Tina254

Hey hope2bthinr, I know how you feel....its not "nuts", lol, I did the same thing! I think all will go well...Hoping for the best for you!!!:sneaky:

Hey hope2bthinr, I hope you get your approval soon!!! I'm wishing you luck!!! Hey tamioutoftime, thanks for the congrats!!! Are you going through the process of getting the Lap Band?

I have 9 more days till surgery!!! It still seems unreal to me! Oh, I've lost 10lbs since my consult with the surgeon, that's unbelievable to me, I'm happy with that and I'm sure the surgeon will be happy as well.

Hey jeanbeanie & hope2bthinr, I am so incredibly happy for you guys. Only a few more testing’s and you'll be on your way to getting the surgery. I hope we can be August Bandsters together. Believe me all this waiting and testing’s will all be worth it in the end :laugh:!!! Much bandster dust to you guys and all who need it!!! ~Hugs~:tt2:

Thanks gone4ever, I'm doing well, I started to not watch TV as much and that really really helps. I've been glued to my Korean Soaps so that has been keeping me busy and not thinking about food, lol. I'm half Korean that’s why I'm watching Korean soaps, if you were wondering, lol. I really haven't been "Hungry", the Muscle Milk protein shakes and cream of wheat really have been keeping me full, it’s just the mental game of “I want to chew something” or when I see an ad or TV offer, that’s when it just kills me, lol, but I know my goal so it’s been snapping me back in place if I think about it. thanks for your advise! :juggle:

Hey hope2bthinr, Sorry you have to go through all of this I know it must be annoying beyond belief! Just hang in there it will all be wroth the wait in the end!! I hope things go faster for you!!! Keep me updated on your progress! Hugs :juggle:

Hey Tory09, Thanks! I hope things go fast for you as well. Wow your doctor didn't require as much blood work as mine, good for you, lol. I'm still in shock about how fast it when through but hey with all the complaining and ranting I did I guess it paid off, lol. Good luck with your journey, you too keep me posted! :juggle:

Ok so I'm not going to lie this liquid diet is kicking my butt, lol...I want fooood :biggrin:, lol. BUT, Every time I think about my goal I snap myself back in place and just don't think about food as much. But I had two funny things to share that happened to me today as far as food goes. I go and check the mail, just trying to do anything to keep my mind off of food, which by the way I didn't realize how much I thought about food until I wasn't allowed to have any, lol. Anyways, there is an ad in the mail box for Papa John’s, everything looked so darn good, lol I was walking back to the house and was thinking oh I guess I'll order pizza and wings tonight instead of cooking dinner, then I walked in and saw my protein drink on the coffee table and remembered, Oh yeah I can't eat regular food!, lol, I thought it was funny because I totally forgot I was on the liquid diet. The other funny thing is I was watching TV today and I saw a commercial for KFC. I'm not a big fan of KFC but today it looked like heaven, lol...I guess food does have a big impact on my mind and I just don't realize it because I always have it when I want it, need it, etc. Anyways I thought I’d share my stories, I wonder if anyone else has gone through this. I just thought it was weird that I totally forgot I was on the liquid diet and was so planning on picking up the phone to call Papa John’s when I walked in the house :sad:. It’s ok though, I'll get through it. Honestly, it’s not as hard as I really thought it would be, its hard but not impossible (I hope that makes sense). I think I'm not really "hungry" I think I just miss the fact of chewing food. I made protein jello shots and protein pudding and I have those for snacks, I really look forward to snack time:tt2:. Ok I'm done rambbling. If anyone has some stories to tell about their liquid diet, please feel free, I love a funny story. Talk to you guys later.

My sugery date is August 10th. I'm on the pre op diet right now. I'm super excited!!!:biggrin:

Hey hope2bthinr, Thanks for the Congrats!!! I hope this process goes fast for you as well. I think the reason I got it so fast is because I just didn't take no for an answer. I'm sure the nurse at my surgeon's office thought I was a nut for calling so much but hey it got me here so I'm happy. I've just started the liquid diet today and I'm the same way 'Bring it on baby!!" but I have a feeling I'ma have to keep my self busy so I don't look at the refrigerator. I'm kinda glad now becuse my hubby is on TTY and he is not eating around me and I'm not cooking for him so that is going to help at least until he gets back. Wish me luck on this liquid diet! Hoping for the best for you all to get your approvals and surgery!!!:biggrin:

Thanks Gone 4 ever for all your advise and ecourageing words. :blushing: Thanks!!!:smile2: Thanks!!! I hope everything goes fast for you. Good Luck!!!

*Update*PM OMG today has been the most eventful day ever! I've been giving you guys updates all day since this morning and this will be the last one for today. So as you guys know from my last update that the nurse at my surgeon's office finally faxed off my paper work to Tricare today and she gave me a projected surgery date just as long as Tricare approved me, which she was almost 100% sure they would approve me. Well not even 2 hours after she faxed it off I got a call from Tricare saying I'm APPROVED!!! OMG, I'm crying but its happy tears :drool:. I feel like I'm dreaming a wonderful dream and I'm going to wake up any min. :crying: I couldn't be happier at this moment! Words can't explain what this surgery and approval mean to me, its the start of a new life for me! Thanks for all the good thoughts and blessings that were put my way, good luck to all for their approvals!!! :thumbup:

*Update* PM I just got a call from the nurse and she is faxing off my paperwork to tricare right now! I was worried for nothing! I'm really happy. She gave me a projected date for my surgery because she said she doesn't see any reason why they will not approve me. My projected date is August 10th and I'm starting my pre surgery diet tomorrow. OMG, I really don't know what to do with my self, I'm sooooo happy:lol:. BUT, I am still not approved with tricare even though she told me that she doesn't see a reason why I could be denied I still gotta be cautious because for some reason I could be denied so I'm going to try not to be too excited but its so hard not to :crying:. Does anybody have examples of what pre surgery diet they did? The nurse told me to do the Unjury diet but my nurtitionist told me that I could do another brand if I wanted to because she said Unjury can get costly. Any suggestions? Wish me luck and much love and luck to all for their approvals!!!

*Update*AM I've waited all week to call my surgeon's office I couldn't wait till Monday (today) to talk to the nurse at my surgeon's office. Well as yall know I got my blood work done last Monday (July 20th) and the lab told me it was going to be 10 business days but I waited till today to call just to check to see if they were done cause 10 business days would have been this Friday. Well the lab told me that the blood work was done on last Wednesday, so it only took 2 days to get it done and faxed to my surgeon's office and the nurse didn't even call me to tell me she received it and if she needed anything else from me! Urgh, I know they are busy but she had the whole rest of the week to do so and she didn't. Anyway my surgeon's office nurse got the fax from the lab and I asked her if she needed anything else from me. She told me it was sitting on her desk and she was going to get to it later, me being nice just said "ok" but in my head I'm thinking "when is later?":cursing:. She said that she would call me if she needs anything else from me. Well I can almost guarantee that she will NOT call me so I plan on calling her on Thursday to see if she sent it or not. The reason I'm calling Thursday is because it is not the end of the week and if she does need something I will still have an open day of the week (Friday) to get it for her. Well that is where I'm at on this process so far, I'm just waiting for her to fax my paperwork to Tricare. My paperwork is just sitting on her desk waiting to be faxed... I almost wish I could just walk in there and fax it myself, lol :crying:. Oh well that’s my rant of an update, sorry if this is negative...I'm trying to stay positive! :thumbup: TTYL

Does any one know what this means?:thumbup:...On the triwest website it says I'm approved for two things my consult with my surgeon (1 visit) and "office/outpatient visit (3 visits)". I know what the consult means [because I've already been at my first consult] but what is the "office/outpatient visit, is that the surgery? I'm planing on calling later today when they open to ask tricare but I'm confused and I don't want to get myself excited if its not the surgery so I'm keeping myself composed until I call or get an answer from anybody on here. If anyone knows please please let me know! Thanks

Does it matter if you are under 25? :thumbup: I'm 23 and I've read that if you are under 25 that you can be denied but then again I read a lot of people younger then me getting approved so I don't know what to believe...Does any one know?

Does anyone know if this is true? I've read a couple of times here and there that for tricare you can be denied if you are under 25 years of age. Does anyone know if this is true? I'm a little scared thinking I could be denied over my age but I hope that is not the case.

*Update* :party: Remember I told you guys that I got a letter and a request in from my surgeon's office from his nurse...Well I called the referral office desk nurse at the base clinic to ask about sending the blood work needed to my surgeon’s office today. My surgeon’s office needed CBC & differential count, CMP, TSH, and H-pylori blood test and the only one I had on file that was no older than 3 months was the TSH (which is the thyroid blood test). So this morning I had to go to the laboratory at the base clinic and get the rest of the blood tests done that was needed by my surgeon’s office. The laboratory said that they will fax the results to my surgeon’s office as soon as they get the results, so that is good, I don’t have to keep calling to find out the results and fax them off myself (that saves me some heartache). The only thing I’m kind of mad about is that I asked how long it would be before they get the results and they said 10 “business” days, urgh, 10 days! That just put a damper in my day, I was hoping they would have it done in a couple of days. Don’t get me wrong I’m not mad at the laboratory, it’s not their fault, I’m just mad at my surgeon’s office nurse, cause if she would have told me to get this blood work done ahead of time, I could already have my paperwork being faxed to Tricare (triwest). Oh well, what’s done is done I can’t keep being mad about it, I’m just hoping that maybe the lab will be done with my blood work sooner (the sooner the better!) Sorry about my rant :rant:, I’m just being Mrs. Impatient, lol, because I’m so ready to have this surgery. ***For anybody just starting this process, remember, try to get as much stuff done before your first consult with your surgeon (if time permits it) because this will make the whole process run more smoothly. Get your blood work done (ask your surgeon’s staff what blood work they require), do your nutritionist eval, do your pshyc eval, and whatever else your surgeon’s office requires (don’t be shy to ask ).*** Has anybody ran into this problem before (getting the blood work done and it delaying the whole process)? Also does anyone know how long it usually takes to get back blood work from the lab? They told me 10 business days but that just seems kind of long! Wishing everybody luck on getting their approvals! Much Love, wish me luck! :Dancing_wub::smile: :Dancing_wub:

Hey mjm2009, I'm glad you found the info to help you along the process. I used to leave in Texas and Fort Hood is my dad's last duty station he retired Army after 22 years. Now I'm married to an Air Force man, lol. I hope your process with Darrnell goes smoothly...keep me updated. Hey brookelynne, Congrats on getting your date for surgery, I only hope Tricare approves me soon. I can't wait to start TTC Keep me updated on your progress after the surgery!

Thanks! :smile: lol, since I started this process I've hated saturday and sunday when it came to this Lap band. Everything is closed and I always have to wait until Monday to find out answers! I'm hoping for a beginning of August date for my surgery, if all goes well, I'll get my wish, lol. I'll keep updateing you on my progress. I'm am also glad I found someone in the same boat, I've noticed sometimes its kind of hard to find someone.

You are welcome babyka16, I'm glad that helped you...with your weight and height it looks like you qualify for the 200% or more qualification for tricare so I don't think you will have a problem. According to the MetLife chart you are ideal weight for Medium frame is suppose to be 127-141 that means to qualify for 200% or more over you ideal weight you have to be between 254-282, so you being at 260 puts you right in the middle, if you are small frame then thats even better! I'm in the same spot you are I don't have any co-morbids but I qualify for the 200% or more condition. I'm 277lbs at 5'5. Well I hope all goes well for you, let me know how everything goes at your frist consult! Good luck! :smile:

Hi babyka16, I started a Thread to show my story and my process into getting the Lapband to help people that are just starting out at (http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f18/introducing-myself-my-story-so-far-98091/#post1276858). I've searched Lapbandtalk.com and other websites to try to find out as much info as I possibly can and I'm still confused sometimes, lol. I posted steps on how the process on my thread and I've also included it below. I hope this helps you and wishing you luck on your process. I also have tricare prime with triwest... So for people who are just starting out I'll give you the rundown of what to do so far so your process will run more smoothly. **Remember: some doctors and different regions might run differently from mine but I'm sure the whole process is very similar (I have tricare prime with triwest)** 1.First: See if you fit tricare’s criteria for bariatric surgery... TRICARE defines "morbid obesity" as meeting one of the following conditions: a. The body weight is 100 pounds over the listed weight for height and bone structure (according to the most current Metropolitan Life Table) with one or more of the accompanying severe medical conditions which are diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, pickwickian syndrome, hypothalamic disorders or severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints—conditions shown to have higher mortality rates when associated with morbid obesity b. The body weight is 200 percent or more of listed weight range for height and bone structure (according to the most current Metropolitan Life Table) Example: if your ideal weight is 112 and your weight is 224 or more than you are 200% over your ideal weight. In addition, TRICARE will cover the gastric banding surgery if a patient has had an intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, requires a second surgery. **Note: Tricare does not require a 6 month diet plan but you primary care physician might require it before they will give you a referral** 2.Second: 1st If you haven’t already, sign up for your region’s online service so you can know if your referrals have been approved (I’m triwest so my website is triwest.com if you don’t know your region got to tricare.mil and find out). 2nd If you think you fit one or more of the above conditions for tricare, go to your primary care physician and ask for a referral to a lap band surgeon. Your best bet for getting the referral is to show and tell that you’ve tried everything to lose weight and have dealt with weight for many years (usually 5 years or more). 3. Third: When you get your referral and get approved for your first consult, which you can check online to see if your approved at triwest.com, make an appt with your surgeon of choice and print or bring the approval letter to your surgeon’s office when you go for your appt. **Some people have to see a base doctor for their surgery so you don’t have to wait for approval from tricare if you have a base doctor doing your surgery, you would have to wait for approval from the base doctor them self’s** 4. Forth: After/during making your appt make sure to ask what tests (blood tests) and classes (seminars, pshyc eval, ect.) do you have to have or can have done prior to your visit to your doctor so that after you see the doctor it won’t take longer to get approved for your surgery. The blood tests usually include (some doctors might want more blood work done): CBC & differential count, CMP, TSH, and H-pylori blood test. · A CBC is a complete blood count that is a series of lab tests that measure the amount, shapes, and sizes of red and white blood cells in a sample. The differential is a blood test that measures the different types of white blood cells and compares their amounts to the total count. · The CMP is a comprehensive metabolic panel blood test that provides information about: how the kidney and liver are functioning, sugar (glucose) and Protein levels in the blood, and the body's electrolyte and Fluid balance. · The THS is a thyroid stimulating hormone test that is a common blood test used to evaluate how well the thyroid gland is working. · The H-pylori blood test tests are used to detect a Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine. H. pylori can cause peptic ulcers; however, most people with H. pylori in their digestive systems do not develop ulcers. The Blood antibody test for H-pylori blood test checks to see whether your body has made antibodies to H. pylori bacteria. If you have antibodies to H. pylori in your blood, it means you either are currently infected or have been infected in the past. 5. Fifth: After your doctor’s office has all of your blood work, their required classes and evaluations in and you’ve been cleared by your surgeon as a good candidate for the surgery (which usually you will be cleared by your surgeon if you have a BMI of 35+ with a co-morbid OR have a BMI of 40+ and have been cleared by an nutritionist and physiatrist). The nurse or staff at your surgeon’s office will fax all the documentation to your insurance company (which would include your blood work, doctors notes, your comorbids (if any), weight, height, and bone structure, ect.) 6. Sixth: After your doctor’s office faxes your documentation to your insurance company the wait begins. For tricare I’ve heard all different things but most say they were approved within 24-48 hours. If you just can’t wait for a letter to come in the mail for your approval I would suggest to check online to see if you are approved (triwest.com or tricare.mil). If you see that you are denied don’t be alarmed just file a appeal. From what I’ve read most of the time the reason for denial’s are because your doctor’s office wrote down the wrong information (e.g. your weight is 250 but they put 225 or your height is 5’4 but they put down 5’7, ect.) or the doctor’s office left out information that is crucial to getting approved (e.g. They left out your weight or height, ect.). Just call tricare and ask why you were denied and have your surgeon’s office change what was wrong and re-fax it in to tricare and usually you will be approved if what was wrong was changed and it fit tricare’s conditions. 7. Seventh: After you get your approval your doctor’s office should get notification and so should you, either through the mail, a phone call, or you tricare region’s website. If you find out off the tricare’s website you most likely found out before your doctor’s office, I would suggest you call your doctor’s office and tell them so you can schedule your surgery. If you are anything like me when I get my letter of approval or see that I’m approved online I will first jump for joy and second call my doctors office to schedule my surgery, lol. I’m probably leaving something’s out but this is an overview of what you will have to do in trying to get approved for the Lapband. I hope this helps some of you just starting this process. I’ve looked high and low and it is really hard to find a “one stop” list of “how to” on the lapband process with tricare. I will say again that some procedures are a little different according to what region you’re in with tricare, if you have a base hospital that does Lapband there, and if you have tricare standard instead of tricare prime. But overall the process is kind of the same and will at least give you an overall look at what you have in store. I’m by far not an expert on this but I’ve read and lerked around these and other forums to get informed on the subject. I’m still on step number 4(blood work)/6 but I’m just a little step closer to my goal. I’ve been dreaming of having this tool to help me change my life I’m hoping this is it for me! I’ll keep yall updated on my progress, and I hope this helps anyone considering this surgery. Much love for you guys, wish me luck!!! :smile:

*Update* I got a letter and a request in today from my surgeon's office from his nurse. The letter stated that I need to get blood work requested and have it faxed in to their office, I plan on going in the base clinic on Monday to see what I have on file as far as blood tests go because if they are 3 months and less old then I could use them. The blood work I have to get done is a *CBC & differential count, CMP, TSH, and H-pylori blood test. I honestly would have preferred it better if my surgeon's office would had told me ahead of my consult to have these blood tests done that way the process would have gone sooner/smoother but they didn't tell me that so now I have to wait even longer, sorry I'm being so impatient , lol. What makes me even a little more frustrated is that I asked my surgeon's office 2 weeks before my consult if I needed to have anything done prior to my visit and they told me all I needed done was the classes (nutrition, physical therapist, and phyc eval) so I did that ahead of time thinking that would hurry the process along, now the nurse tells me to have all this blood work done, urgh...oh well, I’m just hoping I can get all this done on Monday! I'm sharing this with you guys that are starting out and don't queit know the whole process yet and this info might be helpful to you that way you can have it done prior to your consult so you won't run into bumps like I have. I’m not going to complain too much because I will admit so far I haven't really ran into too much bumps after getting my referral so I'll just be thankful for that much. So for people who are just starting out I'll give you the rundown of what to do so far so your process will run more smoothly. **Remember: some doctors and different regions might run differently from mine but I'm sure the whole process is very similar (I have tricare prime with triwest)** 1. First: See if you fit tricare’s criteria for bariatric surgery... TRICARE defines "morbid obesity" as meeting one of the following conditions: A. The body weight is 100 pounds over the listed weight for height and bone structure (according to the most current Metropolitan Life Table) with one or more of the accompanying severe medical conditions which are diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, pickwickian syndrome, hypothalamic disorders or severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints—conditions shown to have higher mortality rates when associated with morbid obesity B. The body weight is 200 percent or more of listed weight range for height and bone structure (according to the most current Metropolitan Life Table) Example: if your ideal weight is 112 and your weight is 224 or more than you are 200% over your ideal weight. In addition, TRICARE will cover the gastric banding surgery if a patient has had an intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, requires a second surgery. **Note: Tricare does not require a 6 month diet plan but you primary care physician might require it before they will give you a referral** 2. Second: 1st If you haven’t already, sign up for your region’s online service so you can know if your referrals have been approved (I’m triwest so my website is triwest.com if you don’t know your region go to tricare.mil and find out). 2nd If you think you fit one or more of the above conditions for tricare, go to your primary care physician and ask for a referral to a lap band surgeon. Your best bet for getting the referral is to show and tell that you’ve tried everything to lose weight and have dealt with weight for many years (usually 5 years or more). 3. Third: When you get your referral and get approved for your first consult, which you can check online to see if your approved at triwest.com, make an appt with your surgeon of choice and print or bring the approval letter to your surgeon’s office when you go for your appt. **Some people have to see a base doctor for their surgery so you don’t have to wait for approval from tricare if you have a base doctor doing your surgery, you would have to wait for approval from the base doctor them self’s** 4. Forth: After/during making your appt make sure to ask what tests (blood tests) and classes (seminars, pshyc eval, ect.) do you have to have or can have done prior to your visit to your doctor so that after you see the doctor it won’t take longer to get approved for your surgery. The blood tests usually include (some doctors might want more blood work done): CBC & differential count, CMP, TSH, and H-pylori blood test. · A CBC is a complete blood count that is a series of lab tests that measure the amount, shapes, and sizes of red and white blood cells in a sample. The differential is a blood test that measures the different types of white blood cells and compares their amounts to the total count. · The CMP is a comprehensive metabolic panel blood test that provides information about: how the kidney and liver are functioning, sugar (glucose) and Protein levels in the blood, and the body's electrolyte and Fluid balance. · The THS is a thyroid stimulating hormone test that is a common blood test used to evaluate how well the thyroid gland is working. · The H-pylori blood test tests are used to detect a Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine. H. pylori can cause peptic ulcers; however, most people with H. pylori in their digestive systems do not develop ulcers. The blood antibody test for H-pylori blood test checks to see whether your body has made antibodies to H. pylori bacteria. If you have antibodies to H. pylori in your blood, it means you either are currently infected or have been infected in the past. 5. Fifth: After your doctor’s office has all of your blood work, their required classes and evaluations in and you’ve been cleared by your surgeon as a good candidate for the surgery (which usually you will be cleared by your surgeon if you have a BMI of 35+ with a co-morbid OR have a BMI of 40+ and have been cleared by an nutritionist and physiatrist). The nurse or staff at your surgeon’s office will fax all the documentation to your insurance company (which would include your blood work, doctors notes, your comorbids (if any), weight, height, and bone structure, ect.) 6. Sixth: After your doctor’s office faxes your documentation to your insurance company the wait begins. For tricare I’ve heard all different things but most say they were approved within 24-48 hours. If you just can’t wait for a letter to come in the mail for your approval I would suggest to check online to see if you are approved (triwest.com or tricare.mil). If you see that you are denied don’t be alarmed just file a appeal. From what I’ve read most of the time the reason for denial’s are because your doctor’s office wrote down the wrong information (e.g. your weight is 250 but they put 225 or your height is 5’4 but they put down 5’7, ect.) or the doctor’s office left out information that is crucial to getting approved (e.g. They left out your weight or height, ect.). Just call tricare and ask why you were denied and have your surgeon’s office change what was wrong and re-fax it in to tricare and usually you will be approved if what was wrong was changed and it fit tricare’s conditions. 7. Seventh: After you get your approval your doctor’s office should get notification and so should you, either through the mail, a phone call, or you tricare region’s website. If you find out off the tricare’s website you most likely found out before your doctor’s office, I would suggest you call your doctor’s office and tell them so you can schedule your surgery. If you are anything like me when I get my letter of approval or see that I’m approved online I will first jump for joy and second call my doctors office to schedule my surgery, lol. I’m probably leaving something’s out but this is an overview of what you will have to do in trying to get approved for the Lapband. I hope this helps some of you just starting this process. I’ve looked high and low and it is really hard to find a “one stop” list of “how to” on the lapband process with tricare. I will say again that some procedures are a little different according to what region you’re in with tricare, if you have a base hospital that does Lapband there, and if you have tricare standard instead of tricare prime. But overall the process is kind of the same and will at least give you an overall look at what you have in store. I’m by far not an expert on this but I’ve read and lerked around these and other forums to get informed on the subject. I’m still on step number 4(blood work)/6 but I’m just a little step closer to my goal. I’ve been dreaming of having this tool to help me change my life I’m hoping this is it for me! I’ll keep yall updated on my progress, and I hope this helps anyone considering this surgery. Much love for you guys, wish me luck!!! :smile:

First of all I want to say thanks for all you guys for such encouraging words, it really does help me along in this process!! Thanks Sandiegokate, for the advise I would really like someone to talk to about TTC after I have the lapband. I was planning on waiting about 6-8 months after the lapband to TTC because I want to lose a lot of the weight before I get pregnant. I'm hoping like you said that after losing most or some of the weight it will be easier to TTC without any help!! *Update* I went for my consult on the 14th and they told me the nurse would call me back within 24-48 hrs to set up my appt and get the paperwork in to my insurance company. I couldn't wait so I called on the 15th and the nurse told me that she needed my blood work from the base clinic and she would then send it into tricare. Right now I'm just waiting for her to get the blood work she needs and then get it into tricare. I hate this waiting game, once I decided to do the lapband I just wanted to do it that day, lol. I'm hoping I hear good news soon! Keep me in your prayers and wish me luck :wink2: I'll make sure to update you to tell you guys how everything is going! Well it’s so nice to meet all of you and I hope all goes well for your surgery(s) and weight loss...Good Luck everyone that needs it!!! :scared2: