munger

I husband is supportive. He started a diet with me and we are exercising together for the first time in 15 years! However, my girlfriend's husband fought her all the way - she did it anyway. I think he was afraid that she would stop be "HER"! She loves to cook and pamper him - she still loves to cook and pamper him. It has been almost a year - and he is just now thinking it is a good thing. They run together - go to dinner and "DATE". The surgery has been a good thing for both of them.

I love chips and dip - salsa and mission tortilla chips - but you know what? if I can lose weight - truely loose weight forever - I will gladly give up the chips. I have dieted for the past 20 years - after a month or so it doesn't work and I go back to my chips. After March 16th I don't think i will want another chip - that will be ok

Hi, I got a letter from the TMA - colorado - I am triwest. So I am approved - do I also have to wait to have a new letter on the web site saying that I am approved? I booked the surgery!! My dr. said I am approved and I am scheduled for March 16th. That is more than 21 days. So I should be good right?

Hi, I have high blood pressure - it was not being treated so they said I could not count it - I went straight to the clinic and go put on meds! I also have High cholesteral - same thing - back to the clinic! I was borderline on my weight 0ne day I was underweight the next I was 101 pounds over weight. So I went to the doctors office and had them weight me and take my average weight - I did that for a week. I had to have them measure my bones to make sure I was a medium frame - or I would not have qualified! I have lower back problems - but I am not sure if that had anything to do with their dession. I know if I were you I would document everything!! I would write a letter and tell how the extra weight affects you life and your family.Tricare does not go by BMI it simply does the weight charts. I would double check everthing - then I would fax it and as soon as I could I would call an make sure that they know you know that you qualify - be the squeaky wheel!! Good luck.

I like the choc. one - hot it is like coaco - I add a little sweeten low to it.

You will be fine - it took me almost 6 months - and I had to fight every step of the way! Once I got the letter from Tricare that said the deniel had been reversed - it took me 2 seconds to get the appt. make. I am sooooo excited I can't stand it! I will be banded on the 16th - the first day of my spring break. I wish you luck!

I just got approved too! the dr called and we set a date for March 16th - the first day of my spring break. I will have a whole week to recover and get use to the band. I like "March Melters" - if I get a vote.

My dr. said he did not want me to diet before I get banded - he said that he wants me to be as healthy as possible. I wonder if it will make a diffferance to diet or not. I feel like I should be dieting - just because it is a habit!!

I was denied by Tricare twice! I figured out that the paper work was not complete. Your records must state that you are 100 pounds overweight - and they have to have you body frame in there - mine did not so I was denied. Remember it does not go by your BMI it goes by the MetLife weight scale for your body frame and height. The comorbities are pretty easy - if you have them and are on meds or special diet because of them - then they count. I just got approved and it took me 6 months!!!

I just got my letter - I am officially UN-DENIED!! I am hoping to get banded the middle of march - I have waited 6 months for this I am soooooooo excited!

Well the 27th has come and gone - and of course no answer to the apppeal! No letter, no phone call no update on Tricare web page. Gosh I hate the wait. Worst thing is - the wait is not near as bad as another deniel will be.

I am a teacher too, middle school physics and chemistry. I want to have the lap band because - yes it is a little slower weightloss but I won't loose any days off from school. I would love to have it before spring break! And be in a swim suit by summer!

You sound like me! I've lost 50 pounds 3 -4 times in the last 3 years! I know that it is not good to have you weight yoyo but I can't keep the weight off. I will do really well for several months - and I do not just hit a wall - I just start gaining weight again - even if I add more time to my exersize or less calories or carb. Nothing has worked for me. I really hope I get approved. I am suppose to know something by the 27th. But the dead lines have come and gone before.

Hi, I've been putting up with military dr's for a long time. You can call and make an appt and request a different dr. You may have to wait one - two extra days but it would be worth it. With the pycho dr - I would call twice a day everday until they sent the letter in. Be as sweet as honey - but call twice a day they will get the message! What ever you do - just don't let them think you can be put on hold or that you have doubts. Good luck!

I am not sure. It is like they keep loosing all my stuff and I have to resubmitt it!! First my medical records only stated that I had high blood pressure - but I did not have my prescriptions listed. Then my did not specify that I was medium frame - eventhough with my weight - I qualified for large frame too! Now they are just relooking at everything - back in Dec. they had me resubmit EVERYTHING!!! I believe like they said at the Dr. office - they simply do not want use to have this done - so I am still not sure why they said we could!!!

OMG I turned my stuff in to them in OCTOBER!!! They were suppose to have me an answer Dec. 13th - but that did not happen. They asked for more stuff - or shouldI say the same old stuff on the 12th of Dec. and the whole *&*^& started over!!! I am also tired of being 236! I do not want to diet (like that would work anyway) until I get an answer - just incase they want me to weight in again!! The bad part is I guess I am just getting really tired of all this. I think that the lap band would be so great. I have read everything I can and it just seems perfect for me. But at the same time I feel like I should be doing more for me right now My husband goes TDY to DC at the end of the month - that is when I should know something. I would love to tell him that I am approved when he gets back. I guess we both need alittle luch right now. Hope wyour wait is over soon!

They should have faxed you dr. too! and he can go up on line and get it!! I feel for you - if it is not one thing it is another. I want to know if I get approved - how long will I have to get the surgery? I teach and I did want to do this over a vacation - well summer came and went, fall break, thanksgiving, christmas. Gosh I've been at this a long time. How long did it take you? Well - I just got a letter form Sen. Kyle. They seem to want to help. I wrote them a letter complaining about how long it is taking and how little they care about us. I have given them permission to look at my medical records and see if they can help. I made sure I let them know that this has taken over 100 days - I even sent them in the Tricare regulation and met life weight table. I hope this does some good. Good luck on your surgery data!

My paperwork is in denver! I submitted in again in December. I am down at Ft. Huachuca and the people here at the tricare office can't/won't help anyone! I talked to them several times trying to get this to be written up well so it would pass - and they would not even call and find out what mad it a "factual" deniel! I only have a few more days to wait on the appeal - I am hoping to know something by the 27th (Like they have met a deadline yet). But yes, all the damage is done - I am just waiting.

I am not sure what else I can do. Again I have resubmitted everything. The lady I am talking to is Bridge Ewings - and she changes her "statement" everytime I call her. One day she says they will give me an answer on this day - the next time it's 4 weeks later and she said it will be a different day. I have followed the regulation via tricare rules and I qualify - they just simply refuse to make a desission! I shoudl know something by the 27th of this month - but they way things are going - what I will find out is they need 2 more weeks to make a desision or I have to send them more info. I start another diet tomorrow - I am almost sure it wont work - I have to do something though. I wish it was the high protien diet that would get me ready for surgery.

Well I think I did all that - my husband is supportive - but he is about tired of my ups and downs evertime I get denied or delayed. I did send in everthing aging - new weight, blood pressure ... and yes a personal letter. I just feel like this is a merry-go-round and there is no end. I was hoping to have the surgery before school started - it seemed to be so very simple- black and white. I read the regs and knew I quailfied! But it seemed that one thing was left out, then another not documented long enough.... I really "hate" the lady at Tricare and she is not the one that makes the dessions! I called her again today - because she said a couple of weeks and I should know something. Today she said "you misunderstood me" now it seems that they have until Jan. 27th - so I figure - 2-3 days to get it off her desk, 2-3 to float around the office, 3-5 days to get down here by mail and I will know something around the end of Feburary!! She got a little peeved when I put it that way - but hey I have been waiting for 6 month! Again - everytime I read that someone won a deniel I am happy - it gives me hope. I am truly happy for you. I hope someday soon I will also be able to say that I won my appeal.

Ok, I have to know. What do you weigh, what was you co-morbity? Why did you get denied the first 2 times? What did you put in you letter for you final appeal? I am going crazy! I am 100 pounds overweight, Ihave high bolld pressure, low thyroid and degenrative discs in my lower back. I keep getting the run around from TriCare. I had to appeal and wrote my letter sent it to a lady named Bridge Ewings - who seems to be very disorganized and I am not sure what she is doing with my info. She told me at the begining of December that I should have an answer by Dec 13, That day came and went. Now she says that "maybe" I will know something by the end of January!!! I went through Dr. Monash and he did absolutly nothing for my appeals - he would not even call Tricare and see why I was denied - I had to guess! So yes I will take any extra help I can get. Again - Wow you are soooooo lucky. I wish I would get a letter soon saying I was approved.

Ok so I am very jealous!!! I am still fighting with them I re-sent everything - after they lost i t or what ever. So now they say I have to wait until at least Jan. 26th. I hope pestering them helps - be cause I have been!!! Good luck and keep us posted. I hope to find out soon. I keep thinking of all the winter clothes that will be on sale soon - I can buy them on closeout!!! Again - I am really happy for you!

I am "supposed" to hear something within two weeks - I am sure it will be closer to 3-4 weeks. I am going to start another diet on the first - I am going to do a pre-op protien diet. If it doesn't work out I plan on starting Weight Watchers - I believe it is the only diet I have not tried. Good luck - I hope you will be happy with your new life style and body!