Emily'sDad

Sgt Bob I think you are the first person to catch the beachcraft connection to my user id. I was a turboprop mechanic in the Air Force and vowed that if I ever won the lottery I was going to buy my very own turboprop.. Beach King air 1900

my referral to the surgeon has been approved. Haven't yet been approved for the actual surgery. 305lbs 6'00" BMI 41. Cormobids; high bloodpressure, sleep apnea, and back pain. My impression is that I've made it through the difficult part of the approval process. We will see though. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that all contiues smoothly.

A few months ago my wife and I were talking about how I am struggling to lose weight. i'm very worried that if something doesn't change I'll not be around to see my children grow up. Now I don't have any serious health problems, aside from being about 140lbs over weight! Anyways my wife brought up the topic of lapband surgery (i had it on my mind, but was scared to bring it up). After thinking it over for a few months and doing some research, I decided to make an appointment to ask my physician. A month later (yeah it takes a while to get in to see a doc with tricare prime). After voicing my concerns regarding weight, potential sleep apnea, and back pain, the Doc types out a referral for a gastric surgeon and a sleep study. I guess it helped that i suddenly seem to have developed high blood pressure. the visit seemed so anticlimatic. I expected to be given the third degree. so now here I am tied up i knots waiting to see if my referral goes through tricare for the surgeon. Hence the desire to write out my experiances thus far. From the sounds of the posts I have been reading I have a good chance of this process being approved. I hope so, because I am getting excited thinking about being able to be more active again. Soccer with the wife? Hiking with the kids? OH yeah baby.

I have read some posts about potential bandsters bringing their spouses to lapband seminars. This gives them some exposure to the program and may alleviate some misconceptions. Diabetes is nothing to mess with, I also have a family history there. I'm only new looking at this option seriously because it took me a while to get past my own misconceptions.

Well after checking the insurance website obcessively over the past two days I broke down and called. I guess my referral was just approved today! I'm pretty excited, and a bit nervous. I'm not sure what my upcoming obsticals are. It seems as though once you have that initial referral approved then it's a down hill battle from there on. We'll see, I don't want to get too excited. I've been doing quite a bit of reading about the procedure, complications, lifestyle postband. Guess I'll start filling out the questionaire for the surgeon!

Well after checking the insurance website obcessively over the past two days I broke down and called. I guess my referral was just approved today! I'm pretty excited, and a bit nervous. I'm not sure what my upcoming obsticals are. It seems as though once you have that initial referral approved then it's a down hill battle from there on. We'll see, I don't want to get too excited. I've been doing quite a bit of reading about the procedure, complications, lifestyle postband. Guess I'll start filling out the questionaire for the surgeon!

I'm approved to see the surgeon! I couldn't wait for the letter I had to call and ask...yeah I'm a big dork.

It would seem that once you get your PCM's approval. Which in my case took one visit, then you are on your way. The question then is will your insurance approve you. That depends on how your PCM submits the referral.

Lisa, Thanks for the help, I got set up on the website. No news on the referral yet, but at least now I know where to look. If you like Italian food then Toscani's is my favorite.

A few months ago my wife and I were talking about how I am struggling to lose weight. i'm very worried that if something doesn't change I'll not be around to see my children grow up. Now I don't have any serious health problems, aside from being about 140lbs over weight! Anyways my wife brought up the topic of lapband surgery (i had it on my mind, but was scared to bring it up). After thinking it over for a few months and doing some research, I decided to make an appointment to ask my physician. A month later (yeah it takes a while to get in to see a doc with tricare prime). After voicing my concerns regarding weight, potential sleep apnea, and back pain, the Doc types out a referral for a gastric surgeon and a sleep study. I guess it helped that i suddenly seem to have developed high blood pressure. the visit seemed so anticlimatic. I expected to be given the third degree. so now here I am tied up i knots waiting to see if my referral goes through tricare for the surgeon. Hence the desire to write out my experiances thus far. From the sounds of the posts I have been reading I have a good chance of this process being approved. I hope so, because I am getting excited thinking about being able to be more active again. Soccer with the wife? Hiking with the kids? OH yeah baby.

Wow that really is quick. I am still waiting for my PCM referral to be approved. My wife is an instructor pilot here at Sheppard AFB. What a lovely place Wichita Falls is...not!!! haha What website do you guys use for checking your approval status?

I went in to meet with my PCM today to ask about LB and we discovered that I now have fairly high blood pressure. That was a bit of a surprise. Maybe just nerves? Anyways he gave me a referral to see a surgeon for LB and have a sleep study. Is that the big hurdle? Or is it getting insurance approval? What can I expect at the surgeons office? Still can't believe my BP jumped so much. Brad

I'ts nice to hear from people in the same boat I am. The thought of surgery is a little spooky. Especially after looking at the post op scars pages. I had no idea they poke so many holes in you. I don't know if I can afford the procedure if my insurance doesn't cover me. I do know that if my health problems aren't severe enough now that they will be a few years from now.

Good luck!

First off congratulations on your approval Lisa! I have made an appointment with my PCM next week to explore the possibility of LB. I had hoped to schedule a physical to discuss there. Unfortunately it is next to impossible to get an appointment for a physical on base these days. I have a lot of backpain at night and am worried that I have developed sleep apnea. I hope these issues along with my weight 6'0" 300lbs will qualify me. I was wondering how you all felt asking about the procedure the first time? I'm feeling a bit foolish (I know I shouldn't, but I do).