munger

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!

I am so happy for you - I hope you can not detect the raging jealousy!!!! I know how much you want this and I am truly happy for you. I got a letter form Tricare also on the 19th - but mine was to say that basicly they needed me to resubmit EVERYTHING!! So off to the clinic - agian, wieght, height, bone structure....... faxxed it to her - again!! Of course she said it will be a few weeks before I hear anything - I am sure that they will take more than a few weeks and then they will need something else! Enjoy your Christmas. Have one last piece of fudge or fruit cake which ever is your passion! Don't forget to shop all the winter sales for severl size smaller - so you will have new clothes for cheep! 75% of an expensive size 10 sweater, or coat. My friend Lisa says she is always cold now - less insulation! What will you new years resolution be? Again, I am sooooo happy for you ( and SOOOOO jealous!)

WOW that is quick!

GREAT! I hope everything goes well for you. We have about the same profile - so I am REALLY glad to see you get approved because maybe I still have a chance! When are you going to get it done? Will you do it before Christmas? Will you have to go on a protein diet? You are so lucky - I am sooooo jealous!!

I am going crazy trying to second guess TriWest. I had no problem getting a referral and seeing a Dr. I had my Dr do a weigh-in, went to a seminar and then they submitted the paper work thinking everything was fine. It was denied. TriWest Phoenix sent me the denial letter and I submitted what I thought was enough info. - but silly me I did not enclude my medical records, only a letter like I thought they had asked for. So they denied me again. I will take the hit for that one. I had all the number correct, I simply thought that they had access to my records. They do not. So with the second letter I encluded everything! I went to the clinic on post and weighed in everyday and had my blood pressure monitored. I renewed all my perscriptions so they knew I was taking meds for high blood pressure, high cholesteral and low thyroid. I had an old English teacher edit my paperwork and make sure that there was no mistaking what I had or what I wanted. I sent the package off certified mail - because they do not have a fax number in Aurora Colo. They recieved the package 2 days later. They responded to me 2 WEEKS later with a form letter simply stating that they had it. I have now been waiting sense Sept 25th with no end in sight. I was told - not once - not twice but three times that they have no time limit on when to respond to my appeal!!! So I will worn anyone that is trying to work with Tricare - make sure everything is right the first time or they will make you wait and wait and wait and ..... 60+ days and still waiting!!! I wish you luck. I have a friend in GA that went through this she had almost the same with (3 pounds less than me). Only high blood pressure and she was approved in 2 weeks. So I believe that it is luck of the draw and not regulation that guides TriWest. Hope you get what you want - I am still waiting.

The only good thing about not being banded yet is I did enjoy more than a cookie! I am actually trying not to diet just incase they want me to jump on a scale agian. This is the first time in 10 years I have not been on a diet.

This is driving me nuts - It has been over 2 months and there seems to be no end in sight! I even emailed Tricare to make sure of the policy - and they stated that there was no time limit. I would love to find out before Christmas.