Lindsey Skinner Abbott

Shame on her employer for not allowing her to envoke FMLA after surgery. That is terrible. I wonder if there is a way for her to appeal that? I hope she at least received unemployment benefits.

I work for the government in the removal side of of HR. Trust me it takes a lot more than a week of surgery and complications to be removed from government service. Plus as a government employee I have appeal right if I am removed. Yes, we have actually brought people back to work after they were removed and they appealed the decision and are back at work. My boss knows what is going on and I can always envoke FMLA after surgery if needed. We can even take up to 200 hours of advanced sick leave if we need to. I don't feel threatened with being removed since my boss is very supportive of my surgery.

Thank you! I asked for two weeks but would like to go back after one. I work in HR so I really don't want to apply for FMLA and I have enough leave. I just don't want everyone knowing my business and working in HR everyone will know!

if you have any complications you will need FMLA. I strongly recommend that you take it - even if the ones who know will have NO business talking about it unless you welcome them to do so.

on another local group a lady has just lost her job because she had issues post surgery and had not taken out FMLA. mine covers me for a full year.

Thank you! I asked for two weeks but would like to go back after one. I work in HR so I really don't want to apply for FMLA and I have enough leave. I just don't want everyone knowing my business and working in HR everyone will know!

I finally got my date! May 24th will be the day! I work in HR and do mainly desk work. Will a week off be enough or should I take two weeks?

Finally got approved for the sleeve! It only took Tricare 2 days for the approval! I had to have a sleep study done so that is what took so long to get all of my appointments done. So excited yet nervous. I have waited almost two years for this. So happy the sleeve was approved!

I met with my surgeon in January and had already done the diet portion my insurance requirements so I thought it would be faster for me. My surgeon requires a sleep apnea test. I couldn't get into that doctors office until March 21st! If I do have sleep apnea then I have to be cleared by that doctor so I could have to wait until May once I get my sleep apnea under control. I am pretty sure I have it!

I to work in HR. I am planning on two weeks off...surgery in May. I luckily work on the labor relations side so I don't have as many demands. I did tell my boss and she is supportive so hopefully my co-workers can help with running around the campus.

Lol sorry I am doing this on my phone! I am telling everyone at work that I am have a hernia repair...it's not actually a lie because the doctor is going to fix that! The sleep apnea test is a requirement of my surgeon. The place I am having it done is a center of excellence. In order to keep that my surgeon has everyone do that.

@@Lindsey Skinner Abbott I am with you on the coworkers. I have not told any of them as of yet. NOt sure I want to but then I am not sure where I would tell them I will be gone for two weeks. I still have a while to figure that one out. LOL.

No one has said anything about a sleep study being a prerec. or anything but I do hear so many having that done. Is that for the insurance of the surgeon? Have you been approved by your insurance yet?

I will be in May/June as well! I have the supervised diet portion finished. I am waiting for my sleep apnea test and the pulmonary clinic was booked out until the end of March???? Once o am done with that I should be able to schedule! I am planning on mid-may. I want to have enough hours of leave built up so I don't have to use FMLA. I work in HR so I don't want everyone in my office knowing what I will be out for. Happy to find some people to journey with!

I would definitely take more time! If you have worked there more than a year you qualify for FMLA so don't be afraid to use it.

So happy you are doing so well. It is encouraging and gives me less anxiety!

For those who started exercising before surgery did you find your recovery easier? I have started going to the Y and doing some body pump and CX works classes. I also try to do a cardio combo on the elliptical and bike for 45 minutes. I want to make this recovery easy so I can get back to work. I am planning on two weeks off work but would love to get back in less time. I told my boss about the surgery but no one else!

Thank you all for the encouragement! You all are so right. It is not a easy road like many think but it is the tool that will help me get where I want to go. This forum is like therapy! I know deep down what will help me and I have to forget what everyone else says and go with my gut????

I just starting my journey and am watching Fit to Fat to Fit. It has been giving me such mixed feelings...why can't I just work out and lose weight? I know I will have to work out and eat right after surgery but why can't I do it now? The devil on my shoulder says I am taking the easy way. I KNOW surgery definitely not the easy way but why does society make me feel that way?!

I just had my apt with the surgeon today. He said 3 months over the last two years. I am in TriWest. It could be the surgeons retirement?

I called Tricare today and gave them the CPT code for the surgery and yes it is approved...the sleeve surgero????

It doesn't Matt if you are standard or prime they will still approve it. The only difference between prime and standard is how much you pay and what doctors you see. In prime you have to go in network. With standard you can choose but you might have to play more. I was a insurance biller at Landstul in Germany so I am really familiar with insurances. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Sorry I am on my phone matter and pay

I am in Boise. I have Tricare Prime. The sleeve is being covered. I just confirmed with my doctors office.

Did you guys have to do a six month wait to see a nutritionist? Just wondering what the requirements are since I will not be seen at a MTF this time?

Hi Lindsey - I didn't have to do the 6 months; I had documentation from a 5 month liquid diet from Jan 2013 and that met the requirement. Tricare only requires a "documented attempt at weight loss" prior to the surgery. No duration and no timeline. Good luck and I hope it works out for you!

This is great news! Maybe I won't have to wait to long for surfer then????

Awesome! I figured I would have to do 6 months. Since I was originally going to have it done at a MTF they wanted to get my records from there to see if I don't have to do all six months again. We will see what happens. I had the EDG done last year but I think they will want to redo it. Six months out will be good for me since the two guys I work with wife's will be having babies in the next three months. I am in Boise ID

Did you guys have to do a six month wait to see a nutritionist? Just wondering what the requirements are since I will not be seen at a MTF this time?

Hi Everyone!

I have a long story so I will keep it short. I was schedule to have the sleeve 11 months ago. A week away from surgery my surgery was canceled. This was due to military issues and I had no control over them.

It was extremely emotional going up to one week before surgery then not having it. I resolved myself to thinking it just wasn't meant to be. I thought I could do everything on my own. One large factor was my insurance did not cover the sleeve(long story about Tricare and milky base docs) and that was the only surgery I wanted.

Fast forward 11 months and I have gained weight ???? I am now heavier than I have ever been. I recently found out that my insurance will pay for the sleeve????.

So here is what I need help with. I have a co-worker that had WLS not the sleeve. She looks terrible. Her hair has mostly fallen out her eyes are so dark underneath and she looks ill. I do notice what she eats and it really is all bad food with no nutritional value.

I am by no means in a place to judge but my fear is..if I have surgery will I end up like her? If I can't lose weight on my own how will I be able to do everything correctly so I don't end up where I am now? How do you guys do it? I really want to have the surgery and know I can do it in the beginning but what about a year down the road? How do you all handle your cravings?

I am in tricare south (humana military). I have my seminar scheduled for 12th of Jan. For me my PCM referred me. BMI 35 and 1 co-morbidity. I was approved with no problem.

I was also told sleeve isn't covered through tricare. However, Our hospital on base does the sleeve and the hospital is covering cost and doesn't go through tricare at all. General surgeon called and scheduled seminar. I stopped in and spoke with nutritionist and she explained that process in more depth. All is required is 2 support groups (1 can be attended pre-op) which is what I did. 1 psych eval. She gave me number for that and said I can have that done prior to seminar as well. Did that last week. When I called and scheduled appt. She submitted to Tricare for approval that day and they covered it 100% next day. I meet with nutritionist same day as seminar. Then labs will need to be done again and meet with surgeon. Thats it. She said since seminar is Jan. then procedure will be Feb or March since December patients are being scheduled for Jan. No out of pocket expense and no tricare authorization. They said once general surgeon office called I was automatically approved! My PCM did not think I would get approved because I'm low BMI for their standards but I got a call few days later. I also spoke with people in support group (pre-op and post-op patients) they all verified that is the process. No 6 mth pre-op diet. Just the liquid diet right before surgery to shrink liver!

I know that if you have it done at a MTF it is free, but I don't have one near to me. So I would go to a hospital in my area and use a civilian surgeon as well.

The tricare site still says it's not covered. I'm going to keep going with my process anyway, I know after 20yrs of being associated with the military, active duty and now a dependent I know updated info trickles in like icebergs. LOL

Yep. I agree. Everything is so slow. I'm at Travis AFB and they would do it but I would never go to the MTF for anything. I see civilians for everything.

Good luck with your process!

I totally agree with never going to a MTF again. I am seen by all civilians and I have had the best care ever! Since we live 50 miles from base they allow us to still be in Prime.