PORTS.NAV.HOSP.

WAIT! ..ONE MINUTE!.......AS IF I'M NOT DEVASTATED ALREADY, AFTER BEING TOLD I HAD TO BE ON A WAITING LIST WHILE I ATTENDED MEETINGS FOR 6-8 MONTHS! (WHICH I HAVE ALREADY STARTED ON 4-10-08) YOU MEAN TO TELL ME AFTER ALL THAT WHEN MY NUMBER (872) COMES UP I HAVE ANOTHER DAMN YEAR TO GO...

MY FEELINGS GET CRUSHED MORE AND MORE AS TIME GOES ON..FROM THE DATE OF MY APPROVAL THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HILL. OTHER THAN MY APPROVAL LETTER I HAVE'NT GOTTEN MUCH JOY OUT OF THIS WHOLE UP COMING PROCESS...SEEMS LIKE IT'S ONE THING AFTER THE NEXT PUSHING ME FARTHER AWAY...

PNH...FIRST, IN ALL FAIRNESS LET ME SAY ..I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING WLS AT PNH...THE ORENTATION WAS GREAT..EVERY ONE ON HIS TEAM WERE GREAT! A VERY NICE AND PATIENT STAFF.....DR. CHASTANET..WOULD DEF BE MY CHOICE..I WAS IMPRESSED HIM AND WITH ALL OF HIS TEAM PLAYERS..

BUT..WHILE TELLING US WE HAVE THE OPTION TO GO TO TRICARE STANDARD AND PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES... THEY REALLY SHOULD ALSO ADVISE US OF THIS ADDED (POTENTIAL ) YEAR THAT WE MAY FACE...(I AM EVEN MORE DEVASTATED NOW!)

WHEN I BROUGHT THE VERY SUBJECT UP HE SAID THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WOULD BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE...AND THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE GOING TO A DOC...WHO RUSHES TO A SURGERY DATE..I JUST DON'T WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG...GEESH!!!! ANOTHER SET BACK...IM GOING 2 CALL MISS BOONE IN THE AM.. AND IF ALL THIS IS IN FACT TRUE..I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO SWITCH TO TRICARE STANDARD..AND PAY CAUSE GOOD LORD THATS ALONG TIME TO WAIT....


IF ANY BODY HAS HAD SURGERY ANYWHERE (LOCAL) USING TRICARE STANDARD PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE....LET ME KNOW LOCATIONS... PHONE NUMBERS.... AND HOW MUCH IS THE OUT OF POCKET FEE....I'M DESPARATE.

MORBIDLY DEVASTATED IN CHESAPEAKE.VA
PATIENT55

I am not a PNH patient , nor did I use Tricare.  I just wanted to tell you to call them today to get to the facts. If indeed this is the case and you have to wait , then the decision as you know is yours as to whether to pay out of pocket , or wait .  I can tell you this much , I would have done anything to get my surgery . I was blessed beyond blessed . I had a quick approval and date .  I will pray that you get the answers today. And for a surgery date that you can feel happy with .  I know it does seem like a long time . And it is to me . I just do not understand how they can do this , but I am sure there are loop holes as well .  Just call them this morning , and get to the bottom of it all .  Take time to think it all over , and remember that you are the consumer here . Make sure you check out all of your surgeons if you go the TRI Care way . This man will have his hands in your insides - rearrainging you for life .  I hope and pray things work out quickly for you .  Much respect ,  Natalie

Hello! Just read your post and wanted to share my experience. I was Tricare Prime and went to a seminar at Portsmouth in Sept 06. They told me it might be a year before surgery. Once I've made a decision, I want it done yesterday so, of course, I sought out other options. I went to a seminar at the Weight Loss Surgery Center of Hampton Roads and heard Dr. Terracina speak. I was impressed with both the Portsmouth surgeons and Dr. Terracina. Both seem to have good programs but slightly different. I live on the Peninsula so I knew going to support groups on my side of the water would be easier. At any rate, I looked into going Tricare Standard and I did so. The first year I did have to pay up to $3000 deductible but it wasn't at one time and most was due to other health issues. Tricare approved the surgery and paid almost all of that. I think I recently got some bill of about $80 and we just paid it without questioning. I'm still with Tricare Standard. They even paid part of a complication with my first PS too.  I would suggest you talk with Porthsmouth, call Tricare and go to a seminar in NN with Dr. Clark or Dr. Terracina (depending on which type of surgery you want. I think Dr. Clark does most of the open ones). There are plenty of satisfied patients at the clinic and many of them post on this board.  Oh, yes, one last thing! I had my surgery in November 06 and I got a call from Portsmouth in January 07. I have no idea how long it would have taken to get from that point to an actual surgery date but I was surprised to have even gotten a call at that point. It's a major decision, so weigh all the factors. A year can seem like a very long time but you have to look at every option and make the right decision for you! Good luck!  CeCe

I had my orientation in March of 07 and my surgery in March of 08  so I dont understand where you are getting the 2 years from.  It is about a year wait. Marion

Hi I had my oreintation Sept 07 and will be going to my Pre opp appointment May 30 to get my surgery date.  It is about a year from  the time you go to your oreintation to the time you have surgery. Gwen

I HEAR THAT IT CAN BE UP TO A YEAR AFTER U GET ALL YOUR PRE-OPS DONE BEFORE U GET A DATE....UGH!!! I HATE TO RESORT TO OTHER WEIGHT LOSS OPTIONS CAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL NOT BE PERMANANT. I'M NOT ONE WHO LISTENS TO EVERYTHING I HEAR..WITHOUT VERIFYING THE INFO...BUT..CALLING GETS ME NO WHERE ...I HATE TO CALL CAUSE NO ONE EVER ANSWERS AT THE PNH BARIATRIC CENTER.... BLOWING FIRE RIGHT NOW......

Hi There!  I have heard conflicting time lines also.  From what I have seen and heard though, PNH is well worth the wait.  I can put into a nutshell my timeline and story.  I went for my orientation in Sept 07, got my initial call in Feb 08.  Appts for psych and nutritional were in March.  Pre-op in April and I am scheduled for surgery this coming Weds the 14th.  So from start to finish for me was only 8 months.  Have faith and try to be patient.  It can be hard on the nerves for sure, but like I said, PNH is worth the wait.  Ms Boone is the bomb and she will bend over backwards for ya.  Good Luck and keep us posted.  Susan  :)

THANKS FOR  UR REPLY SUSAN... .WELL YOUR STORY IS MORE OF WHAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH...GOSH! I WISH THEY'D DO ATLEAST 2 A DAY...I GUESS THE LIST WILL BE A MONTH BEHIND BECAUSE I HEAR THEY ARE NOT DOING ANY SURGERIES IN ONE OF THE TWO (JUNE OR JULY..NOT SURE WHICH ONE YET).....I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO FRUSTRATED WITH WAITING FOR SOMETHING...I GUESS I AM JUST READY TO GET THIS WEIGHT OFF ME...I AM A COSMETOLOGIST....MY BACK,MY FEET, MY ANKLES, AND SHOULDER PAIN, IS MAKING LIFE AND WORK DIFFICULT FOR ME..I FEEL LIKE STARTING BACK UP ON DIET PILLS ....BUT I NO THAT WILL NOT BE A PERMANANT LOSS AND THE PROGRAM I USE TO GO TO COST SO MUCH MONEY..BUT HELL IF I CAN JUST GET 30 POUNDS OF FOR NOW...IT'D BETTER THAN NOTHING... LOOK AT ME I'M SORRY..I AM OVER HERE VENTING....STEALING YOUR JOY....WELL I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU ..YES... I MET MS. BOONE AT MY ORENTATION ON APRIL 10TH SHE IS NICE..NEVER ANSWERS THE PHONE BUT SHES NICE....LOL GOOD LUCK...LET ME KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCE WHEN YOUR DONE...

Good pm, Anything worth fighting for seems to take a long period of time. I also know that's not what you want to hear right now either. I think its best to pursue any and all options you can. I hope that the wait isn't that long but in the meantime, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that you get the answers you are looking for and you get on an expedited track! All best!

I have my orientation at PNH on 22 May and am finding this kind of discouraging. I was told by Ms. Boone at the Bariatric Surgery clinic that after my orientation it is a 6 month wait to see the surgeon. Yikes! So I guess a year is what I am expecting to wait, but 2 years... Ugg that seems somewhat discouraging. So what happens at this four hour orientation? What happens after the four hour orientation? I am certain I want the surgery done. I am 5'8 and 257 pounds which puts my BMI at 39.2 but I also am an type II insulin dependent diabetic, have hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, low good cholesterol, and high blood pressure. I am so scared they will tell me no about having the surgery. What surgeries do they offer for WL at PNH?