PreOp for vsg

I am looking for anyone who has had or is having vsg as a light weight. how was your success or what are your expectations if you have not yet had surgery? My bmi is 39.3. I meet my surgeon on the 21st and PRAY for an estimated surgery date. I do not know how long it will take to get preop testing done. I've already done all of my nut appointments. Also a little info about my situation. I'm 5'2 214 lbs on medicare and medicaid having surgery at excela health in greensburg pa. My surgeon will be Mark A. Zelkovic, MD and i am hoping and praying that I will have surgery by march. I am bipolar on medication that is why I have chosen the sleeve. i am hoping that the surgeon will agree with my decision. The malabsorption thing is a big issue with me since my meds are time released and life without them would be unbearable. I have been waiting patiently for about six month and impatiently for about three months to get this surgery. I started researching the surgeries about 12 years ago when lap band was new and ryn had a terrible terrible reputation. For me the sleeve is the most appropriate surgery but I'm wondering if the md is going to give me grief over my decision being a light weight. Because i have sleep apnea and asthma my medicare will cover my surgery, though I may need another sleep study. UGH. Please any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Also would love to have some friends on here so feel free to send me messages and friend requests. :D Thanks in advance for reading my post. HUGS

Welcome!  We do have some successful LW VSGrs here. I hope they will chime in today.

--gina

 

Welcome. I am 9 days PREop. I started the process 9 months ago. I was approved in August. You may run into medicare NOT paying for the sleeve yet!.  They have approved the "idea" of the VSG. However it is by individual hospital even doctors to decide. Our hospital said they tried 3 after Medicare handed down their ruling, Still have not been paid on those three. So they again are NOT doing the VSG for medicare/medicaid patients. St.Vincent Bariatric Center of Excellence.

 

Because of that, most other insurance will not pay for it either. I wanted the VSG done, but have decided to go with the DS. Insurance will pay for it and I have to have a tool to help me be successful. I understand medically it may not be an option for you.  I just wanted to share my experience.  Good luck on your journey

Thank you for sharing. When I called the hospital about coverage they told me that they have been successfully bill king medicare and that if I was concerned I could call medicare. I did,I had the Billing code and skull they said was they couldn't tell me if a procedure was covered or not. If the hospital is willing to do the surgery with uncertainty of payment them I'm getting it done. Of not I may have to make the five hr trip to get th he Ds.

Have you started your preop diet? What does it consist of? I have been doing 100% whey protein powder mixed with coffee three times a day the last two days. Trying to loose weight before my appointment with my surgeon. IDK if I'm doing the right thing or not. IT has dropped my calories to only 390 a day but I am not hungry getting this much protein in. Also yesterday on top of the shakes I quit smoking. Needless to say I am coughing my brains out today. UGH.

Unless instructed to do so by your doctor, I would not try to lose weight before you initially see your surgeon.  Usually insurance takes the weight you are when you have your initial consult.  If you are smaller at your initial consult than what insurance will pay for, then you might be out of luck.  I don't know what your BMI is, but based on your ticker that you have only 94 lbs to lose and that you are posting on the lightweight boards, you might have a lower BMI than what will qualify.

I was sleeved yesterday. I don't recall my BMI but I'm 5'6" and my doctor shows my starting weight at 217, mine is lower since I weigh at home nekkid. Anyway, I didn't have to do a preop diet. But was down to 212 on surgery date. 

That ideas promising cuz I'm 212 and I'm only 5'2. My bmi is 39.1 right now. Someone in another forum suggested I eat high sodium the day before and morning of that I meet the surgeon so I have extra water weight invade they require I loose weight prior and so I'm closet to a40 bmi.