Emily'sDad

It would seem that once you get your PCM's approval. Which in my case took one visit, then you are on your way. The question then is will your insurance approve you. That depends on how your PCM submits the referral.

Lisa, Thanks for the help, I got set up on the website. No news on the referral yet, but at least now I know where to look. If you like Italian food then Toscani's is my favorite.

A few months ago my wife and I were talking about how I am struggling to lose weight. i'm very worried that if something doesn't change I'll not be around to see my children grow up. Now I don't have any serious health problems, aside from being about 140lbs over weight! Anyways my wife brought up the topic of lapband surgery (i had it on my mind, but was scared to bring it up). After thinking it over for a few months and doing some research, I decided to make an appointment to ask my physician. A month later (yeah it takes a while to get in to see a doc with tricare prime). After voicing my concerns regarding weight, potential sleep apnea, and back pain, the Doc types out a referral for a gastric surgeon and a sleep study. I guess it helped that i suddenly seem to have developed high blood pressure. the visit seemed so anticlimatic. I expected to be given the third degree. so now here I am tied up i knots waiting to see if my referral goes through tricare for the surgeon. Hence the desire to write out my experiances thus far. From the sounds of the posts I have been reading I have a good chance of this process being approved. I hope so, because I am getting excited thinking about being able to be more active again. Soccer with the wife? Hiking with the kids? OH yeah baby.

A few months ago my wife and I were talking about how I am struggling to lose weight. i'm very worried that if something doesn't change I'll not be around to see my children grow up. Now I don't have any serious health problems, aside from being about 140lbs over weight! Anyways my wife brought up the topic of lapband surgery (i had it on my mind, but was scared to bring it up). After thinking it over for a few months and doing some research, I decided to make an appointment to ask my physician. A month later (yeah it takes a while to get in to see a doc with tricare prime). After voicing my concerns regarding weight, potential sleep apnea, and back pain, the Doc types out a referral for a gastric surgeon and a sleep study. I guess it helped that i suddenly seem to have developed high blood pressure. the visit seemed so anticlimatic. I expected to be given the third degree. so now here I am tied up i knots waiting to see if my referral goes through tricare for the surgeon. Hence the desire to write out my experiances thus far. From the sounds of the posts I have been reading I have a good chance of this process being approved. I hope so, because I am getting excited thinking about being able to be more active again. Soccer with the wife? Hiking with the kids? OH yeah baby.

Wow that really is quick. I am still waiting for my PCM referral to be approved. My wife is an instructor pilot here at Sheppard AFB. What a lovely place Wichita Falls is...not!!! haha What website do you guys use for checking your approval status?

I went in to meet with my PCM today to ask about LB and we discovered that I now have fairly high blood pressure. That was a bit of a surprise. Maybe just nerves? Anyways he gave me a referral to see a surgeon for LB and have a sleep study. Is that the big hurdle? Or is it getting insurance approval? What can I expect at the surgeons office? Still can't believe my BP jumped so much. Brad

I'ts nice to hear from people in the same boat I am. The thought of surgery is a little spooky. Especially after looking at the post op scars pages. I had no idea they poke so many holes in you. I don't know if I can afford the procedure if my insurance doesn't cover me. I do know that if my health problems aren't severe enough now that they will be a few years from now.

Good luck!

6'0" 300LBS One day a few months ago my wife brought home a sticky note with a phone number one it. She had heard an add for a LapBand seminar and copied the phone number to register. At first I dismissed it as being foolish. After all I'm responsible for my food intake and my excercise level, aren't I? Well I never fully dismissed the idea and have been reading and thinking it over. What it boils down to is that I have had a life long weight problem. There have been times when I was able to lose significant weight, only to put it back on +++. Now I have one beautiful 1 year old daughter and an other kid one the way (sex yet to be known :biggrin2:). Maybe it is time I start exploring other options. I have made an appointment to discuss some of my medical issues and the possibility of Lap Band. I find myself feeling fairly nervous, as though I'm trying to get away with something. You see I don't have diabets, or high blood pressure. I suspect some degree of sleep apnea, but I have yet to be diagnosed. I wake up occasionalllyMy biggest issue is back pain at night. I'm convinced my weight strains my back to the extent that I can not sleep. Well I just needed to express my situation. If you actually read all this, I thank you! I hope that anyone who reads does well in their journey (maybe wish me luck too?). Brad Wichita Falls, TX

First off congratulations on your approval Lisa! I have made an appointment with my PCM next week to explore the possibility of LB. I had hoped to schedule a physical to discuss there. Unfortunately it is next to impossible to get an appointment for a physical on base these days. I have a lot of backpain at night and am worried that I have developed sleep apnea. I hope these issues along with my weight 6'0" 300lbs will qualify me. I was wondering how you all felt asking about the procedure the first time? I'm feeling a bit foolish (I know I shouldn't, but I do).