Mommie_of_4

Tricare South doesn't list the doctors under bariatric surgeon or weightloss (event though it would be a big help). The bariatric surgeon are listed under 'general surgery' or sometimes 'vascular surgery'. The way I found my doctor is going some of the doctor names on the LapbandTalk website in my area and then searching for the specific doctor's name on the humana-military.com site. My doctor Dr. Craig A Ferrara, DO is in Fort Worth. The surgery went great and I'm definately pleased with my results. It was VERY quick in getting the entire process completed. I went in Late July 2008 for my initial consultation, office submitted the forms and was approved first part of August. I think it was a total of 8 days until I was approved. Didn't know if I was going to be...but Tricare approved it and the rest is 'weight loss' history. PM me if you have any additional questions!!

It's been SOOOO long since I have logged into this site!! But wanted to give an update on my progress and see how everyone else has been doing. My surgery was September 15th. I have lost 63 pounds since my surgery date. I am weighing in at 178 pounds. I still have at least 28 more pounds to go to my 150 pound goal. Would love to see 140 pounds again...but I would be more than happy to just be 150 pounds. I'm able to get in clothes that I have hanged on to for years...it's a great feeling!! I'm trying to work out more because I want to tone up too while I'm losing weight. My last fill was in May 2009. I think I'm due another one because I feel like I can eat a bit too much and I'm not losing anymore really. Is anyone thinking about a tummy tuck or breast lift/reduction? I am. I was 42E cup and now I'm like a 38 DD...I've had 3 c-sections so losing my stomach is harder so a tummy tuck would be needed...but I'm still debating on that. Anyway...everyone keep up the GREAT work!!

They say pineapple juice either makes it go down or come up. I've never resorted to it before, but other bandsters I met in the Drs. office swear by it.

Thanks Deb!! I'm working on it. I actually bought clothes today that didn't have the big 'W' behind the size. I bought two outfits 1 for Easter and another just because it was TOOO cute. The Easter suit is a size 18 (but a normal 18 - which I could never get it before) because 16 skirt was a little more snug than I would like for church. And the other pants set (denim look) is a size 16!! The pants are a bit snug but in about 2 weeks they will be perfect. You keep up the good work...and congrats on hitting your sweet-spot! I actually have a membership at 24 hour fitness. They let you bring all the kids without having to pay an extra fee. I was a member at LA fitness but you only get 1 childcare spot and then it's $10 per month per child. So I cancelled that membership quick...fast...and in a hurry!!

Wow, six months!! I've lost 40 pounds and am officially in ONEderland!! I've still been wearing my big clothes because I haven't wanted to buy any clothes yet and too scared to try on any of my old clothes that I could no longer wear because of my weight gain. Well I tried on some size 16 pants and they were too BIG!!! So I ventured to try on a pair of 14 pants that I had buried in the back of my closet...I could get into them but they were a little snug. But SOON!! I think the working out will take me to the next level and push me into losing more weight. I've been working out but no consistently. So I need to plan on working out at 3 to 4 days a week minimum...but finding the time is so hard. With 4 kids, working, husband out of town 90% of the time...but I have to find a way!!

Please remember for it to be tax deductible you have to meet the minimum adjusted gross income (line 38 on the 1040 return)requirement in your medical bills. Per the IRS 'You can deduct only the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income'. (http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html) So if your AGI is $80K, your expenses must be OVER $6000. And if your medical expenses are $6150...you can only deduct the $150 that caused it to be over the 7.5%. If your employer has a Medical Flexible Spending Account...I HIGHLY recommend you getting into that because that money comes out before you are taxed and you are reimbursed any medical expenses without paying taxes on it. If you want more insight send me a PM and I talk with you about it. Just to let you all know that I'm not a quack...I have an accounting degree and have done hundreds of tax returns. My doctor bills for the surgery totalled $36K. So glad I have insurance, I didn't pay a dime (no copay). Tricare is GREAT!!!

tootsuzy ~ from what my doctor said...you are banded but not restricted. You will have to eat slower right now because of the band but there is not liquid in your lapband to restrict your food. So you are still able to eat the food that you could before which is why you are still hungry. So after your fill is when you should hopefully be losing more weight.

Sorry for the late check in!! It's been two weeks since my surgery and I'm feeling GREAT!! I had my surgery on Sept 15. I went in at 10am and was home by 4pm. All went great with the surgery. No complications. I had to go through the at-home recovery alone because my husband went out of town that night. But I was a real 'Samurai' and didn't have any problems with the recovery. I was able to get up and take care of myself and my 4 kids. The lapband recovery was a cake-walk compared to the 3 c-section recoveries I had to endure. I didn't have any gas pains, or shoulder pains. I did have to battle naseau...I had it until Thursday, but the medication was GREAT!!! The incisions look really good. I have 4 quarter inch incisions and 1 that is about 1 1/2 inches long. They are healing nicely. I have lost about 13 pounds so far, but wish it was more...just greedy!! I don't have any restrictions right now but I do have to eat slower. I have my first fill on Oct. 6th, so I'm really lokking forward to that and hopefully losing more real soon. Well today is the last day of the 'Samurai'. I hope all had a great surgery experience and doing well...now let's kick some ass and lose weight!!

Sorry for the late check in!! It's been two weeks since my surgery and I'm feeling GREAT!! I had my surgery on Sept 15. I went in at 10am and was home by 4pm. All went great with the surgery. No complications. I had to go through the at-home recovery alone because my husband went out of town that night. But I was a real 'Samurai' and didn't have any problems with the recovery. I was able to get up and take care of myself and my 4 kids. The lapband recovery was a cake-walk compared to the 3 c-section recoveries I had to endure. I didn't have any gas pains, or shoulder pains. I did have to battle naseau...I had it until Thursday, but the medication was GREAT!!! The incisions look really good. I have 4 quarter inch incisions and 1 that is about 1 1/2 inches long. They are healing nicely. I have lost about 13 pounds so far, but wish it was more...just greedy!! I don't have any restrictions right now but I do have to eat slower. I have my first fill on Oct. 6th, so I'm really lokking forward to that and hopefully losing more real soon. Well today is the last day of the 'Samurai'. I hope all had a great surgery experience and doing well...now let's kick some ass and lose weight!!

Hi. My husband is scheduled to be out of town on Sept 15th, which is the day I am scheduled to have my surgery. I would have to wait another month to have my surgery if I postponed it because I can only have my surgery at one specific facility for my insurance to pay for it (and the drs only do surgery there once a month). I really don't want to postpone my surgery. I have decided not to tell any other family and friends about the surgery so if my husband isn't available I don't have a ride from the hospital. I would like to see if anyone else in the DFW Texas area would like to link up and be each others surgery buddy. I could be your support person on the day of surgery also if you have not had the surgery already. Anyone wanting to help...let me know!! Thanks!

Breanna, Like Gina said...no one measured my wrists either to determine my body frame. I think tricare just goes with medium unless the doctor says otherwise. Also for my comorbids were self-referred. I told my lapband dr. that I have joint pain (plus my referral to the dr from the primary was for joint pain). I hadn't been taking any medication for it for a long length of time. I was 220 and 5'4 (approved in 3 days). So what do you have to lose...but weight!!

Debbie! you are so right!! seems like years ago that we voted for a name!! Thought September would never get here. Now we are almost halfway through the month. Soon we will be reporting on all of the weight loss we have had. Thanks so much for wishing the 15'ers well. I'll let you all know how the surgery goes!

Congrats to all my fellow SAMURAIs!! I just love that name. I really think and believe that we are warriors. I know we have a long way to go, but the trip is well worth it. I'm getting banded tomorrow. I'm nervous and anxious!! I can't wait. My husband really doesn't want me to do it, because he doesn't want me to get cut on. But I'm determined and mind is set!! So pray for me and the other 15'ers.

No you aren't mistaken!! We are Sorors!! Thank you so much for your generosity. If nothing more...I would love to meet up with you just to have the sister/lapband connection!!

CONGRAT!!! You are now a September Samurai!!

Congrats!! I can't wait to an official Samurai too!

Glad all went well with your surgery gg!! Keep up the work and I will be checking out your blog soon!!

Hi. My husband is scheduled to be out of town on Sept 15th, which is the day I am scheduled to have my surgery. I would have to wait another month to have my surgery if I postponed it because I can only have my surgery at one specific facility for my insurance to pay for it (and the drs only do surgery there once a month). I really don't want to postpone my surgery. I have decided not to tell any other family and friends about the surgery so if my husband isn't available I don't have a ride from the hospital. I would like to see if anyone else in the DFW Texas area would like to link up and be each others surgery buddy. I could be your support person on the day of surgery also if you have not had the surgery already. Anyone wanting to help...let me know!! Thanks!

enigma ~ thanks for your concerns. My hubby will only be out of town for the day. My kids will be at my parents so I won't have to worry about them. My doctor gives all my prescriptions to me before the surgery so I plan on having them all filled before I go into surgery. So just getting home is my main concern. I plan on being in bed all day that day after surgery but I'm hoping that what I go through will not be anything compared to the 3 C-Sections I had to recover from. But I was up the next day after having them...walking slow but up! LOL I posted the same thread on the September bandster site...so we will see. Looks like you are doing good on your WL quest!! Congrats and keep up the good work!!

srknepler ~ I asked if I could get a cab and they said they wouldn't release me to a cab driver. So I think the same would apply to a driver. Congrats on your up and coming banding!! Have you looked at the September bandsters sections?

Hi. My husband is scheduled to be out of town on Sept 15th, which is the day I am scheduled to have my surgery. I would have to wait another month to have my surgery if I postponed it because I can only have my surgery at one specific facility for my insurance to pay for it (and the drs only do surgery there once a month). I really don't want to postpone my surgery. I have decided not to tell any other family and friends about the surgery so if my husband isn't available I don't have a ride from the hospital. I would like to see if anyone else in the DFW Texas area would like to link up and be each others surgery buddy. I could be your support person on the day of surgery also if you have not had the surgery already. Anyone wanting to help...let me know!! Thanks!

Well I'm 34 (35 in August). I'm a wife to a Navy man...mother to 4 beautiful kids (3 girls, 1 boy). All of my kids are between the ages of 5 and 7 months. I'm looking forward to a new and improved me!! I want to buy clothes in the misses section...I want to run with my kids and not be winded...I want to be excited about trying on clothes...gosh so many wants!!

well the fat party is over now...so let the I'm fine, healthy party begin. Party over here!! The roof...the roof...the roof is on fire...