Lap Band to RNY

 Hi Dawn, don't you just hate the games insurance companies play???!!!  I think they deny first in hopes you will just go away.  It's sad to think how many people do "just go away" after the initial denial.  If your peer to peer don't work out then appeal.  Many have won their approvals on appeals.  Hopefully you will be getting your sleeve before you know it!  BTW, sleeve is a good choice if you are looking for restriction only.  It also allows you to go for malabsorption in the future by getting the intestinal switch (DS) if the restriction is not enough.  Not sure what your BMI is, but if it is high you might want to think about the full DS from the start.  Good Luck on your insurance woes!

 I agree about following the eating plan for the type of WLS you have.  I also agree that any WLS is NO FREE RIDE and we have to do our part to maintain our health and our weight and it is our responsibility to undertake this.

But…..as a person who DID follow the eating plan with the RNY and after 7 years of having such food intolerance's (baked/broiled chicken, fish, beef etc) and my malabsorption component becoming less and less affective.  That along with my metabolic system being shot because of the prolonged low calorie/food intake I gained most of my weight back.  It didn't matter if I lived on protein shakes and veggies and exercised for an hour 4 days a week.  Didn't matter…couldn't loose a frigging pound!  Was I always 100% compliant, no realistically I was not.  I admit I had the occasional sweet.  On a day where I could take in absolutely no food at all with the exception of a low complex carb, you bet I did so that I did not go through the day fighting hunger.  Granted also, this was not every day or even one day a week.  But it did happen.  Did I do it all the time, certainly not as most days I just went hungry when this happened.  I had a revision and yes, my insurance paid for it.  But, I had different insurances from the time I had my original WLS in 2001 to the time I had my revision.  I don't know all the fine details of every ones situation.  And I don't consider it my place to judge them for it.  So I will support where I can because the support I received during my revision journey was invaluable to me.  Should have my insurance approved my revision????  Who knows what's right or wrong, that is a matter of opinion.  I had mechanical issues proven by testing.  All I know is that I am grateful that they did and I can sympathize with those struggling with the same or like issues.

Oh and by the way….my surgeon called my insurance and did a peer to peer and I never appealed nor did I have to.  So perhaps it is different from insurance company to insurance company.  I can only go by my experience.  That is what the majority of my responses are based off of.