ThinWithin

got my tentative date today! April 21 it is, I can't believe it. This is not the absolute date so it might wiggle a little but will definately be in April. *deep breath* i am so shaking nervous giddy excited scared happy wow.....anybody else feel that way? lol It's like christmas...and the gift is ME! I can hardly wait!!

I hadnt even considered aftercare really, mostly was just hung up on the surgery. I like your analogy...it really caused to me stop and think about my choices again. thanks

Okay I am approved (yippee!!) for laband surgery at a bariatric surgery center of excellence (a requirement for my insurance) BUT here's the problem, the doctor who is slated to do my surgery is an amazing gastric bypass doc who hasn't ever done lapbanding before. He is getting certified and has a proctor coming in to assess his skill level and I will be one of his first 5 patients. I am comforted because he's been doing bariatric surgery for over a decade *but* i am of course nervous because he's never done THIS procedure. He is the chief of surgery at a very large teaching hospital where he does his bariatric surgeries so that makes me feel confident about his skills and abilities. I dont know, I was hoping a couple sets of fresh eyes could help me pro/con this out. wwyd?

Do you know if tricare covers fills? Is there a copay? Do you have to qualify for each fill like you did for the surgery? I haven't had my appointment w/the doc yet but wondered if anybody else had any experience. Thanks :0)

I went to my first meeting tonight w/Dr. Wallace in Milwaukee. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO very long. We got there at 145 (after an hour and 30 minute drive) and didnt leave until after 6 to make the trek back home. I expected more, it was very basic and the information that was shared was more in the vein of "is wls right for you" not how to go about taking the steps to begin the process. My insurance required the seminar before you are allowed to meet one on one with the surgeon and begin the real stuff. The surgeon himself was kind and well spoken, he had a way about him that was soothing and serious. He told about his stats and how he is slower than his peers but also has the lowest rate of infection and complications. I am very impressed with him thus far and look forward to my appointment with him on Monday. From what I gather I will have an appt w/him and then another one w/the insurance liason to make sure that I have everything that tricare needs. *fingers crossed* hope it all is smooth sailing from here!!

that seems so close. I've been waiting for years for my insurance to approve the lapband procedure. I have been waiting for years to wrap my head around the fact that I need help. I've been waiting for years to start this process and my seminar is the day after tomorrow. It's exciting. The can't sleep-tomorrow-morning-is-christmas sorta exciting. I have seen my primary care doc and gotten the referral to see the surgeon. I've called and scheduled the psych consult for as soon as I have had my one on one appt w/the surgeon. I'm in the process of scheduling a sleep study. Whew...so much going on and I know i have so much left to go. I am so excited about the day after tomorrow!

From the insurance lady at the bariatric surgery center. I am so excited. She asked me if I had 10 minutes and a calendar to set up some dates and I had to run in and turn off the shower lol because I was >< close to stepping in! I have an appointment for my class on the 22nd and then a meeting w/the dr on the 27th and then I've already set up an appt w/my primary care doc on 10/10 and with the psych consult doc on 11/3. WOW my head is spinning, I'm so excited that the next step is happening and we'll see where we go from here. I have already arranged childcare for my kiddos (which is doubly difficult since I homeschool and dont use the CDC on base) and know they will be taken care of. Dh is getting off work those 2 days to go with me so I will have my supoort system there. I would have liked him there anyway but the insurance lady said it would also 'look good' for the doctor to have part of my support network with me. If you made it this far then thanks lol it's was wordy but I'm SO EXCITED!!!!

I can identify with so many aspects of this thread. My husband was thin when we married and I was already overweight, we've been married for 13 1/2 years and I've put on about 120lbs. I never gained a huge amount at once but a little bit constantly. We are eaters and celebrate/entertain with food. Heck, I have a cake business! lol Food is a habit for us. Get the kids to bed? Okay grab a snack and watch tv. Every night. I am curious to see how it plays out once I am banded. He isn't overweight but could stand to lose a little weight himself. I think this might be the catalyst we need to change our habits. It is so awesome to hear other people with similar situations. My husband is incredibly supportive and I am really excited to take this journey knowing he is there to hold my hand along the way.

Okay I got my referral in my hand (can i get a woot woot!) and it says i am approved for 1 visit w/one code and 5 more visits w/another physician code. I am curious if anybody else got one like this....I dont think it means I'm approved for the surgery but I am confused lol help

I am allergic to artificial sweeteners, I thought that sugar was okay in moderation with the band but now I'm starting to notice that every post about sweeteners is s/f, splenda, sweet n low, and equal. Can you eat regluar sugar? Help! I am so excited but dont want to set myself up to fail! :girl_hug:

The place I was referred to through my insurance (tricare prime) was listed as such. I am not sure what it means beyond making me feel more comfortable lol From what I've gathered it means you have to take a few more steps because they adhere to standards that are more strict than some places. I am just curious to hear from anybody else who has dealt with a surgery center like that and how the felt about it. I am going through Froedtert Medical College in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Dr. James Wallace.

I have lurked for quite some time. Reading and wondering and wishing that tricare would cover banding...and then. Oh how happy I was when I found out that Tricare did indeed see the light and begin to cover the banding procedures. I am now in the process of being approved for the banding process. Tomorrow will mark one week since I've seen my PCM and gotten the go ahead from him. I have stalked tricare daily since then to track the progress of my referral. I am eager to get the ball rolling. I have been married for 13 years to my very best friend and we have 2 amazing kiddos. Kiddos who I dont want to have this struggle. Kiddos who deserve a Mommy who can play w/them the way her heart longs to and her body wont allow. I look forward to making friends here who understand the demands and delights of military life. We are a Navy family but will soon be transitioning into the civilian life (eeek) as my husband will be retiring in 2012. I feel like I've blathered on for long enough :0)

toy r us gets them pretty often. I picked up ours and one for a friend (after talking to the manager and BEGGING him to let me get more than one lol) I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. it's fun and i really work up a sweat.

this is something i'm struggling with as well. i just got approved for my consultation w/the surgeon and then i'll have some hoops to jump through for him as well so I have time to reconcile my feelings. I am tempted to tell some friends/family but I dont want to deal w/food police or feel scrutinized. I have always been the fattest person in my famly and believe it or not people are not going to be happy about me giving up that title. Because it means one of them will then have to have it lol I think that makes people more critical...or maybe i'm selling them short. I have a friend who had lapband surgery a couple years ago, I met her recently and within the first 10 minutes of our conversation she had metioned her band 5 times. We had them over for dinner and her child talked at length about how her mom had a lapband and couldnt eat like other people and on and on. I have a young daughter and while i dont think i'll keep it secret from her i also dont want to burden her with adult issues. I dont want my kids to be so focused on my band that they miss the "healthier" that came along with it. does that make sense? I dunno I think i've crossed over to just rambling now....lol

I am not sure if this has already been posted or not but I thought I would share it anyway in case it hasn't. Tricare didnt update it's patient handbok when it started to approve the lapband procedure so they are refunding anybody who was a self pay between the date the procedure was approved and when the handbook was reprinted w/the correct information. Just thought i'd pass it along :0)

i hear they send a substitute mommy to your house to sleep w/your hubby and tuck in your kids so they wont be alone kidding, kidding you will be fine! you are brave and strong and you can always take tylenol pm or something to take the edge off and help you fall asleep. good luck call me if you need anything

:thumbup:I just called Tricare again this morning as I have everyday since my pcm apt lol and this morning got told i was APPROVED!! WOOT WOOT!! I dont have the paperwork in hand so i dont know if i should call them or what lol I dont want THEM to think I'm a stalker......

thanks! i find your pics/posts so inspiring and look forward to sharing mine as time passes :0)

congrats! i just got my approval for a consultation today and i'm over the moon!

about 160lbs lol so i dont want to waste any time!

Anybody dealt with him or his office? Either being banded or using him for fills? I have just recieved authorization to see him and am curious to hear more about him from somebody w/first hand experience. I have read some online but it was at another site and it was mainly for his experience w/GBP not LB procedures. Thanks in Advance :0)

Okay I am new to the whole process of getting approved, and am not sure I understand the steps. I went to my PCM and requested the lapband. He asked me about my attempts to lose weight and if I had anything medically wrong other than my weight. I told him I was borderline for pcos, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He asked if I'd seen the dietician recently. I told him I'd seen her several times in the past couple of years but she wasn't very helpful beyond giving me printouts. He typed something in the computer and looked at some stuff and then said he thought it was a 'brilliant' idea and would submit the paperwork. It had to go somewhere else beyond him in our local hospital for approval. I called and was told that our local mtf approved it and was sending it on to tricare. I've called tricare and am still waiting @@ (it's not been long i'm just impatient lol) BUT once they approve me are they approving my consult or the surgery? Do I have to wait for an additional tricare approval? I'm confused....help....lol

washington (where we met) groton (him alone but i visited once lol) kingsbay ga (we got married here) sigonella great lakes portsmouth great lakes and here we will stay until retirement :0)

hey hunzi, i am tricare prime and thinking about dropping down to standard to pay the 20% and be done with it...please please please forward me any information you get as i will be in the boat battling w/you quite soon! thanks!!!

not quite sure how to do this, am new to this site and seeking information hoping to get the go ahead from my dr and insurance and get banded around the first of the year....who knows, we'll have to see how it all pans out. I have tricare insurance and wondered if anybody else had dealt with them in trying to get the lapband done and if they were met with any success. Please let me know so i can get ready to start jumping through some hoops! the weight of my shoulders just coming to this decision should count as part of my total loss lol thanks for your help!