Had Orientation today

Dawnie 88
on 1/25/10 8:07 am
I went to the Orientation today at Grand Health Partners. Dr. Foote was the one doing the Orientation.

I went there thinking I wanted the RNY, but I left thinking that the Vertical Sleeve would suit me better.

Thankfully the VSG is covered by our insurance (BCN), as long as you have a BMI of >50. My BMI is 57. I also found out that because my BMI is higher, I don't have to do the 6mth supervised diet.

My insurance covers 100%, but they mentioned I'd still have an out-of-pocket cost of around $1,000. THank goodness its tax return time! lol

I'll also have to buy their food to eat for the two weeks prior to surgery and the 2 weeks after.

It looks like this whole process won't take too terribly long for me.

Dawn
Linda D.
on 1/25/10 9:58 am - Armada, MI
Congratulations!  That's good news that your insurance gives you the option of picking which surgery is best for you and covers nearly all the cost  -  and you don't have to do the 6-month wait.  Now you are closer to being healthier!

Linda

        
_Suzy_
on 1/25/10 10:05 am - Lawrenceville, GA
Congratulations - that is wonderful!!!  I wish you all the best. 
Suzy


Start Weight     309    
Surgery              301
Current               206

O M G - I am down over 100#.  



    
ttjab3
on 1/25/10 2:22 pm - Mio, MI
Hi Dawn!!
Congrats on insurance covering your surgery!!  What a relief, right?!!
My insurance will cover all but $1,200 and I agree on being grateful it's tax return!! 
Hopefully you will get a date for your surgery soon!!  It took me a little over 7 months from the day I went to my Seminar/Consultation to the day of my surgery (March 3rd)!!  
TTFN,

 Highest weight: 309 pounds ~ October, 2009
PATS ~ Monday, February 22, 2010
RNY ~ Wednesday, March 3, 2010  ~ weight morning of surgery: 279 pounds
7 Months out to the date ~ Total loss of 100 pounds!!  October 3, 2010: 179 pounds
February 1, 2011 ~ weigh 146 pounds
  

yes4Jess
on 1/25/10 9:16 pm - somewhere, MI
aww grats!!!  I went to a Dr foote seminar there too with such high hopes! Then it turned out I cant get anything covered for that place...  suuuckks!   Im so glad you hav good insurance!   I so wish everyone in this country had it too..of course thats a common theme these days
5'5" HW-344 (10/4/09) SW-295 (10/7/10) CW-161 GW-144
Never give up, Never surrender! ~Galaxy Quest

First person to tell me I took the "easy" way out is getting a black eye!
      
robinlynne_72
on 1/26/10 7:49 am - Belding, MI
I have BCN and also had the VSG.  My hubby and I had our 6 week post op today.  All is going well.  Turn around time depending on labs and need for EGD or stress tests is around 8-10 weeks once things are ok'd with insurance. If you want to talk drop me a line.

Best of luck!

Robin
            
Eileen Briesch
on 1/26/10 9:39 am - Evansville, IN
Hi Dawn:

Glad you are on your way. I had RNY with Dr. Foote back when it was the only option available through MMPC and Spectrum Blodgett. It was still a good decision. Unfortunately, it took nearly a year for their office staff to get my insurance stuff through; otherwise the experience was great. My insurance was approved after I sent them my card for the second time and had a cardiac stress test. I have lost 180 pounds in 5 1/2 years and kept most of it off.

Things have changed a bit there since I was there, so I can't comment on specifics. But Dr. Foote is great. Good luck to you!

Eileen Briesch

lap rny 6-29-04

[email protected]

 

 

    

Dawnie 88
on 1/26/10 10:30 am
Suzy and Linda..thanks for the comments and well wishes!

Jessyka..sorry to hear you couldn't get approved there (at Grand Health Parterns). I wish everyone had the option to go where they choose, wouldn't that be great?!

Tari..I sure hope this process for me is quicker than the 7 mths you had to wait. I have very little patience. I want it now..LOL

Eileen..wow..a year to get all your paperwork around..I'd go mad! Happy to hear how much you have lost and that you're doing a great job at keeping it off! Congrat's!

Robin...I'd love to chat! I think it's cool that you live so close. How old are you and your husband, do you have kids? I'm 39 and my husband is 42..we have 3 boys (9, 15 & 17).

DAwn
Jennifer B.
on 1/27/10 1:42 pm - Hastings, MI

GHP is awesome, arent they?????
 

im almost 2yr out from my Sleeve and im having issues finding insurance for part 2  ( duodenal switch) 

individual policies no longer cover BS :(

damn insurance companies are screwin us again!!!! lol

im sill over BMI 50, so im tryin to find SOMETHING that will work ...

congrats, you will LOVE your sleeve!!! :)  i do!

Guate Wife
on 1/29/10 2:59 am - Grand Rapids, MI

I am going to be very blunt, so take what you want from this... you are far too heavy to be considering the VSG as a long term option to your obesity.  Yes, you will lose weight, but you will likely still be obese when all is said & done.  Opinion?  No.  Long term studies are not available on the VSG (as it is a recent stand-alone procedure), but the 4 year studies are grim.  Educate yourself.  Dr. Foote pushes the VSG.  If you find yourself in the position of needing the switch portion for a full DS down the road, YOU will be paying for it (not insurance) and it is almost as expensive as a full DS to begin with.  On top of that, you will not have the added benefit of having the two parts working synergistically together, and any weight you were to lose with the addition of the switch would be slow and likely not get you to a normal BMI.

Be very honest with yourself.... has restriction only (which is what VSG is) worked for you in your past diet attempts?  Was it enough to sustain weight loss long term?  I think we both know the answer to that, given that your BMI is at 57.  You need the malabsorption that comes with the DS to sustain long term weight loss.  That IS your reality.

You need to have a consult with Kemmeter.

       ~ I am the proud wife of a Guatemalan, but most people call me Kimberley
Highest Known Weight  =  370#  /  59.7 bmi  @  5'6"

Current Weight  =  168#  /  26.4 bmi  :  fluctuates 5# either way  @  5'7"  /  more than 90% EWL
Normal BMI (24.9)  =  159#:  would have to compromise my muscle mass to get here without plastics, so this is not a goal.


I   my DS.    Don't go into WLS without knowing ALL of your options:  DSFacts.com

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