RestlessMonkey

If you have Tricare Standard (I'm starting to think I'm the only person who does) you don't have to get approval to see the surgeon, or the nutritionist, or the psych consult ... everything was covered. Approval for the surgery literally took less than 48 hours. It all just depends.

Carrie, I wouldn't go to Tijuana or any other place in Mexico. Some have great experience, but many dont. More people have trouble in Mexico than here. Even if I had to pay double or triple, I'm worth it. I know other posters will disagree but there's no way on earth you could drag me down there and treat a scratch, let alone do surgery.

AND DH can also mean "darn" (or worse) husband, depending....

The Fourest is weight in the 400's Threedom is weight in the 300's (I'm passing through) Twoterville is weight in the 200's and Onederland is weight in the 100's.

If anyone but my surgeon told me I should consider any type of diet or weight loss surgery, I'd be pretty ticked off. And I'm 53 AND I'm fairly tough skinned. It's similar to how I felt back when I smoked. I smoked because I wanted to. I didn't want people I knew or those I didn't to tell me how I could quit. Well, duh! It's safer to not say anything unless they say "how did you do it AND can I do it that way too" It's not age so much as it is different people. Furthermore, just because I may be glad you have a new baby doesn't mean I want one too! LOL (if you get my drift)

The pill carries a risk of blood clots. Talk to your surgeon if you feel you must take it; but realize you are increasing your risk of clots post op.

I lost 15 pounds with my 1st preop diet (my version that didn't shrink my liver) and 17 so far with surgeon's preop diet (which BETTER shrink my liver) and I go to be banded 8/29. I only had 1 last meal and don't think it made me gain much; this time I know better than to have that attitude. Like the other poster said, you will most likely still eat all the foods you like. Just less.

Good luck! I get my band 8/29. I've done a high protein/low carb diet for what seems like forever. My liver better have lost some weight!

We don't pay for tricare standard We pay a deductible then 20% of all charges up to a 3k catastrophic cap each year. We don't have to have a PCM, get referrals, etc. As long as we go to docs within network it acts like regular insurance. Tricare prime is more like an hmo.

I am tricare standard. I have WAY more than 100 pounds to lose. It took 2 days.

You'll do great! good luck. Get some rest!

Lucky you! Thanks for your good wishes. How long have you had the band now? I'm excited to finally get it, but it's amazing how much better I already feel. Losing 30 pounds helps, you know? I've got a TON more to lose but am surely pleased with that start. I know it will slow down but that's ok too. I feel better and can take it slowly!

I'm really trying to get ready for my 1st 2 weeks post op. I've been on the preop diet since 7/25 (getting 1 3oz piece of chicken or fish and 1 serving green veggies, plus 2-3 shakes) and now to go from that to broth for another 2 weeks...you can bet I'm going to love that soup too! And people who don't know think this is the "easy way out" HUH! But, it's worth the work now for my band to heal well.

Kimberly my doc requires 1 week of liquids (water and broth and liquid jello that hasn't set yet gag) and that's about IT. Week two we get that and protein drinks and thicker soups if pureed. Week 3 we get mushies... they are all a little different; but I've read books that say liquids for 4 weeks (wow). Mine's liquids 2 mushies 2 then progress to soft solids.... Each surgeon has to have his or her own version I think!

IF you have local surgeons find one or two who take your ins and go to a free seminar. That's a GREAT place to start. If you decide you want the band, they should help you get started on the ins process. Good luck!

When I google "does medicaid cover lap band surgery" the concensus answer is to call your local social services office and see if you qualify because they do cover it subject to some restrictions and requirements (which were not listed)

Very lucky HF! I've read some real horror stories about ins (both tricare and others) I didn't have any trouble but my BMI was so high the rest just wasn't an issue.

I'm tricare standard. May I suggest calling Kaiser and finding out from them what they need from you at your height/weight/age etc? You could enter "kaiser" in the search bar too. Calling them is probably a great place to start!

You can enter tricare in the search bar. I had no trouble but if they say 100 pounds and comorbidities, they won't approve you unless you have them. I've read many who were turned down...or they had the comorbidity like diabetes but only were 96 pounds over and were rejected. i heard (all this is hearsay, not personal experience, remember) that tricare uses the "medium frame" from the metlife ins table to see if you are 100 over or not.

I guess I don't expect my cravings to go away. I don't even expect HUNGER to go away until I get the fill right. They say the liquid and mushie stages are bandster hell where you just have to grit your teeth and get through them. Right after surgery it makes sense you aren't hungry but as your stomach heals and gets used to the band, for most (not all) hunger returns. So you have to just tough it out! It will get better once you can eat solids and especially once you get going on the fills. At least, that's what I've learned from the 2 books, surgeon, and the boards! LOL so I'm braced for it.

no. As I said he did chest x ray ultrasound...and i didn't say but they took 5 vials of blood and tested me for everything including, I think, beri beri LOL They also did an ekg (nothing to do w/my liver of course) they were very thorough. (this besides nutrition psych etc) Even if it showed it was fat until he gets in there he won't know HOW fat, WHERE, if he can move it, and so on. No way to tell. So follow your surgeon's diet, is the only advice I can give.

I can't help you; my insurance doesn't require all that. I suggest you call your insurance company and get someone to go over it all with you very precisely; then you'll know! They are all different!

Yes tricare covers it subject to conditions. I'm not sure exactly what they are; but if you're active duty, wouldn't you go to a base hospital? I'm tricare standard and weigh enough that comorbidities etc weren't an option. They submitted my packet and 2 days later it was approved.