Finally approved!!!

Well I finally got the call on Monday that Anthem BCBS has approved my request for RNY (from lapband which was placed in 2002). I have an appt with APRN, RD and MD on Halloween (of all days) and a surgery date 11/15/11. I continue to have some reservations whether RNY is the right decision vs DS. I did find out that my surgeon does DS so I plan to discuss it with him on Monday. I must ask the question or I will always wonder if I made the right choice. IF (big if) I were to change to DS, I don't know how that would impact my surgery date as I would assume a whole new approval process might be required. I anticipate starting liquid diet next Tuesday and getting my pre-op EKG and lab work done. I also have an appt with a clinical social worker to work on pre-operative stress reduction. This is a new service offered by Stamford Hospital through their Integrative Health Clinic. I need it as I remain very nervous about the surgery as I have a history of pulmonary emboli x2 in the past with other surgical procedures. Despite the nervousness, I am thrilled to start the process of losing weight again. I feel confident that whatever the type of surgery, I will once again experience the success of weight loss and become a healthier wife and mom. God blessed me with a precious little boy and I will now have the opportunity to be active and involved with his childhood, teenage years and adulthood. I know that this would not be the case if I remain at the weight I am now.

Congrats on your approval.  Isnt it a great feeling?  If your having doubts about which surgery to get then I think you owe yourself the opportunity to look into both surgeries a lot futher.  Especially the DS surgery if your going to have a converstation with your surgeon about it.  What is the name of your surgeon because I didnt see the one you have posted on your profile on DSfacts.com.

Dr. Daniel Davis at Stamford Hospital in CT is my surgeon. He lists DS on his website through the hospital (stamhealth.org)but I don't see him listed as doing DS with OH.com.

I will be discussing this option with him on Monday. I know he was against another lapband or sleeve. I wish I had understood the DS option when I first met with him. As I wrote, I have been through a bit of an ordeal with approval for the revision and I fear rocking the boat but I will not have surgery on 11/15 without asking about DS and making sure that this is not a better option. If it is necessary to put off surgery a bit longer to adjust approval for a different procedure, so be it. I just want the best chance for success. I don't want to do this again, ever.

Thanks for your input. It is appreciated!!!

Lilbear,

Dr. Davis does not do revision to DS. He does DS as an initial DS but not if you had previous WLS. That is who I was set to go to and had a consult set up with him before SexyV posted I needed to check out Dr. Roslin in NY. I figured I was going to Stamford why not just go to NY. So if you are looking for revision to DS, Dr. Davis will not do it. 

I'm impressed that Anthem approved you.  I had it in my last job and WLS was specifically excluded but you obviously have different coverage.  Fortunately, i have different insurance now which does cover it, except for DS.  Keep us posted as you progress!

Aloha,
Barb

HI PLEASE EMAIL ME AT. [email protected]. I have anthem bcbs also and I want a revision from lap band also. Can u please tell me how you got approved I don't want to go thru the appeals process thank you

I'm reading your blog now sorry I got the info thanks for posting