so disappointed :(

Barbara,

I hope you didn't take my post as a cut to you.....if you did, I am sorry it wasn't meant to be that way.. I am a medicaid patient and really educated myself.  I didn't want any denials so I ensured I knew it all.  I even knew about the proposed changes before the physician, and I knew they implemented those changes before many too.

I don't want anyone to have a denial either (esp since Dr.'s offices aren't aware of the changes) 

It wasn't and I didn't ... I just will bow to the expert. I know a lot about Medicare because I have Medicare so really do understand wanting and needing to knowing the details of the insurance that you have. You are an expert in that area and I'll just refer folks to you for information instead.

 

There IS a doctor in NC that does do the DS...

There are a few who are able to do the DS.  Dr. Enoch's knows how to do them as well as Dr. Voellinger.  But when I called Dr. Voellinger's office they were unable to tell me how many DS procedures he has performed (he has only been licensed to practice for 6 yrs.)  And I already have my opinion on Dr. Enoch's and would not choose him.

So for me since I do not choose to have either of these doctors perform my surgery I am out of luck with getting a DS via medicaid coverage.

Why are you so scared of RNY?  There are risks with any and every surgery including the lap band.  Maybe you should take some more time, do some more research and really think about things before your proceed any further.  I'm not trying to step on your toes by saying any of this but I guess I'm just not really understanding things.  I would think that you would be willing to do whatever you have to at this point to get healthy if you are afraid of dying of a heart attack without any surgical intervention to help you with your weight. 

With all that being said, I do wish you good luck in your WLS journey.  This is such a personal choice and not one to be made lightly and without a great deal of thought, research and soul searching.  There are great people on this board that are very knowledgeable and much more qualified than me to give you advice.  I would like to say that I haven't regretted my choice to have the RNY for one minute and like Darcie said, I too, would have cheated my way around the band.  Just take your time reviewing your options and ask as many questions as you can think of.  Good luck!

Hugs,
Donna

If Medicaid will pay for RNY, I would suggest you jump at the chance.  I know SEVERAL people who would give their right arm to have the surgery.  MANY, MANY people don't have the opportunity that you have in front of you.  I have seen friends fight bloody fights with insurance companies, save for months upon months for copays and deductibles and even go into debt to self pay.  Please don't let me offend you, but at a BMI of 72, that band probably wasn't the best plan for you anyway.  Best of luck to you regardless of your decision. 

I am sorry you are sad Nicole but I am a strong advocate of RNY.
My God I am so happy with how my life has changed for the better.
Personally I feel RNY is a better choice and a higher sucess rate as far as weight loss I know how scarry it is but I would do it all over again in a heart beat.
                                                                     Annie

I wanted the lap band too...I was on medicaid at the time.  I started looking into the bypass.  When I found out that the bypass practically cures diabeties that was my diciding factor.  My surgery is Monday.  I was scared of the bypass too.  I am not anymore.  My doctors at Duke Weight loss surgery center put it this way, there are more risks to having hip replacement than having bypass!  Asa long as I walk areound after surgery and do exactly what my doctors tell me, then my chances of dying are less than 1%.  My chances of dying (and yours too) are much higher if I don't do something about this extra weight.

Side note: after the bypass on Monday, I will be off all but one of my medications and that one is only going to be 1/2 of a pill!  WOW!!!

Isn't it amazing? I am 3 weeks out as of today and the only pills i take now are a childrens chewable vitamin and a prescription from my dermotologist for my acne :) (which i think i am going to stop taking as my skin is completely cleared with my new and premium diet!)

Good luck on monday!!!

I know!!!  I just can't comperhend it right now!  I have not been "free" from daily medications for 10 years!  Even on this pre-surgery liquid diet, my fasting blood sugars are running around 160!  I know I will be on the multi vitamin, Calcium citrate and possibly iron and B12 but I don't consider them "Meds"   My surgeon told me that even if I had chosen the lap band (Which my new insurance does pay for) he would not have done it on me.  He says the lap band is really great for folks who are right on the line of being morbidly obese.  People like me who have been overweight for most of thier lives with several co-morbidities are not really good candidates for the band.  The sucess rate long term is very low for folks like me.  I wouldn't want to go through all that just to fail.   I know I made the right choice to go ahead with the RNY.  (I can't wait till Monday...I am so freakin' hungry!!!)