LVGirl

They don't require a pre-op diet at my surgeon's office, but I am doing my own with the left over herbalife shake mix I have :-)

I was just scheduled today for May 27th, so I will be!

Do you meet the criteria that they require? Do you have one of the co-morbidities as well as 100+ overweight? My surgeon said that Tricare is usually one of the easiest to deal with.

And obviously I am so excited that I am unable to spell :-)

I am SO excited (and very freaked out) because they scheduled my surgery for 5/27!!! I can't believe I will have it in 2 weeks! WOW!!!

I think Tricare North requires it, but Triwest did not. Thank you everyone. I got my surgery date today!!! AHHHHH!!!!! I'll be having surgery on 5/27...I can't believe it!

I am on the west coast and have Tricare. My process has been very fast and I am hoping to have an approval by next week. I was told by my doc and Tricare rep that you need to be a) 100 lbs overweight WITH a co-morbidity that they have listed on their website (I am 125 over and have hypertension...you have 2 that you listed but may be short on the weight); or 200% overweight. My doctor goes on the high end of what your ideal weight is because that is what most insurance companies do. I wish you luck!

I was medically cleared today and had my psych eval as well. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow and then my paperwork will be submitted to Tricare!! Praying for a swift approval!!! The rest of this has gone so fast that my head is spinning. LOL

Hi all! I am a military wife living in Vegas who is working towards having lap band surgery (ASAP). My husband is being discharged soon so I literally only have a few months to get this done and have it covered by insurance. I have done all of my pre-testing and should get surgery clearance on Wed next week. Meet with my surgeon (Dr. Atkinson) after that and pray for a speedy approval from Tricare. I have found a lot of really helpful info on here and hope to be joining the bandsters soon! :-)

The extra visits are for labwork, chest x-ray and EKG for surgery clearance. I actually just did everything yesterday morning and should be cleared for surgery on the 11th (my PCM has really come through for me this week). Then I have my psych eval and consult with the surgeon. Hoping and praying to be approved quickly and scheduled for surgery by mid-June.

I have Tricare as well. Had my referral for the surgeon and attended the seminar a couple weeks ago. I just went for my labs, EKG and chest x-ray today and have my appt with my PCM next Wed to be cleared. I am also having my psych appt on Wed and then have the nutritionist appt shortly after that. I have hypertension along with being over 100 lbs overweight so I was told being approved shouldn't be a problem. I wish you luck!

I would also recommend almond milk...it tastes so much better than soy milk.

I got my referral to the surgeon, went to the seminar, had a follow up appt today with my PCM where I was officially diagnosed with high BP and put on meds (the surgeon's office said I should be approved because I am at least 100 lbs over + high BP) and I gave my doctor the list of bloodwork tests that I need drawn and they are sending that over to the lab for me. I go back in 2 weeks for my referral for chest x-ray and ekg and then back in 4 weeks for my surgery clearance. I have my psych eval through my surgeon on Wed. I am praying that things go smoothly so that I get approved and have surgery before the summer!

I completely understand what you are doing through. My doctor put me on Miralax as well and, so long as I am consistent, I do not have as much of a problem...but you NEED to talk to your doctor. I waited 2 years because of embarrassment and was so much happier after I spoke with him. There could also be other serious issues that need to be looked into. Go see your doctor.

I am looking for those who are currently or have recently used Tricare to have your surgery done. I know the rules have changed a lot over the past few years. I attended my seminar last night and am waiting to hear from the doctor's office (already got my consultation referral). I have an appt with my PCM next week for a f/u to check my blood pressure (borderline high) and am going to ask her to do my referrals for blood work and chest x-ray when I am there since it takes so long to get an appt on base. I live in Vegas and have heard everything from "it was easy" to "I was denied". I am 5'8' and weigh 275. Any thoughts/suggestions/advice?