Question about RNY vs. DS

[Guest guest]

I'd like to pose this question to whomever cares to answer:

My insurance (BCBS of Alabama through Bellsouth) has denied the DS as

" investigational " . I have been toying with the idea of getting legal

assistance to represent me & fight this, but of course, there are no

guarantees that it will change their mind - and still I would be out $$$, and

there is no way of knowing how long it could take -- I'm thinking maybe a

year or more!! Lately I've been thinking about just having the RNY, which

they will pay for, and just accepting its limitations, and hope for the best.

I know of several people who have been happy with the RNY, but also know of

several who have had problems or regain. Of course, I'd like to think I

wouldn't have those problems, but you never know. I just don't want to wait

any longer to have WLS. I have been doing research for a year & a half about

the various WLS procedures and made up my mind early this year that I would

pursue the DS, but it's not working out. I'd like to get on with my life and

put this behind me and I can foresee a long legal battle ahead with " iify "

results. What if I decide to fight this and by the time they deny it again,

they have also decided to deny the RNY (as some on this list have suggested)?

I would be very upset if I was unable to get them to cover ANY procedure!

Does anyone know of anyone in a similar situation who went with the RNY? Did

they regret it or did they accept it and it worked out alright? I don't know

what to do but I would appreciate any input. Please don't slam me for

thinking about surgery other than the DS, even though this is the DS list. I

would much prefer the DS, but the RNY is better than nothing.

Cindy W in MS

Age: 42

BMI: 54

360 lbs

5' 8 "