APPROVED & Given a date for Surgery. Bitter Sweet.

I stand corrected!

btw - the bypass is a completely different surgery than the DS. The post is a little confusing because it sounded like you were using the two terms interchangeably. The sleeve was originally phase 1 of the DS. Bypass is a completely different animal.

that said, I'd push for the surgery you want unless there's some medical reason for doing otherwise..

I may have confused the two ~or~ I was just as confused as the doctor's notes!!

But yes. We were/are doing the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy which is the removal of 2/3rds of stomach which leaves the smaller stomach in the shape of a tube, or "sleeve". They are just now able to do it laparoscopically.??

When the nurse confirmed whatever surgery they tried to put me on she just rattled off a string of letters (BPBB? or something) & I thought I heard "switch" in there too... I just knew it wasn't the Sleeve Gastrectomy, but we are back on the right track now (hopefully.)



*edited for clarification.

"We were/are doing the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy which is the removal of 80% of stomach & placing a sleeve around the smaller stomach."

This is interesting. I have never heard that a sleeve is placed around the remnant stomach. I've only seen the information on the partial removing of the majority of the stomach.

So they are placing something around your leftover stomach? What is it?

My bad ~ it just refers to the shape of the left over stomach as a tube or "sleeve"... nothing is actually placed around the stomach. I suffer from CRS ~ can't remember **** ~ so wires got crossed in the months since it was discussed with the doctor at the initial meeting & me reading the brochures around that time...

Original post & replies edited for clarification.

I think people will be confused by your terminology. These are the commonly used terms on weight loss surgery sites:

VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, aka "Sleeve"

RNY = Roux en Y, aka "Gastric Bypass"

DS or BPD = Duodenal Switch aka "Biliopancreatic Diversion" or BPD with duodenal switch

All of these surgeries are almost always performed laparoscopically. If anyone comes across a surgeon who only does open, run!!!

*Fixed original post.

I'm guessing that the VSG has the same insurance requirements as the DS. You'll really have to call your insurance to be certain. Chances are that you won't have to do everything all over again. It sounds like all they have to do is resubmit the paperwork & put in the proper code for the surgery you want.

I don't know if it's because of $$ that he's pushing for the ds. If anything it'd be the opposite since he'd be able to squeeze in more vsg surgeries than the ds since that surgery is quicker & less complicated.

OK ~ to clear up the mass confusion caused by ALL involved at this point... I dug out the two brochures I grabbed from the Doctor's office.

YES, The bypass is the RNY. I didn't commit it to memory because I wasn't going to be doing that one.

When the office person called to confirm approval, she definitely said something about the "Switch" ~ Which I knew was NOT what was supposed to be done.

The brochure on the LSG specifically calls it the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. Apparently I did not remember reading that, YES, it is also referred to as the VSG or "partial gastrectomy"~ But this doctor / medical brochure simply refers to it as the LSG or just SG.

From the brochure website ~

"Sleeve Gastrectomy

This procedure is a restrictive procedure that changes the shape and size of the stomach. The surgeon removes approximately two-thirds of the stomach; thus, the stomach is reshaped into a long tube, or ?sleeve.? After the procedure, the stomach is about the size and shape of a banana and resembles a sleeve.

Why Choose Sleeve Gastrectomy

The procedure:

• restricts food intake by allowing only a small amount of food to be consumed in a single sitting, providing a quicker sense of fullness and decreased appetite
• does not require the surgeon to implant a foreign body such as the band used in gastric banding
• decreases the secretion of the hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for the feeling of satiety (fullness)
• initially decreases the body weight of the severely obese patient to prepare this patient for a staged procedure or other surgery at a later time"
  
  Hope this helps ~ SO SORRY I did not bone up on my terms or remember every little detail before posting a partial rant of the doc's office attempting to schedule the wrong surgery... OP & replies edited for clarification.