lisw55

Hi Kristy, You may have already been to Japan and returned, but I just wanted to let you and anyone else who may be flying to Japan know about Dr. Kazama and Dr. Seki from the Yotsuya Medical Cube which is a small private hospital located in Tokyo. You can Google the hospital and get the telephone number. Ask for the doctors and they will make sure that you get an appointment. Will you be visiting or will you be living in Japan? Chances are if you are visiting you will not have any problems during your visit. I was on mushies when I flew to Japan 2 weeks after my surgery. The Airlines allowed me to bring small bottles of baby food (meat) due to my dietary restrictions. Actually, they were quite accommodating. Hopefully, you had a great time in Japan!! Leona

Minksymom, I will find my letter scan and send it to you. Some kind soul sent me a copy of their letter, so I had a general idea of what I needed to address in the letter. It was an appeal letter and took 15 days for approval. I called to check on the progress and could not believe the guy when he said it had been approved. I asked if he would check it again to make sure the approval was under my name. He just laughed and told me to trust him that it had been approved. Then I was nuts for 3 weeks until I got the letter in the mail. By that time I had the surgery scheduled and was ready to go for it! It may take me a few days to find the letter and scan and send it. I'll need you email. Leona

Dear FissyLove, I was initially turned down with a BMI of 39 and co morbiditiies. Then I spent the next 6 weeks feeling sorry for myself. Do your self a favor by skipping this part and sit down wth all the facts to write a rebuttal letter to the insurance company that includes everyting you have done to get ready for the surgery to include hard facts regarding how much money they have already spent on your care and how much they could potentially spend on you over the next 20 years for your care if you do not have the surgery. Writing this letter took one week and was the most important step in my journey. I had just lost my youngest sister to heart failure that began due to morbid obesity. The insurance company was not going to take charge of my life. Instead I took charge and am now a healthy person. Stand up and take charge and do not let these bullies keep you from being healthy. IMO, you do not need a lawyer until all your options have been exhausted. God Bless you!! Now go out there and get your lapband surgery approved!! Leona

Many military treatment facilities do not have a surgeon that is credentialed to provide follow-up care that is needed after LB surgery.

Hello, I am just checking in with you to see how the surgery went and how you are doing? I go to the surgeon on Wednesday so will ask about the referral. Take care! Leona

Fills are quite affordable. Adjustments done under Fluoroscope are approximately 20,000 Yen. Sounds like you will be doing fine by the time you reach Japan. I will ask for a referral and forward the info to you in the next week or so.

Will you be attached to the Marine base? I live at Yokota Air Base and was referred to Yotsuya Medical Cube in Tokyo. The surgeons are superb and both speak English. The facility is also quite nice. However, due to the distance from Iwakuni, I will ask them for a referral during my next appointment. Also, if you are attached to the military and are illegible to fly "Space A" there are many flights each month to/from Iwakuni to Yokota. Then the train to Tokyo is about one hour. When do you expect to have surgery and your expected travel date? You will need to bring ALL surgical reports and then get a referral from your doctor here in Japan. They do not accept US insurance, but have been quite helpful in providing reports necessary for me to make the claims. So, without Japanese insurance you will need to pay cash at the time of your appointment. Please, let me know if I can answer any other questions.

Hello! Where will you be living in Japan? If you will be near Tokyo I can refer you to my surgeon. Otherwise, I can ask my surgeon for a referral in the location that you will be living.

Hi JuliansMom, The New Beginnings program cost around $1700 when I signed up for it. It was definitely worth every cent. I justified spending this much because I have always taken care of everyone else. Well, I decided that I was worth it, so this one was for me. The program prepared me for the surgery. When I got word that I would need to transfer back to Japan, I felt absolutely confident that I would survive and be a success. Had I not participated in this program I would have been very unsure of myself. Hope this helps. Why not give them a call and go over to discuss how the program works before you make a decision. Take care.

Dr. Kipnis, I am honored to make the first entry to your forum. For those seeking Lapband surgery in Burlington or Camden counties I would like to suggest that Dr. Kipnis is an excellent surgeon. He requires participation in the New Beginning Program that actually prepares you for the surgery and life afterwards. In the beginning I did not want to participate in the program because of the cost, but mostly because of the 2 hour drive round trip each time I went for an appointment or for the weekly classes. The drive was a major stressor for me during the process. I'd like to recommend and thank Chris from New Beginnings, as well as Nancy and Deborah from Dr. Kipnis' staff. These individuals went out of their way to help me every step of the way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My surgery was performed on 14 April 09, at the Marlton hospital. Overall, the whole process from beginning to end went well excluding the effects of the anesthesia (Dilaudin). Unfortunately, due to circumstance beyond my control, I received a short notice transfer to Japan within days of the surgery so was unable to follow-up with Dr. Kipnis. However, I am currently waiting for a referral from the Tricare Referral Office at the base hospital to a well known Japanese bariatric surgeon in Tokyo. I have continued to loose 1-2 pounds each week and have healed wonderfully. I was well prepared for the surgery and life after due to the New Beginnings program and the skills of Dr. Seth Kipnis. Dr. Kipnis, thank you so much and I will be sure to send you a photo of me as I reach the summit of Mount Fuji! Leona S. Rader

Drhodes, Do you live near a military installation? If so, you could contact the Drug and Alcohol Program. I believe they would be more than willing to write up a statement for Tricare to indicate you are not an abuser. They may want to do a brief assessment, but having worked with these folks for many years they might enjoy helping you. It's just a thought. Take care

Hello, With a BMI of 38.6/218, you only need to gain 12-15 pounds. If you are set to have the LB that is the easiest and fastest way to solve your problem. Have you been tested for sleep apnea? If not have your PCM refer you for testing. Just my 2 cents. Try not to be so frustrated by the insensitivity of Tricare, but at the same time you may need to go above and beyond what others have had to do to get the approval. This is based on myown personal experience. Take care and bee good to yourself.

Hello Thinner, I'd like to suggest that you request the specific requirements for WLS in writing from UHC. It may take a while to accomplish this goal of getting the requirements in writing, but I can guarantee it will be well worth your time and energy in the end. This was a key document for my appeal process. Good luck and take care!