katwmn63

good luck!! i go 4 days after you, but will do a liquid diet a week before. we'll do it!!

20 carbs per day is the medicaly directed 2-week "induction phase" on virtually all low carb diets... many continue the induction phase for months to get rid of the pounds faster. i did it for 4 months and lost 35 pounds. it is hard AT FIRST, but very doable, and after the first week, carb cravings go away and it is actualy quite easy. my surgeon's clinic of 3 surgeons "officially" recommends a liquid diet for 10 days before surgery... but then my surgeon instructd me one on one that he really doesn't care HOW i diet before surgery...he just wants the liver smaller and said he would be happier with low carb induction than with just the liquids. the effect on the liver is quicker. there are many ways to lose weight for the short term and many will give you good advice. take the advice that you personaly think you can stick to for the 2 weeks. what works for one may not work for another. best of luck!!

go to your insurance company and get the prerequisites in writing that qualify you for the surgery. then go to the surgeon and get the same information. bring both back to your primary and tell her: "I qualify and meet the minimum requirements medicaly. Please give me the referral I need and qualify for. If you are someone that is against this for those who don't meet your own PERSONAL requirements, please refer me to a physician who will not put personal biases into it" I am sure you can get a 2nd opinion. Don't take no for an answer!!! Good luck!!

i would go so far as to issue a greivance to the military treatmet facility administration. "we'll take our chances" ??? I say BS! he has no right to take those chances on your behalf. Make sure inyour grievance (if you file one) you demand he use the weight prior to the 13 lb loss. going straight to tricare might help, but if you can somehow get them to approve even a consult with a surgeon then let the surgeon deal with tricare... that wold be a way to go as well. it's hard for an active duty member to cut out the pcm, but as a dependant..you might be able to swing it. good luck and keep us posted!

he wants you to lose the weight so your liver will shrink (makes surgery much easier/safer).... the first thing to do to accompishthat is getting rid of carbs. you don't need to starve but if you could do 15-20 carbs or less a day you will be shocked at, not only how much weight you will lose, but how much your liver will shrink. TELL your doc you are low carbing so that even if you don't lose all the weight he directed, he can expect a smaller liver for surgery:) good luck...you can do this!!!!

muscle mass or not, my personal opinion is you have too much weight for your height/frame and your joints will suffer...period (not to mention your diabetes & pos). they (surgeons and insurance) will go by yoiur bmi and height/weight... not a body analysis of muscle mass. i doubt that would even be questioned unless you are bulging with competitive level muscle defintion (which i doubt or else you would be far leaner/lighter with that level of muscle burning on your fat stores). i am curious as to where/how your analysis was done. good luck to you on your decision:)

Please appeal... and as the post above stated...try getting a consult at a military treatment facility (mtf) that does lap band surgery. i think a surgeon actually meeting you, seeing you and really listening to you in person, will go a long way (in addition to bypassing tricare). It may mean traveling to a large MTF..but do it if you can. don't give up darlin...you will get there!

Relax... you will be fine. Chances are since your appt is so long, you will be taking a 300 question personality test and will meet with the shrink afterwards. the test is a cake walk...just time consuming. questions like: did you like your parents?; Did you ever want to hurt animals? common sense answers and you will be fine. good luck and try not to worry too much. anti anxiety meds will not make you eneligible. -kat

can anyone tell me how long after surgery it will be before returning to full physical activity?? i am a karate instructor and run a karate school with my daughter. in fact this surgery is to help me (amongst other health reasons) continue my training ... the weight coming down on my joints has become a huge risk. i need to make arrangements for an instructor to cover me while i am out of commission....my surgery is july 13th. thanks!

my advice to you is to have the payment made at the hospital even if you have to take a taxi there before hand. request a witness be (preferably have someone you know with you) there for the receipt. i do not like the sound of this "consultation" and "payment" at your hotel room. i am sure that you can do it in a way where it is not insulting to the the doctor. do be careful... and the best of luck to you!!

I am July 13th...just found out today after my insurance (Tricare) approved it!!!!!!!!!!! Liquid diet starts July 3rd, preop tests June 29th :=)

wonderful!!! i wish mine went that fast, but it's looking good. mine was submited 5 (bus) days ago. tricare called me and the surgeon this morning and stated that all they needed was my esophagram and thyroid results.....they were both faxed this afternoon. so far so good. good luck!

you go jason!.. i am waiting for approval from my insurance co, and have decided that even if they don't aprove me, i will do a 2 week liquid protien diet and ease into atkins after that as a way to once again punch away at my weight loss....with or without the band. i'm with you either way! you can do it! -kat

sharmom- did you have the surgery before you submitted your claim for reimbursement through tricare standard? i too am tricare standard...every time i call them to ask if i am pre approved...they tell me i don't need preauthorization for the surgery.. i looked on line though andit just states i am in process" any thoughts?

congrats to you! you're on your way!!!!!

good luck! my paperwork was submitted to tricare on the 12th.. i am still waiting (after a false alarm for being approved monday). are you tricae prime or standard? keep us posted!!!

yes... i am going to Dr. Vafi Shayani out of Saint Anthony's in Rockford ( he has 2 other locations as well). His clinic is wonderful and his staff is top notch! His assistant, Kim, really know the in and outs of the insurance requirements, and she is on the ball with returning calls and emails. His center also has the accreditation of Center of Excellence. Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Vafa Shayani, M.D., F.A.C.S.

i am so confused and frustrated!! i have been waiting for my tricare approval, since the 12th. everyone else on this sight can go online and check there status (approved/disapproved)...i can't until i get a security code in the mail after my registration. i am in florida trying my best to enjoy a vacation, so the security code is likely sitting in my mailbox back home in illinois. so instead i call tricare...everyday. the first day was a false "approved", yesterday was "still peding under medical review" today i kind of got the same thing but was put through to a medical manager. here is what she said. "this is a limited benefit..you must meet certain criteria for tricare to pay" kk thanks, i knew that.. " then, "you don't require preauthorization-when is your surgery scheduled?" i told her we were waiting for tricare approval...she said, "oh, well this doesn't require preauthorization, as long as your doc sends in all the clinical info showing you qualify..." i said, why does everyone else get an approved or disapproved?...she said "well your doc will get something faxed in 7 days or so, but no preauthorization is required for this benefit. why does all other Tricare folks that i have read about here get an answer in an average of 2 days that says simply "approved or disapporoved" ? I am very confused...very, very confused!!:wink2:

so i called my insurance company (tricare) this morning...i just couldn't wait. he stated he had the referral from my surgeon, "we have it as pending...but...oh...just a second hold on... it was just sent up for approval..." i said what does this mean? he said " they don't do that unless it is aproved" i'm so afraid to hang my hat on this... but for now i'll take it!

i'm with ya!! waiting on my insurance company's answer myself. good luck!!

Thank you all for the positive thoughts!! ps. i'll take ur advice Jennifer and call tricare on wednesday! i'll update then:)

this is reall tough. paperwork went in last friday to Tricare with the folowing stats: 5'3" 230, BMI 41, sleep apnea, arthritis, depression. i am in florida for vacation and a family reunion. i wonder if this will end up being a place for celebration ..or be completely ruined. for now i am just trying to enjoy my family, but i can't help but worry....

if anything, i would think that you are living breathing proof that the band works for you!!! surely your records will show that, and that you were a much "healthier" weight with it than without it. i would think your chances are even better now if you have the same stats as when you qualified before. i do hope this turns out to be the case! best of luck!!

hope2bthinr Thank you!! That excerpt helped:)

i couldn't stand it any longer so i called tricare. the above note is correct about contractors addingthe 100 pounds to the lower and higher...it is so to qualify for morbidly obese one would have to fall within the new range: for example: 5' 3" med build ideal= 121-135 for 100 pounds over, one would need to be the new range of 221-235. for 200% it would be 242-270. whew... i never thought i'd be happy to be considered morbidly obese:{