Susan1103

Hi!

I am new here been searching forums for a while. I have tricare and have been denied in July sent my appeal in right away and it's still pending! I think they are holding me off as they denied me in three hours the day the paper work was sent in!

I have a feeling I will be denied again and then I will send paper work off again to wait yet another 60 days! Its getting old!

So just waiting to see if I get to have lapband I am excited to see so many have such great sucess with it!

Susan:

TooManyExcuses

hello - I am new also and excited

poet_kelly

I'm so sorry you got denied! It's frustrating, huh? What was the reason for the denial?

Kelly

__________________
RNY 11/4/08

surgery/current/goal
270/147/130

Mrs.Browning

I was wondering where you are located? My husband is in the Air Force at Wright Patt in Ohio and I am getting mine done on base. I don't even have to go through tricare. Have you checked with your base hospital to see if they have bariatric surgeons there?

Susan1103

The letter just said it was not medically needed. But not sure how they got that I am exactly 100lbs over weight, but according to their met life table I am not I have been tring to get the nurse to measure my frame she said she has never heard of that even though I sent information to them.

I am prime remote so not sure if they can do it on base! But I will put a call in today and check to see. By the way I am in KS so I am in the middle of both the bases that we have.

poet_kelly

Definitely get someone to measure your frame and see if that will help.

Kelly

__________________
RNY 11/4/08

surgery/current/goal
270/147/130

Mrs.Browning

Def. call the base to see if they have surgeons. If they do you could probably get it done on base and not have to deal with Tricare. I had to go off base for my psyc eval and sleep study. I ended up having to pay a $12 co-pay for the 2 times I went to the sleep study clinic. My first step was getting a ref. from my PCM to the surg. center. I have my 1 on 1 appt. with the surgeon on Thursday. Let me know what you find out. It might be worth the drive if it's free. I live 10 min. from the base hospital. Let me know what you find out. Good luck!

Hychap2009

welcome to TT

__________________
Height 5ft 2"
2004 Highest weight: 22 stones/308 lb
[COLOR="Purple"]2009 Current weight: 19 stones/266 lb/121k[/COLOR
BMI: 53.2
BMI Member No. 7

Weight Loss Surgery: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Added to waiting list: 23 January 2009
Pre-Assessment date: 3rd July 2009 (accomplished)
Assessment call back: 10 July 2009
Transvaginal Ultrasound: 7th August 2009
Surgery date: 30th November 2009
GYM RAT ♯145
The race is not for the swift but for he who can endure to the end.

shiver

Hello! I'm military also. Why are there so many military here I wonder?? Never mind... I'm sure it is our life style. When my husband is deployed it is SO much easier to eat fast food than it is to cook.

I am so sorry you have been denied. I haven't even talked with my Dr. yet. Well I have been talking about my weight for years. But I have not actually asked for the surgery. I'm hoping that by going directly to the base like Mrs. Brown suggested is what will make the difference for me. I'm lucky enough to be right down the street from BAMC.

I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing but I'm about 120-130 over weight. I do not have any of the other modalities(?). I know for a fact that the Chemo and the hysterectomy messed me up. I'm hoping because the risk of a relapse is increased by me being over weight that it is a good, and valid, enough reason to be approved.

When we were stationed in Yuma, AZ a lady got a referral to go to Bethesda to have the surgery. Can you do something like that if the hospital near you doesn't offer it?

__________________
Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what your going to get... but I sure want to eat the whole box!

Mrs.Browning

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said us military wives eat out a lot. My husband is TDY 2-3 weeks out of every month. So when it's just my son and I there is no point of making dinner. It will just go bad before I eat it all and who want's to eat the same thing everyday?! Plus I think a lot of us feel lonely a lot and what else it there to do when we are bored and lonely, watch tv and eat! As in my case I got on an anti-depressant and anxiety med. that made me gain 30lbs each time I got on it (2X). Plus having a baby
I am not sure if every base is the same but I know the qualifications from my surgeon were BMI of 40 or more with or without obesity health related problems. Or BMI 35-40 with one of the obesity health related problems, sleep apnea, diabetes, and one other(can't remember). I do not have any other problems besides BMI of 40. I am sure if you go to your PCM and asked to be referred to a base only sx you could go to a dif. hospital. Wilford Hall is pretty big and I think they have bariatric surgeons. Good luck!