Portsmouth Naval Hospital

Hello, I got on the list (I think it was mid October) of 2004. The wait was going to be so long I tried to put the time out of my mind. At that time the person who signed me up said there were hundreds on the waiting list. When I asked specifically how many, she said, "Let's just leave it at hundreds. It's going to be a long time....like 18 months to two years." I cried when I got off the phone and then just "dusted myself off" and resigned myself to it. My bottom line was quality care and getting this done laparascopically because I have such a busy life between being a military wife, the mother of a teenager involved in yearround swimming and an eldercare giver. So it looked to me like switching to Standard would not be an option because the doctor I would have chosen does the open method. I had also been told on the phone that day that even if I did switch to Standard, they would not pay for anything BUT the open method. Struck me as odd since my understanding is that at NMCP they ONLY do the method laparascopically unless there is a complication. Anyway, for personal reasons and the quality of care, the wait has been a long and patient one but worth it. However, I can certainly see why others would make the switch to Standard. I don't see a lot of posting on here from Portsmouth patients so I would be very interested in visiting any website they may have. Incidently, I went to the seminar on May 19, 2005 and according to the clinic's online queue there are on number 81 and my number is 91 so I'm hoping to be called in the next couple or three weeks or so. They did say back in May that if you got on the list that day you would have a two to three year wait. However, rumor has it that they have put a stop to people who are on the list and get orders out of here being able to come back here and get the surgery. Supposedly now you have to live within the specified radius of the facility in order to have the surgery there. If this is the case it may be why things have speeded up a little.

Tricare standard is now covering lap RNY jenn

I had my surgery almost two years ago. I was on the list for 18 months. It does greatly depend on if you have any medical conditions, and how booked up they are. My time frame was when a lot of the doctors were on deployment.. Diffenately get involved with the support groups! Also, beat the punch and attend weigh****chers for 3 months! Jenn