New and Dr./ Moazzez

Hello all This is my second posting since I am not sure where my first went? I am 34 years old, wife of 14 years and mother of three girls. They are 14, 8, and 15 months old. We adopted our youngest I have not been overweight my entire life. It started after I had children, then my weight fluctuated up and down for many years. The worst was two years ago next month...I weighed 135 and was at that weight for about two years. BUT, I wanted more children and we started fertility treatments...well needless to say that I started gaining weight at rapid pace and now I am almost 100 pounds heavier. I cannot seem to lose the weight, but I cannot even motivate myself to try anymore because I can lose but will regain plus extra weight...I am sick and tired of being large! I have scheduled my seminar at Fair Oaks Hospital this weekend, and will be seeing Dr. Moazzez onm Feb 6th...according to the receptionist surgery could be as little as 6 weeks later if I qualify. I surely pray that all goes smoothly and fast. I am actually trying to gain a few pounds just incase I may not qualify at this weight...I am stooping to an all time low!! UGH!! But, I am also worried that Tri-care will not approve me since I am not sure if I have any comorbilities (sp?) unless depression or back pain, knees, and foot pain count? If anyone has any advice to me with my journey I surely appreciate all you can offer...and if you have experience with Dr. M I really would like to hear from you What types of protein drinks do you use? I've also heard of powder that you put in your food...whats it? Anyways, I am excited and very nervous about this all. I dream about at night and I am researching as much as possible now. I am happy to be here and looking forward to getting to know you all better real soon Well, enough now, I am typing one handed and baby in other! Amy

Hi Amy, Sorry I know nothing about Dr M, but I was just curious...I see that you are military is there any reason why you are not going through Ft Belvoir and Dr Ryan? She is an awesome surgeon and a wonderful person. Did you know that Belvoir did this or were you just automatically referred out. I went through tricare to go civilian and it took a long time. I know they can be quick sometimes, but it was almost a year for me and then Dr Ryan called and I went there...nothing to worry about with insurance that way! Anyway..if you want info or anything let me know..and welcome to the board! Jen

Jenn, Thanks for your reply. No, I was not aware that Ft. Belvoir did this surgery! My hubby is Army but we are stationed here at Bolling because he is going to school this year for a Masters Degree. Anyways, once I decided about WLS I looked up sergeons that took TriCare...and Dr. M was one of them that was not too far away. It is alot further than Ft Belvoir but... Well, My PCP wanted me to try other things, like seeing a behavioral specialist, hiring a personal trainer, etc...and just before my appointment was over I told her that I made an appointment with Dr. M at the beginning of FEb. and asked if I need a referal. She said yes, if you already have a doctor in mind then email me the info and I'll put it in Tricare. Please tell me about Dr.Ryan. I wonder how long her wait list would be? She is a military doc? I would rather go there if I am able...but I want to get the WLS as soon as possible...so, I may go with whomever I can get first. Also, we are assigned to the Bolling AFB clinic, so, I am not sure how to go about getting seen by Belvoir...and I am afraid to go back and ask Dr. Reid since I am afraid that she may tell me to give it up!!! Anyways, you can email me at [email protected] Thanks again Amy

My husband got his masters degree at JMIC two years ago! We are at the pentagon now. Anyway... Dr Ryan is an Army Doc. She just started the program at Ft Belvoir last year. I was one of her first 10 patients there. She is such a wonderful doctor and has the doctor from Walter Reed come and help with the surgery incase you have problems and end up there. I did and so it was helpful! I help out with the support group for her patients. I just love her and so does everyone who meets her. I'm not sure how you would go about getting a referral there though. I would guess it would be through your PCP. Her case manager called me because she saw I was in the civilian world and wondered if I wanted to come in for a consult with her. Things were going so slowly with the other stuff I said sure and one meeting I was hooked. She took more time and thought to explain everything than the other doc. Anyway...I will email you later, I'll try to find out how to do this. I don't think she is too booked up, though I don't think it would be 6 weeks either. It would probably be worth looking into though. I find out how for you. good luck! Jen

Amy, Dr. Moazzez is my doctor but he wasn't my original surgeon. My surgeon was a partner of his but moved to WA state. Dr. Moazzez is a fine surgeon and did operate on me for my gallbladder. I'm very impressed with him and his aftercare. He is very thorough and caring. There are a few others on here that have used him as a WLS surgeon. You might want to consider coming to the support groups at Fair Oaks. Many pre-ops and post-ops there too. One is on the first Monday of the month and the other is on the third Monday of the month. They are at 6:30 pm in the auditorium in the building next to where Dr. Moazzez's office is. Best wishes, Kathy

Kathy, I will surely look into the support groups. I will have to "try" one or two out before I go to my appointment. I am scheduled for the seminar this Saturday, so, I am anxious to get all the info that I possibly can get. I am bummed though, I just called Tricare for the second time in 5 days and I was told that my referal was NOT ever put in...I am angry because I called my PMP on Monday since I was told the same thing on Friday and she said she was re-putting it in! UGH! So...now,. I will have to make an appointment with her once again, and while there, I will ask about Dr. Ryan at Ft. Belvoir...who knows maybe I can get in with her before Spring and I would rather that since I "hate" driving and Belvoir is much, much closer Anyways... Amy

Hi, Amy Dr. Moazzez is my surgeon. He is AWESOME!!!...everyone in his office is great - especially Pam! Dr. Moazzez is very kind, compassionate and he genuinely cares about you. He has called me at home - himself - to see how I was doing. In my opinion you won't be dissatisfied with him at all! My husband (ex-Navy) doesn't like doctors at all - but he does like Dr. Moazzez! My surgery was approved in less than 4 hours!! I had co-morbitities of elevated LFT's, knee and ankle problems. As long as everything is documented - you should not have a problem getting approved. Pam and the women in Dr. Moazzez's office do everything! As far as protien - Unjury has an unflavored protein powder you can add to your food...they have a few different flavors too. When you see Dr. Moazzez he should give you a book and it will have all of the information in it...if it doesn't let me know and I will get it for you. This board is a great place for support and knowledge. The VA boad has become my second family! Good luck on your journey! Hugs! Jill

Dr. Moazzez is not my doctor, my doctor is Dr. Anez, they practice in buildings that are next to each other. When speaking with several people in the N. VA area their doctor is either Moazzez, Halmi (sp) or Anez. I have only heard great things about all of them. Dr. Moazzez has performed surgery on about 4 of my friends/co-workers with great success. I hope all goes well with you. I have a date of 3/3/06 and I can not wait even though I am very nervous. Good Luck to you and I hope that this helps. Please keep me posted on your success because I would like to keep up to date with patients that have a surgery coming up to give them suport and follow progress.

Thanks Dee, I met Dr. Moazzez yesterday at his seminar. He went over alot of info that I have already learned on my own, but it was nice tyo hear more...plus there were alot of people there and we are all in this together! He was answering alot of our questions after his speel and slideshows. I have an appointment on Feb. 6th and cannot wait. I dream about it! So happy for you. You only have a bit over a month...yippee!! How long did your process take from start to finish? Who do you have for insurance? I have not met Dr. Anez, although I did call his office first, but that was when I thought about Lapband...but my insurance doesn't cover it. When I called Dr. Moazzez office I was told again that Tricare will not cover Lapband but it will cover gastric bypass...so, after thinking about it and reseraching as much as possible I am here! Please keep me postede too as how you are doing and your steps along the way. I have been reading profile after profile to gain as much info as possible. Have a blessed day, Amy