I'm 19 & getting the sleeve at a hospital. My surgeon is great but doesn't want an endoscopy. (I need a H. Pylori test and blood work). I've seen other people say that they saw important things with the endoscopy before surgery. Do you guys think I should ask for one?

I never had one.

I never had one.

I never had to get one...I feel that it all depends on ur insurance...so require more then others....Good Luck...my sugery is for the 10th...this coming Monday..

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I was not required to get one. I would be willing to bet my insurance wouldn't cover that. Most surgeons offices will put you through every test they can get your insurance to cover, it increases profits.

Yes I agree about the insurance...sone testes I feel are not necessary..

The surgeon I work with requires them on all patients. It really doesn't make sense to me why you wouldn't do one preoperatively.

For starters they could identify a hiatial hernia that they would repair during your surgery (even if you don't have GERD this could prevent you from getting after your sleeve) . And if you have GERD or more importantly barrets esophagus depending on the extent of it, it could influence your choice of bariatric surgery (ie if you have bad GERD/barretts they might steer you to a bypass instead of a sleeve or band).

I guess if I didn't have insurance or had crap insurance I would consider attempting to skip the endo. But to me it just doesn't make sense not to have one as this is incredibly minor compared to the life-changing bariatric procedure

Edited July 6, 20179 yr by Mhy12784

On 6/10/2017 at 7:42 PM, sprysmeow said:

I just had an endoscopy on 05 /30, But i think they do that when you already have GERD to see if there is a Hiatal Hernia or any other underling issue. My insurance states that they can fix a Hiatal hernia during surgery, IF it has been diagnosed prior to surgery. But if they find it during surgery, they will not cover the repair. So, that is part of the reason they do it in advance. I am sure every insurance is different. I have BCBS Illinois

This.

I had endoscopy/EGD, but I also had a barium swallow done, due to GERD, obesity, etc.

I'm not a doctor nor can tell anyone that they should have these done, but I personally found them extremely valuable concerning surgery and post-op care.

Edited July 6, 20179 yr by PatientEleventyBillion

My doctor found a hiatal hernia during the procedure and repaired it.

Odd to me that an insurance wouldn't cover it if it hasn't been discovered pre op. Mine (blue cross anthem) covered it just fine.

I thought it was strange. But I found this in my policy

.• Repair of a hiatal hernia at the time of bariatric surgery may be considered medically necessary for patients who have a preoperatively-diagnosed symptomatic hiatal hernia.

• Repair of a hiatal hernia that is diagnosed at the time of bariatric surgery, or repair of a preoperatively diagnosed hiatal hernia in patients who do not have indications for surgical repair, is considered not medically necessary.

I had one and I am so glad I did. He found a hiatal hernia and fixed it while he did my sleeve. Now I have NO heartburn or GERD at all! LOVE IT!

Edited July 6, 20179 yr by samiam67

That is very encouraging. My surgery is on July 17th and I have had GERD for several years. However, I WAS a smoker and now I will be losing weight. I hope that I am one of the people whose GERD gets better.

My friend was a smoker too and we both had GERD so bad for years. But our Doctor told us he would fix it and it wouldn't be an issue and so far it hasn't. I actually sleep all night for the first time in years. Good luck on your surgery, it is the best thing I have ever done, wish I did it years ago.

I have been thinking about it since 2006. Every time, I would go on a diet and think I could do it myself. That has clearly not happened and I just keep getting older.

My surgeon required it. Glad he did because they found a polyp in my duodenum they may have caused problems later. Got it removed yesterday easy peasy. I didn't have a pre existing reason for it, it's just something my surgeon wants his patients to do.

I did not need an endoscopy. My insurance nor surgeon required it.

CXR and EKG is all I needed.

I did it too they found an hiatal hernia and I'm on my second day with lots of discomfort but I'm glad I got it remove