Revision on Thursday - and an Introduction - ThinnerTimes

jillagin2000 · 07-14-2008, 10:23 AM

Hello -- my name is Jill and I'm going under the knife on Thursday to have my band removed and replaced with an RNY Bypass. I don't have any specific questions as I'm fairly well informed I think. So, this is more by way of an introduction. So Hi!!! And please wish me luck!

RebeccaNV · 07-14-2008, 10:51 AM

Good luck on your surgery, and welcome to the forum!!!

tx mom · 07-14-2008, 12:01 PM

HI! and welcome. i too am going to have a revision from band to rny. the only thing i am really worried about at this time is that i have heard that when you are revised you don't lose as much as when you just have the rny from the beginning. so i am hoping that isn't as true. i am excited for you. mind if i ask why you are being revised?

jillagin2000 · 07-14-2008, 12:34 PM

Thanks!

I hadn't heard that and don't expect that result. My mom had RNY 7 years ago and is at what I consider my own goal weight. So I'm basing my expectations on her experience and results. I see absolutely no reason why it would be that a revised RNY from lap band would result in fewer pounds lost. Maybe because there really are so few of us and some people fail the lap band simply because they ate around it which would skew the research. That behaviour would continue with an RNY too.

I'm being revised after 5 years with my band because for almost half of those 5 years I've been slipped. We've tried some non-surgical ways to fix it (i.e. remove the fill and leave it alone for a while) and it never self-corrected. So now I'm going to get the darn thing out. I considered just that and no revision but I simply will not tolerate staying at this weight or gaining it all back. I need the tool of wls and my best choice is RNY.

Grammy O · 07-14-2008, 03:48 PM

Welcome and...............

Corrine · 07-14-2008, 04:34 PM

Sending you good vibes for Thursday Jill.

jillagin2000 · 07-15-2008, 10:02 AM

Thanks guys! Slight bump in the road though. I was just told that UHC has denied coverage because I haven't been above BMI 40 for all of the past 5 years. It's ridiculous! The only reason I was ever under BMI 40 was because of my band and it's slipped. They'd have to fix it anyway, why not replace it with RNY??? Hell, when I had my band you can bet they would much rather have payed for RNY!!! My surgeon is going to do a peer to peer with them tomorrow and I've a call into the nurse. I'm a bit bummed but am holding out hope that they'll see the light before I have to reschedule!

SimplySamaria · 07-15-2008, 10:07 AM

UGH!! no way!! DORKS!!! well maybe the Doc will be able to tear their ear off and explain it a bit more to them to make them understand whats up! My thoughts are with you!

tx mom · 07-15-2008, 12:15 PM

had uhc already approved you? man i have uhc and i know how hard it was to get approved if they come back and say sorry you are no longer approved you might read about me going postal.

don't give up, keep fighting.

jillagin2000 · 07-15-2008, 12:30 PM

I had a preliminary approval based on a conversation my surgeon's office had with UHC in which they said that if they agreed it's medically necessary they'd pay for it. I've talked to the nurse at UHC and she agrees with me and my surgeon. My surgeon is going to appeal via a peer to peer review tomorrow with the director who made the decision. I'm still on the schedule for Thursday.

If my Doc can't get them to reverse their decision I'll delay my surgery and obtain a lawyer to appeal on my behalf. This is crap!!!