Kristine73

Also, you may want to check with ins policy. I know mine has something that says if you had an appointment/procedure that was referred to you by your doctor and you went through with the appointment/procedure before you received a denial letter, you can refile it so that you are not harmed, financially. It's basically an after-the-fact appeal. But, I also agree with eviebell, wait for your EOS. Good luck Kristine

This is a great idea! My surgery is scheduled for June 8th! Woo-hoo! :cool:

I would think of all people, a nurse who knows the risks of morbid obesity, would not be so negative. I'd have asked for another nurse or a supervisor. You can always write a letter to the hospital about the behavior of the nurse, w/o getting into to much personal detail. I've done it before. When I was young, naive and just married (19 yrs old) I wound up in the ER for an ovarian cyst. The doc would NOT allow my hubs in with me for the exam, even though I requested. Then when the doc was alone w/me he started telling how he likes to beat women. My hubs was (and still is, lol) 15 years older than me. When I got out of there he could tell something was wrong. When I told him he was furious. When we got home he typed up a letter, had me read it to verify that every thing was valid then mailed a copy to our ins co and the hospital. We got a letter of apology from the hospital and the doc and a copy of our letter was going to stay in his file to haunt him where ever he went. Our ins o wasn't to happy with the doc, either. Ok, sorry about the novel, the point is that is you feel the nurse crossed a line with you, the only way to let her know it's not acceptable is to put it in writing and fire off a copy. I am in college studying biology, I want to teach. But many of the courses I a taking are pre-reqs for the nursing program. What we learn aout how obesity effects the body truly opened my eyes. That nurse has had training and should have applauded you for being pro-ative in your health. Kristine

I have lost over 100 lbs TWICE! The, gained it all back, plus some. So, in my mind, I have a 100% failure rating when it comes to my 'keeping the weight off' ability. My hubs sees it as a 100% success rate because I DID lose the weight, twice. I've explained to my hubs that I am doing this for my health. I don't want to "expire" in 10 years because I can't keep the weight off. So, I look at this as a preventative measure. I don't mind dieting to lose the weight. This is a tool to help me NOT gain it back. He's ok with that. It took him awhile to come around, he never told me NO. He's more worried about the surgery and any pain I'll have when recovering. Good luck with your surgery and your relationship Kristine

I don't have a date set for surgery, yet. I've been practicing getting in the habit of not drinking w/meals. I don't like to drink w/a straw. But, I am a gulper, when I drink a bottle of Water I can down half of it in a few gulps. The past few days I've been drinking w/a straw. I notice w/a straw, I sip. I understand drinking w/a straw introduces air into the stomach, so I hope by my surgery date I'll be able to sip w/out a straw and not drink w/meals. Good luck Kristine

WOO-HOO! :crying: Now, my PCM just needs to fax over the surgical medical clearance that he was supposed to do last week. I am sooooo excited. If I could, I'd do back flips. So, now the journey begins! Kristine

I haven't been banded, yet. However I am a vegetarian and asked my doc about post-op issues. They just told me to stay away from string stuff like pineapple chunks, asparagus(sp), ect. I eat veggie burgers. My hubs is not a vegetarian and not too fond of veggie burgers. However, if I put a sunnyside egg on it, he loves it. The runny yolk might help it go down better. Just a thought. Good luck! Kristine

Hi, I live outside of Hammond, la. I, too, am waiting for my band surgery. I am a college student, as well. I'm a few semesters from my associates degree. I work full-time, to boot. I am hopeing to have the surgery before the fall semester starts. I chose not to take a summer class in hopes that the surgery can be schedule soon. If not, then it'll have to wait until winter break Kristine

I had this happen when I moved from one state to another. I was told whenI get to my new doctor, file a requst for my records and they'd send them. HA! Wound up being a lot of stress. I had to inform myself. As previously posted, you have some recourse. But, you need proof you've made these requests. Put it in writing that you want the a full copy of all your records. Also, that you want your doc office to comply w/other medical offices, as it pertains to your health. Send the letter registered. They have to sign for it. This solves the 'proof of contact' thingy. Also, keep a copy of the letter for your records. Also, put it in the letter that failuar to comply w/this request will result in you notifing the AMA, HIPPA, your ins co, the better busines bureau. And here's the biggie that the doc's don't want you to file a complain with because it follows them everywhere w/in the state ... the State medical board. My new doc had my medical records w/in a few weeks of my old doc receiving the letter. Good luck Kristine

I've never been a 'gamer.' Last game system I owned was an Atari (sp) system . I've been interested in the Wii Fit. Please keep us posted on how it works for you. Good luck! Kristine

for april 24. They are going to do the psych eval at the same time! I'm happy the ball is rolling. I am meeting w/the nurse practitioner this meeting. Then, I guess the next apt will be w/the surgeon. Woo-hoo ... happy-happy-joy-joy :eek: Kristine

I just got an approval for a consultation w/a surgeon through my ins co, which it tricare prime. I was diagnosed, via endoscope, w/a hiatal hernial around 1994. I tend to forget about it, unless I eat or drink something w/true mint in it. I've read where many times the hernia can be repaired at the same time as the lap-band surgery. Just wondering if it'll throw a monkey wrench into the apporval process. :welldoneclap: Thanks Kristine

I saw my PCM today to get a referral to see a surgeon about WLS. I went as prepared as possible, all ducks in a row. Just checked Tricare's site and referral to the surgeon was approved! I found these links elsewhere on this site. But, will put them here to make it easier for you! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/here-requirements-tricare-49813/ and Met life ideal height weight tables references Go through the documents and high light the important info to make it easier to locate. This also makes the limited time w/your pcm more effecient. I also looked us wls surgeons in my area and looked them up to see in they accepted tricare prime. I also printed out that pg so my pcm knew who I wanted to see. Maybe bringing all the info is what helped push my referral to see the surgeon through so fast. Good luck Kristine

My gallbladder went bad two years ago. I didn't have the side pain. However, I had a lot of the symptoms you are experiencing. I was up all night. I couldn't take it anymore and had hubs take me to ER two hours before my PCM's office opened. I was diagnosed by the time his office opened. I brought all er paperwork to his office and he immediatly referred me to a gen surgeon. Hope all goes well for you. I am unbanded. But have an apt w/my pcm for this friday for a referral to a doc in my area that does the lap-band surgery. Feel better soon Kristine

Hi, I have a appointment w/my pcm on fri (4/3/09). I am going to ask for a referral for the lap-band surgery w/either Dr. Redmann or Dr. Lavin. Reading your posts about these doctor's has eased my mind. Hope my pcm doesn't balk. I am 5' and weigh 249 and have tried various diets Thanks Kristine

This fri morning. I'm going prepared w/all the info. He asked me to do the research, so I did, as far as what my ins covers, doctors in my area, ect. I have a question, though. I read some where that if you have the realize band, you can't eat stuff like salads. I'm a vegetarian! Has anyone else been told anything like this? Thanks Kristine

My pmc doc is in Covington. The only surgeon in my area that accepts my ins, Tricare-prime, is Dr. Thomas Lavin. I've lived on the West Bank before. Then hubs got transfered and when he retired we decided on the Northshore area.

I live above Hammond. Have some friends that live in pearl river. So we are down there quite often. Congrats on your approval! :thumbup: I am hpong I'll get approved ... calling PMC this week for referral to surgeon ...

Hi all, Well, a wee bit of history ... I'm 35, I've lost over 100 lbs twice before, and of course, gained it back. Always had a weight problem. I was anorexic in high school. Do NOT wanna go that route, again. I had a complete hyst due to endometriosis when I was 26. The slam in to menopause did not help my weight struggle. Around 30, I was diagnosed w/fibromyalgia. :bored: I went vegetarian 27 Dec 2008. Lost 2 whopping pounds, since! :eek: I'm not vegan ... I've thought about going vegan, but I live in a small town, outside of New Orleans. Going vegetarian is hard enough in this area! I work full-time and am a full-time student. I really don't have the time to cook as I should. I get one day off a week, if I'm lucky. I usually spend that day curled up in the fetal position, recovering. Or, cramming for tests. I am want to teach biology and the classes are grueling. I know if I loose the weight, my pain levels will go down. Right now, due to the pain, it is hard to stick to an exercise program. And there is a battle between my pmc doc and ob/gyn whether I should be on HRT, or not. Managing weight is easier when I am on HRT, but my PMC is worried about breast cancer risks. I've tried about every diet there is. My doc first brought up the lap band about a year ago. I balked at the idea, at first. So did my hubs. But, now that I am ready, my doc isn't so enthusiastic about it. I have tricare-prime. I found a surgeon in our area that accepts in it in my area and is certified to do the lap-band surgey. Now, I just have to get my doc to un-dig his heals. If tri-care approves the surgery, I have to schedule it around college breaks ... Sorry for the novela ... :thumbup: Kristine