Hi! I'm Melissa. 24. Army wife. Started the paperwork to get the lap band done. Have date with surgeon and hope Tricare will approve. Married for 4 years. Weighing at 275. 5'7"/8". Did LA Weightloss almost full year, ended up with stomach issues and quite this January.

I was wondering if there were any other Army wives in here, especially from Fort Hood? Also, if there are any soldiers in any force who have happened to get it done? I'm trying to find a way to get my husband's band approved. The Army says "Heck No!", but his PTSD meds made him gain over 100 lbs in a years time, so he's topping out at 315. If anyone has any insight on that, I'd greatly appreciate it. :wink_smile:

Hey, I'm not an Army Wife anymore, but I was there back in 94-97 and LOVED IT! I'm now in IL due to my "now" ex wanted us to move back to the home state. I miss Ft. Hood and would love to move back there! Keep in touch, as I'm on the same journey as you, I'm doing the insurance required diet, and going to all the pre-op visits and hopefully will have the surgery sometime in June

We strongly dislike being here - way too many people. *lol* We're from a town called Gilmer in east Tx and it's more mellow.

I'm going to go to a second conference they're having and asking the surgeon if he requires the diet before the lapband and such. I've been reading on a lot of boards that some don't.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Hi! I'm at Ft. Hood also! I agree, way too many people here and I actually know where Gilmer is....I have a friend here who grew up about 15 miles from there! Anyway, I'm in the same situation as you, I've been approved to see the surgeon but not for the actual surgery. My appointment is on the 25th. Which surgeon did they send you to?

I am not in the Army or and Armies wife but I did have my surgery at Scott & White in Temple. Is this where your surgery will be? If so they do require a 2 week pre-op diet.

Hi all. I am an Army Wife at Ft. Sam Houston. I saw the PCM here last week and she put the referral in right away but plastics is going back to her for more info. I also did LAWL for months but then I got pregnant so I had to quit. I gained some back before losing the baby. Then, as the depression sank in, I've gained it all back plus some. I am ready to get this weight off and a friend of mine heard through her civilian clinic that Tricare was now covered there, so I thought what the heck, I'll give it a go.

I know Tricare and the docs can be slow to approve referrals so I am trying to be patient. I wish you luck!

I am not in the Army or and Armies wife but I did have my surgery at Scott & White in Temple. Is this where your surgery will be? If so they do require a 2 week pre-op diet.

What does the 2 week pre-op diet intel? Yea I'll be having it done in Temple. I'm still really nervous about the idea of it all. I go on the 14th for the psych-eval. How long did yours end up taking and are you happy with it?

Hi all. I am an Army Wife at Ft. Sam Houston. I saw the PCM here last week and she put the referral in right away but plastics is going back to her for more info. I also did LAWL for months but then I got pregnant so I had to quit. I gained some back before losing the baby. Then, as the depression sank in, I've gained it all back plus some. I am ready to get this weight off and a friend of mine heard through her civilian clinic that Tricare was now covered there, so I thought what the heck, I'll give it a go.

I know Tricare and the docs can be slow to approve referrals so I am trying to be patient. I wish you luck!

LAWL didn't work for me or my husband. I only lost around 10-15 lbs and I've gained that back. The high Fiber screwed me up in the bathroom department - I would be lucky if I went once a week. So I had to be put on meds, so that was one reason we quit. I know it's worked wonders for some people, just didn't happen for us.

I'm hoping TriCare doesn't keep me waiting too, too long. I'm still waiting to hear from them to set my appt with the surgeon, so who knows. Hope you have great luck with yours! :thumbup:

2 weeks of protein shakes and you can have a salad (no meat cheese, etc...) just veggies with a spritzer or steamed veggies. It was not to bad-I did get hungry though. Psych eval was very easy-took a couple of hours and done. Surgery was very quick. My surgery was at 11 am and I went to recovery room, then to xray for a barrium swallow and was back in day surgery by 1:30. I was home by 4pm and I had a 40 minute drive home. Dr Rodriguez was my doctor. Things are going good, I just had surgery 4/2.

Hi! I'm at Ft. Hood also! I agree, way too many people here and I actually know where Gilmer is....I have a friend here who grew up about 15 miles from there! Anyway, I'm in the same situation as you, I've been approved to see the surgeon but not for the actual surgery. My appointment is on the 25th. Which surgeon did they send you to?

I actually grew up in Diana, which is around 12-15 miles from Gilmer, where my husband went to. Diana is a few miles from Longview.

I had to find my referral papers, but they have me set up with Richard Symmonds. I'm waiting on the people to call me to set up the appt to see him. I went to the meeting on March 24th and they said it could take a while. I'm getting antsy, I just wanna know what he thinks. *lol* Which one do they have you seeing? Have you made yours psych-eval?

2 weeks of Protein shakes and you can have a salad (no meat cheese, etc...) just veggies with a spritzer or steamed veggies. It was not to bad-I did get hungry though. Psych eval was very easy-took a couple of hours and done. Surgery was very quick. My surgery was at 11 am and I went to recovery room, then to xray for a barrium swallow and was back in day surgery by 1:30. I was home by 4pm and I had a 40 minute drive home. Dr Rodriguez was my doctor. Things are going good, I just had surgery 4/2.

Doesn't sound too bad, but I'd probably be hungry as well. When I made my psych-eval they told me it could take up to 2 hours, so for me to be prepared for that. Congrats on it all going great so far! :tt1:

Melissa I am on Fort Hood and I just had band surgery 4/7/08. Love to chat.

Renee'

:thumbup:

Melissa I am on Fort Hood and I just had band surgery 4/7/08. Love to chat.

Renee'

:thumbup:

To All that are on Fort Hood!!

Lets get together, we could help each other through the process.

Renee'

Banded 4/7/08

269/246/134

Did TriCare pay for all of yours? They called me this week and I go in for my consult on the 21st and my psych-eval a week after that.

Did TriCare pay for all of yours? They called me this week and I go in for my consult on the 21st and my psych-eval a week after that.

Yes they paid for all of mine, I went to Austin for my surgery. Great group of Dr.s there.

Yes they paid for all of mine, I went to Austin for my surgery. Great group of Dr.s there.

The lady who called me said that they may not pay for all of mine so I'm kinda worried now. *lol* I'm hoping they'll pay for all of it since I'm over the fat% and have other health risks. Keeping my fingers crossed.

They're sending me to Temple to get mine done.