Dr. Snyder, Insurance and Still On Track!!
Hi,
I read your post and just wanted to offer some words of encouragement. I, too, am a patient of Dr. Snyder's, and had a RNY performed on November 10, 2008. Let me say that I adore Dr. Snyder, Dolly, and the whole team at Denver Bariatrics. Rose Medical Center is a wonderful hospital, and is also where my Primary Care physician is located.
FYI, here were my experiences:
1. I, too, had to do the "weight loss program" as mandated by my health insurer. I lost 65 lbs. (from 345 to 285) and regained 15 in the 1 month between finishing that and getting my surgery.
2. Prior to surgery, I had diabetes, high cholesterol, high BP, high heart rate, and took 14 different medications each day. I weighed 300 lbs. on my day of surgery (I'm 5'10").
3. The surgery was invisible to me. I rolled in, my had a mask put on my face, and next thing I knew I was in recovery. There were no problems during surgery.
4. I spent 3 days and 2 nights in the hospital. I had no problems, and facility was great and everyone very nice. I was up and walking on the 1st day.
5. I spent a week at home recovering. There was some pain where the main incision was, but liquid Vicodin and Oxycontin pills worked fine. I could have worked, but was glad to have taken the time off.
6. I had a very rare (2% of patients) complication in January 2009 in that I developed an "Anistomal Ulcer". A visit to Rose to have my "stomach" scoped, and a prescription of Nexium, solved everything.
7. 9 months later, I weigh 185, I walk 3 miles a day (I couldn't walk up my driveway before), my diabetes is gone, and I take no prescription medications. I do take vitamins every day (check out BariatricAdvantage as a source for Chewable High ADEK Multivitamins and Chewable Iron). I also take chewable vitamin C I get at King Soopers.
8. One benefit of RNY vs. band that you may not have considered is that (from what I picked up from other patients) band patients do not lose their sense of hunger for several months - just their ability to eat. So, I saw more than a few who were pretty hungry at the meetings. By contrast, I was told that RNY patients lose their sense of hunger with surgery and don't recover it for about 6 months. For me, its been 9 months and it still has not returned. This is not a bad problem at all - it just means I have to remember to eat, and don't have any urge to snack.
Best of luck to you. I think you've chosen the best operation from the best surgeon. Give Dr. Snyder a hug from me when you see him next.
Cheers,
Joe Sperrazza
I read your post and just wanted to offer some words of encouragement. I, too, am a patient of Dr. Snyder's, and had a RNY performed on November 10, 2008. Let me say that I adore Dr. Snyder, Dolly, and the whole team at Denver Bariatrics. Rose Medical Center is a wonderful hospital, and is also where my Primary Care physician is located.
FYI, here were my experiences:
1. I, too, had to do the "weight loss program" as mandated by my health insurer. I lost 65 lbs. (from 345 to 285) and regained 15 in the 1 month between finishing that and getting my surgery.
2. Prior to surgery, I had diabetes, high cholesterol, high BP, high heart rate, and took 14 different medications each day. I weighed 300 lbs. on my day of surgery (I'm 5'10").
3. The surgery was invisible to me. I rolled in, my had a mask put on my face, and next thing I knew I was in recovery. There were no problems during surgery.
4. I spent 3 days and 2 nights in the hospital. I had no problems, and facility was great and everyone very nice. I was up and walking on the 1st day.
5. I spent a week at home recovering. There was some pain where the main incision was, but liquid Vicodin and Oxycontin pills worked fine. I could have worked, but was glad to have taken the time off.
6. I had a very rare (2% of patients) complication in January 2009 in that I developed an "Anistomal Ulcer". A visit to Rose to have my "stomach" scoped, and a prescription of Nexium, solved everything.
7. 9 months later, I weigh 185, I walk 3 miles a day (I couldn't walk up my driveway before), my diabetes is gone, and I take no prescription medications. I do take vitamins every day (check out BariatricAdvantage as a source for Chewable High ADEK Multivitamins and Chewable Iron). I also take chewable vitamin C I get at King Soopers.
8. One benefit of RNY vs. band that you may not have considered is that (from what I picked up from other patients) band patients do not lose their sense of hunger for several months - just their ability to eat. So, I saw more than a few who were pretty hungry at the meetings. By contrast, I was told that RNY patients lose their sense of hunger with surgery and don't recover it for about 6 months. For me, its been 9 months and it still has not returned. This is not a bad problem at all - it just means I have to remember to eat, and don't have any urge to snack.
Best of luck to you. I think you've chosen the best operation from the best surgeon. Give Dr. Snyder a hug from me when you see him next.
Cheers,
Joe Sperrazza
Joe S.
Golden, CO
Golden, CO
Hi Megan,
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. Congrats on the Bypass decision. I am sure it feels wonderful to have the decision made. Have you gotten the approval yet? I may meet you in the hospital after surgery. I volunteer on Weds. and visit the bypass patients that day in the hospital.
I am doing great. Still in my 'goal range' but wanting to get to the lower end of the range. I met with Jessica this week to tweak my diet to see if I can't get there. She gave me some great tips.
As to the lap banders feeling more hunger, I don't think that is necessarily true. I think it's different for different folks. I experienced no hunger after surgery and still haven't much over a year later. By hunger I am meaning physical hunger, of course, I have had the head hunger where I want to eat something but am not really hungry, more because I am stressed, bored, it looks good, etc.
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. Congrats on the Bypass decision. I am sure it feels wonderful to have the decision made. Have you gotten the approval yet? I may meet you in the hospital after surgery. I volunteer on Weds. and visit the bypass patients that day in the hospital.
I am doing great. Still in my 'goal range' but wanting to get to the lower end of the range. I met with Jessica this week to tweak my diet to see if I can't get there. She gave me some great tips.
As to the lap banders feeling more hunger, I don't think that is necessarily true. I think it's different for different folks. I experienced no hunger after surgery and still haven't much over a year later. By hunger I am meaning physical hunger, of course, I have had the head hunger where I want to eat something but am not really hungry, more because I am stressed, bored, it looks good, etc.
Megan,
Have you had surgery yet? Who is your insurance with???
Were you able to get tubial ligation and the WLS at the same time? SOmehting that I am considering as well.
Have you had surgery yet? Who is your insurance with???
Were you able to get tubial ligation and the WLS at the same time? SOmehting that I am considering as well.
Goals:
1. To get to 140 lbs by 6/25/2011... Date achieved:
2. To run 1/2 marathon by June 2011. Date achieved:
4. To work out for 100 days straight beginning 3/1/2011. Date achieved:
Major-Goals:
1. To participate in a triathalon in 2011... Date achieved:
2. To help others "end the trend" of obesity - ALL YEAR
Hi Ms!!
I haven't had surgery yet; I am 3 months in to my 6 month Dr. Supervised diet and so far, I have lost like 5 pounds!!
I am HOPING to have the surgery in Dec!!
My insurance is Meritain/Cofinity and they seem pretty good, actually. There are no exclusions and the RNY is covered! SOOOO I am doing my Dr. Supervised Diet (like Atkins) and exercising, although this week has been rough, I have been a wee under the weather.
The tubal ligation..I totally want to do that. I am going to try and co-ordinate it but right now, I am back on the pill! I hated the Depo shot; I gained about 90 pounds in 2 years and I was SOOOO HUNGRY all the time!! It was awful.
Let me know how you are doing!!
Chat with you later;)
Megan
I haven't had surgery yet; I am 3 months in to my 6 month Dr. Supervised diet and so far, I have lost like 5 pounds!!
I am HOPING to have the surgery in Dec!!
My insurance is Meritain/Cofinity and they seem pretty good, actually. There are no exclusions and the RNY is covered! SOOOO I am doing my Dr. Supervised Diet (like Atkins) and exercising, although this week has been rough, I have been a wee under the weather.
The tubal ligation..I totally want to do that. I am going to try and co-ordinate it but right now, I am back on the pill! I hated the Depo shot; I gained about 90 pounds in 2 years and I was SOOOO HUNGRY all the time!! It was awful.
Let me know how you are doing!!
Chat with you later;)
Megan
Well I am patiently waiting for my consult which is next week.. YAY!!!! 
It took amonth for me to get in to see him. So then we willhave to submit everything to the insurance company but I feel like I have gotten everythign that they have asked for and some.
So what feedback have you received on getting the two procedures done at the same time. Have you began to inquire about that. I like you want to get them both done and over with...
So have you worked alot with Dr. Snyder's office yet or not until you finish the 6 months supervised diet. Luckily for me I had already been doing that so my hope is that I can just have my consult, get everything submitted, set a surgery date and make it happen. My hope is to have surgery by the end of September.
I do wish you the best in your journey.. I read the profiles and see the pictures and I just can't wait to be on the losers side of the bench...
Talk soon...
~Yolanda
It took amonth for me to get in to see him. So then we willhave to submit everything to the insurance company but I feel like I have gotten everythign that they have asked for and some. So what feedback have you received on getting the two procedures done at the same time. Have you began to inquire about that. I like you want to get them both done and over with...
So have you worked alot with Dr. Snyder's office yet or not until you finish the 6 months supervised diet. Luckily for me I had already been doing that so my hope is that I can just have my consult, get everything submitted, set a surgery date and make it happen. My hope is to have surgery by the end of September.
I do wish you the best in your journey.. I read the profiles and see the pictures and I just can't wait to be on the losers side of the bench...
Talk soon...
~Yolanda
Goals:
1. To get to 140 lbs by 6/25/2011... Date achieved:
2. To run 1/2 marathon by June 2011. Date achieved:
4. To work out for 100 days straight beginning 3/1/2011. Date achieved:
Major-Goals:
1. To participate in a triathalon in 2011... Date achieved:
2. To help others "end the trend" of obesity - ALL YEAR
Hi Yolanda!
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner!! School started and life just got in the way!
You did it the way I wanted to do it, have everything done and WALA! Schedule the surgery. However, when I contacted my insurance carrier SEVERAL times, no one ever mentioned the 6 month Dr. Supervised Diet. EVER!! I was calling them in FEB!
Yea, I know.
SOOO I went ahead and did the -3- consults he wanted and met with him. I am going to my PCP and keeping he and Dolly updated and sent them an email Wednesday!
2 more months of the diet and I am hoping a quick approval and surgery in DEC! Hopefully!!
How did your appointment go?!
I am so excited for you!!
Megan
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner!! School started and life just got in the way!
You did it the way I wanted to do it, have everything done and WALA! Schedule the surgery. However, when I contacted my insurance carrier SEVERAL times, no one ever mentioned the 6 month Dr. Supervised Diet. EVER!! I was calling them in FEB!
Yea, I know.
SOOO I went ahead and did the -3- consults he wanted and met with him. I am going to my PCP and keeping he and Dolly updated and sent them an email Wednesday!
2 more months of the diet and I am hoping a quick approval and surgery in DEC! Hopefully!!
How did your appointment go?!
I am so excited for you!!
Megan
Hey Megan...
My appt went real good... Dr. Snyder said I should teach a class on how t prepare for his consult. I had everything he needed. The only thing I was missing was a visit to the nutritionist which I did not now I needed to have or i would have done that prior to meeting. Dolly worked it out for me to get into to see the inhouse nutritionist tomorrow at 8:00. The only one other thing that I worry about is the 5 year history. I do not have it... I think I went back as far as 2007 but I didn't have 05 and 06 I didnt have insurance in 2005 and pretty much all of 2006... I was in school. I guess Cigna wants documentation of 5 years... So we'll see. I am going to be so upset if I get denied because of that. I am however going to think positive. Fingers crossed...
So on top of all the consults make sure to add the nutritionist in there if you have not already... My hope is that we get everything submitted within the week.
I just want this step to be over.. I really do...
Hope that you have a great week and I will keep you posted on everything.
~Yolanda
My appt went real good... Dr. Snyder said I should teach a class on how t prepare for his consult. I had everything he needed. The only thing I was missing was a visit to the nutritionist which I did not now I needed to have or i would have done that prior to meeting. Dolly worked it out for me to get into to see the inhouse nutritionist tomorrow at 8:00. The only one other thing that I worry about is the 5 year history. I do not have it... I think I went back as far as 2007 but I didn't have 05 and 06 I didnt have insurance in 2005 and pretty much all of 2006... I was in school. I guess Cigna wants documentation of 5 years... So we'll see. I am going to be so upset if I get denied because of that. I am however going to think positive. Fingers crossed...
So on top of all the consults make sure to add the nutritionist in there if you have not already... My hope is that we get everything submitted within the week.
I just want this step to be over.. I really do...
Hope that you have a great week and I will keep you posted on everything.
~Yolanda
Goals:
1. To get to 140 lbs by 6/25/2011... Date achieved:
2. To run 1/2 marathon by June 2011. Date achieved:
4. To work out for 100 days straight beginning 3/1/2011. Date achieved:
Major-Goals:
1. To participate in a triathalon in 2011... Date achieved:
2. To help others "end the trend" of obesity - ALL YEAR
Yolanda,
Dr. Snyder performed my surgery on 8/24. Once you get your approval or denial back, keep me posted! Dolly received word that I was approved (Aetna), she got me scheduled in approximately a week!
I had my first consult with Dr. Snyder in 2008. I needed plenty of documentation and a minimum of 6 months medically supervised diet and consultation. I worked with my PCP for over a year, which I lost about 25 lbs during that time. NOW I had everything I needed, Nutrition Counseling, Pulminary consult, Pysch eval, had everything Dolly needed to submit. I was devasted to learn that in 2009 my company had removed Bariactric Surgery from our coverages. I was DEVASTATED!
I reached out to a few leaders within my company, and was advised I could protest the decision. As you are aware, this takes months of completing everything, and now that I had done everything required by either Dr. Snyder of the Insurance company, it was no longer a covered procedure. I did protest and my company added the procedure back into the plan beginning July 2009.
Should you be denied, my advise to you is do not take NO for an answer. Protest Protest Protest!!!!
Anxious to hear back!
Melissa
Dr. Snyder performed my surgery on 8/24. Once you get your approval or denial back, keep me posted! Dolly received word that I was approved (Aetna), she got me scheduled in approximately a week!
I had my first consult with Dr. Snyder in 2008. I needed plenty of documentation and a minimum of 6 months medically supervised diet and consultation. I worked with my PCP for over a year, which I lost about 25 lbs during that time. NOW I had everything I needed, Nutrition Counseling, Pulminary consult, Pysch eval, had everything Dolly needed to submit. I was devasted to learn that in 2009 my company had removed Bariactric Surgery from our coverages. I was DEVASTATED!
I reached out to a few leaders within my company, and was advised I could protest the decision. As you are aware, this takes months of completing everything, and now that I had done everything required by either Dr. Snyder of the Insurance company, it was no longer a covered procedure. I did protest and my company added the procedure back into the plan beginning July 2009.
Should you be denied, my advise to you is do not take NO for an answer. Protest Protest Protest!!!!
Anxious to hear back!
Melissa
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