questions

I was supposed to get the sleeve, but the nurse at my dr's office made a mistake and submitted me for a lapband instead.  Now the insurance says its the band or nothing.  So, surgery is Wednesday and I have no idea what to expect.  I have heard it takes longer to lose weight with the band and also that recovery is quicker.   Is the pre op diet the same?  and post op?  I'm so mad about this, but I guesss there is a reason I am not supposed to get the sleeve done!!

Please do not get a surgery just to get a surgery...if the sleeve is the surgery that you want and that you should have...then fight for it. Now if you have accepted that the band is for you, that is one thing but from reading your post, I dont believe this to be the fact and I really would hate for you to go that route and later have to revised. 

You can learn a lot about the band by click on the topics under About Lap-Band System on the right hand side of the page, but your surgeon should be the #1 source of your info.

Has your insurance approved only the band because of the nurse's mistake, or because the sleeve isn't covered by your insurance? If it's because of the nurse's mistake, why can't your surgeon's office resubmit their request for the sleeve and go to bat for you to get it approved?

I sure wouldn't let a random piece of human error dictate anything done to my body in an operating room - something that I have to live with for the rest of my life.

Jean

Hi Jean.  They denied me because their policy for a sleeve is a BMI of above 60.  Mine is 52.  I have never heard of them wanting it to be that high.

Really?  BMI of 60 for a sleeve?  That is crazy high but I would still try and fight for the sleeve if that is what you and your doctor decided was the best decision for YOU (which it was obviously or you wouldn't have left thinking you are having a sleeve done in the first place, right?).  Isn't your doctor concerned that the lap-band was not the surgery originally planned for during your visits or scheduled, yet that is what is apparently happening due to a clerical errata?  This concerns me...I would not go through with surgery until everything is truly sorted out and you go into this 100% certain of what is happening.  My two cents...GOOD LUCK!

I agree with the others.  You should write an appeal to your insurance co. because you're so close to their minimum BMI.  Your Surgeon should be willing to write a letter for you.  I would go in and talk to your surgeon now because you shouldn't have a surgery you know little about. 

The band is very different from the Sleeve.  Talk to your Dr.

You can always re-schedule if you end up deciding you want the band.

Best~
Lisa O.

Thank you all so much.  I called the cordinator for the hospitals bariatric unit and she was a ton of help!  She texted the dr for me (since he had no idea what was going on with the dimbat at his office) and they are putting in an appeal as we speak.  And if that does not work my Dr himself is going to put in an appeal. 

I see you've done what the others suggested and hooray for you! I think you'll be much happier with the sleeve and never settle, apppeal, appeal, appeal!