VegasJen

I think this is kind of funny... I've had about four friends that know about my surgery offer to take me out for a "last meal!" They are all very supportive, but I think they think it will be fun to take me out for one last feast. I am actually feeling motivated to eat less - to practice restraint for when I have my band, so that's ironic.:thumbup:

That German food sounds yummy!!! :tongue:

Jen

My surgeon requires a consult with a nutritionist, which is actually a year-long contract with the nut! I can email him or call him with any questions during that time, which I am sure I will! He gave me the post-operative diet sheets and explained all the phases of the diet as well - I think he is going to be a great resource for me in the months ahead.

(I love that everyone calls them "nut" lol)

Good Luck everyone! I can't wait to see your progress here on the boards! Keep us posted...

Jen

Awesome!! Thank you for posting that - I needed to remind myself of many of those lately!

My Tricare aproval came in like 2 days - once they submitted (doc) Tricare was really fast. I got the claim sheet in the mail today and it said I had been approved for RNY/Bypass - not lapband! Has this mixup happened to anyone else? I have an appt with the surgeon tomorrow to sign consents/finalize surgery... but now I am nervous that they got approval for the wrong surgery?!?! I am also a little panicky that the statement says I am responsible for 50% of the cost of surgery?? Huh??

So now I am all worked up and scared that I have come this far and now it might not happen.... wish me luck tomorrow!!:biggrin:

Wow! When I posted on here last year I was going through a different Doc, but now I am seeing Dr Teng, and have surgery scheduled for April 10th! I am definitely keeping copies of all checks, all receipts, and am going to make sure that I get all financial specifics IN WRITING.

I am sure I should just find another place to do this, but they take my insurance, I have already been approved, and I feel like this is the right time for me to do this. I will, however, be watching my wallet!

I'm sorry that your lap band experience was jaded by this - that's pretty disappointing. Thanks for sharing your story!!!

Jen

Hi Mary,

I know you got my email but I thought I'd stick a reply here also. :-)

I am having surgery next month with Dr Teng. I went through the process last year with Dr. Atkinson's office but backed out before surgery. I didn't like the way they made me feel like a "charity case" because I have Tricare. They were very up front about having no use for it... which really started to rub me the wrong way. I needed them to be supportive in every way, ya know?

Anyway, Dr. Teng's office is very nice about Tricare, and actually has been very nice about everything.

My biggest concern now is that, being a military spouse, I never live anywhere very long, and it seems like the surgeons nationwide are really bad about taking pre-banded patients. If this device is supposed to stay in patients long term, and we are supposed to be able to use this tool for years, then how can these Docs think that their patients will never move? Are they just in it to do the actual surgery? I have a really bad feeling about these surgeons all over the country jumping on the lap-band bandwagon (lol) but not being willing to take on any patients they didn't actually operate on. It's like they are unclear on the lap band concept or something.

I hope that makes sense... it's my personal gripe about this whole process... they need to work this out, since there are thousands of us being banded every year!:confused2:

Jen

I want to be healthy and energetic!

I want to be a great Mom and set a good example for my daughters!

I want to buy cheap clothes at Target and Old Navy!

I want to like what I see in the mirror!

I want to LIVE my life instead of putting everything off until I lose weight...

I too am getting really excited! I am SOOO ready for this! Good Luck everyone! - Jen

April 1--Bunky1965,

April 2--MissLady, Natasha

April 3--GiGiRN, ebowling, alicia99, p3photogal

April 4--magic 1127, ColoradoChick, cheercoach08

April 5--southerngirltx

April 6--

April 7--davisd, Lizb88

April 8--Carol422, CinniMae08, carol4784, Cori in WA

April 9--bft33, lizalee, moosey52

April 10-Turler, , cadencemarch, dreamsize8, Denise (from Canada), VegasJen

April 11-Lynne (countingthedays), tatt2, LisaB411,Susan{livn4jesus}

April 12-

April 13-

April 14-DaNieLLe (Dshea8285)

April 15-Chilly

April 16-nurse7263, Bea1128, Hunee B, yarddog, Andy (RedDirt)

April 17-Johnst027

April 18-Astrid(scarlettbegonia), JennyLynn,

April 19

April 20

April 21-Marisa (dancinglamb)

April 22-Pat (Tricia1105), CTCUTIE,

April 23

April 24-Savedbygrace,KatieBelle

April 25-bling

April 26

April 27

April 28-bigdaddy:thumbup: , ImWkgOnMe

April 29

April 30

Hello all,

My surgeon requires no pre-op diet at all, and I am a little concerned. Not that I want to do one, but should I? I have an appt. Tuesday with him to finalize surgery date and am planning to ask him then. I don't want to have a big, in the way liver! :-)

I was weighed in clothes but no shoes. My nurse did say, "Oh good, you aren't wearing jeans!" (For whatever that's worth...) I drank 32 oz of Fluid before my weigh in to be sure to have a BMI of 40, and it worked for me. :-)

Good Luck!

My doc requires no pre-op diet either... I just have to drink the stuff that clears you out the night before surgery. I hope my liver isn't huge! LOL (OK not really laughing...)

Ha! I love how that doc said he wouldn't take patients that went to Las Vegas to save money! What about those of us that actually LIVE here? LOL I am having my surgery here (because I live here) but will be moving (military orders) this summer. I sure hope I don't have trouble finding fill docs, and now I am extra worried that having come from LAS VEGAS I'll be even more likely to be rejected. They really need to work this out, because if thousands of people are having this procedure every year, and they are supposed to last a lifetime - then it is obvious that people will be moving and changing docs!! Grrrrr.....

Jen

Hello!

Congrats to you both (and everyone!) on your decision, your commmitment to your health, and your sugery dates!

I don't have an actual date yet, but I have my first appt. with my surgeon on March 11th, and was told patients with my insurance usually are banded within a month of that appt. So I am guessing April! Yay!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all and share this awesome journey with you! We're on our way!!:thumbup:

Jen

Thank you Lisa! I think I misunderstood the surgeon. I am going in to the office today to start scheduling appts, and I'm sure It will all become clearer for me. :thumbup:

Hello all,

I am Tricare Standard and was told by Tricare that I can Self-Refer direct to the surgeon (I am TriWEST). Tricare PRIME needs the referreal, but STANDARD patients can go directly to the surgeon, who proves medical necessity to Tricare for you. I would go ahead and attend a seminar and ask the office staff there what to do next. My surgeon's office staff is very helpful, and knows the ins and outs of getting Tricare approvals.

Good Luck!:thumbup:

Hi littlecruse,

I know that both Surgical Weight Loss Center and Dr. Teng will finance through Care Credit (Having attended seminars for both) and the prices varied from $15,000 - $18,000. I am planning to have my surgery through Dr. Teng's program because he takes my insurance.

If I were you I would just start attending seminars (they are free) and asking lots of questions. Good Luck!! :thumbup:

Hello fellow Tricare Patients!

I attended my seminar last night, and the surgeons staff was very encouraging about Tricare. They said they have had Tricare pay for several Lap Band Ops aready. Also, they like to work with Tricare because, as far as insurance companies go, Tricare is pretty straight forward - with no doc supervised diets, etc. They are, however, pretty strict with the requirements for surgery qualification (BMI must be 40+, etc)

For what it's worth, hope that helps! :-)

Jen

Thank you Tricia,

I appreciate the information and the heads up! I am going through another clinic, but I definitely have a bunch of new questions to ask them!

Good luck to you!

Hi Momof4... would you mind PMing me with the name of the doc as well? I have my consult scheduled wih my surgeon on the 7th... and I really would like to know if it is the same guy! Thanks in advance!

Jen

Hi Mindy!

I live in Las Vegas as well! Who did your surgery? How did it go? Maybe we'll run into each other at support groups or something!

This board is awesome... it has answered SO many of my questions.

Good luck to you!

Jen

Hi! I have Tricare Standard, but just went through all the hassle of figuring out what they cover. Tricare does NOT cover lap band at all. It is listed as an "unproven procedure" or something like that. They do cover full-up bypass and vertical banding, which I guess is not done as much these days. I think it is crazy that they wil pay $40,000 for bypass but not $15,000 for lap band. So I was very disappointed to realize that I was on my own to pay not only fo the surgery but for all my fills as well.

Where are you stationed? I'm in Las Vegas, at Nellis AFB.

Good Luck to you!

Jen

:biggrin1:I just wanted to thank you all for posting in this thread! I have learned so much and feel like I will be that much more prepared when I head into surgery soon. This kind of dialogue is priceless, and definitely faster and kinder than the doctor's offices! lol This is an amazing board, and I am SOOOO thankful that I found it! You guys ROCK!

Hi everyone!

I am having band surgery in Sept in Las Vegas, NV, but due to being married to the military I will be moving to Montgomery, Alabama next summer. Can anyone reccommend a doctor in Montgomery or Birmingham, AL for fills? I want to make sure they will see me before I have the surgery!

Thanks in advance!!

Jen:help:

Hi Momof4... I am getting ready to have surgery in Las vegas (I live here) and was wondering if you would mind telling me who your surgeon is? I am paying cash for the surgery, so I am really trying to get them to nail down all the costs for me. What would you have sone differently before your surgery? Thanks so much for your warning, and any more info you can give me.

Jen