Fdiljn

Ineedalapband -- Congrats!! As you know my husband still has issues with the band so I am not there yet. Best of luck and please keep us informed of your progress.

kittykoo My sympathy to you on the loss of your husband. Cannot imagine your pain but I would say if you only gained back 10 lbs you did super. Many in that situation would have given up and gained back all so I think you are still on track. Maybe as you said you are now ready to make the final push and that is good. Best of luck to you.

I am going to tell my coworkers that I am having some Health Issues, my doctor has insisted that I lose weight and really do not want to discuss it. Hopefully that will cut the questions

Please do not get discouraged this early in the game. Keep the faith and know that everything that happens -- happens for a reason. Know that a power bigger than us is really in control. Dr Redmann's office has always returned my calls within one business day so if you left a message today you will hear from them tomorrow. Positive thoughts to ya!!

i believe all of us can say we have been where you are. Why we overeat or take that "extra" taste is how we got to where we are. You know you can make those hard choices sometimes it is just easier than others. Do not beat yourself up when you make the incorrect choice reward yourself if only by telling yourself what a winner you are. I really think we are hardest on ourselves. So do what works for you even tho you may not lose as quickly as you want even 1 pound is more than before. Hang in there visit this site and let us know how you are doing

Stay Tuned I know this is not the thread you would normally post this information but how about giving us a little update on your recovery (what was it like) and how you are doing.

I too have Prime and had never seen my PCM. In fact I still have not seen her as she is out on maternity leave. I saw the PA and he asked me why I wanted to have the surgery, what diet programs I had tried, had I considered bypass instead of the band what medications I take, and that was it. I was out in about 15 minutes. Not sure that is usual but that is how mine went. The surgeon's office has mentioned that I must be cleared for surgery by my PCM and I am not sure what that will consist of but guess I wll cross that bridge when I get to it.

His office is in Covington and I have to go there to see him. There is a Surgery Center in Slidell and that is where they will do the surgery if I am apporved. I remember I had that problem with the Humana site at first but cannot remember what I did to get it to work. I know I had to register at both sites and my password is different.

My appointment with Dr Reddman is Jun 12. Yes my referral was on the web site--humana on line I think. His office sent me a set of papers to fill out and they do not ask that I bring my records. I have a copy that I am going to take just in case they want them. They also told me that I could do the psyc eval in their office for $50 but depending on the time and what else they require I will probably go thru Value Options. I do not see a need to spend $50 when I can do it for $12. The other thing that Danielle from his office mentioned was that I would have to be cleared for surgery by my PCM. Not sure what that will require or how long it will take. Guess I will find out next week. I am hoping to have surgery on Aug 14. That is a long way off but I have some travel scheduled and I have been trying to take this pretty slowly hoping my DH will start feeling better about it. Perhaps I should have done is quickly and then he would not have had as mcuh time to think aobut it. Oh well....

I am from MS and I too received a referral for a Dr in AL. I had been talking with Dr Redmann's office in LA so I had my referral changed to him. It took 2 minutes on the phone with Tricare to change it.

Why am I fat now? I had a good childhood with a very close family, I had great career that required me to maintain physical fitness and stay under a certain weight and I did it. I retired and put on a lot of weight but decided that I did not want to buy (or wear) that size of clothes so I joined a health center followed a well rounded diet and lost all that weight and more. But then one night at dinner my DH said to me as we were eating dinner "should you be eating that much?" and I though how dare he ask me if I should eat something I am 50 years old I know what I can or cannot eat. And so I ate. I ate when I was happy, sad, bored, tired and any other time I could think of to eat. (Sounds like I have a real mental problem doesn't it.) With all of that said I have to admit the reason I am fat is because I eat too much and too often. I know that I have the ability to follow a program and lose the weight I just need something to assist me in keeping it off and that is what I hope to get with the band. I understand that the band is not going to STOP me from eating too much; I am hoping it will give me the incentive to STOP myself. I really did not mean this post to turn into a rambling feel sorry for myself story but once I started writing it just came out and now I feel better and even more ready to get on with the next stage of my life

I would think you should listen to your body and take what ever time you need to take. I expect to take a week off but will do more if necessary. I do not want to take more than necessary in case I experience complications down the road. I want my boss and coworders to think of this as a positive thing and if I am not there someone else has to cover my work and I not want to take advantage. My health of course will be the deciding factor.

I so wish I were that close. I think your body will tell you what your goal should be. Some people carry 155 very well and others do not.

Kitty I think you are a little out of line when you call the workers at Tricare "morons" Like most of us most of them know what they are doing and work very hard to do the best for us. In every walk of life there are those who just get by and at times we have to deal with that. Tricare may not be the best insurance but it is what we have and it is our choice whether or not to use it.

There are many ways to lose 50 lbs as I am sure most of us on this board can tell you. I have lost 50 lbs lots of times it is keeping those lbs off and not gaining more that is the problem with me. If I were in your shoes I too would be concerned about having another surgery given the number of health issues you have recently experienced. I think it is very important for you to go into surgery with full confidence that it is the way you want to spend the rest of your life. Rather than rushing to surgery perhaps you can participate in this board and use it as a support to lose the weight and keep it off without surgery. Although it is LapBand Talk I am sure there are many who would provide support to help you lose the weight even if you do not choose the band.

NOTHING is wrong with you! I think many of us who have gotten so heavy feel that something must be wrong with us but actually it is not us it is some of the choices we make day by day. We must find what motivation tool will work and then work with that tool. Losing slow is a good way to lose especially health wise. Hang in there and keep us posted.

Wildchild You know what you can do and what you want to do so hang in there and you will make it. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Super!! Please keep us updated on your progress

At work I am simply saying that I have some "health issues" and have to get rid of this weight. Not going to say how. My husband knows because he has to take me in for surgery. Have told one other person so she will not expect us for dinner every other Sat night

Tricare Prime does cover Lap Band if you are 100 lbs overweight and have a comibidity or I think it is 200 percent over ideal weight. I received a referral to a surgeon last week just waiting for the appointment. Approval for the band is fairly new but if you search the Insurance forum for "tricare" you will find several who have been approved and a lot of suggestions how to get approved

Exactly!! Although my husband says he supports my decision and that it is my body and I have to make the decision he brings up all of the negatives in how it will change our life and "what if" something goes wrong. It is hard to deal with at times. Good luck and keep the You will make the correct decision on what is best for you and in the long run for the both of you.

Thanks for the post. I have not been banded yet and although my husband has said that he wants whatever I want I know that he is having problems with the idea. The first time we discussed it he said that we have such a perfect life that he hated to see it change. When I ask him what he meant, he said we will never be able to go out for a wine and candle lit dinner. I told him that I did not think that was true I would have to just drink and eat less. Even tho I do believe what I told him the thought still sticks in my mind and I wonder if that is true. What is it like after 3 or 4 years? Any thoughts you can share or places I can look to help understand long term life with the band?

I do not thing that really was an issue for the referral to the surgeon. I take blood pressure medication but I do not remember that he even asked me about that. I think the comorbidity will come up more when the authorization for surgery is sent it and I think the surgeon will have experience addressing that. I must again say that I am new to Tricare and perhaps have a more positive outlook than I should. Good luck and keep us posted and I will do the same

Ineedalpaband -- I say my PCM at Keesler on May 6 and after asking about my previous diets, looking at my weight (100 lbs overweight) asking why the lap band, he said he would put in the referral. It was approved by Tricare by friday for a Dr in Mobile. I had been researching and decided I would rather go to LA so I called and they changed it. I have an appointment with the surgeon Dr Redmann on June 12. I will keep posting as I continue the journey

I have a referra lfor Dr Reddman in Covington LA but I do not find that the Surgical Center in Slidell onTRICARE list. Has anyone using Tricare used that center? I am so confused. It seems the more I learn the more quetions I have.