MsKinthedesert

<p>I am just beginning the process of having wls.  I have been overweight for the last 15 years.  I considered surgery 2 years ago but I allowed other people to talk me out of it.  Now I am at my heaviest weight - 322 lbs.  My knees, back ankles and feet hurt, I am on medication for high blood pressure, I have no energy, and I am miserable.  My beautiful husband said, &quot;Baby, it's ok for you to do what you have to do to take care of yourself&quot;.  That day, I called 1 800 get thin and had them check my insurance for verification. We haveTricare for Life (hubby is retired Marine, OOOHH-RRRAAHHH), and will cover the surgery, if approved, but it may be a difficult process.  Undaunted, I went to orientation at my nearest wls clinic last week, where the patient relations specialist told me it could take long time to get Tricare to approve the surgery to be done there, but that she would do her best to get approvals for all my screenings and would help me navigate through the process. Wonder of wonders, I got notification yesterday that they have approved my sleep study......so we are making small, slow steps- but we are stepping forward.  We'll see what else we can get my insurance to approve! </p>
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<p>UPDATE-1/17/12: My attempt to get surgery done with the 800-GET-THIN people  did not pan out.  I think TriCare did not want to approve my surgery with them, which is a good thing, because I have heard al kinds of horrible stories.  So, I did some further research and picked Dr. Milton Owens in Orange, CA.  Much more reputable and the hospital is a Center of Excellence.  I saw my PCM last week, got a referral, and received approval from TriCare to see the surgeon for my pre-op visits, which I should have done in  the next couple of weeks.  I have a BMI of 52, sleep apnea and hypertension are my comorbids, so I should have a good chance of having TriCare approve me.  We will see.  Still pressing forward.   </p>
UPDATE - 7/11/2012:TriCare required that my PCM montior my weight for 6 months before they would approve the surgery. I have been seeing her faithfully for the last 6 months. Then while reading the boards on this site, I noticed that many were saying the TriCare would not approve VSG outside a MTF. AHA!!! I researched it further on my own, and discovered that this is absolutely true. Soooooo, I have gone through 2 civilian surgeons, a sleep study, psych eval, nutritionist, and 4 months of weight monitoring with my PCM, only to discover that I will still not be approved for the civilian doc I picked. Not one to be defeated, I have decided to call the nearest MTF which is San Diego Naval Hospital, which happens to do VSG. I called, did a self referral, and am looking for a call from the surgeon sometime in the next week. I am still hopeful.
UPDATE-AGAIN!! - 2/14/2013: Had surgery on Jan 16 -4 weeks post op, and I have lost 30 lbs since my surgery. I feel great, have more energy, getting in more exercise and water. I have lost 2 dress sizes and, more importantly, my knees and ankles have stopped hurting. I even wore heels to church the last couple of weeks for the first time in YEARS! This was the best thing I ever did. The staff and doctors at Naval Medical Center San Diego were awesome and I am sooooo glad to have been sleeved and on my way to a healthier life.
Here I am again - 7/12/2013: 220 lbs! 704 lbs down since surgery, 114 lbs lost overall!
I am RUNNING intervals on the treadmill, wearing high heels every day ( my husband says I am getting taller AND thinner) and doing every thing I can think of- hiking, zumba, running, lifting weight, riding roller coasters- its summertime, and I am having a BALL! I LOVE MY SLEEVE!