Approved, but...

It seems I was just approved by my insurance (yay!). However, during my initial consultation with the surgeon he suggested the RNY procedure, but after doing my own research I preferred the VSG. I thought that an insurance approval wouldn't have to be redone, but apparently I was mistaken.

So, now I can either proceed quickly (or at least quicker) with RNY that was initially proposed on my first consultation, or go back for another round of consultation AND INSURANCE PROCESSING if I wanted to do a VSG.

I have a lot of pondering to do!

Why did your surgeon recommend RNY? Do you have acid reflux, GERD, or diabetes?

On my first consultation with the doctor, he asked me whether my problem was with the quantity of food or the type of food I eat. I indicated that I don't really eat a whole lot, but I eat the wrong kind of food (junk food, refined carbs, ice cream, chocolate, pizza). So, he suggested that the RNY would be the way to go since it would force me to stop eating the wrong kind of food.

When I did my own research afterwards, I became concerned about the dumping syndrome and the wasted feeling one gets when only a small piece of junk food is ingested. Also, the lower risks and shorter recovery times tipped the scale in favor of the RNY.

I am now wondering whether I should just proceed with the RNY and get my life back on track. My BMI is 33, so wonder if RNY is good for people with less-than-35 BMI. Maybe I should start posting in the RNY group.

I am so confused.

No surgery will force you to stop eating the wrong kind of food. Only your brain can do that. (Dumping isn't guaranteed with RNY.)

RNY is useful for people with any BMI, just as VSG is.

Do you have a history of acid, GERD, or diabetes?

I did have GERD in the past, but no recently. No diabetes.

If I had a history of GERD, I would run far away from the VSG and get the RNY. In my opinion, this is the biggest known complication with VSG and is so easy to avoid by going with the RNY instead.

I would agree with Gwen. If you have any history with GERD, even though it's not active now, avoid a VSG. It's just not worth the risk.

Both surgeries have positives and negatives. In the end, it's not which surgery you have, but how willing you are to change your eating habits. It's hard. A lifetime of bad behaviors does not disappear because of a surgical knife.

One would think the requirements for any WLS would be similar enough so you wouldn't have to start over. You may want to call your insurance company yourself to ask your questions. It almost sounds like the doc is pushing you in a direction you don't want to go. If you discuss with your surgeon and they keep pressing you without valid medical reasons for one over the other, you may want to consider a different surgeon.

I initially wanted the band but my surgeon educated me on the complications, fail rates, and risks for all procedures and let me choose after education before she told me her advice. I decided to go VSG.

Bottom line: It's your body and you have to be happy with the decision YOU make. Don't let anyone pressure/sell you something you aren't comfortable with. Quicker may not equal happier.

Prayers for your delimma!

So glad you didn't get the band!

Me too! For the amount I need to lose, VSG just felt right. I can always convert to bypass later if I need it, but if I'm not successful on VSG, it's probably mental/emotional which a different surgery won't fix.