Hi yaw! Greetings from west tn! I am not new to the site... I posted some last year and have constantly hit road blocks in my journey to weight loss... no one around here took my insurance... my pcp quit taking it and I loved her!!!!! I gave up on it after a while and told myself that being fat is just what I'm meant to be... I am currently 335 Pounds I am ashamed to say. I look in the mirror usually with disgust that I have gotten this way... I hate feeling the way I do...we changed insurances to tricare reserve select (hubby is military)...and from what I've heard I have a better chance of getting the surgury....I need this surgury.... I need this change. It quit being a want a long time ago... I have got to make this happen...

Good luck to you on your journey...Glad you're back.

Hi yaw! Greetings from west tn! I am not new to the site... I posted some last year and have constantly hit road blocks in my journey to weight loss... no one around here took my insurance... my pcp quit taking it and I loved her!!!!! I gave up on it after a while and told myself that being fat is just what I'm meant to be... I am currently 335 Pounds I am ashamed to say. I look in the mirror usually with disgust that I have gotten this way... I hate feeling the way I do...we changed insurances to tricare reserve select (hubby is military)...and from what I've heard I have a better chance of getting the surgury....I need this surgury.... I need this change. It quit being a want a long time ago... I have got to make this happen...

Hi I'm from TN also. Going through the process of getting approval. I'm in between knoxville & Chattanooga. my surgeon is in Chattanooga. Took me a few months to find him. What city are in?

In near jackson tn and let me tell u it is HARD finding a surgeon on this side of the state!

I finally called my insurance & got a hold of someone who looked up surgeons for me that were approved. Mine is 45mins-1hr away so it's not too bad. Good luck!

The ones I'm looking at are in Nashville so it's like 21/2 hrs away :/

Some really good surgeons in Nashville. I looked there first but didn't take my insurance. Also knoxville /UT hospital has a few good ones.

I'm worried about traveling too far post op. I think I'm gonna see Dr clements at vandi

Hey, I'm in Memphis, we are closer than Nashville by half the distance. You should check out Dr. Virginia Weaver. She's great!

A few years ago I met dr woodman from memphis and I was not impressed with him at all. Both times I talked to him he cut me off when I spoke, he would roll his eyes when talking about procedures, and even though I had insurance that pays he wanted 500 up front! to me unless u know 199% that a patient will pay that put of pocket u don't ask for it. After that I gave up and recently looked in Nashville. I go see Dr clements at vanderbilt on the 28th.... I'm hoping he's friendlier and won't ask me for a ton of cash up front.

A few years ago I met dr woodman from memphis and I was not impressed with him at all. Both times I talked to him he cut me off when I spoke, he would roll his eyes when talking about procedures, and even though I had insurance that pays he wanted 500 up front! to me unless u know 199% that a patient will pay that put of pocket u don't ask for it. After that I gave up and recently looked in Nashville. I go see Dr clements at vanderbilt on the 28th.... I'm hoping he's friendlier and won't ask me for a ton of cash up front.

I've heard the same thing about Dr Woodman. I would not even consider seeing him, or referring anybody to him, nor would my PCP. Dr. Weaver is in a different group, she and her staff are all so nice. She was so down to earth. Not some fancy Schmancy dressed to the nines type of doctor, who talks over your head. She actually listened to what I and the other patients had to say during our group pre-op meeting. She wasn't in a rush to push us out the door, and took the time to answer all of our questions. Every doctor I saw during my pre-op work ups asked who was doing my surgery, and all 3 of them said the same thing, that they would send their own family to her for WLS. My cardiologist actually said he would not clear me for surgery with Dr. Woodman, that's how much he didn't like him. Big sigh of relief when I told him I was going with Dr Weaver. I was self pay, so I can't say how they work insurance deductibles etc.

Anyway, it's really important that you feel comfortable with whoever you eventually choose. Best wishes for a smooth and successful journey.

Edited January 18, 201511 yr by Mayaresearchmom

Good Luck, I'm having my Lap-band surgery in Mexico on Aug. 14, Its costing me $10,850, plus airfare $560 rt. Vera

I just couldn't see myself choosing a surgeon who seemed bored with talking about it.... I want a dr with passion and fight!!!!

Hello Dr Wagner done my surgery and he's with Dr weaver, very good drs! I also have Tricare

Hello Dr Wagner done my surgery and he's with Dr weaver, very good drs! I also have Tricare

Which kind do ya have? I have reserve selct which is just like standard