Another question...

 I was looking at the criteria for surgery candidates and I am seeing that you need a BMI of at least 35 with a qualifying comorbid, or a BMI of 40 or more. If I have a BMI of 47, does that mean I dont need to have a comorbid to get surgery? I am pretty sure I have sleep apnea, but how badly I dont know...Sorry if I sound like a newb but I am just trying to get all the facts straight before my doctors appointment tomorrow. I would really appreciate any input!

With a BMI of 47, it's unlikely your insurance would refuse you with or without co-morbidities.  They will probably test you for sleep apnea during your clearance process.  Make sure you check out which surgeries your insurance covers and research throughly as well as visiting all the surgical boards here on OH.

No.  35-40 needs a comorbid
40+ does not need a comorbid.

How was that not clear?

PS with a BMI of 47 you should consider ALL the weight loss surgery options  including the most effective surgery which is the Duodenal Switch.  www.DSFacts.com

And please read these: www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4454843/Considering-the-RnY- Please-educate-yourself-These-threads/

~Becky

 Yeah sorry. I was just double checking that is what that meant. I didn't mean to irritate anyone! Thank you for your responses, I am researching as much as I can about all the surgeries and everything. Thanks again!

Those are the general guidelines, but what really MATTERS is what YOUR insurance company requires. We can't tell you that---you'll need to call your insurance company and ask what your specific policy requires.

I urge you to research ALL of the 'Big Four' surgeries. (Well, no, not really---I wouldn't want to see you geta LapBand.) Visit the surgical boards for RNY/gastric bypass, VSG/Sleeve, and DS/duodenal switch. The DS has the very BEST long-term, maintained weight loss stats, AND the best stats for resolution or prevention of co-morbs like diabetes, PCOS, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, etc.

 If I am able to get surgery, I am leaning more towards the DS or RNY, I just see those working the best for me. Thank you for your advice! I will probably call my insurance company in the morning and see what they say, and then my doctor's appointment is tomorrow as well so we'll see how things go!!

Personally, if I had to choose between the RNY or the Sleeve, I'd go with the Sleeve. There's just something about the pouch/stoma combo in the RNY that scares me---and the very little malabsorption of CALORIES the RNY gives is temporary, but the malabsorption of vitamins and minerals is FOREVER.

I really like my DS. I have a fully-functional stomach---no dumping, no strictures, no getting foods or pills 'stuck', no reactive hypoglycemia---essentially, my stomach works now exactly like it did pre-op, except it actually gets FULL and SATISFIED. And the intestinal bypass part---the actual 'Switch'---has given me permanent malabsorption of calories, which *I* need. This allows me to eat and enjoy the foods I love---high-protein, high-FAT foods.

No matter what your insurance company says they cover, research the DS and the Sleeve. Many, MANY posters on the DS board have fought and overturned insurance company decisions---and they're willing to help YOU do that, too.