Adrea

Do you snore? That is one sign of apnea.

No I don't think that I do, I've never been told, but I can hope lol

So if I don't have sleep Apnea I will not get to move further with the process, so they are setting up a sleep study for me. I know nothing about sleep Apnea except I have read that most people that have it snore. I do not think that I do snore, I did when I was pregnant and knew I did because it woke me up, so I think I probably don't. My question is has anyone been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea when they weren't expecting it all???? I am trying not lose all hope that this surgery will happen!

Well what I found out was unless I have sleep apnea then thats the end of it, they won't even submit to tricare because I don't meet the requirements without a comorb so they are scheduling me for a sleep study so I sadly hope I have Sleep Apnea. They aren't going to schedule any of the other tests until they see if I have it

I have my first consultation with the surgeon in the morning, I am scared and excited at the same time, I am hoping he will tell me something positive, like yeah I think there is a chance tricare will approve you, haha what are the chances of that happening. What should I expect tomorrow? At the seminar I don't remember them saying anything about what they do at the appointment. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TRICARE BE NICE AND APPROVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Won't the dr know how to write a letter of medical necessity??? I'm going to my first surgeob consult Monday and tuesday I have made an appointment with my PCM to do whatever else needs done, the lab orders letter of medical necessity, I just figured the dr would know what to do or is this just so you all can see what it will look like? If thats why then I would like to see one too:)

I'm 5'4" and 245 lbs with a BMI of 42, my doctor submitted my paperwork on last Friday and I was declined today. They said they needed more documentation, and that I dont have the comorbs that I need. I thought that as long as my BMI was 40, I didn't have to have comorbs, but it sounds like they are still using the 200% rule.

I have back problems, high cholesterol, depression and have to take sleeping pills to sleep at night, but none of that counts.

The Metropolitan weight chart leaves so much to guess at, Small frame is 114-127, so 200% would be 228 and medium is 124-138 or 248. I'm kind of inbetween a small and medium frame, my fingers do overlap slightly around my wrist. Do I really have to gain 3 lbs and then have them resubmit the paperwork?

5' 4" 114-127 124-138

What do they mean by more documentation?? I am in the exact same situation except that I am 5'5, I have my first appointment with the surgeon on Monday. I have weight records from when I was a baby up proving that I have been overweight since I was 5, and I have a family history of EVERYTHING so I am hoping real hard that, that will help me out. You can appeal the decision though I don't know how that works. Good luck and I hope you get approved!!!!

Finally got to go to my seminar last night, had to wait almost a month do go because they only do it once a month now I have to wait another week for my first visit to the surgeon, then who knows how long until they submit everything to tricare, I just want to know if I can get approved already!!!! Not getting my hopes up because I don't exactly meet their requirements but I'm close so I am going to try anyway., I'm just so ready to have the surgery, I've been researching it for months.

Loved your blog:)

So tomorrow morning I'll be headed out to get banded! I want to thank everyone for all the great help and information along the way :wub:. I have spent my morning cleaning and making everyone else do the same because I don't want to worry about it tomorrow. I feel silly worrying about it but it is what it is I suppose.

My mom tried sending me flowers but because of some issues getting them on base I won't get them until tomorrow. But, they are here in spirit and encouraging as well .

So after thoroughly organizing my basement and arranging my books chronologically by author's birth date, I will finally stop procrastinating and pack my bag for the hospital. Maybe it will really sink in then, I don't know. But I am very eager to start living the life I want to instead of saying I will "one day"!

My day has come! :party:

YAY!! Good luck! I am sure everything will be fine:)

hi, im from camp lejeune and go on wed to see my surgeon for a surgery date

YAY!! Are you going to Morehead City?

Thats so exciting!! I'm happy for you! And jealous:)

Hi,

I am in process of trying to get my BMI to 35. I have type 2 diabeties,HC,HBP. I am having to gain 10pds to reach 35bmi even though Tricare isn''t requiring it? The surgeon is the one requiring the BMI 35.

Has anyone had to gain to get approval? I am Tricare Standard retired living in VA.

I have read about alot of being having to gain weight to get approval and i've heard of people wearing ankle weights so that they weigh enough lol not that I am recommending

I am in tricare region South. I hope that it helps. I think it helps if your doctor basically builds a case for you. I am hopeful that I can get surgery during the schools spring break so I wont be out too long. One step at a time and it seems to be coming together nicely. Have faith you will get it.

GRRR I am north still haven't heard of anyone in North Region getting approved without meeting all requirements. I guess on the bright side its the military and we will probably get moved to a different region eventually.

Do you know what today is, it's my bandiversary, bandiversary!

One month and 19lbs down, a lifetime to go!

Good for you! 19 lbs in a month is awesome, I pray I get approved!

I am a Tricare Prime Member. My BMI is 36 currently and my doctor submitted my case for approval on Tuesday. When I came home yesturday I checked the tricare website hoping to see that the request has been entering in the system. I was very suprised to see that I had already been approved. It was less than 24 hours. I only have high blood pressure. So mine was very quick. I hope that this helps you feel a little better about your chances.

YAY yes girl it does!. Congrats:) What region are you?

I asked my PCM for a referral, and she willingly gave it, since she knew how hard I'd tried to lose weight before this. By the time my surgeon asked Tricare to approve me for surgery, my BMI was barely 40. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and arthritis in weight-bearing joints. It was only three working days between the submission of the request and the approval. Tricare is VERY easy, if you meet their minimums. Depending on your stats, you may qualify for surgery just based on your BMI and weight.

Good luck!

Dave

Yeah i don't have the comorbs I am 5'5 244 BMI 40 thats all I got hopefully that will be enough, I am SOOOOO over it, i've been overweight for 20 years and i'm only 24 :/

i just got my referral in and it was approved but the surgeon they picked does not go the lap band grr so i have to find a new one. i think i might have found one i go in friday im so scared

I told my doctor what surgeon I wanted to go to and he wrote it down so hopefully no confusion there

Mine was about 39 but I have type 1 diabetes. My PCM doesn't give you the referall for the surgeon if you don't qualify, I'm not sure if they are all the same. So where are you guys stationed? I'm at Fairchild. Oh, the process went really fast too! I was done with everything and scheduled for surgery in less than 3 months.

Camp Lejuene:)

I am waiting for my referral to go through and then I will schedule an appointment with the surgeon. I want to know of anyone who got approved for surgery with a BMI of 40 or lower and what comorbs or problems you had that helped you get approved. I think my BMI is just 40 but I do not have any of tricares comorbs that are listed.

I'm getting ready to go to my PCM to ask for a referral to a lapband surgeon, wish me luck I am SOOOOOOOO scared he will say no.

YAY he put one in for me!! I thought for sure he's try putting me on something.

I'm getting ready to go to my PCM to ask for a referral to a lapband surgeon, wish me luck I am SOOOOOOOO scared he will say no.

thanks everyone keep them coming!

Thanks girls thats very good to here I was reading some of the other complication posts and they kinda have me freaked out!

Hello I am still looking into having Lapband done, but I want to be prepared for anything so please tell me any complications you had while in surgery or after! Thanks

Me 2 girls, me 2!!!! I am 24 and have been overweight my since I was like 5 and I am so sick of it! I am a military wife visiting home right now, but when I get back to my house I am going to my PCM to try and get a referral, I am scared he won't even give me a referral let alone tricare approve me for surgery, but I will try it anyway. I'm close but I don't exactly meet tricares requirements. I've been researching and reading post for months now , and its really what I want to do. Goood luck girls:)