I went for all my testing on July the 7th for my Gerd and went to see my doctor and hes gonna write Things up and send them to my insurance company he said we're not gonna put it down as weight loss I also have a hernia and I have high blood pressure so hopefully I will get approved.

3 minutes ago, lavette43 said:

I Was hoping I would bypass all of that...

Oh I was hoping for the same. It really depends on what your insurance requirements are and what your surgeon or clinic requires. My insurance only required six visits with my clinic and I've been a patient there for 4 years, so technically I had already met the insurance requirements... BUT the clinic required a pre op info session, psych eval, and various lab tests. Time passed quickly tho. I think it took me about five months from first appointment for revision until surgery day.

Best wishes!

All my paperwork was submitted today to my insurance company to get the prior authorization needed for my surgery. I talked to my insurance company yesterday to make sure the bypass was a covered benefit and (thank you Jesus) it is. Because I’m having a revision from VSG to RNY a lot of my requirements had already been met. I had the VSG 18 months ago so I’ve kept up with all my post op appointments with the dietitian since then. My psych evaluation can be used from the VSG surgery for the RNY. I just had my endoscopy this past Tuesday. The only thing left is the prior authorization and I feel pretty confident I’ll be approved based on my medical diagnoses (GERD, hiatal hernia, sleep apnea…) I start my liquid diet on Monday. Only two weeks to go!!!?

On 7/22/2022 at 2:33 PM, Dogmom68 said:

All my paperwork was submitted today to my insurance company to get the prior authorization needed for my surgery. I talked to my insurance company yesterday to make sure the bypass was a covered benefit and (thank you Jesus) it is. Because I’m having a revision from VSG to RNY a lot of my requirements had already been met. I had the VSG 18 months ago so I’ve kept up with all my post op appointments with the dietitian since then. My psych evaluation can be used from the VSG surgery for the RNY. I just had my endoscopy this past Tuesday. The only thing left is the prior authorization and I feel pretty confident I’ll be approved based on my medical diagnoses (GERD, hiatal hernia, sleep apnea…) I start my liquid diet on Monday. Only two weeks to go!!!?

I also have severe GERD and my endoscopy showed a twist in the middle of my sleeved stomach! Which causes mild obstruction. My surgeon told me the surgery failed me and a revision is needed to get it fixed. I started the new bariatric program with a different hospital March 2021 and my surgery is scheduled for August 29th. Are you on a strict clear liquid diet?

10 hours ago, jenuinelygenuinely said:

I also have severe GERD and my endoscopy showed a twist in the middle of my sleeved stomach! Which causes mild obstruction. My surgeon told me the surgery failed me and a revision is needed to get it fixed. I started the new bariatric program with a different hospital March 2021 and my surgery is scheduled for August 29th. Are you on a strict clear liquid diet?

Hi! I’m so sorry about your obstruction!! Holy moly! My surgeon said my sleeve failed me, as well, so I’m having the revision 8/8.
Im not on clear liquids but I did start my liquid diet today! Im looking forward to moving on with my weight loss and getting rid of this horrible acid reflux!

Well, I’m pretty disheartened. My surgery was pushed from 8/8 to 8/29 to give my doctor’s office time to resubmit paperwork for an authorization for a hiatal hernia repair. My insurance didn’t approve the bypass revision so I may have to pay that portion of the surgery myself. I had already started my pre-op liquid diet so now that’s on hold for a few more weeks. I was so ready to have my surgery next Monday and now I just feel disappointed and frustrated. If I could afford to pay for the entire surgery, I would just to avoid the hoops I’m having to jump through to get this approved. I could use some words of encouragement right about now. ?

16 minutes ago, Dogmom68 said:

Well, I’m pretty disheartened. My surgery was pushed from 8/8 to 8/29 to give my doctor’s office time to resubmit paperwork for an authorization for a hiatal hernia repair. My insurance didn’t approve the bypass revision so I may have to pay that portion of the surgery myself. I had already started my pre-op liquid diet so now that’s on hold for a few more weeks. I was so ready to have my surgery next Monday and now I just feel disappointed and frustrated. If I could afford to pay for the entire surgery, I would just to avoid the hoops I’m having to jump through to get this approved. I could use some words of encouragement right about now. ?

A delay doesn't mean denial. Although, you may feel disheartened at the moment, everything happens for a reason. I wish you much success on your journey. This is just one obstacle to overcome before you get to the finish line. It will get better!

56 minutes ago, Dogmom68 said:

Well, I’m pretty disheartened. My surgery was pushed from 8/8 to 8/29 to give my doctor’s office time to resubmit paperwork for an authorization for a hiatal hernia repair. My insurance didn’t approve the bypass revision so I may have to pay that portion of the surgery myself. I had already started my pre-op liquid diet so now that’s on hold for a few more weeks. I was so ready to have my surgery next Monday and now I just feel disappointed and frustrated. If I could afford to pay for the entire surgery, I would just to avoid the hoops I’m having to jump through to get this approved. I could use some words of encouragement right about now. ?

Did your insurance have an option to appeal?!?? I would appeal right away! I feel like a Hiatal Hernia is a reason for a revision.

Praying everything goes smooth and this storm will pass! You got this!!

On 7/20/2022 at 11:34 AM, lavette43 said:

Just waiting to see if my insurance is going to approve it...Question did you have to go back threw everything. Like at the beginning of your surgery.

I think it depends on when your last WLS was and your surgeon/insurance. I know I had to do the 2 week pre-op liquid diet again for my revision (due to gerd and hiatal hernia of almost my entire gastric sleeve) but I didn’t have to do the nutritional appts or the 6 month preop again because it was within a yr of my VSG.

On 08/02/2022 at 00:51, jenuinelygenuinely said:

Did your insurance have an option to appeal?!?? I would appeal right away! I feel like a Hiatal Hernia is a reason for a revision.

Praying everything goes smooth and this storm will pass! You got this!!

Yes, my doctor is deciding whether or not to appeal or just submit a new request for authorization for repair to my hiatal hernia (and I self pay the bypass portion.) I have BCBS and they said my revision was not medically necessary. I’m afraid if my doctor submits paperwork for an appeal (and the whole thing gets denied again) then that’s the end of the road for me. I don’t mind paying the bypass portion since it’s very doable ($2600.) I almost feel like the hernia repair is more likely to be authorized. What do you think??

9 hours ago, Dogmom68 said:

Yes, my doctor is deciding whether or not to appeal or just submit a new request for authorization for repair to my hiatal hernia (and I self pay the bypass portion.) I have BCBS and they said my revision was not medically necessary. I’m afraid if my doctor submits paperwork for an appeal (and the whole thing gets denied again) then that’s the end of the road for me. I don’t mind paying the bypass portion since it’s very doable ($2600.) I almost feel like the hernia repair is more likely to be authorized. What do you think??

It is most definitely medically necessary for a hernia repair. I am so so sorry you're going through this!

GERD is definitely something you should get "repaired" GERD can cause esophagus cancer in the future if its more severe.

For those of you that had GERD issues, how soon did they start post surgery? I had GERD prior to surgery (7/29) but still opted for the sleeve. My doc warned me. But I’ve been on PPI’s for so long I’m hopeful it can continue to be managed.

For those of you that had GERD issues, how soon did they start post surgery? I had GERD prior to surgery (7/29) but still opted for the sleeve. My doc warned me. But I’ve been on PPI’s for so long I’m hopeful it can continue to be managed.

Mine took quite a few years. After that it was like gurgling acid in my sleep and a burning esophagus day on and day out. When you can't sleep, one tend to eat for energy. That didn't help my weight loss. It was horrible. I had a revision last August, and I feel so much better.

08/04/2022 11:25 AM, OtterBot said:

For those of you that had GERD issues, how soon did they start post surgery? I had GERD prior to surgery (7/29) but still opted for the sleeve. My doc warned me. But I’ve been on PPI’s for so long I’m hopeful it can continue to be managed.

I started to have GERD symptoms about six months after my VSG. They’ve continued to worsen and now bother me in my sleep a lot. Even though I take esomeprazole in the AM and Pepcid in the PM. To be honest, I wish I would have just had the bypass to begin with! I only lost about 40 to 50 lbs with my sleeve, as well. I still have 50 to 60 lbs to lose so hopefully once I can get my hiatal hernia repaired and the bypass done then I’ll be able to work on losing that extra weight! ????

On 08/01/2022 at 23:49, Dogmom68 said:

Well, I’m pretty disheartened. My surgery was pushed from 8/8 to 8/29 to give my doctor’s office time to resubmit paperwork for an authorization for a hiatal hernia repair. My insurance didn’t approve the bypass revision so I may have to pay that portion of the surgery myself. I had already started my pre-op liquid diet so now that’s on hold for a few more weeks. I was so ready to have my surgery next Monday and now I just feel disappointed and frustrated. If I could afford to pay for the entire surgery, I would just to avoid the hoops I’m having to jump through to get this approved. I could use some words of encouragement right about now. ?

Hi! do you mind telling me what your insurance is? I have Aetna, and I have a feeling this is going to happen with me since I have GERD and EGD only showed a Hiatal hernia.

I am 8 years out from my sleeve and have had GERD since. It has progressively gotten worse. They found a fairly large hiatal hernia. Initially my doc was recommending the bypass conversion but he was concerned it would cause more problems for me since I really don’t have that much more to lose. I had a hernia repair surgery on 7/26 and was told I actually had two! They fixed the hernias, stitched the diaphragm where the esophagus passes, and placed a dissolvable mesh wrap. I am on full liquids until my follow up on 8/10. Overall, I think I did better post op with the sleeve as physically it’s been pretty rough. I was told to quit taking my PPIs and haven’t needed them so I’m hopeful that this will work. He said we can keep the bypass as a last resort but my BMI is down to 26.3 so I don’t think it’s truly an option. I also think if I had known what the past 8 years would be like I may have just opted for bypass from the beginning.