[beckamarie]

I know I was scared to death that Tricare was not going to approve me for surgery but boy was I wrong. My doctor submitted a referral but I didnt hear anything so 2 weeks later I asked her to submit it again. That was friday she submitted it while I was in her office, and lo and behold I get a call from Tripler and am scheduled for my 1st appointment where I will be weighed and messured and I will meet with the phycologic. I have to attend 4 meetings with them, one a month and then I will meet with the surgeon to schedule my surgery while I am waiting for my surgery I will attend dietician meetings and lose 23 lbs. (per their reques) then hubby and I have to meet together with the phycologist. Also after the surgery he and I will both be attending counseling sessions to help both of us to adapt to my new way of life. This is going much smoother then I expected.

[RePete07]

Hi Beckamarie!
I have Tricare prime, and I had no problems at all.. the only thing was all the classes and this and that you have to go through before hand... I know it is all very valuable information, but it gets frustrating having to wait for so long! I started my process in Sept. and I am just now having my surgery next Tuesday! It is all worth it in the end, but its the waiting and waiting and waiting....
I hope your base hospital is faster than mine.. it takes me like a month to even get in to see my surgeon!
Talk to you later!!

[bren]

I have Tricare Prime, and it very simple just took some time. It is different in each region however, In Kentucky it would have taken me over a year. We moved to Kansas in the process and I started the process in May and Had my surgery September 1st!

[beckamarie]

Bren thats exactly what I am dealing with...the LONG wait

[mikeesgirl]

This post was a huge relief!!! I have Tricare Prime in the Northwest Region (Spokane, WA). I have an appt to talk to my PCM about it on 3Apr07. I am excited and nervous at the same time. Hope for the best

Jess

[beckamarie]

Jess,
This has gone alot smoother then I thought. The wait list for going through our military hospital is LONG but my PCM referred me to a civilian hospital and I should be getting the surgery in June or July much faster then the hospital on base. Good luck and keep us posted

[bren]

Try to go cillivan if possible it happens much quicker that way

[mikeesgirl]

Yea it would definitely have to civilian. Here at Fairchild they only have a clinic on base rather than a full hospital. Yay for me in that area. I have done a lot of research and I want to try and get Dr. Mathew Rawlins. I am pretty sure he takes tricare from some of that patients that posted their experience with him. Ugh I call everyday hoping there has been a cancellation so I could see my PCM sooner but no luck yet. So for now I continue to be nervous about my Dr. Appt. I just hope my experience in like some of you alls where it went really smooth. The thing is, is that I have never really told my doc my weight...lol b/c they haven't weighed me since I have been here. Strange huh. But I am so embarrassed about it that I couldn't even tell my own doctor. But I am sure he probably knew and just didn't want to call me on it.... hrmm Thank you guys for your responses. I just love knowing that it doesn't matter what I weigh or look like I am accepted here. I don't mean that in a sadistic way. I feel I am pretty but we all have our days... I would post a pic but it's only a face pic and you wouldn't believe I weigh this much by looking at it. LOL I will let my husband get a pic of me soon so I can post some of me now and hopefully in the near future I will be able to post some of the "new" me!!!