Hello everyone! Everything went good in surgery. I have had a few ups and downs since then, all a trial and error thing. What some can do others may not. That is the hard part. I am down 22 pounds in 2 weeks, I am very happy of that. Getting fluids in is hard for me being I am not a drinker. I am walking as much as I can. The heat is unbearable. We go to Wal-Mart and the mall a lot. Well, I won't keep ya all just a lil note to say I am OK. Talk to ya all Soon ~~Mindy~~

Short version: PCM March 29th, Surgery July 6th. So 3 months and a week. Longer version: I went to my PCM, like I said, on March 29th. My surgeon's program requires you go to 2 information seminars before they'll submit to insurance. I did these on April 20something (just missed the March one) and May 20something. My surgeon's program is small but an excellent one. He only does surgeries 1 week out of the month, because he is also the trauma medical director for the regional medical center, and the vice chair for the trauma advisory board for the whole state of Oregon. I missed June's (first week in June) because of my psych doc taking so long to get in the eval. So I got a July surgery date. If I had a surgeon that did baratric surgeries all month, only had one info seminar required, a psych doc that had her stuff together, then it could have happened within 1-2 months. Like the others have said, it just really depends on your surgeon's program/requirements. Good luck on your journey!! Andi

It went to my PCM on base June 6th. I told them I was interested in WLS. His Nurse wrote up the refferal that day and a week later I had a refferal to a WLS Dr. I had a consultant with him July 3rd, His office submitted my packet to Tricare on July 12th, I was approved on July 17th and got my suegery date of August 13th. So my entire process took 9 weeks. I was right at 100 lbs overweight and I have Diabetes and PCOS along with High Cholesterol. My BMI was 39.7 Good Luck!

If you set up an account at www.humana-military.com, you will be able to see. I'm sure they have already processed it by now. Mine took no time at all. Go to that website and once you set up an account and log in, click on the link that says "referrals and authorizations" and it should have an "A" next to it if it was approved. Hope this helps, I felt a lot better being able to check the status myself.

I agree with Rebecca. I am not sure what area you are in ; but go to that states message board and post that you are looking for a good surgeon in your (area) of coarse list it on your post. Also, that you have Tricare Prime and ask if anybody has any suggestions. If you find someone in your area with your insurance that has already had the surgery you can find out things from their profile and ask for their help and suggestions. Even though I have had to start over twice, and I am just beginning my appointments I would really have to say that Tricare has never given me a problem. It does depend on your Dr. and how they do things there; but most people seem to get their surgery around fourto five months after their first appointment with the WLS Dr. I hope this helps!!