cobrien78

Well, my husband is in the military and tricare just started to cover lap band and I'm waiting till we get up there to get the referral. So I guess I'll have to find out which dr.s if any will accept tricare. I really hope this works out. Thanks for all the information!

We will be moving to Great Falls, Mt this summer! I am so excited about it! Anyway, I've seen some of you mention Dr. Roher(sp?). Does he do the lap band surgery and if so has anyone had it done by him and what was your experience? Any info on bariatric surgeons in that area would be great, thanks!

Ok has anyone started or plans on or already had the lap band surgery through WHMC? I am getting the referral on Monday (hopefully) and I am wondering how long it takes to get approved and how hard it is? Also, how the experience was/is. We should be PCSing this summer and hope to have the surgery done before we leave. Thanks for any info!

We should be PCSing this summer too. I'm trying to get it before then. Hopefully everything will all work out.

I do have tricare, and I've heard they are pretty strict. I haven't been tested for sleep apnea, but I think I do have it. I am borderline diabetic, PCOS, hypertension, have high cholesterol, recently had my gall bladder removed(cholecystitis), and family medical history is horrible! My dad had his first heart attack at 28. My dr. didn't want to believe me when I told her that. I said I would give her the name of my dad's cardiologist if she wanted to double-check. I'm 29 with 2 kids and I don't want to be like my dad. I don't want to have surgery (who really does) but to me it's worth being healthy for a lifetime.

Don't feel bad I'm doing the same! I only need like 10lbs to be approved for my insurance. It sucks because I have several co-morbidities yet they won't approve me unless I'm 100lbs over. I'm 90lbs over! I could understand if I didn't have any co-morbidities but I like have them all except the joint pain.

Thanks for the info Sgt Bob!

Funny! I'm trying to gain as much as I can before my referral and subsequent consult. Thanks for the water tip, I'll definitely use it. I should gain like 5-10lbs. If that's what I need to do to lose 100 then I'll do it! It really sucks being so close to the min. requirement. But I have several co-morbidities! Hopefully they will see this and approve me! I just hope that I can get it done before we move!

I'm here at Lackland afb, tx. I am hoping to go to an approved civ. dr. The only thing is with these metropolitan life charts I fall into the medium frame and am 100lbs. over the minimum weight requirement for medium frame women of my height. Does this still count? I do have several co-morbid conditions however. They do have a bariatric surgeon here but, they only have one! So could I get approved to go off base if I wanted, if the surgeon accepts tricare? Any info would be great!

Amy- I have tricare too! Where are you at? My husband is stationed at lackland in San Antonio. Let me know how it goes! What is your BMI? Mine is exactly 35 and I am 5'8 and weigh 230lbs. I am hoping to get approved for the lap band as well. Let me know how it goes! I'm in the same boat I could lose 100lbs. and still be in my normal weight range just not at the top. Good luck, keep me posted and I will do the same!

Hi! My husband is in the Air Force and we are stationed at Lackland AFB, TX. I was seriously considering the RNY surgery, but was too scared of the possible complications and side effects. Just this past week I found out that Tricare is now covering the lap band surgery. I had said before that if they ever did I would do it in a heartbeat. However, we will be moving this summer (more than likely) and I don't want to start the process of getting approved and then have to start it over when we move. I just hope where ever we move I will be able to find a good surgeon. Does anyone know how to look for a great surgeon in the bariatric field? Or have any tips of what to look for? Also, my BMI is only 34 right now however I am borderline diabetic, I have PCOS, hypertension, high cholesterol, and had my gall bladder removed 10/07. I could still lose 100lbs and be in my normal wt. range though. Also, I'm looking for people's experiences with getting the lap band. What I can look forward to, or not? I'm very excited for this journey! I know that with the lap band I'm not going to drop 60lbs in a month or anything and this is particularly why I chose the lap band. I really wanted something that will help me keep off the wt. more effectively than just diet and exercising. I really see this as a tool to lose wt. more than just a miracle wt. loss procedure. Thanks in advance for all your advice!:wink2:

Michelle- I have PCOS too, I was diagnosed about 2 years ago. My dr. tells me to lose weight as this will help or maybe cure my PCOS symptoms and the disease all together. I haven't started the Lap Band approval process, but am hoping I will get approved. Sorry I don't have any advice for you, I wanted to let you know that you aren't alone in your struggle.