieChic 11]

Keep an eye out for a new SIPS/SADI forum! I contacted the admin and he said he would start one specifically for us.

[SIPSGrammy 27]

Yay! Can't wait for the new forum!!

[Seabreeze06 7]

Hi guys, my name is Jennifer and I am new to Bariatric Pal. I was 3/4 of the way through pre-op for the SIPS/Loop-DS/SADI-DS procedure when NC BCBS decided to stop covering it and deemed it an experimental/investigational procedure. My co-worker had SIPS a little over two months ago with the same Dr group and insurance. Talk about frustrating.

Looking into regular DS with Dr. Sudan in Durham. He seems to be well-respected for that procedure and the office is still close to me. A little overwhelmed by the Vitamin regimen that the DS will require, but consider it as my responsibility for allowing my weight to get this way.

My mom suffers from SMO and co-morbidities and I don't want to be in the same place. I have 4 kiddos, the youngest of which is 13 months and I plan to be around for a lllloooonnnngggg time.

I hope Dr. Sudan's office will accept the pre-op testing that I have already completed and allow me to keep moving forward in the process.

Thanks for all your stories everyone. You are inspiring.

Obese for 20+ years and MO on and off through that period.

On NO....that is a concern of mine I too live in Durham NC and I have BCBSNC insurance and my surgeon Dr Bruce, has spoken to me about doing the SIPS procedure on me so I am a bit concerned by what you Enlightened us with it being considered an experimental procedure!!!

[Seabreeze06 7]

@@SIPSGrammy I am with BSNC as well so you got the SIPS approved through UHC, do you know of anyone recently who has gotten it approved through BCBS of NC? That is my concern like JenKapNC.

[JenKapNC 2]

@@Seabreeze06 I met with Dr. Enochs (same practice as Dr. Bruce) and he confirmed that BCBS was no longer covering SIPS. Dr. Bruce may be able to do what Dr. Enochs suggested and do a standard duodenal switch with a longer common channel.

I had my meeting with Dr. Sudan regarding the DS and he is going to do mine with a standard 100 cm common channel. If I am going to have a DS I want the full malabsorptive process and I just know going in that I've gotta be uber diligent about my Water, Vitamins, Protein and follow-up appointments.

Please do tons of research and decide what's best for you. Dr. Keshishian's website has a side by side view of the DS and SIPS/SADI surgery if you want to compare the two. Good luck!

[SIPSGrammy 27]

@@Seabreeze06, No I do not know anyone with BCBS of NC that recently had it done. My insurance approved the SIPS, but then I got a call from Dr. Bruces office saying that Rex was no longer performing this type of surgery. So I made the decision to just go with the sleeve. Next thing I know, I get another call from the insurance person, Christy, from Dr. Bruce's office and was told she got it approved for the SIPS?! I was confused and excited all at the sametime. I had it done June 8th @ Rex. I'm still a little confused as to the reasons for approval then the hospital not doing it..however, I believe it was something between the insurance and the hospital.

[Seabreeze06 7]

@@Seabreeze06, No I do not know anyone with BCBS of NC that recently had it done. My insurance approved the SIPS, but then I got a call from Dr. Bruces office saying that Rex was no longer performing this type of surgery. So I made the decision to just go with the sleeve. Next thing I know, I get another call from the insurance person, Christy, from Dr. Bruce's office and was told she got it approved for the SIPS?! I was confused and excited all at the sametime. I had it done June 8th @ Rex. I'm still a little confused as to the reasons for approval then the hospital not doing it..however, I believe it was something between the insurance and the hospital.

Sorry for the delay in response, I felt like I was overloading on information I was reading every moment I had on different sites information so that when I meet with him again this month I would have some questions from a knowledge base instead of knowing nothing as I was prior to visiting the different WLS sites.

Yes, Barbara told me that REX was the hospital I was supposed to use for mine as well so I will find out more. I just finished my tests last week and found out that my stoma was stretched quite a bit and that is why my food intake has increased over the years. So after my last test on Friday, he stated he would have Barbara submit my paperwork to BCBSNC for approval. So we will see what he has in mind for me I know he still wants to do a DS version surgery for my revision so if that is not approved, I may have to switch to a provider who actually does the original DS, since he is known for the SIPS.

SO..... enough about me.... how are you doing post surgery....please share any information you are comfortable with about your journey thus far so I can again, add this information to my notes for Q/A on my next visit.

[Seabreeze06 7]

@@Seabreeze06 I met with Dr. Enochs (same practice as Dr. Bruce) and he confirmed that BCBS was no longer covering SIPS. Dr. Bruce may be able to do what Dr. Enochs suggested and do a standard duodenal switch with a longer common channel.

I had my meeting with Dr. Sudan regarding the DS and he is going to do mine with a standard 100 cm common channel. If I am going to have a DS I want the full malabsorptive process and I just know going in that I've gotta be uber diligent about my Water, Vitamins, Protein and follow-up appointments.

Please do tons of research and decide what's best for you. Dr. Keshishian's website has a side by side view of the DS and SIPS/SADI surgery if you want to compare the two. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the reply to my inquiry....I've been busy taking all those pre-approval tests the last couple of weeks and really kind of coming off the sites for a few days to allow myself time to sort through all the information I've gathered and of course keep it in prayer so that I make the BEST decision for myself in regards to IF I want to do the revision and IF so, what procedure am I comfortable with as well as the one I will be committed to afterwards in regards to my maintenance to ensure a healthy outcome!

I will definitely check out the website mentioned and http://www.dssurgery.com/procedures/duodenal-switch.php?subnav=2

This is another avenue of knowledge thanks so much for sharing... Please keep me posted as to your journey... and if you don't mind please add me as a friend!