Recent Posts
Sandy~I too am seeking MGB, and am a military dependant (spouse of Active Duty). I don't think TriWest covers the MGB procedure, I think they only cover the lap band and RNY, as well as a revision of WLS they didn't originally cover if it's medically necessary. I have also read that it takes almost a year from the referral time to surgery, as the military hospitals would like to see 6 months of documented food intake with a nutritionist. TriWest recently changed their coverage of WLS, they used to approve the surgery if you were more than 100 pounds overweight. Now you MUST have a co-morbidity to go along with the 100 lbs overweight. I have not seen my PCM yet, I don't look forward to that visit. All I need is a referral to get me into the door of an off-base bariatric surgeon. I will self-pay if necessary, but the surgeon must have the referral from the military PCM. If my PCM won't give me the referral when I want it, the surgeon's office referred me to another doctor that WILL give me a referral as long as I have a BMI of 40 or more and 100 pounds overweight. She doesn't accept TriCare, so i will have to self pay for that, too. I am going to self-pay for the MGB...I want to get it instead of the RNY because it's reversible in case I would hve problems later on in life. But... I was wondering if the military hospital WOULD cover some of the tests involved like chest Xrays, blood work, psych eval, etc. if I got the referral from my PCM. i know i will have to cover the cost of the surgeon fees and the hospital stay. Do you know any of this information? I am still going to make the appointment with my PCM just to see if I can get the referral, and to see what's going to happen with the entire process, and to see what the military can pay for, for me. Feel free to email me at [email protected]
I wish there was more activity on this board, too. I find the yahoo group to be a complete mess. People just don't practice good posting etiquette (trim your posts, repsond within the thread, etc.) I hate to be all snooty about stuff like that, but reading it is so tedious. I think there are more than enough people to warrant starting a tradtional chat board --- or why not post HERE!?
Sandy, When I was researching a revision surgery I must of called and talked to about 10 different sugeon offices. Out of that 10 there were 4 surgeons who were familiar with this particular surgery and when I told them what I had they all said that the surgery did not give the best long term results. These surgeons are from different parts of the country and they don't know what the other surgeons have said but that is what they said. Also, there is a surgeon who has done several revisions for people who had the mgb. That patient is the one that gave the name of the surgeon to call. However, I am going with a different surgeon in FL. Also, the people I know personally are the one's I met years ago at the support group and I have some what stayed in contact with. I know 5 who have had revision and 8 who have regained back alot of their weight. I know that does not sound like much but it can be if you have failed yourself. Hope this helps. Good luck on staying thin.
