ArmyWife

I was banded on April 15th 2009 with no saline in the port b/c the doctor (and Allergan) said that when you first get the Realize band, they don't put saline in it. Well...this band has been an absolute NIGHTMARE for me. I haven't been able to eat any solid foods since the 5th week after my surgery and that was only for about 2 weeks. I did exactly as they told me to do, chewed slowly, ate small and no snacking, but still I was upchucking, dry heaving, had really bad stomach pains and developed acid reflux. I am telling you I was miserable, I was spitting up this thick muscousy substance, and sometimes liquids wouldn't even go down. My hair was falling out REALLY bad b/c a protein shae was sometimes too thick for me to drink. I've been so weak sometimes I couldn't even stand up. I have been in and out of the doctor's office, he tried to take saline out, but then realized that there was none in there and finally after all of my symptoms and dramatic weight loss (About 20 pounds per month) the surgeon decided to take the band out which was really my ONLY option to stop this misery I've been living in. It's been hellacious, I am telling you. My surgery for the band removal was set for 9/16...I find out the day before that I am pregnant. So AT FIRST the surgeon says he will not do the surgery, b/c he doesn't want to hurt the embryo (I am 7 weeks), then he calls me back and says that b/c I am a "special case" he wants the opinion from the OB first and will decide then. So now I am still unable to eat food, with all the same symptoms listed above, and am pregnant and really worried about the health of my child (this is my 1st pregnancy). If I am not getting nourishment, how can it? So that's where I am now. I can only drink about 2-3oz of water (or liquid) and it lasts me virtually all day. I don't really get hungry again until maybe late at night then I drink again. I am surviving off of vitamins right now. It hurts for the liquid to move down and I am just always crying and now depressed b/c of this band. I have successfully lost over 100 pounds, but in about 6 months... you can tell it's due to starvation--not how I wanted to lose weight at all. So weight loss wise, it's been a success, but I wouldn't recommend this surgery to my worse enemy, truth be told. If I could go back again, I'd rather just be 300+ pounds again b/c this is ridiculous. I know that sounds crazy to some, but it's true for me, I felt a lot healthier at that weight than I do now...and I could eat! :smile2:

huh?? Who's your Primary care doctor? My primary care doc submitted my info to TriCare and they approved it through her and then she sent me to a Dr. in Austin and then I realized that would be too far, I asked her to change it to Dr. Symmonds, which she did and TriCare approved for him to band me as well. Actually it was the same approval, just with a different doctor--Dr. Symmonds. What is it that Dr, Symmonds has to send? Maybe I am not able to answer your questions since I am in the pre op stages and am not yet banded. But I haven't come across your situation. But it doesn't mean anythings wrong, just means it's not the way it happened to me nor to what I've been exposed to so far. What I would do is the next time you go to Scott and White for an app't OR you can just call them up, I would just ask them what part of the process in all of this are you in. I have heard really great things about Scott and White, which is why I changed over to them. They were also a lot closer than traveling to Austin. My insurance has approved the lap band procedure, and has approved Dr. Symmonds to do it. I would think that's all you would need from this point, but again...maybe I am not far along enough to know the full picture. Hopefully someone who knows the process from start to finish will see this post and help us with this...b/c you've stumped me...lol.

Your insurance should have either called you or sent you a letter in the mail verifying that this procedure was being handled by them and that they approved the payment (by them) for it. What I would do is call them up and simply ask. I have TriCare b/c my hubby is in the military and I am ALWAYS on the phone with them. As a matter of fact they approved me within 3 days, which is normal for Tricare if you meet all the requirements for surgery, but may be quick compared to other insurance companies. It just depends. But your first step is to find out if they have approved it. But in my surmise, if you are talking to nutritionists, and psychs and all of that at this point, you are pretty far along to say that your insurance is NOT approved yet...so if it isn't, when it is...you'll be set up really well and things will go quickly for you. But like I said before, just call the insurace place up, it's your right to know...you pay for the bill every month, so it's your RIGHT! Hope that helps!

Hey Kittie, has your insurance approved the procedure yet? You won't be able to get the surgery until that's done. The whole process from start to finish (seminar to being banded) usually takes most people about 3-6 months. But being approved is VITAL, where are you in that part?

I went on their website and got the number as well as the next seminar date...all ready alerted my PCP too, just in case. Then I called S&W directly and got Dr. Symmonds' direct office line for my doc as well. So I SHOULD be set...I hope. Thanks for looking out for me Gina, I appreciate it!! If I have any other questions, I know who to come too (I know you're saying..."oh No!" lol).

OK, I am TriCare Prime South, going to a civilian doctor, my hubby is in the army, active duty, deployed, been in the army for about 8 years now. I am coming to ask some of you ladies who have been through this process all ready with Tricare something... Have you had to pay different copays along the way? So far I am in the pre op testing and I have to pay $60 for the PSYCH eval, and $18 for the NURTITION eval. Does that sound NORMAL to anyone? When I go to normal doc visits or anywhere else(even when I had to go to the emergency room) I've never had to pay anything. B/c I am new to this I guess I don't get it. The patient advocate who is working with me explained that Tricare doesn't cover it, but reading through some of the threads I saw that some of you had to pay some copays and others didn't. I am not understanding why I am having to pay for this stuff when this stuff is supposed to be covered. Am I tripping or is this normal? Can someone PLEASE bring it into proper perspective for me, b/c I just don't get it.

How was your experience with them? This is who my pcp placed me with, dr. stephen clark to be exact. I am working with deby rodriguez @ st. david's now. I'm in killeen 2. How are the drives for the fills for you? Did you have to do any copays for the exercise and nutrition exams? Alot of ???'s, I know...lol.

WOW! That IS a blessing! I have TriCare Prime and I am thankful for them paying for the sugery alone, but from the hositpal I was going through before, I would have been required to pay all these horrible copays. I have since switched surgeons (Praise God for this discussion board or else I would have never known that anyone in my area even DID banding!). So I am looking forward to not having all these copays anymore. But you have been really fortnuate. If I had all those reimbursements like that I would have stayed with my original surgeon. Wintobethin I always thought the comorbid clause was if you had a BMI less than 40 like you do. See my BMI was over 50, so I didn't need any comorbs...I was fat enough on my own...lol. But the odd thing is, is that that's my ONLY health issue. I don't have HBP, sleep apnea, or anything else. The surgeon told me I am completely healthy to be so big. But he also said that it's good that I am getting this under control NOW. If not...I could be diabetic by the time I am 35. I am feeling it on my joints anyway, so I am starting to "feel fat," which I've never felt before. So it's time. I am glad I am taking care of this now, while I'm younger. I am having mine done at a civilian hospital...I don't mess with base doctors...lol. But don't want to scare you, I am sure the one you are going to is very competent! Congrats to you!!

Hey Tabby, congrats on your surgery date! I was approved a month ago by Tricare for my surgery, but for a doc in Austin. I didn't realize that there WAS a surgeon in our area (Killeen) that banded until I joined here. I talked with TriCare today and they said all I had to do was change my surgeon to Dr. Symmonds and didn't have to be reapproved. Sounds good to me since we'd have to get filled every 2 weeks. So since I'm good with Tricare, I'll have to start the process all over with the new hospital so...how do you get in with a seminar with Scott and White? Should I just call the hospital and ask? What would you suggest? I was only at the preop eval stage with SouthWest Bariatrics in Austin when I realized that this would be too cumbersome for me...these gas prices are no joke!! Thanks for the input, in advance!

OK Ladies, so I talked to TriCare today and they told me that I could use the same referral that my PCP gave me for the lapband that's approved by them to CHANGE my surgeon to get one closer to where I am. I was actually shocked. So now here's my question for all of you who went through Scott and White...how did you start? Was there a seminar you went to? If so can someone let me know a number or something I could call? I'd appreciate it a lot!

So I talked to TriCare and they told me that I could use the same referral (for the surgeon in Austin)that my PCP gave me for the Lap Band that's approved by them to CHANGE my surgeon to get one closer to where I am (Temple). They said I wouldn't have to go through a second approval process, it would be the same one, they would just change the surgeon who'd be doing the surgery on it. I was actually shocked. So now here's my question for you since you went through Scott and White...how did you start? Was there a seminar you went to? If so can you let me know a number or something I could call? I'd appreciate it a lot! (I also left this message in the "Killeen" thread as well). Thanks!!

Who is your PCP with? Mine is with Kings Daughters Clinic. Are you with Scott and White? Maybe that's why she didn't suggest Scott and White for a "conflict of interest" ? I am going to ask if this can be changed, b/c going to get fills every 2 weeks and having to drive an hour to do them, doesn't that seem a bit excessive? I mean, do y'all think I am being overly concerned about the drive and the copays too much? I just don't want to be hoodwinked is all. I know the surgery is probably worth it in the long run, but driving an hour every 2 weeks, with the way gas is...that seems like a lot to me. I am still going forth with the surgery, but I am almost favored to starting the process all over again JUST to go through Scott and White if it means that I will be closer to home and won't have to pay all these copays.

Yeah it sounds like Scott and White is the place to go...I am having mine done in Austin at SW Bariatrics, maybe I should change it to Scott and White...things for me were pretty easy too...well, no that's a lie...the easiest part for me was TriCare approving me, to be honest. Dealing with SW Bariatrics has been a lot of work. It's like I have to follow behind them to make sure that I get my surgery done and they don't forget about me, which I think is utterly ridiculous! And like I said in another post, I had no clue that being in Killeen, we had an option to have the LapBand done in Temple, which is WAAAY closer. My doctor automatically referred me to Austin--an hour away. How often will we be getting fills? Won't that be hard on me with gas?? I feel so shafted in this whole process I just want to shut it down and start all over again...maybe these are all signs from God...LOL!!

Oops...I said $60 for PSYCH exam and it's actually for the EXERCISE exam. I mistyped that in my initial exam. I spoke with TriCare directly today and they told me that most people don't have an exercise exam so it's not covered. As for the nutrition exam, he said when he typed it into the computer, it didn't come up as well, so it also wasn't covered. But still I know some people had a nutrition eval and didn't have a copay. I don't know, I will pray over it and see what God guides me to do in all of this. Maybe I can lose weight on my own. $60 and $18 isn't much, but it's the principle for me.

LOL...SOOOOOO TRUE!!! I thought I was the only one. I am from SC, Charleston to be exact. And while we're definitely not a "big girl mecca" we have our share of big women there. Before I moved to Texas I was living in Durham, NC and there were big women there. So I thought that moving to Texas I would be in "la la land"...NO WAY! I felt so self conscious here myself, like never before! A lot of the military wives are so skinny and glamorous looking...again...BIG surpirse for me! I'm mean, I'm no "Whoopi Goldberg" (all though I'm sure there are some men who find her attractive), myself, but still...I was amazed at how skinny and put together they were. I'm getting the band for health reasons mind you...not to compete with anyone, but I was REALLY surprised! But I am glad to see I wasn't the only one who felt that way about the shortage of big women on this side, (because when you visit Dallas...they ARE there...lol), of Texas, Mrs EOD! lol *hi five*

Oops, I'm sorry ladies, my "SW" stood for South West, not Scott and Whites...lol. I hope that didn't lead anyone to the wrong conclusions. It sounds like you all are vey happy though. I am starting to think that I am with the wrong doctor now. I am glad I came on here b/c I thought that all of us who lived in Killeen HAD to go to Austin for the lapband. Now I see I don't. I guess it just depends on where your PCP is. I really want to change mine now. I really don't want to have to trek to Austin all the time like that, y'all have seen those gas prices...YIKES!!

Congrats on your surgey JWRN! I look forward to my surgery date as well. If you don't mind me asking...how much did you have to pay for the nutrition class? MrsEOD, how is it that we have the same insurance, and are at the same Surgeon, but you get a better deal than me? lol...what's your secret...DO tell...lol! Did you choose their Psych or did you choose your own. In other words, did they set everything up for you?

OK, so we can find our own Psyc and possibly not have to pay for it then? She did tell me that I could find my own , but never said anything about the pay for it. Hmmm, I am thinking that I may find my own. $60 is a bit much I think.

Hi Everybody, I'm Taylor. I've been married to my DH for a year now. So this military stuff is brand new to me. We are stationed at Fort Hood and this is MY first place to be stationed. But he's been all over. I'm happy to be here! Glad to have found a site like this too. I look forward to being banded as well...I'm still in the pre op testing stage. I wish the best for all of you!! Hey Into...what doc did you use, was it someone in Austin?

Mouth is open...I need to change my PCP...I didn't even KNOW that there was a physican that close to Killeen who banded people. I thought that all of us who lived here HAD to go to Austin. I hate having to go all the way up there every week, just about. I am amazed...lol. BY the way, I live in Killeen too...lol. I am beng banded by SW Bariatrics in Autsin,TX. My PCP is with Kings Daughters Clinics. I was thinking about changing my PCP anyway for other reasons. How is Scott & White? Do you guys like them? I am not exactly feeling satisfied with Kings Daughters although they are not bad people. They are just not giving me the care I feel I need right now.

IntoLess and Gina S. ... I hear you both...my husband and I are also stationed here. I am living in, as I've heard it called, "Harlem Heights"...lol. But it's all good in the "Hood"...the FORT Hood, that is...lol. I am not impressed with this place at all. I'd rather be in Georgia or N.C. closer to my family to be honest. But wherever my hubby goes, I go with him. It's nice to know that there are other MW's(military wives) on this forum who live here as well. Especially girthy girls. I don't see a lot of big people around here, which surprised me b/c before we moved here, I thought it was all I would see. I thought I'd be in the majority...lol. I mean, it is TEXAS...everything is suppose to be so "BIG" here...NOT! lol

Hey Momoftwins...I'm a twin myself! I am in the preop testing stage of this whole thing, and I am here to tell you that my personal process with TriCare was E-A-S-Y. In fact they were the EASIEST part of this process! My hubby is a SSGT in the Army and we have Tricare Prime South, since we live in Texas. My papers were submitted on a Thurs and approved by that following Mon. I got the call on Tuesday. So it was pretty quick. I think each case is different though. But generally speaking and from what I've heard, they approve you pretty quickly. When I went to the seminar initially, the lady who took my paper after wards told me that she loves dealing with TriCare b/c they approve their patients fast and that she knows that they will do the surgery, if they qualify. So...I guess the answer is that if you qualify, you will be approved with no problem. I had no problem, so I guess I was fat enough...lol. Hope that helped and welcome to board...God Bless you on your journey!!

Explain what you mena by being a "Driver." I all ready know what you mean first hand about staying on top of the process before getting the band, so you won't get lost in the process. I feel kind of anal by calling them so much, but I allready saw what happened to me first and I don't want it to happen again...correction...it WON'T happen again if I can help it, b/c I will keep calling to make sure they don't forget about me...lol. But yes Dr. Clark was about 70, so most men that age could be pretty conservative in their views, espcially a physician. Why did your friend not speak up about her fills? Was she afraid or something? Or do you just mean that Dr. Clark was telling her how much she needed each time she went and she was just like "ok" knowing that it wasn't enough? Explain to me and let me know BEFORE hand. I have NO PROBLEM changing docs at all. I want this to be a complete success. My hubby is in the military too, so Dr. Clark probably won't be the doc I'm with forever anyway, but still...if you knw something I don't...let me know now!!! lol...

Basically, you copy the WHOLE Box (not just the first half, but the whole text of information, from the first "url to the last "url) like he said out of the bbCode section from the weightloss ticker site once you've chosen your ticker and everything. Then you come to the "edit signature" under the USERCP tab in the LapBand website and paste the whole thing where ever you want it in the box, and save it. It may take a couple times to do it and it may tell you you've exceeded some characters if you have some other words on there, but keep trying and you'll get it! It's a lot simpler than it seems. I hope that helps! Be Blessed!

Hey Larry...Congrats! You are further along than I thought you were, a little futher than I am...how was the pre op testing? Mine will be done next week. How long did it take. My patient advocate(PA) told me that it would take about 3 hours. I am having everything done in one day. The only thing I am unsure about is the nutrition scheduling, I haven't talked to Jerry yet. But everything else will be done on 9/15...so how was it? Dawn-Yes, Dr. Clark first off looks to be about 70 or so , so he's probably the most conservative as they come...lol. But my PCP said that he's the best in the office and she only sends her patients to him. I think it's b/c of all of his experience. Just her personal choice I think and I feel comfortable with him. I like him. How fast did your whole process take from start to finish? With the exception of the "snafoo" of the misplacement of my files and the month wait b/c of it, I haven't waited long at all. I went to the seminar on July 9th, saw Dr. Clark on Jul. 28, (called them up on Aug 24th b/c I hadn't heard anything back and found out they'd forgotten about me...it happens!...lol), but was approved by Tricare by Aug.26th. Am now in preop testing stage. So it's moved pretty quickly. If I didn't have that mishap, I may have been banded by now!!:biggrin: