Newbie to the board

Hello everyone, I'm hoping to have Laproscopic RNY surgery soon, but waiting to get the rest of my medical records from the docs, then my surgeon will send the letter to the insurance company.  You can read about my problem in my profile..I have bad LPR with a band that needs to come out. I was wondering what tips anyone can give on insurance, after surgery...what to expect.  This is so life-changing but I am ready to shed the rest of this weight and sick and tired of being sick. Thanks, Kristin

Hi Kristin,welcome to the boards.If you don't find the answers here may I suggest posting on PA's board everyone is very helpful & supportive here but PA is much more active.I read your profile,you poor girl.I hope you  find some relief soon. I had LAp RNy in Nov.& thankfully have had no ill effects yet.I feel this is the best thing I have done for me.I thank God everyday for this wonderful tool& feel like I finally have the chance to find the real me under all this fat. Any questions you have just ask us we love to offer our support.Best of luck HUGS!!!!

Thanks Melinda.  I'm so glad you are doing well.  I feel that the surgery is best for me, and I want to be happy about it, but find myself just staying "middle of the road" right now.  If my ins. does not cover, I don't know what I will do.  I am a medical necessity, and I'm scared that they will give me a problem.  I'm just so sick right now...this is no way to live.  This LPR thing I would not wish on anyone, I am trying to hang in and pray to God that it all will turn out ok...Kristin

Hi Kris, I read your profile, and I was very sorry to hear about what you are going through.  I can sympathize with you, because ever since I had my surgery Open RNY(9 months ago), I have had a problem with too much acid in my stomach.  About 2 weeks after the surgery I had to go to the EM room because my stomach was hurting really bad.  They said I was still producing the same amount of acid in my stomach as I did before the surgery.  My pouch could not handle all that acid(digestive enzymes), so it would climb up my esophogus causing me to feel heartburn as well.  I was then placed on Prilosec OTC one pill a day, but one pill wasn't doing the job.  So I take 2 pills a day.  I can not let one day go by without taking it or I will have heartburn really bad.  The crazy thing is is that I never had any heartburn before the surgery.  I could eat anything.  Now I really have to watch what I eat, and I may have to take the Prilosec OTC for the rest of my life.  I get gas a lot even after 9 months.  I am not sure if RNY is going to help you, because look what I have been going through after the surgery, if you were going through this with the Lap Band, I could imagine what would happen once they make your stomach smaller permanently.  I think some of us will continue to have this problem because our stomach's some how continue to produce the same amount of acid, even though we have the surgery.  I just thought that you might want to know about my experience before you proceed.  You definitely need to solve the problem that you are having now before you proceed with any other surgery.  That is my opinion!!!  I can't do anything about what am going through because the surgery is not reversable.  I just want you too feel better, your health is most important.  I know you want to lose the weight, but just be sure before you make the wrong decision.  I will be praying for you!!!  Good-Luck!!!

Hi Melissa, So sorry you have the heartburn...it is no fun.  However I do not have heartburn, kind of hard to explain..the acid backs up to my throat.  No symptoms of heartburn, I have no clue what that is like.  The LPR is not as common and there could be a genetic factor, not sure...the docs say they are still writing the text on this....plus, I was once a smoker which is a contributor to any acid reflux.  Who knew at the time, I didn't care until the I finally knew what was wrong.  The band in me however, is a contributor even with the no fill.  However, most people get medication and do fine...but that's with general heartburn...LPR, well, it all sits in your voicebox and you feel like a golfball is inside you eating your neck...I can tell you this, If I had one million dollars I would have paid somone, anyone, just to get this out of my throat.   The RNY for me should take away 85% of this...1% gone for me would be a blessing.  Not joke or exaggeration.  The ENT told me I was the worst case he had ever seen.  I was on my way to a specialist at NYU.  The band must come out and they  have told me that even if I get some acid from the RNY, meds should help and it will be the heartburn type, probably...now, for me and of course the weight issue...the surgery is worth it.  To take half of this away or more than half...I would cry just from the miracle of it.  I could bite the bullett and live with a little acid...sounds sick I know, but you almost start to get used to how bad you feel and that is scary in itself.  I would bargain for most of this, if not all of it, to be totally gone....That said, I can only pray to God this helps.  Something has to give...No matter what, I need to have the band off and I do need to lose weight...There is no other way to solve this LPR other than surgery...been to the Gastro, 3 ENTs and naturally my two bariatric surgeons...they all said that the high dose of meds I am on to get me through the day is not something I can stay on to live.  I wonder what the amount of acid other bypass patients have?  Since all of our bodies are different, I think we are all going to get different syptoms at different levels of intensity.  I work with a few bypass patients who have to acid reflux problems at all.  A good question though to know the percentage of those that do. My medical records are in the office now and the letter is going to the ins. company.  Crossing my fingers. Thanks again, will update when I know more...Kristin

hi and welcome to the board im sorry you have been suffering with so many problems and i hope that u can get them resolved soon. i had RNY 21 months ago, and have been very pleased with my results, losing 122 pounds and maintaining so far however, i also have a problem with heartburn.  i went for an endoscopy and i have an ulcer right at the site of the surgery, which my gastro said is common.  i am on prevacid and mylanta as needed. i also needed to take iron recently for a low iron count and that really aggravated the heartburn, but i have stopped the iron for now again to let things settle down. having said all this, i would do this surgery again in a heartbeat.  i am so happy with the results and the new me. i take one day at a time, thats the only way for me right now.  things are easier to deal with that way. best of luck, jacki

Jacki, Thanks for the message.  I believe one day at a time is the way to take things and really the only way to live.  Glad you are doing well.  I truly feel I'm making the best decision, giving my history of weight going up and down.  I just want the acid ball in my throat to go away.  I don't have that heartburn feeling in my chest...none of those symptoms.  Actually, the LPR is not as common...lucky me I guess, huh. Today my medical records all reached my surgeon and the letter should go out to the insurance company this week.  We shall see what happens.  I am a medical necessity and I need this surgery soon. Kristin

Hi Kristin, Well I hope everything works out for you.  It sounds like you know what you have to do.  I agree with Jacki,  I am very happy I had the surgery, I lost the same as she did 122 LBS!!  As long as I take the prilosec am okay.  Just let us know how things go.  Good-Luck!!!