X-POST Ds or VSG - WARNING, whining ahead

I have applied for  duodenal surgery and have been denied by my insurer because my bmi is less than 50 - it's less than 40, actually.  I have appealed the decision and think that I will be turned down by the appeal board because of my bmi.  My insurer is the provincial health insurer here in Ontario.
This has become very frustrating.  I am at a point where I am wondering if I am being cosmically directed to another type of wls.  Many of you know that I have had cancer and that the malabsorptive aspect of the rny and ds were concerns for me.  (I have degenerative disc disease and have to take nsaids, so the rny is out)
My fear is that I will opt for something like vsg and I will once again fail at losing and keeping off weight.  I am also scared to death that I will be too old (I'm 57) or something will get in my way before this can be worked out.  I see so many people being approved, getting their surgery and losing massive amounts of weight and I am happy for them but I am frustrated that I am unable to seem to be able to move beyond my fat self, if you know what I mean. 

So...  I'm thinking of opting out of the appeal and applying for the vsg.  The vsg surgery is done lap and the recovery time must be a lot less than for anything done with open surgery.  I'm assuming that the post-op problems are less due to the less invasive nature of the vsg, which I like the sound of.  However, I rarely see anyone posting on this forum who has had vsg.

What do you think???  Can I have enough weight loss with a vsg to lose most of or all of the 80 excess pounds that I'm carrying?   Will it be harder for me to keep off than for someone with an rny or ds?    Are people really successful with just the vsg?    (I've gone to the vsg forum and have lurked and read.)  I come to this forum every day and read the sage advice given by so many of you who have been there and done that.   I really feel a part of this forum even though you don't see me often (because I have no surgery, no dates, no post op to report  -  I've changed my avatar just to do something different).  Can you help me with this, please???
Hugs to everyone,   Margaret

Margaret,

Maybe you need to get some clarification from your insurance company on this.

Most insurance companies will deny you because:
1.  you don't meet any of their WLS requirements, regardless of the procedure, and/or:
2.  they don't cover the type of WLS procedure you want

Lots of insurance companies don't cover DS.  Some don't cover VSG, either.

Do you have any co-morbidities?  My insurance covers WLS for a BMI of 35+ plus 1+ co-morbidity.  I had a BMI of 38.8, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and stress incontinence and they still denied me the first time because my co-morbidities weren't severe enough to make WLS "medically necessary".  I appealed it by telling them how much they would have to pay to treat my co-morbidities until I'm of Medicare age, and they approved my appeal.

57 is not too old to have WLS!  Lots of others on this forum have had different types of WLS at 57+ and have done very well.

Personally, I wouldn't have DS if I only had 80 lbs to lose (actually, 80 lbs is what I had to lose).  It's just too drastic for me (although VSG is pretty drastic too - most of your stomach, gone forever...).  At least the band and RNY are reversible if absolutely necessary.  I don't know how NSAID's figure into post-op recommendations for any WLS procedures except the band (NSAID's usually OK for short-term use, but not long-term).

I can only think of one VSG OH member, midwesterngirl.  She is (I think) a lot younger than we are, lost all her weight with the band but for reasons I don't fully understand didn't like her band and recently revised to VSG (she was self-pay both times, by the way).  According to her, VSG is the best thing since sliced bread.  She has me blocked, but you could search for her profile and send her a PM and ask her opinion.

VSG was my 2nd choice WLS.

LOL - I just re-read this post, and noticed this: "the best thing since sliced bread".  Only on OFF could I say that and hope that anyone would remember a time when pre-sliced bread was the exception, not the norm!

Good luck!

Jean

Margaret:

I have degenerative disc disease and that was considered a comorbidity for me. But I had lap rny and no longer take nsaids of any kind. I do get steroidal shots in my back three times a year to help with the pain. And they do help. And if you've read on this board, you've heard me whine about my knee. So you know about my arthritic conditions. I have to manage them with vicodin ... it's not easy and I still work full time. I'm 53; I had my surgery at 49. Yes, my bmi was much higher than yours (don't know exactly, but I weighed 347 when I had my surgery). Lap or open rny were the only options I had available to me at the time. No DS, no lap band, no vsg ... only rny, open or lap. I am very happy I had my surgery, it saved my life and has helped my back issues immensely.

So I think you can manage without the nsaids. But that's just my opinion. I do know some people here who have had a vsg and say it's been wonderful for them ... the after-care diet is much different than the rny, however.

Please keep posting; you don't need to been post-op or pre-op just to be on our forum.

Hi, I'm new here but I wanted to let you know I had Lap RNY and I take nsaids for arthritis. I have to take prilocet( prescription not over the counter) for my pouch because they didn't want me to get an ulser. I'm almost 8 months out. I haven't had any stomach problems. So don't count out RNY yet. I did have to take something else for about a month before they let me go back on nsaids. I hope this will help you out. Do you have any other co-morbs? I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. Some times if you have co-morbs with lower bmi 35 or higher they will still approve you. Teresa M.

Hi Margaret!  I'm 54, and had the VSG two years ago.  I've lost all of my excess weight, and then some.  It was all done laparoscopically - you can't even see my scars now.  In my opinion, you could certainly lose 80 pounds with a VSG - and still take the NSAIDS you need.  I've had zero complications, an easy recovery, and consistent weight loss.  Now I am learning how to maintain at this weight.

While I think all of the surgeries are good - and each has its place - the VSG is a viable option for you if you are concerned about the malabsorption of the RNY and the DS.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the VSG.  Just drop me a line!

EDITED TO ADD A COMMENT ABOUT DIET
In case you are concerned about the post VSG diet - many of us (like me) can eat everything, just smaller amounts!  That is a blessing and a curse, you know.  Without dumping, we CAN eat sweets.  My tastes have changed however, and I don't crave them as much. 

Hi  -  Thanks, belatedly, for your response.  I am really happy with the responses that I have read and the other postings that I have come across regarding VSG.
The only issue for me right now is finding a surgeon in Michigan whom others have had and trust.  There aren't many VSGers that I have seen, and even though I have asked for information about vsg surgeons, I haven't had much response, so I don't feel like I have a lot to go on as far as picking a surgeon in Michigan.
There are vsg surgeons at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, which is a well-respected hospital, and I may go there for the operation.
If you are aware of any good surgeons in Michigan performing the vsg, would you let me know?
Thanks for your help.
Margaret

Hmmm.  Michigan... I'll have to ask my VSG cronies.  I'll drop you a line if I come up with any names.  Best of luck to you!