KatieMT

First and foremost, I want to be healthy. I don't want to be tired all the time, or have my joints hurt all the time. I don't want to worry about all the health risks that come with being big. Not getting winded after a short walk, being able to excercise and not feel like there's a elephant sitting on my chest. Then of course there's the vanity part of it. Not being the fat chick in the group would be great. Shopping for real clothes has me pretty excited.

Yep, just give them a call. They called me when I got approved and asked me if I had a surgeon or if I wanted one of their "center of excellence" surgeons. I got the choice because I'm more than 50 miles from one of their surgeons. But I asked if I decided to not use my surgeon how did I change and they told me to just call in. Tricare will not pay at a facility without a referral. You'd end up self paying. I had to change hospitals because the one my surgeon usually uses wasn't excepted with Tricare. No problem, though, my surgeon has privileges in most of the hospitals in the area.

I had my pre-op today. Just a few more days. I start this liquid only diet tomorrow. I've had such a hard time sticking to a low fat diet, I decided I should start a liquid only a few days before the surgery. I'm also weening off of diet coke, since no carbonation after Monday. I've found other sources of caffine, I've just got to kicked the coke. I'm getting nervous, but so excited!

Only a few days left for me! I'm having a hard time with the diet. My doc didn't put me on a liquid only diet, but I'm thinking of doing one myself the last few days. I'm also going to completely clean out my kitchen and restock with healthier foods and what I'll need for the first few weeks post op. I'm getting nervous and it seems like the time is just flying by.

Amandaellen and tigermomof3, hi! It's nice to see a few people with the same date, we can go through all of it together!

Hi! I'm new to the boards. Wednesday I got my date, July 13th. :tt1: I'm excited. I started the diet yesterday and so far so good. Anyone else scheduled for the 13th?

I just got my letter in today that I've been approved for the surgery. I saw my PCM for a referral to my surgeon on April 22nd and the surgeon consult was approved on March 14th. Surgeon's office called me and said they were going ahead and submitting the surgery paperwork so that I'm already approved and don't waste my time with all the preliminary stuff if they don't approve me. I got the letter in the mail today that surgery was approved March 19th! I'm barely in the 100lbs over weight range, and my PCM listed severe joint pain and sleep apnea as comorbs. My PCM said that sleep apnea is a major key to getting the surgery with Tricare, so I'd recommend anyone have one if they can.

Hello! I'm Katie, 28 years old, wife and mom of two. I have never been at an ideal weight, even as a child. My mother and father both had gastric bypasses, and my brother is trying to get approved for a band. At 252lbs, I'm the smallest of all four of us. I was half way managing my weight, hovering between 190 and 220 all the time, until I quit smoking last year. Then I shot up to 250lb and it's taking everything I have to not gain more. I have poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, hypothyroidism, and crazy joint pain. I spoke with my doctor at my last visit about the lap band procedure; he highly recommended it, but did say that sometimes it was very hard to get insurance to pay for it. I have Tricare Prime, so I'm sure I'm up for a fight. I'm calling my doctor in the morning to set up an appointment to talk about a referral. I'm very nervous about this. But I'm to a point in my life that I know I need to make a major change, for myself and my family.