Tammy22

Hello everyone.. My name is Tammy. I live close to Ft. Worth Tx. My husband is stationed in Hawaii in the Navy. I was there with him but came back home for school. I recently just started looking into the lap band surgery. I have been over weight since I was around 14 and I am now 22. I am young and dont want to get all the health problems that run in my family. I was looking at getting my surgery at the Texas Lap Band Center in Dallas with Dr. Jayaseelan. I went to the appointment where they show you the band and how it works and to get weighed and get my BMI. They told me I qualify to get the surgery. I was excited to know that I was just a step closer to getting it. Well, we called tricare prime to see if they would cover the surgery and they said all I would need to get it was a referral from my prinary care doctor. I was like okay... I get an appt. with him to see about getting it.. He was asking me all kinds of questions like I was stupid or something. Then was trying to tell me they have doctors who do they same surgery. I was like okay and? I have chosen who I wanted but yet he still gives me the run around.. Well today, I get a phone call from the nurse about my referral trying to say that the lap band center does not take my insurance that they were out of area range for tricare to cover.. I was like okay how are you going to tell me that when i just went to see them and they took my insuarance for it but still had a copay.. Did not make any sence to me. She told me that she will call tricare prime to see if they will cover it or not. I told her i had called and told her what they said to me about only needing the referral and she was like well they tell patients one thing and tell the doctors another. I was tearing up at this point because I have the gut feeling nothing will come about this but my husband told me to stay strong and to keep thinking possitive. It is hard to do when you have your hopes set on something soo band then it falls apart. Does anyone have tricare prime who has had the lap band done and does anyone have any advice at all to what I could possibly do to help get this done? Thanx for taking the time to read my venting..

Sorry I have not posted on here in a while. Iv just kept getting bad news after bad news and all yalls good news about getting dates to get banded was just making me sick. Yeah theres the jealousy comming out but everyone has it at some point in there life. I just hare Dr. Smiths office. I had my appt with them and the straight up lied and did not send my paper work to my insurance to even see if they would approve it they just assumed since the damn news is going around that tricare wont pay for the surgery. Its all BS if you ask me and I am sick of the run around. BLAH! Tomorrow is my birthday but aint to happy about it. My daughter is sick beyond sick poor baby. What else can go wrong? Charlie told me to try lapband solutions but I havnt had the time to print out the paper work to fill out yet and honestly, I am scared to even try that way too because I have the fear it will be the same news. Anywayz, sorry to bore you all. Just wanted to drop by and see how things were going. HOpe all is well with everyone.

Correction! Charlie wanted me to try Bandlandia.com. Lap band solutions are the ones who just assumed tricare wouldnt pay for it.

wow you both look amazing!

Congratulations! I would be tripping out too.. I wish you the best.

I wanted to add a little message to you too DeLarla- I hope things get better for you and I hope your able to prove everyone wrong and will be able to keep your band.. You have been though a lot and I am still new to the board. Your one tough chicky.. Good luck in everything.

Okay so I have said tricare approved my approval- Well I am still being told by Dr. Smiths office (AFTER tricare called them personaly and told them its covered) that tricare won't pay for the lap band but they will cover the bypass. Makes no dam* sence to me at all.. I told them and told them they will but they wont believe for or them and they say in a stuck up way "well we can send them the paper work but don't be disappointed when a letter comes in the mail saying it wasnt approved!" I am only having the stuck up attitude form Tammy the insurance cord. for Dr. Smiths office.. I want to pull my hair out.. I called the tricare referral line again to double check my referral to see if i was hearing it wrong or something and heres what it says.. It said they got a refferal for me on Jan 11th for specialty care with Dr. Smith. and has been approved. 4 visits have been authorized to be completed by July 10th 2005.. Am I losing it or is that just for visits only? I can't talk to anyone today because they are closed. I am only able to listen to the referral.. Sigh.... losing hope.

Hi Rusty, welcome to the board of great inspirations and help - you will like it here!

Happy Belated Birthday! & Congratulations on wearing smaller sized pants now!

Thats awesome. I bet you felt great..

I have been talking to Charlie through email. He has been great help.. I had told the Drs office that I knew someone with Tricare (Charlies wife) who got the LAP band and they say reason why TRICARE wont pay for the lap band but they will pay for the bypass is because they switched to humana.. Even still humana pays for it because I have seen it.. I am calling tomorrow to ask TRICARe and so is Charlie so hopefully I will know for sure or not.. It's just frustrating to know that I did all that calling and finally was told it would be covered and now I am having the problem again.. I know I know.. Dont give up.. I wont- Its just a complicated deal but I know in the long run it will be well worth it..

Today I decided to call TRICARE to check and see if my referral had gone though yet or not- I was shocked to hear that it was APPROVED! I had to replay it like 3 times before it sunk in. I was about to bust into tears. So, now all I ave to do is all my appointments needed for the LAP band. You dont even know how happy I am.. Well I am sure you all know the feeling.. Just wanted to share the news.. I will soon be a bandster.... *DOES THE HAPPY DANCE*:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

Thanx everyone.. Yes with Dr. Smith

You look awesome Alex!! Keep it up the great work.. :-)

awwww how sweet...

I was curious to what blender is the best (that is a reasonable price) to make smoothies.. I am trying to get all things prepared that I will need after I get banded *CROSSES FINGURES* Also, what protien mix is the best and where can you buy it.. And the final question is what recipe do you use if any Thanx in advance...

I know this is a old thread but I just wanted to let everyone know I was from Texas but live in a small town you all might not of heard of. I live in Joshua, which is about 30 mins south of ft. worth..

Shelly- You are a total inspiration to me.. I looked through all your pics and was in wow the whole time.. You have done a great job. Keep up the great work and one day I hope to follow in your footsteps..

Welcome Neil... Everyone on this board will become an inspiration to you. I know they all have became one to me.. Good luck..

LOL I have no answers to this but am curious about it also.. I am ready to read.. :-P

Just a little venting and an update.. Well as you all know I managed to get my referral but the nurse is taking her sweet time on sending it to Dr. Smith. So, I took it upon myself to call Dr. Smiths office to let them know that my nurse is suppose to be sending a refferal.. I asked her for the next date for the seminar to attend and that date is Jan. 22nd.. Well after she had told me that, she asked what insurance I had. I was thinking to myself ohhh no not again. I told her TRICARE Prime and she replied TRICARE prime is no longer convering the LAP Band procedure. I was like what and once again begin to get tears in my eyes. I couldnt believe that was possible and told her that I had just recently talked to my insurance and they said it was covered. So, she gave me a # to a lady who deals with patients whos insurance wont cover tha LAP Band. I told her what I was told and she said she has about 30 TRICARE Prime patients whos dealing with the same thing.. Well I took action on it again and was on the phone about an hr with TRICARE and luckly I got a good lady who was a great help and researched everything she could and called all the #s I had to my drs.. I got good news TRICARE PRIME WILL PAY FOR IT!!! I was soooo happy.. After she told me that I had her call Dr. Smiths office personaly and tell them as well. She made a note in my record they have that it is covered so I wont have this problem again. After I got off the phone with her I called Dr. Smiths office again and the same lady answered and she was soo happy that I did all that work and got good news. She said she has to tell everyone about TRICARE not accepting but gets told all the time that they wont cover it. It made no sence to me but as long as nothing else gets in the way with everything else, ill be happy. I now have a new patient app. set up for Jan 26th. then after that I can set up my other 2 appts thata re needed.. WOW this has been a day... I pray that this all works out.. Thanx for reading..

As I was laying in bed last night, I was thinking about once and when I have my surgery and after I have recovered from it, will I ever be able to sleep on my stomack again? I know that during the healing process I wont be able to but just curious about later on.. I HATE SLEEPING ON MY BACK, but if I have to in order for the LAP band then I am there.. Thanx in advance for any info give...

Everyones pictures are awesome.. We would be lost without the inspiration of our families.. Infaith- Thanx for the sweet compliment.. Your boys are handsome and your sister looks amazing..

That puts me at ease a little now lol.. When I was prego, I hated the fact I couldnt sleep on my tummy.. lol Thanx for the replies..

Good Luck with your surgery.. Its only the beginning to a new life..