New here with questions...HELP!

honeydue28 · June 9, 2011

Hello everyone,

I'm not sure where to post this but here goes.. a little about myself first. I'm 28 years old and I weigh 251 pounds (cries) I'm 5'3 by the way. My husband is active duty Marines so I have tricare insurance.

I wanted to schedule an appointment with my PCM but she was not available so I was set up with an appointment with someone else. After researching lap band and VSG and decided I wanted to go with VSG. After months of informing myself I decided to talk the PCM about it today and she immediately shut me down. She said "it's serious surgery and people die from it",I'm giving you a referral to the nutritionist"

At this point I no longer know what to do. Should I schedule an appointment again? How should I approach the topic? From what I gathered Tricare will pay for the VSG if it is done on a MTF, is this correct? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Nancy Rivers · June 9, 2011

I would still pursue it. Sounds like the doc that you spoke with doesn't know about the surgeries and is trying to scare you out of it. You've done research so you know the risks. Sure, there is a risk of death - but it happens very rarely. There's also a risk of getting hit by a vehicle and dying from that - but that doesn't prevent you from walking down the street or driving does it?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the military policies on this, but I would really get to another doctor instead of the one you spoke to.

honeydue28 · June 9, 2011

I would still pursue it. Sounds like the doc that you spoke with doesn't know about the surgeries and is trying to scare you out of it. You've done research so you know the risks. Sure, there is a risk of death - but it happens very rarely. There's also a risk of getting hit by a vehicle and dying from that - but that doesn't prevent you from walking down the street or driving does it?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the military policies on this, but I would really get to another doctor instead of the one you spoke to.

Thanks for replying. I'm going to continue to pursue getting vsg done hopefully I can get good news soon.

lv2h8me · June 10, 2011

I am a military spouse also. I would get a second oppinion. Also Tricare will cover it, they will want you to have it done if it is a service offered at the Military Facility by you. And as part of the pre op program will be to see a nutritionist also, along with some other things to complete on a check list. Hope this helps!

myrori · June 13, 2011

Go back or to another pcm, bring a notebook of your research and present your case. Point out people die of obesity related conditions too. Very ignorant of her to spout that out!