Sgt Bob

Man, I know how you feel. I had a chance at a pretty darn good job (and a hard one to get) driving for Walmart. Excellent money, working conditions with some really nice perks and I ended up turning it down after they called me twice, because I just couldn't stand the thought of sleeping in a truck for 2 or 3 nights a week. Good luck to ya.

I'm very skeptical about the whole deal. I've known a few truck drivers who had quadruple bypasses and didn't have trouble getting a job. If you can pass the DOT physical, you can get a job. Bob, truck driver of 14 years.

I've driven over the road (long haul) and local for 14 years. We had guys who had heart attacks, emphysema, cancer surgeries, quadruple bypasses who weren't prevent from driving a truck, as long as they could pass the DOT physical. Basically, if you can fog a mirror, you can drive a truck.

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm sorry, I should have shown my banding date. I have not been banded yet but I am going for my surgery a in about a week, April 21st. WooHoo!

Hey! That is too cool! You oughtta copyright that!:thumbup: Michibanders©

Had my pre-surgical appointment with Dr. March today and he said that since I've been a good boy and have lost 18 lbs in the last month, I won't need to wait on my surgery! I'm going in April 21st! WooHoo!!!!!

If the surgeon who did my gall bladder decided to take up LapBand™ and asked me to be his first guinea pig, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

"Cheating" a couple times is probably not going to change anything. However, trying to cheat the whole process is only going to hurt you. If you feel you just have to cheat until 2 or 3 days before the surgery, then go right ahead but, don't come crying to us if your surgeon goes in then decides against completing the procedure. Oh yeah, you will still be paying a hefty bill and it might be out of your own pocket.

Thanks Genea! That's good news.

I just got approved by Tricare for my surgery==WooHoo!!== However, I will not have Tricare Standard as my primary insurance for long, as I have to go on Medicare on June 6 :sad_smile: as I'm on disability now. I know Medicare requires the surgery be performed at a "Center of Excellence", but does anyone know if they require the fills be done at one too? I hope not, because the nearest one is about 100 miles away.:scared2:

Dr. March is going to be doing my surgery. He's a real nice guy.

Dr. March or Baxter? I have an appointment Fri, April 11 to have my surgery scheduled. Hopefully I'll have it done within a couple weeks! I live about 30 miles WSW of Hillsdale.

Correct, with Standard you don't need referrals. It's a good idea to make sure they got everything, as you do have to prove medical necessity. That's the great thing about Standard. Unfortunately for me, since I'm now collecting disability, I will be required to go on Medicare June 6th, so I want to make sure I get banded by then so I can drive 20 miles instead of 100. Actually, it was covered in May of 2007 but, the change didn't get into the manual until recently. They said they are reimbursing for people who self payed after February of 2007. Hopefully, they will reimburse for surgeries in Mexico, so you should be able to get some money out of them!

Sure it will probably work. I've been doing things that work for 40 years, and I've been hungry for 40 years!:Dancing_wub:

WooHoo! Good for you Alice! Let us know how it went, as soon as you can.

Yeah, maybe it's the surgeon who's requiring the test then? Tricare didn't require me to get a sleep study or psych eval, my surgeon did.

Me too! I just can't imagine sleeping without it. Although for me, I don't think the sleep apnea is simply weight related. Both my mom and dad were terrible snorers without being overweight. My mom now has congestive heart failure and I believe it's probably related to the OSA.

Congratulations Laney! Quitting smoking is probably the best thing you could ever do for yourself. I put on over 70 pounds after I quit (not just due to quitting but health issues and a year on steroids) and I still feel better than when I was puffing on the coffin nails, even with only 47% of my lung function remaining. I'm like most of you, I can't stand the smell of that poison or the smell of the people who ingest it.

Tricare covered all of my pre-op appointments. If your doctors are making you pay, that is probably their choice not to accept what Tricare will pay, not because of Tricare. You can file the claims yourself and they will probably pay you, but not the full amount.:tt1:

I just got approved yesterday and they never said anything about that. The "In Process" message is normal and will change when approved. Why not give them a call and find out what's going on. I've called Many times and everyone I've spoken too has been very helpful.

Have you called his office at Palmyra Surgical? We are located at: 810 13th Ave, Suite 108 Albany, GA 31701 Get Directions Phone: 229-432-8484 Fax: 229-432-8487

I'm Tricare Standard and I've done all the required appointments (Seminar, Pulmonary function, psych eval, cardio, nutritionist) and my paperwork was sent in on March 6, but I haven't heard anything yet. I started dieting the week before and if they don't hurry up, I won't need the darn band!:mad2:

I have Tricare Standard as well and have been told the same thing repeatedly. I have gone to specialists without referral a few times and Tricare has had no problem with it. Congrats Wendy! Glad its going well for you!

Nice little plane. I was a crew chief on KC-135's and C141's in the AF, but I ran Transient Alert at Howard AFB, Panama and we had Army B-200's coming in all the time from Honduras, Roosevelt Roads, El Salvador and all over South America. If I ever had the money to buy a turboprop, it would definitely be a KingAir. After I get banded I might even be able to fit in the cockpit again!

Congratulations ya big dork! Just kidding! Glad you're on the list! One question though. Why the name KingAir? I assume it has to do with the Beechcraft?