Question Please

OK so a little info first, I just received my BCBC HMO referal to a hospital 1/2 hour away from me (even though there are tons closer) for my RNY surgery and they give me a list of Doctors that are not RNY surgereons anyway so I am worried and will call tomorrow, But Here is the Question...... Does anyone know about the Loyola Maywood Gastric bypass program and any Doctor names that I can ask for?  They gave me DR Brems, Sankary and Dr. Nat???? only brems has some info on our site but the last feedback for him was in 2004...

Thanks

 I dont have any information.  I know I have been treated at Loyola for other things and they are a good hospital.  You might also ask on the main board as there are some people that never venture over here.  Congrats on getting a surgeon referral!  

I have not heard of any of those doctors.  Maybe a call to BCBS will yield a closer hospital?
I am pretty sure that BCBS requires a "Center of Excellence", but there may be one closer, you will just have to tell them which one?

Thanks to alI that responded!  What a journey this is becoming.

Also today I had some friends over for a brunch and one of them told me she kinows two people that had the surgery and gained most of their weight back. Is this true? I know I will have  to watch what I eat but will it ever just feel like I am a normal person and sit down and have a Pouch meal with my family?

I think we might have met at the OH conference--you chatted with my hubby and me about the DS before the fashion show.

Can't answer anything about the RNY experience, but I know what the stats say about the various surgeries. See page 10 of this guideline document of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. It lays out the stats on each of the top four surgeries: RNY, DS, VSG and the band.  This society has members who do ALL of the weight loss surgeries, so the stats are unbiased:

http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/Bariatric.pdf

In short, it says that:

The RNY has an excess weight loss rate, 7-10 years post-op, of 25-68 and the DS has a 60-80% EWL rate. That means if you only had 100 pounds to lose, the DS would keep 60-80 pounds of that off and the RNY would keep 25-68 pounds of that off, on average.

I have the DS and am a big fan of it, naturally. The DS has the most success rate of resolving patient comorbidities such as diabetes. AND, once you get your daily protein in, you can eat a wide variety of foods without fear of dumping, sliming, foamies, etc. which can happen with the other weight loss surgeries. I eat steak, cake, potatoes, cheese--you name it, and still lose weight! If you ate dinner with me you'd think that I was just born with a great metabolism. Totally normal, except I don't have to worry about fat and worry very little about sugar now that I am at goal.

Come on over to the DS forum and check it out. We've all been in you shoes and want to help people know about this lesser-know but more effective surgical option. Also, please visit www.dsfacts.com.

Best of luck to you, no matter what you decide to do.

Nicolle

Wow and you GO GIRL! you did great on weight loss. Keep it off! Banu

Actually I would love to have the DS but my BLBC of IL HMO will not accept it as I was told
So I have a choice of the band or the RNY and I think that the RNY is the better of the two tools. Don't you? And I think we met at the convention but I spoke to so many and I don't recognize you from your profile pic hahahha   Keep in touch I love to chat some time also. Best Wishes Banu

Please post your insurance question on the DS board. There are a lot of insurance gurus on there (including Diana Cox) who have helped people get the surgery they want by working the system. The thinking is that if your insurance company agrees that you need bariatric surgery, then you just have to fight them on what kind.

A lot of people have won their DS once they get into the nitty-gritty on what the DS can do for them (for example, the DS has a 98.9% CURE rate of Type 2 diabetes versus something like only 70% of the RNY and that often comes back AND if you have a chronic condition like arthritis that requires you take NSAIDs, since they can cause ulcers in RNY patients but NOT in DS patients).

I had BCBS of Il, told it was investigational, and switched insurance. HOWEVER, I was gathering my appeal stuff and ready to go battle. And I was about to get a part-time job at Starbucks because their insurance covers the DS. That's right, I was going to pay a babysitter $15 an hour so that I could take a job where I stood on my fat feet with my aching back for $8 an hour JUST so I could get the amazing DS covered!

Don't give up! 

Nicolle

My problem is just getting to a surgeon, I am afraid that when I get in thier I will just say do whatever, however and now  I have been waiting now for sooooo long. I will also have the surgery no matter what, even if I have to go to Turkey and do it and forgo the cost of aftercare. God Willing that will not be the case. Thanks for the reply and keep up the great job you are doing. Banu

I too have BCBSIL HMO and they have me going to Dr. Vitello who is at UIC. At least two of our current posters have had surgery by him.  One just this week and one maybe seven months ago.  I think it also depends on which IPA your PCP is with but since I am in Schaumburg I am with you on wishing we could go to Kane.

Have you done the twelve months of  medically supervised weight loss?