but getting denied still sucks.

No surprises, I've been denied coverage for the lapband by Tricare. They were however ever so kind as to note on the denial that they'd be more than happy to approve me for RNY. Arg! I don't want RNY! I want a lapband! I have no interest in having my insides cut up and rearranged.

I'm feeling pretty discouraged about it today. I need to figure out what all I really need to do for an appeal. Quite frankly, even with an appeal, the chances of approval are next to nil.

This just sucks.

It will be years before I'll be in a financial situation where I'd be able to self pay. And those are years I'd rather spend healthy and fit rather than fat.

I could try sucking it up and dieting again, but given I've never been able to lose more than 40lbs, and even that took a combined effort of WW, Xenical, Metforin and exercising 2.5 hours a day, losing 130lb seems a bit daunting. And I gained half that loss back. It's hard to imagine maintaining 130lb loss without some extra help.

I will not let them cut me up. I guess I'd rather stay fat. Not really, but I am frustrated.

Tricare sucks today.

Always

Hunzi

who will get over her pity party, get to work on her appeal, and start thinking about how to self pay

Do you have the option to switch insurances? I changed about 6 months before my surgery to make sure I would have little or no problems getting it approved. And everything went smoothly as planned.