Duke cognitive-behavioral group sessions
I was billed $130 for each of these sessions (and I doubt they've dropped the price by $80 in the past 6 months). I was also told that it is common for insurance not to pay for them.
To be honest, if you're having something other than the band or RNY, I've found them to be a huge waist of my time and money and I stopped going.
Can I ask why you're going from the band to the sleeve? If the band wasn't effective or you had regain, then the sleeve may not work that well either since it is also a restriction only procedure. If you just have had issues with that crap inside of you, but were happy with your results, then the sleeve may be great for you.
I'd want to know what size sleeve he's planning on giving you. He does a 5 ounce sleeve on DSers and when I said I wanted a 3 ounce sleeve he said he did not like to do them smaller due to the limited amount of tissue available in case of any complications. (He also mentioned needing to be able to eat more, but that would not apply to you as a VSGer.) Personally, if I were getting a sleeve only, I'd want one smaller than 5 ounces. Hell, I got the DS and wanted one smaller than 5 ounces.
Anyhow, good luck to you!
To be honest, if you're having something other than the band or RNY, I've found them to be a huge waist of my time and money and I stopped going.
Can I ask why you're going from the band to the sleeve? If the band wasn't effective or you had regain, then the sleeve may not work that well either since it is also a restriction only procedure. If you just have had issues with that crap inside of you, but were happy with your results, then the sleeve may be great for you.
I'd want to know what size sleeve he's planning on giving you. He does a 5 ounce sleeve on DSers and when I said I wanted a 3 ounce sleeve he said he did not like to do them smaller due to the limited amount of tissue available in case of any complications. (He also mentioned needing to be able to eat more, but that would not apply to you as a VSGer.) Personally, if I were getting a sleeve only, I'd want one smaller than 5 ounces. Hell, I got the DS and wanted one smaller than 5 ounces.
Anyhow, good luck to you!
Hi Tessy,
I am going from the band to sleeve because I was never able to get any restriction with the band. It's either too tight and I had the awful sliming and PBing with terrible reflux. So they would take the fluid out and I didn't have any restriction. I have been through 3 years of throwing up after most meals or even jus****er, with no restriction. So I don't know what it feels like to have that "sweet spot" cause I have never had that. I think with the band everyone is different and it just did not work for me. I have seen many people be unsuccessful with the band and get revised to the sleeve and do very well.
Dr Sudan's admin Meghann told me those session were required and I was trying to see if others had to go through the same thing. I'm not sure about how the process works at Duke but when I go for my first appointment I hope to get my answers.
Thanks for your advice. I have taken all of that information into consideration as I have done my research on the various WLS options. I am not set just on the sleeve as of yet, I'm waiting to speak to the doctor to discuss which option would be right for me.
I am going from the band to sleeve because I was never able to get any restriction with the band. It's either too tight and I had the awful sliming and PBing with terrible reflux. So they would take the fluid out and I didn't have any restriction. I have been through 3 years of throwing up after most meals or even jus****er, with no restriction. So I don't know what it feels like to have that "sweet spot" cause I have never had that. I think with the band everyone is different and it just did not work for me. I have seen many people be unsuccessful with the band and get revised to the sleeve and do very well.
Dr Sudan's admin Meghann told me those session were required and I was trying to see if others had to go through the same thing. I'm not sure about how the process works at Duke but when I go for my first appointment I hope to get my answers.
Thanks for your advice. I have taken all of that information into consideration as I have done my research on the various WLS options. I am not set just on the sleeve as of yet, I'm waiting to speak to the doctor to discuss which option would be right for me.
Sheila
I think I was told they're mandatory, too. I went to the pre-op one and then to the 3 week post-op one and then got billed for the pre-op one and found out I had to pay the $130 out of pocket (and was never even told there was a charge for them period). So, I cancelled my next one and said I wasn't going to anymore. They didn't give me any issues, but I think they've learned that I'm pretty damned stubborn! ;)
I'd definitely talk to Dr. Sudan about all of your options (sleeve vs DS) and I'd trust his advice to be sound. (That doesn't mean that I'd automatically do what he says, but I'd seriously consider his opinions.) Personally, if he told me that he'd do a VSG with a 5 ounce stomach, I'd either get the DS or go to a different VSG surgeon who would do a smaller sleeve.
Good luck to you!
I'd definitely talk to Dr. Sudan about all of your options (sleeve vs DS) and I'd trust his advice to be sound. (That doesn't mean that I'd automatically do what he says, but I'd seriously consider his opinions.) Personally, if he told me that he'd do a VSG with a 5 ounce stomach, I'd either get the DS or go to a different VSG surgeon who would do a smaller sleeve.
Good luck to you!
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