PRE-OPS: THINK TWICE, CUT ONCE -- OR ELSE!!
Thank the Gods for these types of informative posts. Otherwise I might have gone with the VSG or RNY!!!
Those of you who have had the VSG, I certainly hope you are well and losing weight. In my case, I have metabolic issues and a VSG wouldn't have cut it. Plus the longer term studies that are just coming out (5+ years) show that although the initial weight loss is good, there is significant regain after the 3rd year.
If it weren't for Diana, Larra, and other DSers, I would never have known about the DS or how to go about getting my insurance (KAISER PERMANENTE) to pay for it. I did have to go up to the State level for an Independent Medical Review, but thankfully I WON!!!
So if you are looking at surgery or even if you have one scheduled, be sure to use due dilligence and research ALL OF THE OPTIONS.
Someday in the not too distant future, I predict that the DS will be the gold standard rather than the RNY. I personally think the Duodenal Switch, as it is now done, is already the platinum standard- perhaps encrusted in Tiffany diamonds!
Kim
Those of you who have had the VSG, I certainly hope you are well and losing weight. In my case, I have metabolic issues and a VSG wouldn't have cut it. Plus the longer term studies that are just coming out (5+ years) show that although the initial weight loss is good, there is significant regain after the 3rd year.
If it weren't for Diana, Larra, and other DSers, I would never have known about the DS or how to go about getting my insurance (KAISER PERMANENTE) to pay for it. I did have to go up to the State level for an Independent Medical Review, but thankfully I WON!!!
So if you are looking at surgery or even if you have one scheduled, be sure to use due dilligence and research ALL OF THE OPTIONS.
Someday in the not too distant future, I predict that the DS will be the gold standard rather than the RNY. I personally think the Duodenal Switch, as it is now done, is already the platinum standard- perhaps encrusted in Tiffany diamonds!
Kim
~ Kim ~
HW - 283 SW - 257.5 Goal - 156
Thanks to all the DS vets who have paid it forward - I <3 you guys!
Looking for DS support & information? Check out : http://weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi
HW - 283 SW - 257.5 Goal - 156
Thanks to all the DS vets who have paid it forward - I <3 you guys!
Looking for DS support & information? Check out : http://weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi
In the 8 years I've been on OH and fighting with the insurance companies, first on my own behalf, and then helping others fight them, I have seen the fight shift sslllloooowwwwllllyyyy from getting them to cover the DS, to more often helping people fight for revisions. On the one hand, I'm glad that the DS is finally being recognized by more insurance companies as being acceptable and standard of care (of course I think it is the BEST of care) -- on the other, it saddens me to see more and more LapBander, RNYers and VSGers needing revisions, and finding more barriers put up to doing so.
The RNYers especially concern me. Revision to ERNY usually makes them WORSE off in the long run -- and still obese. And as we have seen recently, revision to a DS from an RNY has a HIGH complication rate.
I feel badly for VSGers too. While they have a sleeve, I feel many are being sold a bill of goods that it has much chance of working long-term. And then when they need revision, they have to fight for it -- and possibly be contractually be excluded anyway. And if their sleeve has stretched, they will need a resleeve -- which again is much more dangerous than a virgin sleeve.
Lapbanders -- sheesh. Crapband is all I can say. Assuming (which is not a safe assumption) they have no damage to their stomach, esophagus or adhesions, this is probably the easiest revision -- IF they can get it covered. Which is becoming increasingly unlikely, which is really unfortuate with the extremely high rate of failure.
THINK TWICE, CUT ONCE!
The RNYers especially concern me. Revision to ERNY usually makes them WORSE off in the long run -- and still obese. And as we have seen recently, revision to a DS from an RNY has a HIGH complication rate.
I feel badly for VSGers too. While they have a sleeve, I feel many are being sold a bill of goods that it has much chance of working long-term. And then when they need revision, they have to fight for it -- and possibly be contractually be excluded anyway. And if their sleeve has stretched, they will need a resleeve -- which again is much more dangerous than a virgin sleeve.
Lapbanders -- sheesh. Crapband is all I can say. Assuming (which is not a safe assumption) they have no damage to their stomach, esophagus or adhesions, this is probably the easiest revision -- IF they can get it covered. Which is becoming increasingly unlikely, which is really unfortuate with the extremely high rate of failure.
THINK TWICE, CUT ONCE!
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