HopefulMe2016

I spoke with my surgeon's PA and she told me the sleeve is covered by Tricare for their office as of November. She did tell me I have to do 6mths of nutritional counseling. So I won't get my surgery until August at the earliest. I will need that time to get all the other stuff needed as well. AND I need to work on ME and get myself in the right mind frame for this journey.

Anyone know if you're less likely to have hair loss if you're a low BMI candidate? I've been reading the complications from surgery and I'm truly worried about hair loss among other things... I know it's vain, but I can't help it.

I am seen on base (we're on the east coast) because I'm Tricare prime and they won't allow me to go off base. It's been some great care and some HORRIBLE care (missed repeat mammos and paps, because no one called to tell me I needed repeats...I have a family hx of cancer). I was AD for 11yrs and it was even worse of course. I know there are some great military facilities, I just haven't been to many of them in the past 20yrs. Once it's all final and announced I'll be going to a surgeon I work with, I know him and trust him and his staff. Good Luck to you.

I know that if you have it done at a MTF it is free, but I don't have one near to me. So I would go to a hospital in my area and use a civilian surgeon as well. The tricare site still says it's not covered. I'm going to keep going with my process anyway, I know after 20yrs of being associated with the military, active duty and now a dependent I know updated info trickles in like icebergs. LOL

Oh my word...this...wow. I'm just so happy right now. I know it will be a process but just knowing I MAY be able to get the surgery makes me so relieved. I'm actually shaking. Thank you, thank you so much. The nearest MTF to me that does the surgery is 2hrs away and that's just not feasible for me and my family. Happy New Year ladies and gents

this makes me very sad. I have my seminar on the 19th of January and I refuse to have a bypass. Looks like I will have to wait until I get a job that offers insurance. I was told by my PCP that the military is now leaning toward the sleeve and all her patients had the sleeve and we don't have a hospital at our base. I wonder what the heck she was talking about. I'll talk to my surgeon's PA at my seminar and see what my options are, if I can't get the sleeve WLS is off the table for me.

There was a young lady who said she took prenatal Vitamins instead of Multivitamins. I don't know if that will help but it's worth trying. Good Luck

Hope things went well for you today. May your journey be all you wish for and your healing without issue. Love your name!

I have to go to a seminar mid January to get all the WLS info then schedule my first consult. I believe my surgeon's PA will be at the seminar, I will corner her and ask some questions prior to my first consult. I trust this surgeon and his PA, not crazy about his staff (I've worked with them in a professional capacity and have had to sternly speak with his scheduler, she's a bit snippy) so I will stick with him, for now. I have plans to move on from this facility (hubby is retiring and we will be moving across country) so I may just move on AFTER my procedure, seems like a good.

I'm in the beginning stages and am thinking 60-70max. I'm haven't seen my surgeon yet so this just a guess after reading and researching.

Thank you for this post. I'm going for my very first seminar this month. I am terrified about slipping up, but I also don't want to turn my food issues into a "WLS issue"...by that I mean being SO strict on myself that it becomes a new "addiction". It's good to read that it's a slippery slope. I know I will have to change my relationship with food and set rules for myself and stick with them. I will be looking for support groups in my area AND working my with therapist on my food issues. All the best.

I don't know why your post made me giggle a bit. Probably because I can picture what you wrote...visitors and all of that. I know I'm just going to have to suck it up and move it along. Everything happens the way it's suppose to, so I'm not going to tell anyone and when asked I will call them all liars...just kidding.

Thanks for the replies. I'm not concerned about the gossiping people, I know that will come as the weight comes off. I keep my professional life and home life separate. There are only two people I even associate with outside of work hours and that's mostly by text. I'm a very blunt person and I know people knowing so early in the game (while I'm dealing with my OWN feelings about this journey) will cause me to "hurt" some feelings. It is a small facility and people REALLY like to "stay close" to each other. Even though they know I'm not that type of person it doesn't stop them most times. I don't think I will have my procedure at my facility, as sleeves in my area are done in patient only. It's not vanity at all, it's more about privacy and working through the process without having to verbally throat chop those I work with. I guess once I "knock down" the first person the rest will fall in line. It's going to awkward, but I've had coworkers take care of me before (different facility) guess this is better than a coworker doing my vaginal exam...yep that's happened before And yes I was concerned about my coworker knowing about my Lap Chole (gallbladder removal) as well as my other surgeries. It's always about privacy for me. People in the medical field tend to be overly familiar with each other and feel comfortable violating HIPPA when they consider you a friend. Now I'm NOT talking about them running telling people "oh Sue had a lap chole" I'm talking more "oh sue I heard you had your lap chole a few weeks ago, how are you healing? what were your symptoms? Did Dr. Smith leave you with mild scars?" I will speak to my surgeon about my privacy concerns. Ah small town living at it's finest!

I went to see my primary care provider (PCP) on the 18th. I asked about WLS and was told given my current weight and co-morbidities I would more than likely qualify. I had done some research and knew my insurance covers lapband (LB). My PCP told me my insurance usually recommends the VGS, which is the procedure I was told currently works best and the procedure I wanted. I don't want the LB. I've heard about too many issues with it and seen too many patients come back due to problems. I have co-workers who have LB and they said they would get the sleeve if it had been available to them at the time of their surgeries. I received my paperwork today to start my consults and such and lo and behold I'm going to see the doc that OWNS my facility . I work with this man just about everyday. I don't dislike him, but I had hoped to keep my business...mine. I had no plans to tell ANYONE I work with about this journey until I had the WLS. I know about HIPAA and all, but I know if I see him my business will become WORK business. On the flip side I know his office and physician's assistant (PA) would work probably treat me a bit better because I have been at this establishment for some time. I am a healthcare provider and this facility is small. I probably wouldn't have my procedure at MY facility, because we only do LB and I'm hoping for the the sleeve which will be done at the hospital I worked at before moving to my current location. I guess I'm just venting because now I'm stuck between getting better treatment from a healthcare team I know and going to to stranger who will keep my business private. I know eventually everyone will find out, but I just thought I had more time to work through it all. My workplace though great is VERY clique-ish and I know as soon as I show my face in my surgeon's office...the word will be out and if not then when I'm seen at the hospital. (my understanding was my insurance would send me to a facility and hour or so from my house...not so) Any advice on how to handle it all coming out before I'm ready?

I'm at the very beginning of my journey. Waiting for my first consult appt. Just a bundle of nerves right now. Trying to find as many resources as possible.