Here we go again

sarcar · October 15, 2005

Well, I was verbally told that they approved me for the lap band surgery but the doctor wouldn't set the date until they had the letter in their hand. Well I got the letter today and they approved me for the Gastric Bypass not lap band. Guess I have to wait until Monday to see next steps I have to jump through. I'm so tired of this crap and so emotionally shot.

sarcar · October 16, 2005

My surgeon does both the lap band and the gastric bypass and actually prefers the bypass over the lap band. So having him state that I have greater risk on the RNY is probably not going to happen. However, I have stated numerous times that I will not have any surgery if the only one I can have is the gastric bypass. I do not want that surgery and won't have it. I've got a call into the doctor's office waiting for them on Monday. This is such an emotional roller coaster and I'm definitely tired.

banded_for_life · October 16, 2005

I agree with Jack, don't let the dr or the insurance company do anything that you don't want.

sarcar · October 16, 2005

They won't talk me into the gastric bypass....but it is hard to think about leaving this doctor as my partner is a OR nurse and works with him on a lot of other surgeries. I've had two surgeries with him in the past and he is an excellent surgeon and he does lap bands, just prefers the gastric bypass. I'm sure he'll try to talk me into the gastric but it ain't happening.

tomorrowsdream · October 16, 2005

My daughter had gastric bypass surgery done 3 years ago, and although she has lost 100 lbs. she is not feeling good most of the time. If she isn't pooping she is throwing up. She says she wouldn't do it again even for the weight loss. It is an extremely invasive surgery where they cut the intestines and a lot of things can go wrong. Lap banding is minimally invasive and much, much safer, but in the long run it can cost a lot of money for insurance companies because of the costs of the fills after the surgery and the follow-ups. My daughter only had to follow-up twice in a whole year.

I am never going to get gastric bypass. My dr. vetoed it right off the bat because the danger, but completely approves of lap banding.

Don't let insurance talk you into something you may regret and can never, ever change for your whole life. If you are unhappy with the banding you always know deep down it is reversible. This perogative does not exist for gastric bypass patients. They are stuck with the consequences for life. My daughter is so affected by this she has been depressed for 3 years.

Anyway don't give in.

Anwyn · October 16, 2005

Hang in there Carolyn! If they verbally approved the band it's possible that they just sent off the wrong form letter. That's what happened to me, and I was able to get a new letter pretty quickly.

Good luck! If jumping through insurance hoops burned calories we wouldn't need surgery...

sarcar · October 17, 2005

I'm back on. They called the insurance company and it is one CPT code for all gastric surgeries. They have about four or five they allow and this CPT allows for any of the surgeries to be done. So I'm trying to get a date, hopefully it will be mid November before the holidays. Thanks for everything...Carolyn