Guest guest Posted October 3, 2001 Report Share Posted October 3, 2001 Joy, I had my surgery in July and I have Blue Cross PPO of Michigan. My company actually has their own policy and they pay all expenses themselves rather than one fixed amount to Blue Cross. I work for a very large company, so I guess this is a normal thing to do. I went to the Blue Cross web site and found a surgeon that participated in my insurance. Go to www.bcbs.com and see if the doctor you are looking to see is listed as a PPO provider. If so, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting approval. My approval came in 2 days (after fighting 18 months with SelectCare). Kathy M. DS 7/19/01 213 pre-op 160 today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2001 Report Share Posted October 3, 2001 Hi I live in chicago and i was going to go to Bloomfield hills michigan with Dr. Lutzski-- SP? anyway, i have open enrollment in november at work and i was going to change from HMO to the PPO. Now are you saying that BCBS PPO may not cover the DS?? I was set up to have the RNY but have changed my mind because this is so much better for me. they won't give my any info at work on the PPO program until november so i can't call them and ask if they cover it. I wll be very upset if they don't cover this. I htought i would have to pay a co-pay, but i never thought they would not allow the DS. I know you don't know allth policies, but what have you heard. Joy 5'3 265 45 bmi > > > > > > > What I don't understand about it is this, why does weight loss > > > stop > > > > after this 18 months have passed, what happens to our bodies at > > > about 18 > > > > months? Because our stomach stretches over time what keeps us > in > > > say 5 years > > > > or so later from gaining more weight back? > > > > > > A number of factors influence the time frame. First, when you > > loose > > > weight your body naturally burns fewer calories. Lean body mass > > > burns more calories than fat body mass. If you do weight > training > > > you will increase your lean body mass and therefore your > metabolic > > > rate will stay high (i.e. # of calories your burn) and you will > > keep > > > loosing weight. If you stay sedentary, you will loose more lean > > body > > > mass and your metabolic rate will drop as you loose weight. When > > > your body burns the same number of calories as you absorb, you > > reach > > > equalibrium and your weight loss stops. > > > > > > Two other factors influence the weight stabilization, but I > believe > > > they are secondary. First, the stomach does stretch for the > first > > > year or so and then stabilizes. Second, the instestines tend to > > > adapt to the new situation and expand logitundinally. This effect > > is > > > minor though. > > > > > > Now the big difference between the VBG and the DS is that the VBG > > is > > > a purely restrictive procedure. Therefore, calories absorbed is > > > equal to calories consumed. There is no malabsorption. The > result > > > is that after your weight stabilizes, any increase in eating will > > > result in an immediate gain of fat. Unfortunately, fat does not > > > change your metabolic rate by much, so you will continue to gain > > > weight for a long time (several years) without increasing your > > > consumption rate. Further, the VBG tends to allow consumption of > > > high density caloric beverages and discourage consumption of meat > > and > > > other protien rich sources (in essene you eat junk food). > Finally, > > > the VBG is prone to mechanical failure in about 1/3 of the > cases. > > > The staples fail and the procedure is defeated. > > > > > > With the DS there is a constant malabsorption factor in your > favor > > > (as long as you don't eat sugars in large volumes). The ability > to > > > consume a reasonable amount of food allows you to focus on > protien > > > rich foods that tend to satisfy you more quickly and keep you > from > > > snacking. Also, research indicates that as you increase the > volume > > > of food you eat, your absorb a smaller percentage of the calories > > > that you eat. This self-regulating mechanism further explains > the > > > stable weight loss accomplished by the malabsorptive procedures. > > > > > > So as long as you stay away from the cola and chips and eat > mostly > > > protien rich food you will not regain weight (even if you overeat > > > tremendously). > > > > > > Hull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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