Newbie question

Good morning all,

Here is my story ... I am 42 - Starting weight 210 - current weight 205 - I have two nutrition classes left before my Dr, can submit for approval. I have high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I am debating between the sleeve and the switch.

Can I get some feedback on

-low BMI appovals with Aetna

-which procedure would be best

Thanks a million

I had RNY 5+ years ago so I am an old timer or vet so to speak but I have no clue what a switch is?  I also didn't have Aetna so can't help there.  But I did want to welcome you to the lightweights and wish you luck on your journey.

When I had surgery, the sleeve was still to new to be approved by all insurances.  My choices were the band and RNY and I know I made the right choice for me.  My Drs office knew exactly which surgeries would be approved for who by which insurance companies.  They should be able to tell you if you can't find out from the company itself (sometimes they speak in double talk). 

Knowing what I know now, I probably should have had the DS but it wasn't even an option for me.  Knowing your eating habits and how you got here in the first place, plus you co-morbidities goes a long way towards making the right decision.

Let us know how you progress!!

OH is being really weird about this.  I posted but it didn't work, then it was there but doesn't show on the timeline.  Hope you will get it.

Welcome to the LW board.

i don't know anything about Aetna insurance but like Price mentioned my surgeons office knew exactly what to do and what my insurance company would approve.  My insurance company also sent me a letter stating exactly what I needed to do and a timeline so I could follow it.  I had a health coach that I could ask questions to.

I had RNY also.  Please be sure if you decide on RNY or the DS that you are prepared for the vitamins that you need to take the rest of your life.

Good luck!

Linda

My doctor gave me the choice of the RnY or the Sleeve, so I left it up to him to decide which one would be best for ME.  He decided on the sleeve.  I FINALLY got my surgery date, (but it is still 2 months away) of 01/26/16.  I'm so excited!  I have jumped thru every hoop and done everything I needed to do to get here.  I just need to get to my surgery date!  Because I am an extreme light weight, I am still nervous and unsure that this is going to happen.  I am 50 yrs old with my starting weight in March of 213.  I am now 207.   My insurance (thru Anthem) requires a BMI of 35 with co-morbities and 6 months of nutritional counseling.  But like I told my doctor, I will do what ever I need to do!  This board is a great resource and source of support.  Talk to your doctor.  He/She will be able to answer that question for you.  Like I said before, I want my life back.  I want to be able to control my co-morbidities rather than my co-morbidities controlling me!  Hang in there!  We will do this together!

Welcome to our LW Board!!!  

I'm guessing you are talking about the Duodenal Switch?  Major Mom is our DS expert on this board.  I needed something to control my love for sugar and the RNY is still doing that at 7 years out.

We have a few sleevers who post too.  I think all of our Sleever posters are pretty new so I don't know about the success rate of that surgery. 

You might want to check out the individual surgery forums. But you can make the LW's your home....!!!!

I agree with Roz, you might want to post on the main Discussion Board or on the surgery board, you might get more responses.

If you just want more info on the surgeries themselves, check out the videos of Dr. Matt Weiner on you-tube.  He is not my doctor, never met him, but his info is similar to what my surgeon told me but my surgeon does not have videos.  

I am still fairly new, my surgery was back in February, but I had the sleeve and I love it. While my loss isn't as fast as someone who had DS or RNY, it has still been a great loss of weight and steady for the most part. I am unsure about your insurance but I think the others covered that well!

I think choosing which one to have is only something you can discuss with your doctor because he knows your medical history and such and can probably determine which one is best. But like the others mentioned it may help to go on to the individual surgery boards, too!

Welcome to the Lightweights board! This is probably the only board that I check in to daily even when I don't post. This is a great group!  

Welcome to the LW board. I am three years out with a sleeve. I had Kaiser and my choices were RNY or VSG. I chose the sleeve because I was personally uncomfortable with the RNY. My hisband is four years out with a sleeve as well.

Here is some of our info: DH lost 100 pounds in six months. He regained 10 pounds on purpose because he looked sick, even though the BMI chart still listed him as overweight. Up until a foot injury, he maintained pretty steady. He is now a runner and likes half and full marathons. He suffered a stress fracture and has been unable to run for several months. he is now battling a small regain, but now that he is running again it is coming off.

I lost 85 pounds in eight months. I have had a little bounce back (5-7 pounds) over my comfort zone. My jeans still fit, some are even loose. I don't quite understand that, but I am okay with where I am.

We both follow a low carb lifestyle and that tends to work best for both of us. We still weigh and measure our food whenever possible. I do cook in regular or even double batches and freeze appropriate portions for our lunches. We are both educators, and even though it is cheep, school lunches are full of carby crap.

I hope this helps. Best wishes as you make your decision.

I had a DS 15 years ago, so I don't know how helpful this is.

My bmi was 40, I had to gain a few pounds to get into that weight category. I was 37. I weighed 220.

Aetna covered my surgery.

I love my DS. I take my supplements and get regular panels done to monitor my levels.I have maintained with little effort at 115 for 15 years.