Recommendations for COE DS surgeon near Winchester, VA?

We are moving to Winchester, VA in the near future and wondered if anyone could recommend a surgeon in or around that area.

I had a sleeve that failed miserably (another story, another day) nearly 2 years ago so not sure whether to convert to DS or RYN. Once I find the right surgeon I would of course take advice from him/her.

Xxx

You are not alone. Now that a few years of more people having sleeves as a stand alone have passed, the failures are starting to show up.

As to what operation to have now, there is really no advantage to you in converting to RNY. You would lose all the positives of the sleeve over the pouch - use of the pyloric valve, being able to take NSAIDs, being able to drink liquids with meals, no dumping...and gain all the negatives of RNY that you probably wanted to avoid when you chose the sleeve. However, if you go to a surgeon who does RNY and not DS, guess what - he will recommend RNY! It has nothing to do with what's best for you and everything to do with the surgeon not losing a paying customer.

    With the DS, you would keep all those sleeve advantages and gain significant malabsorption, which should make a huge difference in your outcome. The amount of caloric malabsorption with RNY is minimal and fades away after a few years. With either operation, you would acquire some crucial vitamin and mineral requirements that must be attended to for the rest of your life.

If you check the list of vetted Ds surgeons at dsfacts.com, you can find the ones near you. Off the top of my head, Dr. Elariny in VA is definitely a DS surgeon, in fact he does all the different wls and could therefore give you an unbiased opinion. I have no idea about the COE part, you would need to ask his office staff.

 

Larra

It's about a 5 hour drive away but Dr. Sudan in Durham NC operates at Durham Regional Hospital, which is a COE.

Thank you for your replies.

Just checked and it would seem that my insurance, Tri-Care Prime won't cover the DS.

Ohhhh well!

Xx

Dr Elariny operates at Fair Oaks Hospital near Dulles airport, which is a COE. His primary hospital is Fairfax INOVA but I don't know for sure if it's COE for bariatric surgery. He could give you all your options and let you choose. Dr Elariny is the only DS surgeon in VA. His contact info is on www.dsfacts.com. Let me know if you have other questions about his practice or the support group.

--gina

 

Thank you MajorMom

I am British and had my sleeve done in the UK. I live here in the US now.

My insurance states that they cover the RNY, the band and stapling of some sort. Only one WLS per life time and revision under certain cir****tances.

I am guessing that they'll only revise to a procedure that is orginally covered?

It has broken my heart that I have gone through all that for nothing...it breaks my heart that I got a fleeting 6 months of feeling great, dressing good and having the energy of a woman half my age. I'm 55 now.

I have acid reflux and had a scope recently. My gastroenterologist took a look at my stomach and told me that I have a polyp in the stomach, some inflammation there and along the oesesphogial wall, a hiatal hernia and shockingly a normal large stomach that, had I not told him about the sleeve gastrectomy, he'd never have known. Apparently, the only reason I get sick is due to the hernia and not because of any remaining restriction, of which I have none.

I always thought that the RNY was the perfect operation but was steered towards the sleeve for various reasons at the time. Unfortunately, in the UK it is deemed a success if you lose a significant amount of weight no matter that you put it back again.

I do feel the DS would be a better choice for me but may to get it because if insurance.

Xx

No idea why the word "cir****tance" ended up with asterisks lol xx

I would get a consult with Dr Elariny about a possible revision and see if what you have in your records would satisfy the requirement for a revision with your insurance. Alex is the insurance guru in Dr E's office and I think she's normally right on the money about what insurance covers and what they won't cover.

--gina

Hi again

I have spoken to Alex at Dr Elariny's office....(lovely lady).

It would seem that my insurance company (tricare prime) will not cover a revision anyway. Plus, tricare will not cover a DS....so that leaves me out in the cold really. Alex explained that realistically you can't really convert to RNY...(bit surprised about that as I could have sworn I have heard of people converting from sleeve to RYN before).

She mentioned a band thing that could be out on the stomach...I just am not keen on that idea though...if I went for the DS I would be a self pay which would cost $50,000 but with a discount of 20%. $40,000 is still out of the question for me.

In light of what I have read here and other forums, I really would prefer the DS, and it would appear that that is what would suit me best.

Alex did mention other insurance companies that would cover the DS in my case and on and after consult with a doctor if they would also consider what is technically a revision. Even though I had the operation done in the UK.

Any extra advice would be very much appreciated.

Xxx

Self pay in Brazil with Dr Marchesini or Mex with Dr Ungson would probably be closer to $20,000 and that would include flight and hotel...my understanding anyway. They are both excellent doctors.

--g