mel_smiddy

Ok what do you mean deaths from the band????? OMG so what were the details did you catch those? I mean WOW.

OMG this is so awful I have to log everything that goes into my mouth for 1 whole week. This is day one. I am starving to death but can't bring myself to eat the rest of my McSkillet Burrito because I know that the dietitian is going to be looking at the log and saying to herself "yep I know what this one's problem is" I think I'll eat the whole thing and skip lunch then it won't look so bad right? I mean after I have the surgery there won't be anymore fast food for me so why not live it up. I know that's the attitude that got me here or at least part of the problem not all of it. So long for now I have a date with the rest of my burrito.

That is kind of what I was thinking. Only problem is that I am just barely within Tricare's requirements for paying for the surgery and if I lose any I won't qualify I want to try to wait until I have Tricares approval for sure since they will pay 100% and if they don't pay I can't afford it. I think I'm going to work on it a bit without going completely overboard.

Ok here I am gave all the paperwork to my PCP yesterday afternoon. The office manager is submitting my referrals to Tricare on Monday! She is going to send them urgent so I should know something in 72 hours or less. I have to have these referrals approved or I can't go to my appointment at the surgeon's office on 3/10/08. On the 10th I'm supposed to do the nut job eval, blood work, meet with the dietitian, and meet with my surgeon. I have to be there at 7:15 am and they said that I would be there all day. Now I have a question for all you experienced bandsters out there. I have to track everything that I put in my mouth for 1 week before the 3/10/08 appt. Should I eat the way I have been eating (namely like every meal is my last) or should I try to eat like a normal person? As soon as I leave the appointment I plan on starting my diet to lose 10 to 15 pounds before surgery. So what do you think? Any advice would be appreciated.

I used to love retail therapy I can't wait to be small enough to enjoy retail therapy again.

I personally would go with the it is a surgery of a personal nature and leave it at that. Since it could be so many different things. And besides why do you need to tell them anything at all it's really none of their business. You don't even need to tell your boss anything except you are going in for surgery and you will bring them a doctor's excuse when you come back to work. I say let them all put that in their pipes and smoke it.

WOW! Sounds like you're really stressing out. I would go out with the other couple have fun. Bring whatever you need to eat and if anyone asks just tell them that you have having stomach problems and can't handle heavy foods right now. And leave it at that. It will all be fine. Try not to worry. Bring your own nightgown or if worse comes to worse wear 2 of the hospital gowns. 1 for the front and one for the back that way you're covered. They are actually pretty comfortable that way kind of like walking in the buff LOL just kidding. Have fun and try to calm down take deep breaths and tell yourself it will all pass.

I am so proud of you for not straying and cheating. You will make it through this! If nothing else can you take a walk to take your mind off of being hungry? I know you are thinking I'm crazy but I know that once I get my fat lazy butt outside I kind of forget about all the other stuff in my life for awhile. You keep up the good work you will make it through this and come out on the other side a healthier, thinner, happier you.

Ok here I am gave all the paperwork to my PCP yesterday afternoon. The office manager is submitting my referrals to Tricare on Monday! She is going to send them urgent so I should know something in 72 hours or less. I have to have these referrals approved or I can't go to my appointment at the surgeon's office on 3/10/08. On the 10th I'm supposed to do the nut job eval, blood work, meet with the dietitian, and meet with my surgeon. I have to be there at 7:15 am and they said that I would be there all day. Now I have a question for all you experienced bandsters out there. I have to track everything that I put in my mouth for 1 week before the 3/10/08 appt. Should I eat the way I have been eating (namely like every meal is my last) or should I try to eat like a normal person? As soon as I leave the appointment I plan on starting my diet to lose 10 to 15 pounds before surgery. So what do you think? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks for the tips I really appreciate them alot. Hopefully I'll get this done and over with soon. I have my first all day appointment on 3/10/08

Ok so found out the 1st surgeon that I chose can only accept Tricare Prime not Tricare Standard. What do I have well you guessed it Tricare Standard. So I start looking for another Surgeon and found Dr Allen in Louisville. He not only accepts Tricare Standard he is a participating provider Woo Hoo Happy days. So I go ahead and schedule for a seminar with him tomorrow 2/21/08. I'm working on filling out all the paperwork you know call the insurance provider and that stuff answer all the questions. Well while doing the insurance part I was talking to the Tricare Rep and she tells me that all I have to do is fill out the paperwork and I will be prime again. Yippee!!!!!! Filled out the paperwork and as of 3/1/08 I am prime this means that I will have my surgery paid for 100% no copays or cost shares now the problem is after 6/30/08 I go back to Tricare Standard. Does anyone think I might be able to get a surgeon to get this done before my prime care runs out?? I hope so because it saves me tons and tons of cash. Wish me luck. :thumbup:

where did they put the port? is it over where the button looking thingy is?

That doesn't look too bad at all hope they don't hurt too bad.

You go girl CONGRATS TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M DOING THE HAPPY DANCE FOR YOU.

March 10th!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!! I have my first appointment have to be there at 7:15 am they said it would take all day long. I was able to enroll in Tricare Prime now my surgery will be paid for 100% with the exception of the one time none refundable $500 program fee. Wow who really cares 500 is nothing compared to 2500 to 4000. LOL Please everyone stand up and do the happy dance with me!!!! Oh yeah and Tricare is trying to pull the old you have to have a 6 month medically supervised diet I already have proof of that so :tt2: to Tricare. Here we go people happy dance time jump on up off the couch and out of the chairs it's time to party. :biggrin:

March 10th!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!! I have my first appointment have to be there at 7:15 am they said it would take all day long. I was able to enroll in Tricare Prime now my surgery will be paid for 100% with the exception of the one time none refundable $500 program fee. Wow who really cares 500 is nothing compared to 2500 to 4000. LOL Please everyone stand up and do the happy dance with me!!!! Oh yeah and Tricare is trying to pull the old you have to have a 6 month medically supervised diet I already have proof of that so :tt2: to Tricare. Here we go people happy dance time jump on up off the couch and out of the chairs it's time to party. :party:

Wooooo Hoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so found out the 1st surgeon that I chose can only accept Tricare Prime not Tricare Standard. What do I have well you guessed it Tricare Standard. So I start looking for another Surgeon and found Dr Allen in Louisville. He not only accepts Tricare Standard he is a participating provider Woo Hoo Happy days. So I go ahead and schedule for a seminar with him tomorrow 2/21/08. I'm working on filling out all the paperwork you know call the insurance provider and that stuff answer all the questions. Well while doing the insurance part I was talking to the Tricare Rep and she tells me that all I have to do is fill out the paperwork and I will be prime again. Yippee!!!!!! Filled out the paperwork and as of 3/1/08 I am prime this means that I will have my surgery paid for 100% no copays or cost shares now the problem is after 6/30/08 I go back to Tricare Standard. Does anyone think I might be able to get a surgeon to get this done before my prime care runs out?? I hope so because it saves me tons and tons of cash. Wish me luck.

Ok called the surgeon's office today to see if maybe my PCP had possibly faxed my referral to them and maybe that is why they couldn't find it at the office. No such luck. But while I had the surgeon's office on the phone I asked if they had found out if I am required to do a 6 month medically supervised diet or not and conversation got around to insurance coverage somehow and I find out that the surgeon will accept Tricare Prime but not Tricare Standard!!! Well that was a blow but at least I found out today instead of rolling along thinking everything was good and wasting too much more time. So here I am on the hunt for a Surgeon that accepts Tricare Standard (hopefully is a participating provider) and that works at a hospital that is a participating provider for Tricare. I think I may have found one in Louisville. Dr. Jeff Allen with Norton Healthcare. Has anyone ever heard of him? Is he good? I'm going to a seminar with him tomorrow at noon. Wish me luck this is just the beginning of the journey but hopefully I can stay strong and finish it.

Ok called the surgeon's office today to see if maybe my PCP had possibly faxed my referral to them and maybe that is why they couldn't find it at the office. No such luck. But while I had the surgeon's office on the phone I asked if they had found out if I am required to do a 6 month medically supervised diet or not and conversation got around to insurance coverage somehow and I find out that the surgeon will accept Tricare Prime but not Tricare Standard!!! Well that was a blow but at least I found out today instead of rolling along thinking everything was good and wasting too much more time. So here I am on the hunt for a Surgeon that accepts Tricare Standard (hopefully is a participating provider) and that works at a hospital that is a participating provider for Tricare. I think I may have found one in Louisville. Dr. Jeff Allen with Norton Healthcare. Has anyone ever heard of him? Is he good? I'm going to a seminar with him tomorrow at noon. Wish me luck this is just the beginning of the journey but hopefully I can stay strong and finish it.

I went to my doctor last Thursday and he told me that my referral letter for the surgeon would be ready the first part of this week. I called Tuesday to see if the letter was done yet and nope it wasn't. The girl that types the letters was off on Monday and had just gotten it on her desk Tuesday morning!!!! So I ask when can I expect the letter to be done they tell me that they will call me when they have it done. The letter is very simple should take no more than 10 mins to type it up. I called this morning Wednesday and still it's not done as a matter of fact the receptionist tells me that she can't find anything about it anywhere!!!!!!!!!! WTH If I don't hear from them by tomorrow morning or they don't have it done by then I'm calling my Doctor at his home and asking him what the heck is going on. I know that this is the only thing that the surgeon's office is waiting for to schedule my first appointment!!!!!!!! I want to get this thing rolling and stupid people keep getting in my way. Sorry to be so crabby. Oh yeah and BTW I have decided starting today I'm going to wean myself off of my diet coke. I only got a 21 oz cup of diet coke this morning instead of my usual 44 oz. I'd go cold turkey but I can't handle the headaches I get from cutting myself off too fast.

I went to my doctor last Thursday and he told me that my referral letter for the surgeon would be ready the first part of this week. I called Tuesday to see if the letter was done yet and nope it wasn't. The girl that types the letters was off on Monday and had just gotten it on her desk Tuesday morning!!!! So I ask when can I expect the letter to be done they tell me that they will call me when they have it done. The letter is very simple should take no more than 10 mins to type it up. I called this morning Wednesday and still it's not done as a matter of fact the receptionist tells me that she can't find anything about it anywhere!!!!!!!!!! WTH :thumbup: If I don't hear from them by tomorrow morning or they don't have it done by then I'm calling my Doctor at his home and asking him what the heck is going on. :huh2: I know that this is the only thing that the surgeon's office is waiting for to schedule my first appointment!!!!!!!! I want to get this thing rolling and stupid people keep getting in my way. Sorry to be so crabby. Oh yeah and BTW I have decided starting today I'm going to wean myself off of my diet coke. I only got a 21 oz cup of diet coke this morning instead of my usual 44 oz. I'd go cold turkey but I can't handle the headaches I get from cutting myself off too fast.

wear 2 1/2 pound ankle weights on each leg when you get weighed in. I don't know about your doc's office but I've noticed that most of the time at mine they don't even pay attention since who in their right mind would want to weigh more??? LOL :biggrin: Oh yeah and wear really long pants and bring a bag big enough to drop the weights in when they leave you in the room alone.

Well here I am Happy 39th Birthday to me. This time next year I should be well on my way to a thinner, healthier, happier me!!!! Now if I could just get the surgeon to hurry the heck up and call me. I wonder do they know that they are slowly torturing me? Oh well in this world of instant gratification I suppose I should sit back enjoy the ride and practice delayed gratification. I didn't gain the weight over night I sure won't be able to lose it. I love the entire world at this moment (give me a few minutes I might change my mind) :thumbup: Talk to you'll later.

Happy Birthday to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on taking the first steps. I am kind of at the beginning of the process myself. Still waiting for my doctor's office to type up my referal letter.