Why don't dr's want to do the DS, and other Q's

You can't take NSAIDs with RNY whereas you can with the DS.  While you may not need them now who knows what the future holds.  I wouldn't want to preclude myself from being able to use effective analgesics for muscular and joint pain should I need them.

UPDATE: My insurance company will not cover an "out of network" surgeon if i have one that is "IN" network. Soo, I called Dr. O'Malley's office which is the "IN" network provider and they said that they would get back to me on his specific number of DS surgeries performed, but that is was "several hundred at least", so I am going to continue the process there. I'll keep researching however just in case. Thanks for all the info.

Does your medicaid confine you to a specific region of NY? I thought Medicaid of NY covered ALL NY doctor's. Which would include all those IN NYC.

Liz

Hi Liz, I was told by the insurance company that they will not cover an "out of network" surgery if there are "in network" providers offering the same surgery. And by in network they mean Rochester area. Rochester is 1 hour east of Buffalo and 1 hour west of Syracuse, so there are other options closer. BUT , no surgeons who have performed more then a few DS's a year. Supposedly Dr. O'Malley (Rochester) is in the top 5% of bariatric surgeons on the east coast. Which I'm sure is debatable. His complication rate is VERY low, BUT he does not do the DS regularly and patients have had to beg him for it, from what I'm told. He is an option for me because I know several ppl who have had surgery with him. His complication and mortality rates speak for themselves, however this is a major surgery and I want a DS surgeon. Not one that doesn't neccesarily believe in them. Make sense? With my BMI I really want to find the best. I called everywhere today. Dr. Greenbaum and Pomp's offices said they don't take medicaid. So there go my 1st choices. Dr. Dakin's secratary thinks he does but she has to check and call me back. I left a message for Dr. Roslin's office. So back at it tomorrow. If there's one thing I am, it's persistant. lol, I doefinatly don't give up easily. I'm confused about the "in" and "out" of network thing because you would think that people should have the right to pick their own health care providers. They don't pay for travel expenses. ugh! sorry so long!

You should call your medicaid office and ask them if the surgeons you are contacting are covered by your network or not.

Just wanted to say that I, too, am on medicaid but the california version of it. I have had to find out for myself who takes it and it turns out only 1 DS dr in california takes mine (8hr away) and he, like your dr, mainly does RNYs (only performed 1 DS last year). I wish medicaid gave us more options when it comes to the DS and I wish more Drs accepted it. I wish you well in your endeavor. Good luck!

I know Songbird. I am greatful for the help I get, but I wish I had more options. This is such a pain in the butt. Oh well, I guess if it was easy, half of America would no longer be obese. Keep fighting and see what you can do. I know sometimes if I talk to 3 different people at my medicaid office I get three different answers.

If you are on medicaid,  then I assume you have very little income. How do you intend to afford all the vitamins,  supplements,  high protein diet, non-covered labs,  possible iron infusions,  bone density scans,  needed specialists, etc?

It can be done, just takes budgeting and a backup plan

Budgeting with what money,  and what if somebody doesn't have a "backup plan" ?  What is your "backup plan" ?

Living with the DS costs money,  possibly a lot depending on how somebody does with various issues.

And you haven't done it yet,  have you?  Or at 2 years,  5 years  10 years?  This is a LIFELONG DECISION WITH LIFELONG FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES.