mommakatx2

Wendy, I read that too. Well how in the heck do we get the implementation date?! Can you tell I'm a bit anxious about this? LOL! I brought the paperwork in to Tricare this morning, they said that yes, it was covered. They didn't say anything else about the implementation date or anything. I feel like it's too good to be true. Something else will happen and it won't be approved. :::twiddling thumbs:::

Hello! Congrats! I have my informational seminar on the 15th! It seems so far away, doesn't it? Sigh. Oh well...little steps will hopefully get us to the big goal! Good luck!

How is it that people whose job it is to know these changes, don't know about this? I have been on the phone and in the office of Tricare and everyone I speak to says they do not approve the Lap-Band. It's frustrating!! Finally I had a gal in the Tricare office tell me to print off whatever information I had and bring it in or fax it. That's what I will do. I did get my referral to see the surgeon from my PCM...I will update.

A sore throat is actually quite common post-surgically. A little tender care and rest will help it heal faster. Use the throat spray to ease discomfort and eventually the swelling will subside. Other common side effects include cough and hoarseness afterward. Drink warm not HOT tea, as hot tea will cause more engorgement of the tissues and lead to more discomfort (even though it feels nice at first). Hope you feel better soon! (I'm a registered nurse and see this frequently)

I have a couple questions for anyone who has had a lower BMI and been approved by their insurance. How low was your BMI? Did you have any of the co-morbidities generally required (diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, etc.) Was it difficult to get approved? Did you meet resistance from physicians regarding your desire to be banded? I have my first appointment on Wednesday with a family care physician to discuss my weight and my desire for the lap band. I don't know what to expect but I'm feeling like he or she will look at me and laugh. I have been told so many times to just "go on a diet" by doctors. Well, I've been on just about every diet under the sun, and I've been fat my entire life (even as a child). I'm ready to take a more permenant step towards weightloss, but I'm worried that docs won't be very supportive with my "low" BMI. Any experiences/stories would be great.

Thanks for the replies! I am prepared to go in with an armload of information. I am a registered nurse so I understand how most physicians think and work. I am going to call Tricare tomorrow and get their requirements. I know they now cover it, but I'm not sure of the stipulations. I just thought that maybe it would be hard to get approved in the US with a BMI under 40. Unfortunately in the military, you don't always get to choose your doctors. You see whomever is available that day. I've rarely seen the same doctor twice in one year, which makes follow-up care difficult but may be to my advantage as far as my history goes. They can look back at my records and see that I've been seen for my weight before, that I've lost weight and regained it. I'm just hoping beyond all hopes that this works for me.

Good question! I am currently an H cup and desperately want BRS, however I will wait unit AFTER banding to do it. My mother had BRS done when she was young and then lost a bunch of weight, and she ended up with A cups, which is not what she wanted. I would like to be a full C, but will wait and see what my breasts do after weightloss. Good luck with your decision!

Thank you for your reply. We are military and I'm hoping to get approved through Tricare. However I have to see a family physician before I can see a surgeon--they have to put in a referral for me. I'm just wondering if it's possible to be covered and approved by insurance even without a 40 BMI.

This is the best news! I was just coming here to ask if anyone had any luck with Tricare. The only problem is the requirements, though. My BMI is only 37.7. Sigh. Still more research to do.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has been banded with LESS than 100lbs to lose. I fall in to this category (though barely). I have about 85lbs to lose. I have been heavy my entire life. Fat kid, fat teen, less fat young adult when I starved myself, fat adult. I have done every diet with success of about 25lbs. After 25lbs it's almost as if my body says "nuh-uh, not gonna lose any more". I have severe self-esteem issues related to my weight. I also have physical discomforts such as joint pain, asthma that is getting worse, and very large breasts that cause a lot of neck and shoulder pain. I am just DONE. Not only is my BMI too "low" (34.4) to qualify in the US, but my insurance wouldn't cover it anyway (Tricare). I have lots of questions... What was your process like? Where did you go? Private pay or insurance? Worth it? Do you feel like the lap-band was a last-ditch effort to be a normal weight? Did you approach your family practitioner about the lap-band and what was their response? I'm scared to even approach the subject with a family doc. The last time I went to be seen for my weight the doc told me to go on a diet. Well DUH!!! As if I had never thought of it or done it before. I'm afraid a doc will laugh in my face if I ask about the lap-band because I only have 85lbs to lose. Sorry this got so long...thanks for staying with me if you made it this far. If you had less than 100 to lose, I'd love to hear from you.

Hello everyone! My name is Bente and I'm just beginning this journey. I am 29 years old, a mother of three, a wife of a soldier, and a registered nurse. I am not morbidly obese...I am just obese *enough* to not qualify for most surgical centers here in the US. Even if I did qualify, my insurance does not cover lap-band (tricare). My current weight is 226--my highest ever not being pregnant. I am 5'8". I know that doesn't seem like much but on me it is a different story. I have been heavy MY ENTIRE LIFE. I was a fat kid, a fat teenager, a fat young adult. As I get older, I'm finding it's getting harder on my body. My hips ache, my knees hurt, my asthma acts up. I am tired and winded and depressed. I'm scared to watch the weight continue to creep on--I want to be the active wife and mother for my family and myself. I have been on every diet in the book...you name it. At most I lose about 25lbs before reaching a plateau and then gaining it all and then some. The only thing holding me back from this wonderful weightloss tool is money. If I had the money today I would have it done tomorrow. For now I just have to wait and watch and see what happens... Anyone else here hindered by the financial aspects of the lap-band?