mynmann

Hey. I still read all your entries. I like your bumble bee thing on your arm... hehe! I just wanted to comment on how good you look. It's hard to tell what someone really looks like in the little pictures. Your really pretty. I'm also impressed in the difference that 17 pounds made. You aren't bulging in spots that you used to... like your tummy and your back at the waist area. You seem to be really defining into this curvasious shape. You also don't appear to have lost your chest... which is nice. I fear I'll lose mine. I want to do what your doing... keep my chest and gain a waist line and a flat tummy. That would rock.

I am so frustrated. I want the lapband but feel like maybe being fat me is just where I am stuck. I went Friday to my primary doctor and had very high blood pressure... the doctor put me on medicine and wrote me a referal for the Lap Band. My insurance only requires I be 100 pounds over weight and have something like high BP.... so everything looked great. I'd been talking with Dr. Bagnato's office and it looked like I might be able to use him (I'd hoped). I went to his seminar a month or two ago and liked him and you guys speak so well of him. Today I called and they said that their hospital doesn't take my insurance (Tricare) and neither did they. They'd love to see me but I have to come up with $17,000+. They were nice, but nice was all they could do for me. Me and my husband are both full time students and he works part time to pay our bills. He's also National Gaurd and will be leaving for war in the next year (SOMETIME??). We have 3 kids.... so coming up with $17,000 is beyond impossible. financing is impossible also, who'd give students with limited credit and no full time jobs $17,000? My insurance says they cover 75% and I'd just need to come up with the other 15%, which even that would be hard but not impossible. Anyways, I just can't find a doctor that will see me and take my insurance. I'd prefer one that doesn't require me to do 20 other things my insurance doesn't too (like phyc eval and nutrition) because my insurance doesn't require it they don't cover it either. More out of pocket. I called a random doctor from the list. I know NOTHING about him other than he's on the lap band site. Dr. Paul Macik. I hope he's great. His office says that he takes my insurance. I have to come up with $150 per visit... not to mention the $1800+ for the surgury before hand. He also will require me to see a therapist for the evaluation... which I'll have to pay for out of pocket. But he may allow me to bypass the other steps, sense my insurance situation. I hope this works out, but I'm just scrared it won't. I'm so tired of denyed and this is all more than my family can really afford anyways. Maybe it's just cheaper and better for everyone if I just stay as I am. Encouraging words would be nice or just advice.

I am so ill. I can't seem to get anyone who knows anything in my area. went to seminars and got my referall and all I can get is a bunch of Dr.s who either don't take Tricare or their hospital doesn't. I now have an appointment on April 1st but not with a doctor I know. I just can't seem to catch a break on this. I so wish I were wealthy or had super credit... cause I'd just self pay and be done with this. Sadly, as a full time student with a part time income.... I don't have the money nor is ANYONE going to give me the money.... so I'm at Tricare and Georgia Doctors will. UGH!

Hoorah! That's great news! My husband couldn't tell me if I snore or not.... cause he's to busy doing it! :biggrin:

Wow, they look good. It looks like they won't even be noticeable in any time.

How does it feel, post fill. Do you get full alot quicker. This is why I love your blog... cause it keeps me so informed on what it will be like. I am very interested in how much this will change my appetite. I would love to see your scars again, if you feel up to it. No pushing cause I know that's private. I'm just worried about how bad my scaring will be cause I scar easy.

Stupid question: How do I make my weight loss ticker work? I'm trying but I think it's not showing up right. Also, is my picture working... I can't see it.

Thank you all for your words of advice. I will stay on here asking questions as they arise, because your all so helpful and knowledgable. I am really set on Dr. Bagnato... if he can find a way to take my insurance than I'm his. Their is no way I could do self pay. I have two young kids and me and my hubby are both full time students. Our only income is my husbands National Gaurd pay and his part time sales job.... not enough to save up $20K. Without full time jobs I'm sure financing isn't an option either. Oh well, just pray for me. My appointment with my general doctor is on the 14th... even if I don't need it I figure I'll go ahead and get a referal, can't hurt. Thank you for everything.

I worry about what your talking about. I've yet to get banded but food is my addiction. I am unsure what I'll do with myself. I'd like to become an gym junkie.... just work out all the time for fun. What's the chances? I'm writing to ask about Dr. Bagnato. If I can work out this insurance stuff (Tricare) then I intend to use him. Does he have a good bedside manner. I'm easily intimidated and have trouble being open and talking to doctors if they come off real aggressive or unapproachable. I want a doctor I can feel real comfortable talking to, incase I have problems. If Bagnato can't then I am trying for Bernett... does anyone know anything about him. He seemed a bit more approachable at the seminar... I just liked the number of bands Bagnato has done and Bagnato seemed to have a real open policy. My weight is barely over my insurance requirements. I'm close to 250 and it should be 147.... so I'm right at 100 over. My insurance only requires 100 pounds over and a health related issue. I have asthma and arthritis in my shoulder... but don't think those count. I have high BP... normally 130something over 98ish. The top number is fine, but the bottom is high I think. It goes over 100 on the bottom and did often when I was pregnant. I had to be hospitalized for it during pregnancy and they induced my son a month early. Now 2 years later it's still high. I worry about that cause I don't want to have a stroke if I get really stressed out. I'm only 29 and strokes and getting breathed with ANY physical activity (even walking) shouldn't be worries I have. I'm hoping that Dr. Bagnato (if he will take my insurance) will work with me to help me get approved. I really feel I need this or I won't live to see 50. Please help, I just need advice from a pro.

I am in Warner Robins, smack in the middle. Their are no Doc's in this area that do it.... so I'll have to travel. As long as it's in GA. I'm good. I went to Dr. Bernett/Bagnato's seminar and I liked them both. The only delay AT ALL I have with them is that Dr. Bagnato's staff said he doesn't take Tricare period and Dr. Bernett's staff said they do take Tricare but have yet to get one approved. All the friends I've made here on Tricare had theirs no problem.... so the delay Bernetts having is worring me. I told Dr. Bagnato's office that my Tricare "Tricare Reserve Select" allows for "out of network benefits" and doesn't require any referalls but I don't think she'd heard of it.... so she's calling me back. Wish me luck.

I am looking for a doctor in Georgia. I want a good doctor (and I'm not even sure how to research them to know if they're as good as they say) and I'm also looking for an EASY doctor. I am on Tricare Reserve Select. They are so easy. No history, no therapy! All you have to be is 100 pounds overweight (according to Met Life table) and have 1 of their listed comorbidity things. I have both those criteria.... so I'm good. Tricare said I can go straight to the Surgeon to get it preapproved. Problem is all the doctors I call want me to get my PCM to refer me and have all these health problems and blah blah blah. Then I have to see a therapist and a nutrition person. It's just alot of work. Any suggestions on good Georgia doctors?

Okay. I've been on the phone all day. Is their anyone on this site that has Tricare Reserve Select that's been through the motions of getting approved or having the lapband surgury. It's a bit different than Prime or Standard and I'm getting SUCH a run around from doctors. They keep telling me that they don't take Tricare... but Tricare Reserve Select pays doctors "out of network" so I don't understand the problem their. They also want me to get a referal... but Tricare says I don't need that either with Reserve Select. Then they're saying all this history I'll need and that I'll have to see a therapist and nutritionalist.... but my Tricare doesn't require that either. How do I find a doctor in Georgia who knows about Tricare Reserve Select and won't make me jump through 12,000 unnecessary hoops? I really could use some advice.