Post by nursejacq on Apr 4, 2015 12:03:05 GMT -5
Hello to you, revision, and to everyone else here--
My name is Jacqueline, and admit it... I have been a lurker on several boards now over the past year, during which I have been extensively researching possible revisions for my band over bypass clusterf*ck of a situation. I figured it was about time I said hello to the people that have been helping me so much (whether they knew it or not).
Revision, strangely enough, we have some similarities in our histories with
bariatric surgery, which served as my inspiration to FINALLY post!
MY STORY:
First of all, let me just say that I am a medical professional that
has done extensive research on all of the available revision
procedures, and feel like the duodenal switch would be the best option
for me, both given my health history, relatively young age, and active
lifestyle. The success rates, both in terms of weight loss, and its
permanence, have been better for duodenal switch patients... not to
mention their improved overall quality of life. All that said, I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois for my insurance, and under the explanation of benefits, it stipulates SPECIFICALLY that the DUODENAL SWITCH is definitely NOT COVERED... so this is/will be a self pay endeavor/investment for me.
I have had both RNY gastric bypass surgery in 2000, and lap band
placement done in 2008. I stand 5'2", and at my heaviest in 2000, I
weighed as much as 250 lbs. After having RNY gastric bypass surgery, my
lowest weight was 145 lbs, in 2005.
My concern is that I am have been actively exercising with a
trainer twice a week, and I limit my carbohydrate intake; yet, I have
managed to creep up back around 200 lbs again. I have also developed an
increase in my blood pressure, along with the weight gain.
It is for these reasons, and a few others, that I am seeking a
revision to the duodenal switch surgery. I am aware that the DS is a
complicated procedure, especially after having had other abdominal
surgeries in the past. I had been communicating with Dr. Michel Gagner's
office in Montreal regarding my revision surgery, as I understand that
he is an expert at handling cases like mine.
However, Dr. Gagner has returned back to his native Canada in
the past few years (or so I'm told), and according to his practice
manager, he is unable to accommodate American patients "for insurance
reasons." Given that I will be going into this as a self-pay patient, I
can only think that this is in regard to his malpractice insurance...?
The same practice manager told me in mid-December that he plans on being
able to take American patients "sometime in the first quarter of 2015,"
which sounds nice, but I am serious about this surgery, and felt the need to develop an alternative plan, in the event that things didn't work for him to be
able to accommodate me in the foreseeable future.
Which brings me to now... I have seen a handful of people that have had revision surgeries in Mexico, some of whom I have attempted to contact, hoping to get some feedback from them regarding their experiences. Believe it or not, out of five or six people that I emailed directly **because they posted their email addresses on the forums for people to ask questions**, I heard from ONE person.
Equally frustrating is finding a surgeon that is able to perform a revision from Band over Bypass to a DS... I researched, and even spoke with a number of the "vetted" American surgeons that perform the procedure, and they were either reluctant to do the procedure on me because I am such a "lightweight" (YEAH, RIGHT), or their price wasn't in my range... I am jealous of those who have the opportunity to take advantage of the awesome DS surgeons that we have here in the US.
More and more time went by, during which I had been exhaustively researching my options, knowing that the warmer weather is just around the corner, and I
would like to look forward to having a summer where I don't feel so
blimpy, for lack of better words.
I am excited to say that I have made arrangements to have my revision surgery on April 15... it will be a one step lap revision of my BAND over BYPASS to a DS, along with a cholecystectomy, to be proactive. Needless to say, I have been frantically getting my supplement game together, along with all the other key factors that can ensure a smooth recovery, like trying different protein supplements, ordering what I like, and enough of it that I can get my requisite amount of protein in from the beginning.
I wanted to make sure that I took the time to thank each and every one of the participants on this forum for sharing their valuable insights with everyone... I have appreciated all of the kind words, insights, stories, and everything that everyone on these boards has shared... not sure what I'd do without you!
My name is Jacqueline, and admit it... I have been a lurker on several boards now over the past year, during which I have been extensively researching possible revisions for my band over bypass clusterf*ck of a situation. I figured it was about time I said hello to the people that have been helping me so much (whether they knew it or not).
Revision, strangely enough, we have some similarities in our histories with
bariatric surgery, which served as my inspiration to FINALLY post!
MY STORY:
First of all, let me just say that I am a medical professional that
has done extensive research on all of the available revision
procedures, and feel like the duodenal switch would be the best option
for me, both given my health history, relatively young age, and active
lifestyle. The success rates, both in terms of weight loss, and its
permanence, have been better for duodenal switch patients... not to
mention their improved overall quality of life. All that said, I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois for my insurance, and under the explanation of benefits, it stipulates SPECIFICALLY that the DUODENAL SWITCH is definitely NOT COVERED... so this is/will be a self pay endeavor/investment for me.
I have had both RNY gastric bypass surgery in 2000, and lap band
placement done in 2008. I stand 5'2", and at my heaviest in 2000, I
weighed as much as 250 lbs. After having RNY gastric bypass surgery, my
lowest weight was 145 lbs, in 2005.
My concern is that I am have been actively exercising with a
trainer twice a week, and I limit my carbohydrate intake; yet, I have
managed to creep up back around 200 lbs again. I have also developed an
increase in my blood pressure, along with the weight gain.
It is for these reasons, and a few others, that I am seeking a
revision to the duodenal switch surgery. I am aware that the DS is a
complicated procedure, especially after having had other abdominal
surgeries in the past. I had been communicating with Dr. Michel Gagner's
office in Montreal regarding my revision surgery, as I understand that
he is an expert at handling cases like mine.
However, Dr. Gagner has returned back to his native Canada in
the past few years (or so I'm told), and according to his practice
manager, he is unable to accommodate American patients "for insurance
reasons." Given that I will be going into this as a self-pay patient, I
can only think that this is in regard to his malpractice insurance...?
The same practice manager told me in mid-December that he plans on being
able to take American patients "sometime in the first quarter of 2015,"
which sounds nice, but I am serious about this surgery, and felt the need to develop an alternative plan, in the event that things didn't work for him to be
able to accommodate me in the foreseeable future.
Which brings me to now... I have seen a handful of people that have had revision surgeries in Mexico, some of whom I have attempted to contact, hoping to get some feedback from them regarding their experiences. Believe it or not, out of five or six people that I emailed directly **because they posted their email addresses on the forums for people to ask questions**, I heard from ONE person.
Equally frustrating is finding a surgeon that is able to perform a revision from Band over Bypass to a DS... I researched, and even spoke with a number of the "vetted" American surgeons that perform the procedure, and they were either reluctant to do the procedure on me because I am such a "lightweight" (YEAH, RIGHT), or their price wasn't in my range... I am jealous of those who have the opportunity to take advantage of the awesome DS surgeons that we have here in the US.
More and more time went by, during which I had been exhaustively researching my options, knowing that the warmer weather is just around the corner, and I
would like to look forward to having a summer where I don't feel so
blimpy, for lack of better words.
I am excited to say that I have made arrangements to have my revision surgery on April 15... it will be a one step lap revision of my BAND over BYPASS to a DS, along with a cholecystectomy, to be proactive. Needless to say, I have been frantically getting my supplement game together, along with all the other key factors that can ensure a smooth recovery, like trying different protein supplements, ordering what I like, and enough of it that I can get my requisite amount of protein in from the beginning.
I wanted to make sure that I took the time to thank each and every one of the participants on this forum for sharing their valuable insights with everyone... I have appreciated all of the kind words, insights, stories, and everything that everyone on these boards has shared... not sure what I'd do without you!