Insky67

Thanks Mandi Jo. I have googled my doc and can't find anything bad about her. Dr. Tiffany Jessee is her name. I understand about being depressed and live not meaning as much. I want my life back...I wasn't always this big. I used to be a very thin person until I got pregnant 12 years ago. Since then it has been a constant battle trying to lose the weight. I hope this band is the one thing I will finally have success with.

Congrats! I am scheduled for June 4th~!

I agree with you...I feel like I am getting ripped off or something. I thought it was going to be covered 100% too. I am gonna call tricare in the morning and ask some questions. I do have a date set...June 4th. I have found myself worried this weekend though. Not so much worried about the procedure but worried it will work. How do I know I will be able to control my eating habits once I have the band in...ya know?

They said the 1000 dollars was for "Administrative fees" when I asked what exactly that was they said things like vitamins, support group costs, and something about the doctor's fee for some bariatric program. Can you tell I am confused? It really wasn't a straight forward answer that I understood...

If the doc is a tricare provider (which this one is) can they get in trouble for charging more money?? The receptionist said the 1000 I needed to pay was for aministrative costs.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner...guess I got caught up in other things. Consult went well. I am tenatively scheduled for surgery on June 4th. As long as we don't run into any insurance snags everything is planned to go! I had a minor set back when I was leaving the office and found out the doc had a $1000 dollar fee. Not covered by ins. and of course non-refundable. I was NOT expecting that. She also charged $200 dollars for their protien shake mix. :rolleyes2: Anyhoo...all I need now is my pysch eval and we can submit to tricare for approval.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner...guess I got caught up in other things. Consult went well. I am tenatively scheduled for surgery on June 4th. As long as we don't run into any insurance snags everything is planned to go! I had a minor set back when I was leaving the office and found out the doc had a $1000 dollar fee. Not covered by ins. and of course non-refundable. I was NOT expecting that. She also charged $200 dollars for their protien shake mix. :w00t: Anyhoo...all I need now is my pysch eval and we can submit to tricare for approval.

I had my consult today and found out there is a one time fee not covered by ins. it is $1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the doc charged $200 for the protein shake mix. Is this normal or is this crazy? I have tricare prime and thought it was all covered. I dont know what do now.

* Update* The office called me back yesterday and said they can get me in today for my consult! :thumbup: Ooooh I have butterflies in my stomach! I keep wondering if she is going to weigh me...what if I don't weigh enough. Should I wear some ankle weights? Rolls of quarters in my pockets? Will I have to get naked? Will she like me? Will I get lost? What time should I leave to go there? I didn't sleep at all last night! I am so tired and my eyes are totally blood shot. I look like I went on a drinking binge last night. LOL. I had a horrible headache so I tossed and turned hoping it would go away and I could sleep. I didn't want to get out of bed and go all the way downstairs for my migraine meds so I kept telling myself it was just a regular headache and the excedrin will work. It didn't work...probably an hour later or so I went downstairs for my real medication. Last time I looked at the clock it was 2 am...and then I looked at 4:30 and then at 6...sigh. I will probably fall asleep in the waiting room. Cross your fingers for me...I will report back later.

* Update* The office called me back yesterday and said they can get me in today for my consult! Ooooh I have butterflies in my stomach! I keep wondering if she is going to weigh me...what if I don't weigh enough. Should I wear some ankle weights? Rolls of quarters in my pockets? Will I have to get naked? Will she like me? Will I get lost? What time should I leave to go there? I didn't sleep at all last night! I am so tired and my eyes are totally blood shot. I look like I went on a drinking binge last night. LOL. I had a horrible headache so I tossed and turned hoping it would go away and I could sleep. I didn't want to get out of bed and go all the way downstairs for my migraine meds so I kept telling myself it was just a regular headache and the excedrin will work. It didn't work...probably an hour later or so I went downstairs for my real medication. Last time I looked at the clock it was 2 am...and then I looked at 4:30 and then at 6...sigh. I will probably fall asleep in the waiting room. Cross your fingers for me...I will report back later.

Glad you had a nice time. Do you have to go on liquids every time you have a fill?

Good luck, looking forward to reading more about your weight loss success! Robin

Since you have been touched by skin cancer thru other family members maybe the doc is just being very cautious. Hang in there.

she was short...not shot. I wanted to shoot her!

Totally bummed today. I called Dr. Jessee's office to set up my consult. I was required to attend a seminar and a orientation prior to her seeing me...I have done both. So I called to talk to Joyce, I believe she is the one that does all the scheduling and all. She is out of the office for two weeks. I spoke with the gal who answered the phone we'll call her "C". She was rude, short and not very accomidating. The first first appt she offered me was May 6th early in the morning. I can't make that one. I have a child that has to get to school at the same time and hubby is deployed. So I don't have anyone that can help me out. I asked if maybe there was something a little later and "C" seemed very annoyed...grumbled NO, that's it. Hmmmm I said well...is there something on another day? Next available she tells me is the 12th. What choice do I have? I can't believe I have to wait almost a month for a consult. I am very discouraged and really upset with the way "C" spoke to me and treated me like I was a huge bother in her day. I am also upset cause I am pretty sure now there is no way I can get this procedure done in the short amount of time hubby will be home. He will be here for 2 weeks and then deploy again for 2 months! I'm depressed and just want to sleep all day... If I have to use "C" every time I need an appointment from this office I don't know if I want to go there.

Totally bummed today. I called Dr. Jessee's office to set up my consult. I was required to attend a seminar and a orientation prior to her seeing me...I have done both. So I called to talk to Joyce, I believe she is the one that does all the scheduling and all. She is out of the office for two weeks. I spoke with the gal who answered the phone we'll call her "C". She was rude, short and not very accomidating. The first first appt she offered me was May 6th early in the morning. I can't make that one. I have a child that has to get to school at the same time and hubby is deployed. So I don't have anyone that can help me out. I asked if maybe there was something a little later and "C" seemed very annoyed...grumbled NO, that's it. Hmmmm I said well...is there something on another day? Next available she tells me is the 12th. What choice do I have? I can't believe I have to wait almost a month for a consult. I am very discouraged and really upset with the way "C" spoke to me and treated me like I was a huge bother in her day. I am also upset cause I am pretty sure now there is no way I can get this procedure done in the short amount of time hubby will be home. He will be here for 2 weeks and then deploy again for 2 months! I'm depressed and just want to sleep all day... If I have to use "C" every time I need an appointment from this office I don't know if I want to go there.

I guess I didn't realize the fills hurt...that is great he can tell a difference. And how much fun would it be to work there and be able to share your success with people coming into the office! You certainly know a lot about how it all works!

I see a lot of people eat tuna...I just hate tuna. :huh2: Maybe chicken in a can will be a good subsitute?

Congrats! I hope to be in your spot one day soon. Robin

Kat, I have been wondering about the holidays too. I am so glad you posted what you eat over a special holiday. I haven't had the lap band surgery yet...still in the begining stages of getting my paper work done and all, but I am so looking forward to it. Any other words of wisdom you could share? Robin

I'm so happy for you! I went grocery shopping this morning and thought about trying to start eating healthier...then I thought I better not. If I lose weight before I am approved I might screw things up. Isn't that sad? It's a gorgeous day here in Tampa, hope you are enjoying your day! Robin

I've decided to start switching over from my diet coke to ice tea. We can have caffeine can't we? How are you doing on not drinking with your food?

:thumbup: I went to orientation yesterday. It was more of the same from the night before and more in depth info on how and what you will eat after the procedure is done. I gotta admit...I got scared when they started talking about a no carb or low carb diet. Um...if I could cut out carbs I wouldn't be where I am today. I am addicted to carbs, there is no way around that. I know my life will be better without the carbs but thinking of myself giving them ALL up forever seems unreasonable. No carbs is this docs suggestion. They say the lap band manufactors tell you that you can eat anything you want (in moderation) and will lose 1-2 pounds a week. But if you go the docs way your results will be better and faster. I will need to talk to my "banded" friends and see what kind of diet they are following. Ugh...I hate the word diet. I did find out yesterday that if I get the paperwork from my primary doc asap I could very well have this done by the end of May. That would be great cause then my husband will be home. As of now the two things that scare me the most about this procedure is; 1. No carbs 2. No carbonated beverages Diet coke is also a vice of mine. The nurse yesterday said "bubbles" don't go down well once the lap band is in place. I'm not giving up on this, I just need more research on these two things. And again...my health would probably be much better without those two things, it just scares me to think of giving them up. Like heroin to an adict...ya know?

:thumbup: I went to orientation yesterday. It was more of the same from the night before and more in depth info on how and what you will eat after the procedure is done. I gotta admit...I got scared when they started talking about a no carb or low carb diet. Um...if I could cut out carbs I wouldn't be where I am today. I am addicted to carbs, there is no way around that. I know my life will be better without the carbs but thinking of myself giving them ALL up forever seems unreasonable. No carbs is this docs suggestion. They say the lap band manufactors tell you that you can eat anything you want (in moderation) and will lose 1-2 pounds a week. But if you go the docs way your results will be better and faster. I will need to talk to my "banded" friends and see what kind of diet they are following. Ugh...I hate the word diet. I did find out yesterday that if I get the paperwork from my primary doc asap I could very well have this done by the end of May. That would be great cause then my husband will be home. As of now the two things that scare me the most about this procedure is; 1. No carbs 2. No carbonated beverages :thumbs_up: Diet coke is also a vice of mine. The nurse yesterday said "bubbles" don't go down well once the lap band is in place. I'm not giving up on this, I just need more research on these two things. And again...my health would probably be much better without those two things, it just scares me to think of giving them up. Like heroin to an adict...ya know?

Air Force wife here too...maybe I told you already. It's so late and I am too tired to think. I am glad you fought for him! Hooah!