Tantrica

Hi all! I'm not quite 30 (until June) but don't want to jump in to the 20's group and then have to move (like its a rigid system, lol!). I was banded on 3/20 and just had my first fill on Wednesday. I currently have 5CC's in a 10CC AP standard. The doc tried to put another 1CC in my band during the fill but I immediately got sick to my stomach and dizzy, so I had him take it back out. I have to fly or drive 6 hours to get to him and there isn't any Lap-Band surgeons in the area at all, so I thought it was better safe than sorry! I have lost 35lbs so far and have about 65 to go to reach my goal. My scale appears to be broken (or it soon will be, lol) and has been stuck at the same number (210lbs) since the 19th! I'm a bit frusterated with it but know it will move again as long as I don't over eat. I'm currently maintaining about an 800-900 calorie a day diet and limiting Carbs to 20-30 grams. Other than being a bandster, I am happily married (most of the time:wink:) for the last 8 years. Hubby and I have been together since we were just kids, 15 years old, lol. We have 2 beautiful daughters at home (7 and 2) and one that we released for adoption at birth (9). I am blessed to be a SAHM. I do volunteer my services as a Doula to the local hospitals and I am studying Midwifery. My hubby is Active Duty Army and preparing for another tour in Iraq this fall. I think that about sums up me, in a nut shell!! Kari

My doc requires a diet. High protein, low carbs for 2 weeks prior to surgery but that was all the direction I got! I thought through all the diets I've ever been on and realized I'd never done one like this, lol! So I'm doing the Atkins induction phase. Currently on day 2 and suprisingly I'm NOT hungry!! That has never happened before in my LIFE, lol!! I will be banded on the 20th and I'm somewhere between excited and nervous. Oh and I was told to have my "last supper" the night before surgery then nothing, including WATER, after dinner! Kari

I'm not sure of the details but please research carefully! If you do indeed have to switch to Standard to have POS care for the surgery it may take a while to get back on Prime, depending on your Soldier's rank. I **THINK** that if they are E-5 (E-6?) or above you have to wait a full year before switching back to Prime! Kari

I just wanted to let you know that my insurance packet was submitted to Tricare today and just about 3 hours later I had my approval!! I am set to be banded 2 weeks from Thursday!! KAri:cool2::thumbup::thumbup::w00t:

I'm not much help with having the surgery at a MTF, I elected to go to an in-network provider off post due to the lack of qualified surgeons on base. BUT I had no trouble once my referral was in place. TriCare doesn't require the life style classes for approval and they do not offer them here so I didn't have to go to them. I did have a psych eval done off post, not a full work up, just a 1 hour interview with the psych to be sure I was capable of making the decision, a nutrition consult to learn what to eat, upper GI, abdominal U/S, chest x-ray, liver function test, labs, and a pulmonary function test, and a 12 lead EKG. I'm not sure what the case management thing is either, lol. I simply saw the surgeon, had the required tests and had the results submitted to him. He is reviewing them as we speak and will be submitting to TriCare for approval this week. I'll let you know how it goes from there! BTW, I'm 5'6", 245lbs, BMI 40.8 Kari

I have Tricare West Region, Prime and have done all my pre-ops and will have my paperwork submitted for surgery this week. I'm not expecting much hassle. I'm 29, 5'6", 245 lbs, BMI 40.8 with HBP, arthritis of weight bearing joints, and fatty liver disease. My surgeon is confidant that they will not deny and I should be banded in late March/ Early April! I did find that in order to actually GET the referral I had to be assertive, direct, and not take any garbage from my PCM. She actually had the gall to tell me that Fat people are fat because they WANT to be and if I wanted to be thin I would be. After that remark I lost my cool and quit asking for things, I just TOLD her what she was going to do instesad. I met with the surgeon on Jan 16th, and just finished all my pre-op testing on Thursday. Remember to be assertive, this is your life and health! Don't let anyone stand in your way when you are trying to make it better!! Kari

I'm not banded yet so I haven't tried this but I picked up a tip on another lap band board. If you put a single green olive in to your beer it will go flat without the stale taste and be easier to drink, no foam. I'm a mixed drink girl myself so I'm thinking after banding it might just be a better idea for myself not to drink....or drink it on the rocks, lol. Kari

Well obviously!! Any way I'm a 29 year old mommy of 3. I'm an Army wife and VERY proud of my soldier!! We are originally from South florida and are stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska!! We have been together since we were just 14 years old and I wouldn't trade a day of it!! I am done with my pre-op tests and waiting for insurance approval(Tri-Care Prime, West region), hoping for a late March surgery date. I am currently 245lbs, 5'5" tall, and have a BMI of 40.8. I found out through pre-op testing that I have fatty liver disease, so I will be on the LOVELY all liquid pre-op diet once I have a date! I am also a full time Midwifery student and am working towards my Masters!! I'm sure you'll all get to know me on the boards but if you have any questions, ask away, I'm not a bit shy!! Kari