gri855

Congrats on starting!! I also have Tricare and my surgeon said they are one of the fastest and easiest to approve..so I hope you will find the same! My process started in April and I was banded September 14th, so it took awhile. There were several appointments and such that had to be done, and same here..until they were done, I wasn't able to get an appoinment with the surgeon. I was back at work (preschool teacher) two days later, and started walking the day after. Tomorrow is my first post-op and I am hoping to be released for light weight training!! Good luck!

I have my first post-op Wed. and will ask at that time. I don't really know what the deal is, my nurse sister in law says it just does that to some people. I have to do it for 3 weeks.

I am 7 days out of surgery and down 15.5 lbs!! Good Luck!

Thanks for the reply. I think there is plenty of fat, they don't sting AT ALL, the skin gets a little red afterward, but not hot, and it doesn't itch immediatly, but after awhile. Then it itches like crazy for 15 minutes or so, and goes away until the next shot!?!?!?!?

My surgeon requires that I give 3 heparin injectionas a day for 3 weeks after surgery. If anyone else is doing this, could you tell me if it makes your stomach (where the injections are given) itch. It drives me crazy...Thank you!

I know exactly how you feel...The process is outrageously long. I went to the seminar in April and finally got the surgery scheduled for Sept 14th. I just kept having to tell myself that there was a reason it wasn't happening faster..I still don't know the reason, but I'm sure there is one!! Hang in there, it will happen how and when it is supposed to.:blushing:

The insurance part is kind of scary. I was told that my insurance had NEVER denied anyone with my surgeons office, so imagin my surprise when I was denied. They said I didn't meet the requirements, so I automatically assumed my co-mobidities weren't bad enough..come to find out, I didn't weigh enough, I was tow pounds shy. That was the first time since I was a kid that I WASN'T big enough for something, usually quite the opposite. Anyhow, I got that all taken care of and had the approval hours later. Good luck to everyone, we are making a great life-changing decision, which I know will affect the rest of my life in a great way!!:frown:

I have been lurking around the website every couple of days, seeing all of the great info and support offered. I started thinking about banding a couple of years ago. I did alot of research coming to the decision. I actually started my process in April 09, and have a date of Sept. 14th. I'm really excited. My only apprehensions are that my husband will not be here for the SX and the pureed foods part of the after diet. I gag at mooshy food, so that will be a tough 10 days for me. But I'll make it through!! Can't wait to hear more stories from people!! :w00t::frown:

I am in Oregon and have Tricare. I was the first person that my surgeons office had EVER seen denied by Tricare, when they finally figured out why it was because I was 2 lbs underweight. It struck me as funny because I had never been told I WASN'T big enough for something. Got that all taken care of and literally within hours was approved. Can't obviously give you any info about Hawaii or the hospital....but Tricare has really been a dream for me!! Good Luck!

I don't know for sure, and yours may be different, but from what I've heard, Tricare doesn't require 6 month or ANY pre-op diet records.