Curious about the DS...

Do you have to ha e special cir****tances in order to qualify for DS? Or can you just pick it like you'd pick RNY or the sleeve? 

It really depends on what your insurance will cover. Some policy's cover the DS if our BMI is high and or there are qualifying comorbidities.

I you are self paying,you just basically can pick the DS if that is what you want. You would ha e to find a surgeon who does the DS or go out of the country for it.
Gl

The DS is a standard of care bariatric surgery. If your insurance has some sort of bmi over 50 requirement, this can be successfully appealed. The decision as to what operation you have should be yours, not some been counter's.

Larra

My insurance (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) covers RNY, VSG, and DS with the same requirements:

• BMI of 40 or greater OR a BMI of 35 or greater with at least 2 co-morbidities.
• Primary Care Physician's Letter.
• Active Participation and Documentation of non-surgical methods of weight loss.
• 18 years of age (special consideration if under 18 with severe morbid obesity and special cir****tances).
• Consult and recommendation from a weight loss surgeon.
• Psychological evaluation
• Nutritional evaluation

I just starting my journey and attending my first seminar sept 18th. I'm pretty excited. I've been stalking the forum boards for awhile though. So far I really like the DS success rates compared to RNY and the sleeve. Unfortunately the dr I'm going to attend the seminar for doesn't do DS unless its a special cir****tance. Kinda bums me out some but an hour and a half away from me is another dr that, from what I've read, is an amazing DS doctor out of Delano. I do not have any health issues except for being over weight. I've had numerous tests done and I am completely healthy, just fat. 276lb at 5'5 and my bmi is 46. I just want to lose this weight I've been gaining since I was 7. 

I think you're talking about Dr. Keshishian. He is awesome! I would make the drive to see him instead! Good luck!

Yes, forget about the surgeon who's telling you he only does the DS in "special cir****tances". Usually this means he doesn't do the DS at all. Go to Dr. Keshishian---he's great!

I called and left a message with his office :) 

To initate having my surgery with Dr. KESHISHIAN i filled out their information on their internet page. You may want to google him and fill it out also. 

Ok. I will do that.