Dee from Dennis Smith Office
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I 
MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
on 1/30/09 9:50 am
I think they're working on getting more in-network plans. The one's listed probably were easy to work out contracts with. I'm sure CIGNA is a pain in the A$$.
I put in my level two appeal with CIGNA last week to have Dr Smith covered as in-network since they don't have any in-network DS surgeons in Georgia. I also don't have out-of-network benefits for bariatric surgery. I'll keep ya posted.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
I care about you and want you do do what is best for you and only you can make that decision but there has just been something bugging me about that question. Its not a NEW surgery so there has to be a reason in my mind.
Big HUGS!!
G
Starting Weight: 325; Pre Surgery Weight: 314
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
on 1/30/09 10:05 am
The DS is more complex and complicated, It requires a skilled surgeon to provide an accuate and favorable outcome. It can take twice as long in the OR, so they can't do as many procedures as with RNY or Gastric Banding. The cost is higher so insurance companies have been slow to approve the higher dollar amounts. Medicare now covers the DS and insurance companies are now covering more. So the RNY and Gastric Banding are easier to get the money for because insurance covers those procedures and self pay is cheaper. I think that is more appealing to the surgeons. I think we will start to see more surgeons doing the DS as payment from insurance companies become easier.
In my opinion, (OR nurse for 15yrs), when you get an experienced DS surgeon, your getting the best. I agree you have to watch out for the inexperienced DS surgeons who are just getting started.
Thanks for listening to my opinion. I hope it makes sense.
