I'm going through Washington University/Barnes Jewish Center for Bariatric Surgery, and when I sent in my application, was told that if approved, I'd receive an invitation to attend a free seminar within a week of my app being reviewed.

I got my invitation letter today!! ::squee::

I'm super excited, but they said in the letter:

"Our program includes an office visit with a Nurse Practitioner, a consultation with a dietician, a behaviorist, physical therapist, and a one-on-one visit with your surgeon. You will also need to have blood drawn for your labs, and an EKG performed".

That seems like a lot of visiting. How long did that take most of you to do? I have two kids and my husband's deployed--I'll need to get a sitter for each of these appointments. Yikes.

Also, I am going through Tricare--will they cover all these visits and pre-op work?

Thanks in advance!

PS Edit: Also, I'm having a super hard time not telling anyone. I've decided I don't want anyone knowing, because I don't want to be watched and scrutinized, especially in the first 6 weeks when I'm still on liquids and mushies. Aside from my mom and my husband, nobody knows, and I want to keep it that way, but it's SO hard not calling up my best girlfriend to squee.

I'm going through Washington University/Barnes Jewish Center for Bariatric Surgery, and when I sent in my application, was told that if approved, I'd receive an invitation to attend a free seminar within a week of my app being reviewed.

I got my invitation letter today!! ::squee::

I'm super excited, but they said in the letter:

"Our program includes an office visit with a Nurse Practitioner, a consultation with a dietician, a behaviorist, physical therapist, and a one-on-one visit with your surgeon. You will also need to have blood drawn for your labs, and an EKG performed".

That seems like a lot of visiting. How long did that take most of you to do? I have two kids and my husband's deployed--I'll need to get a sitter for each of these appointments. Yikes.

Also, I am going through Tricare--will they cover all these visits and pre-op work?

Thanks in advance!

Congrats on your approval!!

I'm going through Washington University/Barnes Jewish Center for Bariatric Surgery, and when I sent in my application, was told that if approved, I'd receive an invitation to attend a free seminar within a week of my app being reviewed.

I got my invitation letter today!! ::squee::

I'm super excited, but they said in the letter:

"Our program includes an office visit with a Nurse Practitioner, a consultation with a dietician, a behaviorist, physical therapist, and a one-on-one visit with your surgeon. You will also need to have blood drawn for your labs, and an EKG performed".

That seems like a lot of visiting. How long did that take most of you to do? I have two kids and my husband's deployed--I'll need to get a sitter for each of these appointments. Yikes.

Also, I am going through Tricare--will they cover all these visits and pre-op work?

Thanks in advance!

Congratulations. This is the beginning of a journey. Having lap band surgery was one of the best decisions I ever made. Each practice is different. I would call office and ask about the preop work. - will it all be in one visit, will it be in multiple visits. How long should you expect each appointment to take. Specifically ask to speak with the insurance coordinator and ask what will and will not be covered. Also many practices offer the free seminar before insurance approval so I would specifically confirm that they have received your insurance approval and I would ask if there are any costs that will be out of pocket to you. For more on preparing for lap band surgery you might want to check out these resources on bandedliving.com resources to prepare for lap band surgery

I hope this helps.

Congrats!! I have Tricare as well and my husband is also active duty.. When I went to my consult with the surgeon, they said all I needed was a psych evaluation. But I haven't got approved yet! I am under the assumption since our husbands are active duty it should pay at 100%. I haven't had to pay for a consult or the evaluation. The psychiatrist told me he gets monthly newsletters from insurances including Tricare and that Tricare is actually encouraging people to get it done... which makes since health problems come with being over weight. I am going to the seminar tomorrow night and was wondering if I can bring my kids as well, I assume they won't kick us out if we do bring them. LOL Good Luck!!

I'm super excited, but they said in the letter:

"Our program includes an office visit with a Nurse Practitioner, a consultation with a dietician, a behaviorist, physical therapist, and a one-on-one visit with your surgeon. You will also need to have blood drawn for your labs, and an EKG performed".

Congratulations! In my practice I saw the PA, nutritionist, social worker, and surgeon all in the same day. It was a long day but well worth it. The labs and EKG were in separate offices but they also arranged to have those on the same day. I had to do an upper GI too- done one the same day as the EKG.

As for telling or not telling people, the only people that know about my surgery are my immediate family and my BFF. I don't want other people to know because I don't want them thinking I'm taking the easy way out- THIS IS NOT EASY- or comparing my weight loss to other people's.

Hello! Congrats on the approval!

I am also going through Wash U/Barnes - Dr. Eagon, but I am dealing with HealthLink. I am now waiting for my insurance to give the go ahead so I can get my surgery date. I did the seminar (which I took my husband to so he could see what was going to be done - although this site has been a much bigger help than anything else could ever be), I have completed my 6-months of PCP visits, the 3 Specialist visits and my surgical visit. All of my bloodwork and the EKG was done at my 5th PCP visits (saving myself another stop elsewhere). My 3 specialist appointments were done on different days as they recommended not doing them all at one time due to the vast amount of information all of the doctors would be giving me.

I would say to call your insurance so they have it on the record that you are looking into this. Get the information and what they require for the procedure to be approved. What is covered, any co-pays, deductibles, is the hospital stay also covered, etc... get all the information from them that you can...and keep a notebook with all questions for insurance, questions for doctors, all dates of visits...everything in one place when you need it. (that has been a huge help for me!)

Good luck!

Congrats!! I am Tricare as well and all of my surgical clearance was done through my PCM on base. Did the labs, chest xray and ekg on the same morning and was cleared a week later. I have surgery scheduled for May 27th!

I am also going through Wash U/Barnes - Dr. Eagon, but I am dealing with HealthLink.

Hey!! Nice to see another St. Louisian here! Dr. Eagon will likely be my surgeon as well. You'll have to let us know when you get your appointment, and how everything goes post op.

Was there anything you had to do in your screening process that you weren't expecting?

First off congrats!!! You can maybe check with the office and see if they can do one or two of those tests all in one visit to cut down on sitter costs. It shouldn't take you too long. Good luck with everything.