Any Army Wives in here?

[mahoghani 1]

Hi. I am still just researching at this point. My husband is getting out of the Army soon and when my doctor recommended once again that I looked into the Bariatric sleeve I realized that if I want to have this surgery I should do it before he gets out of the Army while we still have Army health insurance. My BMI is high enough that I am automatically approved for the surgery. I've drug my feet on it for years because my husband doesn't like the idea ( he worries about complications ) and I kept trying to convince myself I could do it on my own. I got down to 216 from 260 very briefly and then steadily climbed all the way back up. I'm sitting at 255 now and my doctor keeps telling me that with my family history health issues are inevitable. I'm so exhausted with the weight struggle but I can't help but think that this seems so extreme when I don't have any serious health complications (again, yet.) But I'm tired. I'm tired and depressed and I feel like without better help I am never going to get down to a healthy weight.

The problem of course is that I don't have long to think about it. Actually, I am pretty sure I have made up my mind but my concern is that he gets out of the Army in early February. Do I have enough time to get the ball rolling and get the surgery before he gets out? Is it even smart to want to go from zero to sixty on something like this so quickly just because our window for being sure it'll be paid for is dwindling?

Any advice/opinions are welcome.

[ShelterDog64 2,364]

@@mahoghani It depends on how long the bariatric pathway takes at your particular MTF or in your local area. It's already the middle of November, you need to get in to see your PCP immediately and get a referral to bariatrics. Are you Prime or Standard?

[mahoghani 1]

I have prime. I already have the referral to bariatrics. My doctor has been wanting me to look into this for some time now. I already have lab work done (unrelated but current) and a upper and lower scope procedure scheduled for early December which I'm told is part of the process. My PMC says that they have two of the top bariatric surgeons in the country on staff at my facility at the moment and if I am going to have it done, they are the best ones to do it.

[ShelterDog64 2,364]

@@mahoghani Sounds like you're good to go, then. You'll have to have all of your health maintenance up to date; pap smear, mammogram, etc. and any other health issues have to be under treatment. Our pathway here at Madigan generally takes 3-6 months, so if you push it hard and are available whenever the different appointments you need (dietary, OT, behavioral health) are available, you may be able to get it done.

[JaneDarcy 9]

I'm at Madigan too. I would say schedule a seminar and make as many appointments as you can right away. You may just barely make it.

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[Beoin 10]

Girl, get on it! When I found out this was an option on Tricare, I absolutely went 0-60, and it still took me most of four months (mainly because it's the end of the year, and everyone wants surgery before Dec 31.) I have Tricare (South, specifically), and it requires a minimum of three months (89 days) of monitored weight maintenance, where you must go every month. My friend with Tricare North had to do six months. You may want to check what your Tricare requires. (We are both Standard, so I'm not sure if the Prime requirements will be different.)

After I finished that, plus the nutrition and psych evals, there was still a six week wait between getting it submitted to insurance, getting approval back, and scheduling the surgery (which is this Wednesday.) I started this process by going to the information meeting on July 12. However, since you seem to already be moving on this, maybe it won't take as long in general! You may just make it!

I started at 255, so my BMI is also above 40, allowing me to be qualified with no co-morbities (although I am borderline diabetic and on Metformin, which will stop as soon as I have the surgery.) This site is a good place to be. Look at some of the before/after pictures and stories, and get a good grip on the struggle. If you don't feel like giving up the life you live now and all the food you can eat now, this surgery might not be for you. But it would be sad to regret letting this opportunity pass, when you know it could change your life and get you healthier. And remember, if you start the process and then decide not to do it before your surgery, that's fine. You've only wasted time and a little money. But if don't start the process because you are still unsure, you'll lose the chance (until you find other insurance with possibly harder requirements. Some of them want five years worth of doctor's visit proving long term obesity!!)

Go! Go! Go! I hope it all works out for you! (And for me. I'd love to get us eating healthier in general. It would certainly help the dh pass that tape test, lol.)

[ladyteeq 3]

What tests does madigan require. Had to do psyc and Nutrition before getting referred to Madigan. Don't know what to expect when I get there or how long I would need to be there

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