Startingover!

Looks like it's working! I like the shamrocks!

Yes, I think I will be going crazy while I wait this out. As everyone else on here has experienced. I just keep having these visions of myself actually in a bathing suit on the beach this summer! I wonder if that's unrealistic!! God I hope not!

Hi everyone, I also have Tricare and had my consultation with my surgeon yesterday. I am on the lower end of the weight chart at 222 5'5". But my surgeon told me w/my other health issues it shouldn't be a problem at all. They claim they have never had anything denied by Tricare. But I will be the 1st lap band they have run thru. They are so confident that scheduled my psych appt for tomorrow and my dietician appt and pre-op class on Wednesday. They told me to look at having the surgery in less than a month. They said that once they submit the package they usually hear back from Tricare within a day. So I guess after my appointments on Wed they'll submit it and hopefully I'll hear something by next Friday. But I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Good luck to everyone else. Keep me posted w/the Tricare approvals!!

StLouisGal, My consult went great. They don't think they'll have a problem getting me approved because of my other health problems. I have my psych appt tomorrow, my dietician appt Wed & my pre-op class Wed. So they're proceeding like I have been approved! But they won't actually run it by Tricare until after I meet with the dietciain on Wednesday. I don't want to get my hopes up though, just in case. Glad to hear that yours went well. keep me posted!!

Wow Carly, you really have a lot of health problems. I hope you're able to get the surgery done to help with your problems. I had my consult today and they are very confident that they can get me approved with tricare. They said that they have never been denied by tricare, but that I would be the 1st one for the lap band. I have my psych appt on Friday and my appt w/the dietician on Wednesday and the pre-op class on Wednesday. So they are very confident that they can get me approved. I'm very excited! They said that even though my BMI is 36 that because of the sleep apnea, knee problems, hiatal hernia, and the documented medical weight loss attempts that it shouldn't be a problem. I hope they're right!! But I'm not getting my hopes up too much until we hear back from Tricare. I'll keep you posted as to Tricares response. Good luck to you!

I don't understand why the insurance won't approve you if fall only 10lbs short of the requirements!! It's tricare right? So are you now waiting until you gain enough weight and reapply to have the surgery? Do you also have sleep apnea?

Those amazing that that's all you're eating and that you're not starving! Congrats to you! I noticed that you and I are almost exactly the same weight, well your starting weight, do you mind me asking how tall you are? I am 5'6" and I'm hoping that I weigh enough for the insurance to pay for the surgery!

I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to blow it either after finally having the surgery! Do you mind me asking you about how many calories a day are you on now? Of course I'm just really curious because I'm getting ready to go on the same journey!

I haven't been "banded" yet, my consult is tomorrow. But I was wondering about the hunger factor. If it goes away or not and what in the world happens if your will power cracks and you eat something you're not suppose to soon after surgery. Did they tell y'all what would happen if you cheat on the liquid/mush diet? Because that really scares me. Good luck to both of you!

I will definitely use the water trick! I will feel better doing that than the weights! As sad as it sounds I have actually been trying to gain weight every since I made my appointment last week. I think I've put on a few. It's sad that I have to put more weight on when I'm already over 80lbs overweight. But I need the insurance to pay for the surgery.

Carly, My husband just retired from the Navy and we moved to West Palm Beach, Fl. My BMI is a little over 35, I'm 5'6" and weigh 222. I'll let you know how it goes. I just hope they approve me!! I'll keep you posted. Please do the same. I had actually thought about wearing my ankle weights!!! I wonder if they check people for that stuff or not??? I might have to slip them in my purse just in case! Good luck on Friday Jaime...keep me posted! I'll do the same. Thanks everyone!

My BMI is just over 35 and I just got my PCM to give me a referral to the surgeon. My appt with him is on Wednesday. I'm so excited, but worried that my insurance won't approve it. But I do have sleep apnea, GERD, plus I've had 3 knee surgeries in 3 years and my weight keeps going up. So I'm hoping that with all these things considered it will slip by the insurance! But I have gotten the same response from a few people that I "wasn't that big". They don't realize how hard it is to lose weight with medical problems that keep you from leading a normal life. Hopefully I'll get approved and this will all be a thing of the past!!

Do you mind me asking you what your height/weight is?

Hi everyone, I'm new to this sight. I have my first consultation appointment 1/30 for lap-band surgery. I'm going to try and get tri-care to pay for it since they just started covering it last week!! I am very nervous and very afraid that I won't qualify. I do have one quick question for anyone that can answer: Is it typical for the doctor to make your consultation appointment if you don't meet the criteria? I just don't want to get my hopes up. Thanks and HELLO to everyone!

Thank you Randi for the info. I guess I'll have to wait until Wednesday to find out what the surgeon says!!

Thank you so much for the reply. I'm hoping the insurance will cover it because I do have some medical complications that might qualify me. God I hope I don't have to pay out of pocket for it!! At least not 100%!!!! Either way I have to do something. I can't get this weight off and I am miserable. I'll keep you posted and thank you again.

Thanks so much for the info. I wonder if they go by the bottom number of the "ideal" weight scale or the high number!! The high number would be good!! The docs office told me that they had never been denied by tricare before. But the lap band is a new thing for tricare, so we'll see. I'll keep you posted! thanks again

Thank you so much for your replies. It helped a lot. I'll keep you posted as to my progress!

I don't have a surgery date yet, but plan on setting one next week. But I'm curious about this pre-op liquid diet, could someone explain this to me. Why, how etc? I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks so much!:redface:

Hi, I'm new to the board and have a BMI of just over 35. I have my 1st appointment on 1/30 and am extremely nervous. What has been everyone's experience w/a BMI this low and getting approved for this surgery? I'm so afraid that they (the doctor/insurance) will not approve it because they don't think I weigh enough. thanks!

I was just curious if anyone has used Dr. Larson at JFK Hospital in West Palm Beach? That is who my consultation is with and of course I'm so nervous! I was wondering if anyone could give me any insight! Thanks!:redface:

Would you consider a BMI of 35 with a consultation appointment 1/30 eligible for this thread?? I would greatly appreciate it. Because I am lost and so afraid that I won't qualify for this surgery!! Thanks

Hi, I'm new to the board. I just found out that tri-care approves this now and am so excited. I immediately called and verified it and then called a lap band doctor who then called and verified it. I have my 1st appointment on 1/30 for a consultation. I just have to get a referral from my PCM before I can go. I'm very worried that I won't weigh enough though. I am 5'6", 222 with a BMI of 35. But I do have some other medical documented problems and documented weight loss attempts to help with approval. Am I getting my hopes up by thinking that I meet the criteria and that's why the doctor is seeing me or is it normal for them to see you for the initial consultation? His staff is aware of my size so I would hope they would screen me out and wouldn't let me have the consultation if I didn't meet the criteria. Thanks for any info anyone can give me. Amy