Having to chose - help

Post Date: 6/23/11 5:57 am
I am in the middle of going through the requirements for bypass through Tricare insurance.  I think I would rather have the sleeve done, but Tricare doesn't cover it.  People have fought for years but Tricare is holding firm.

I discovered that the sleeve was available at military hospitals.  (hubby is retired navy)  So I can either proceed now and probably get bypass within a couple of months or....get a new referral to the military hospital for sleeve.

I spoke to the hospital and from start to fini**** takes about a year.  I really don't want to wait that long.  I lean toward sleeve becasue it doesnt' include rewiriing your insides - which to be truthful- ilks me out a bit.  Also, I wouldn't have dumping issues or malabsorption issues and the biggest reason is that I'm told that hunger does return with bypass eventually, but not with the sleeve.  I like the idea they remove the part of the stomach with ghrelin in it.

I guess I would like to ask people who have had bypass for more that 18 months how it felt when the hunger came back and how you handled it. 

This isn't a question of which is better because I think both are good options- I'm just trying to figure out which would be best for me.

regards to all

A friend of mine's daughter in law just had the sleeve at a military facility. They originally told her it would take almost a year and then they bumped it up and it only took a few weeks. It would not hurt to go and have a consult if the sleeve is what you really want. Best Wishes!

I ended up switching hospitals & procedures myself and they were able to use all of my tests that I had already had done for the new procedure except for the last minute tests and the psych evaluation (they wanted their own psychiatrist) which sped things up greatly.

Word of warning - in speaking with the clerical worker at the new hospital, she insisted that I would have to start  "all over, from scratch" using their guidelines and testing procedures but when I went in for my initial consult with the doctors and program director/coordinator, I brought with me a copy of every single test, scan, report, etc.  to which they said "since you've already had all of these tests done within the past year" you look like you are good to go (evidently the insurance companies have a one year cut off) they accepted everything but the psych evaluation!

best of luck in your decision,
d

I am at goal and at 3 years post op RNY.  If I knew then what I know now - I would go for the VSG ... or even DS.  But at that time my doc did only lap bands and RNY. I am stuck with RNY, and some complications... the latest is the iron deficiencies... no matter what I do I can't get it up... makes me so tired and lethargic...
Plus so many other issues... that I already dealing with.
I.e. Reactive hypoglycemia, (I am on a very strict diet now to control it), inability to take NSAIDs (and sometimes noting else would help),  etc..
I do not think it is natural not to have the pyloric valve (having it bypassed).  Stoma offers so many issues.