I havent posted in a couple years but need help right now. I am coming up on my 3 yr anniv. in Sept and have pretty much been the poster child for RNY surgery until now.  I threw up once, got the foamies maybe 3 times and have no problem with nausea, sugar nothing, I was out of the hospital in 2 days and never took a pain med. That being said I went for some lab work a few weeks ago and was thrown in the hospital because my hemoglobin was dangerously low 6.6. I was given 2 pints of blood followed by two infusions of iron 500 units and 200 units. Iron level was fine but ferritin was 3. B12 was high at 2000. Saw the gastro guy while in there and since I had no symptoms of internal bleeding agreed that it is probably an iron absorption problem which is what the hospital Dr thought too. When stool sample came back there was a trace amount of blood but not enough for them to keep me in. My follow up instructions were to have iron infusions probably every few weeks for the rest of my life. I will be seeing a hemotologist, and follow up with the gastro guy who will probably do  an endospcopy. Anyone who has this problem I would appreciate any info you have and would like to hear about your experience.

My surgeon wants me to nibble on a protein bar (easy on my new sleeve tummy).  I've never liked them much and always considered them high calorie candy bars with very little protein.....BUT.....they do have their place for some of us.

I need suggestions.

Which ones have you tried and liked and where did you buy them?

If I find a yummy one before our June 5th seminar then maybe I'll buy a bunch to share a taste with everyone!

Thanks peeps!

He is moving to Arizona because he went to medical school in Tucson.  He has been wanting to come back to Arizona for years and we were lucky enough to snag him up!!!

Hey Kathleen,
I have you on the list!

Have you checked out your Tricity support group for a carpool?  I know they've got their own website so how about posting there?

I'd just run right up there and pick you up but I'm not even driving myself yet!!!  Isn't there a city bus that you can catch down?

I hope it works out for you!

BCBS paid for my Prox Rny over 7 years ago.  And, they just paid for my revision to a DS (should have had a DS in the first place!) 2 weeks ago.

I'm not sure what their requirements are now but my understanding is that if Medicare covers a procedure then the rest of the insurances follow suit and cover it as well.....UNLESS you have an employer based exclusion.  Have you checked your policy?  If you know people at your employment who have had it done then chances are very likely that it's not a problem.

As far as approval time?  AFTER you fill all of your insurance checklist AND the hospital program's checklist....then they will submit to your insurance.  At tht point, most people know within 2 weeks or less.

As far as my opinion on programs in the area:

If you're positive you want an Rny, then I would say that Dr. Fang and Dr. Juarez are your best bets at Phoenix St Luke's.  Their comprehensive program is amazing!

If you want to go with one of the latest greatest options, (the sleeve) then I would highly recommend Dr. Podkamini at Banner Gateway.  Their entire program is most likely the best in all of AZ!

If you go with the surgery that the majority consider the best, the Duodenal Switch, also known as a DS....then you may want to wait until Dr. Husted comes to Phoenix in June.  Unfortunately he is going to be joining a program and a clinic that are known to have a poor quality program and the surgery will be done at one of the nastiest hospitals in the valley (had surgery there!)

If you are interested in just information regarding the DS then I'd suggest that both you and your hubby join us for a Super Weight Loss surgery Seminar which is sponsored by a peer support group on June 5th.  Dr. Keshishian will be speaking and talking one on one with people.  He's one of he leading DS surgeon's in the world.

Please check out the Duodenal Switch forum as well as www.dsfacts.com  It's worth checking into if you're not only wanting to lose weight but be able to keep it off as well.  It is statistically the superior WLS in the world.

I'm excited for you and your hubby.  My hubby and I did ours 9 months from each other and have loved getting healthy together.  We found new recreational likes, hobbies, etc.  Our kids have all left home now but they got to have us for a while as active/healthy parents.  Now we're able to play with the grand kiddos and love life!

Best wishes!

PS if you want details on seminar.....just scroll down the Recent Posts and you'll get times and addresses.