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.

@@Seabreeze06, I have to do the same from time to time, staying away from websites..it's good for the mind. I am doing well, although I have been cheating eating some foods, for some reason, I am craving, i.e., popcorn?! Although, I cannot eat much of it, just enough to satisfy. Honestly, it's been hard trying to get in 90-100 grams of Protein a day! I can drink fluids okay, with small frequent sips, eating soups, soft foods are okay as well. I tried eating breaded pork chop one night and I swear, I think it took hours before I actually digested it. I've noticed too, that one week, I won't lose a pound and the next week I lost 5 lbs! It's been crazy!! I also have not been diligent in taking my Vitamins.. a BIG NO NO. So, starting tomorrow, I've got my vitamins all lined up after my morning protein shake or yogurt.

I am very pleased thus far with my weight loss.. Surgery weight was 276 and today I'm 240 lbs!

Keep us posted on your surgery status! Looking forward to reading your posts!

Well @@SIPSGrammy I definitely understand cravings, and popcorn is my favorite snack of all times...lol

Yes please get on your vitamins, I know for me that will be a struggle as well so I am trying to get into a routine myself....cause I honestly hate taking meds...but I also don't like being sick....so that is my journey...and I need to embrace it now!!!

I will definitely keep you posted once I hear something...I have a couple more months to see Dr Bruce as part of my revision requirements per my first meeting....so IF it is approved I am thinking it will not be until the fourth qtr of this year.

How do you like Dr. Bruce so far? I love his calm demeanor! Very pleased I chose him to do my surgery.

I'm seeing so many posts from others that had VSG and now going to DS. I'm so happy I had the SIPS..if I hadn't had it, I would have went with the VSG. Knowing myself, I would be back in a year or two going to the DS myself. You are going to do great!

Well so far I've enjoyed my brief encounters with Dr Bruce he is definitely a very calm matter of fact kind of guy, but with a sincere smile! Our next appointment will allow me more time to get a better relationship with him cause it will be more time for us to discuss my situation more fully!

Nice to see discussion of SIPS and the duo switch. BCBS of NC approved mine in November of last year, other than that I have no current info. My experience has been awesome! Below goal weight. Only take 2 chewable multi vitamins and 2 gummy calcium vitamins each morn. No biggie

@@Mojo56 spoke with Dr Bruce and currently BCBSNC doesn't cover the SIPS procedure any longer....so it's plan B for me!!! Which is more research and then a decision on whether to have the revision or not if its not a DS related procedure which through research is successful after a RNY!!

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.

Hi I also live in wake forest and am have SIPS 9/30 with dr.ng. It is so close to DS I really would love to talk to you about your experience.

Please message me if you don't mind.

Thanks!

Nice to see discussion of SIPS and the duo switch. BCBS of NC approved mine in November of last year, other than that I have no current info. My experience has been awesome! Below goal weight. Only take 2 chewable multi Vitamins and 2 gummy Calcium vitamins each morn. No biggie[/quote

Hi Mojo are you having any problems keeping your weight up?

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.

I had DS with Dr. Sharp at Rex Surgical Specialists. Nov 30th. I can not stress enough how good this group is. Its all about a lifetime with their patients. We get a wealth of information and have all the support we could ever ask for.

Just had my one year checkup 2 weeks ago. Sorry haven't been on the site much lately. Enoch confirmed that BcBs is not covering sips. He's not happy about it. They reclassified it as experimental without enough long term data. I am one of a hundred patients in a study being done. My results are amazing. Diabetes gone, high cholesterol gone. Weight loss maintained thus far. I wish this was available for everyone.

My only issue is that I have had such a huge metabolic change my body is creating some small kidney stones. They hurt at first but I take an anti inflammatory , the pain goes away in an hour and I never even feel the stone pass. My doctors think this will stop soon.

I get my protein water and vitamins everyday and eat whatever I want. Some things have gastric consequences......you know what I mean. But life is good. I was a 44 waist now 32. I wore extra large, now I wear small. All of this due to the sips procedure. Damn insurance companies should change their policy.

I'm getting SIPS done by BSNC on March 10 w/ Dr. Tyner. I also have BCBS (out of state), and it was approved on the first try. Very excited!

Princess...how exciting...great to hear!

By the way....kidney stones have stopped! No more.....

I have bcbs and they wouldn't cover the sips either. So I am going to ds as well. I go to BSNC