kmwheel

I am really sorry about your experience. Will you update us if there is any response? I'm due to be sleeved by Dr. Kelly in September, but this is not very encouraging. When you get a chance, could you PM me with the details. I hope that you are doing well with your sleeve.

So cool...love seeing the ribs, too. I wonder what mine look like. How exciting! It's like unwrapping a gift. Many congrats on the weight loss and getting fit and healthy with your family!

Great idea...I can't wait to get to that point.

That is an awesome story. I am the same way with my hubby...we have been married almost 17 years.

I have only told my husband and one friend. I went through the process before (and was very open about it), got denied, and really had a tough time after that. This time I'd like to keep it to myself until I'm through with the process and on my way. Another reason I'm not telling anyone is because I'm going to Mexico to have it done, so I don't want to deal with all of the feedback and opinions regarding that. I agree with the other posters that you have to decide who you feel comfortable telling. I'm sure when I get back, I'll want to talk to people about it because they'll obviously notice.

You are lucky with no gas! I'm still pre-op, so I have no idea about getting up and down, but when I had abdominal surgery before I just had to sort of "roll" myself off the bed to the standing position. Good luck, maybe it will get easier soon!

Wow, you look awesome...and sassy!! I feel that miserable, too. Really looking forward to my 9/15 surgery date. Thanks for the inspiration to keep going.

Amazing transformation!

I was recently at an amusement park where they have a seat outside each ride so larger riders can make sure they fit without wasting time in line. My son wanted me to go on a roller-coaster with him, so I thought I had better check before we wasted our time in line. As I was walking up to a seat, a couple pushed in front of me with what appeared to be 8 children and they all proceeded to get into and play on the seat (as if it was the ride...lol) while we waited...and waited. I was a little miffed to say the least, but I didn't say anything (well, a little under my breath to my son...and some angry glares). But then I realized that I wasn't really angry with them. I was grateful that the park had that opportunity to check it out beforehand, and I also told myself...this is potentially the last time you're ever going to have to do this...and that made me feel so much better. I can't wait to not worry about these little things anymore.

Yes, it is easier for me, although I do appreciate the advice and I know all about the MTF route as opposed to Tricare. I live in Illinois and there are no MTF's that I know of within driving distance that either do VSG or would allow me to drive for treatment. I was treated very rudely when I did call one MTF that was within 4 hours because I heard they were doing VSG. I was told they wouldn't treat me because I was too far away and that they had stopped doing VSG anyway. I am to the point where I know I qualify (39 BMI and hypertension), I've been through all of the testing (spent $800 of my own money because Tricare wouldn't pay), and then my surgeon's office submitted my weight AFTER I lost the weight they wanted when I told them that I wouldn't qualify with that weight (for a lap-band I didn't want anyway). I can fly to San Diego, get picked up and driven to Tijuana, get the surgery and be home in 5 days...no appointments, no support groups, no calling rude people at MTFs. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to know that some MTFs are doing the VSG, but it doesn't help people who don't live close enough and it kind of sucks that it's not an across-the-board decision. I'm pretty excited about my decision because I know this is going to happen. I have my date, I have cash in hand, and I'm ready to go!

I am the 15th in TJ with Dr. Kelly...getting so excited.

So cool that you were able to just go home and that you are close by for follow-ups. I am not looking forward to the plane trip home after surgery. Please keep us updated!

Surgery date of 9/15 in Tijuana with Dr. Ramos-Kelly. Excited, nervous, scared...but I have to get through a big east coast camping trip with my family before I even get to think about my surgery trip.

Hi Everyone, my name is Kristin. My husband is AGR with the Illinois ARNG, and I'm a substitute teacher (elementary certified but never had a classroom of my own). I got tired of waiting for Tricare to approve VSG (didn't want lap-band or RNY), so we're going self-pay to Mexico. I am very excited and maybe a little nervous. I have a very supportive husband who's going with me, but we're not really going to tell anyone else until I'm back and recovered. My surgery is scheduled with Dr. Ramos-Kelly in Tijuana.

9/15 with Dr. Kelly. I can't believe I have a date. I have been waiting for 3 years!

So great to hear it all went well. I'm scheduled with Kelly for 9/15. Can hardly wait!! Best wishes to you.

I have my passport but my husband does not. He's military...so I'm pretty sure they'll let him back in the country with his military ID, birth certificate, and driver's license. Too late to worry about it now!

I cut and pasted what they sent me into a PM for you. I hope it helps. It's not a very specific list, which I would have liked.

I told a lot of people the first time I went and did not end up getting the surgery (insurance denied), so I felt like a fool. My husband told the people at work (two skinny b*****s included) stating, "I had to, because I had to get the time off." Ummm...no, you did not have to tell them, thanks for invading my privacy. Anyway, that really ticked me off, so I swore him to secrecy on this one. I will have no problem telling anyone after it's done, but I want the actual event to be private and I don't want anyone telling me horror stories about a friend of a friend or surgery in Mexico, etc. I'm not telling my mom and dad. She's a nurse, and I think she'd worry too much. I just don't want to deal with everyone else's opinions or ideas. This one's for me! I totally support your decision!

I gave up on waiting for Tricare to get on the bandwagon with VSG...I don't want to die waiting. I was going to get the lap-band, but the surgeon's office submitted my paperwork with the post-diet weight so I got a big fat denial. In other words, I qualified when I got there, and that's the weight they should have submitted...or at least one that was over the required weight! I jumped through every hoop with them, including paying $800 out of pocket for all of the tests, and they screwed me over. Long story short, it's been over a year since I was crushed by that, but I think that I was meant to do something better. I'm now scheduled to have a self-pay VSG done in Tijuana, Mexico...and getting approved was no hassle. I am age 38, 5'4", 230 lbs. with hypertension.

I'm an active duty family member with Prime Remote (North) and I can either get Lap-Band or RNY locally, but VSG isn't an option yet. I would have pushed harder if they were even doing them at that facility. I don't have any other options right now that would be a reasonable drive for me, unfortunately. It is good to know that they can't deny me care, though!

Okay, just an FYI in case someone else is looking into this. I called Blanchfield Army Hospital at Ft. Campbell, KY. They are not doing VSG at the moment at all. They have done 40 of them, they love the procedure, and now all VSG is on hold (at their hospital) until Tricare adds it to their allowed procedures. They told me that they wouldn't allow me to drive there, we'd have to be stationed there. I think this is all good information. It makes me wonder how soon Tricare will approve VSG. Thanks again to everyone for the replies and information.

Ft. Campbell, KY is about 6 hours from me and my husband said he'd gladly drive me there and stay a few days if necessary. I'm going to call them tomorrow because someone on another board said they'd had their VSG there. I imagine I could do my pre-op stuff here and then just go down for the surgery? I wouldn't even mind going twice or three times, that's not a bad drive.

Thanks for the fast reply! I have Prime Remote, so I don't think that 100 miles thing pertains to me. Since Tricare doesn't approve the VSG, I was wondering about the MTF's. I won't have any problem getting banded about 10 miles away, so I guess that's the path I'll have to take for now, unless I want to wait for Tricare to start approving the sleeve. The only MTF within 100 miles of me is Scott AFB and they only have a clinic and not a hospital. Thanks again! Kristin

Sorry if this question is in the wrong forum. I am from central Illinois, but I'd be willing to drive a few hours to a MTF that will do the sleeve. I have been researching the band and got the referral, but now I'm having second thoughts about it. I can't figure out which military hospitals actually do VSG because I know it's not all of them. My spouse is active duty.