A Public Service Announcement

If you are a military spouse considering bariatric surgery and you will be moving frequently...this is for you.

As you can see from my ticker, I have been banded for 18 months.  In those 18 months, 12 months have been spent with no kind of follow-up due to moves and bariatric specialists in the new areas not wanting to see me because I did not have the surgery with them.

I had my surgery in April 2010 at Tallgrass Surgical Center in Topeka, KS.  The surgeons and staff there are great!  However, due to my husband's career choice, we ended up with orders to move to Florida at the the end of May 2010.  I had a a quick post op check up a week after surgery and then 3 weeks later, I went in and received my first fill (3cc in a 10cc band).

When I got to Florida June 1st, I started looking for a new specialist to follow up with.  One wanted a $450 "administrative fee" that was not covered by insurance (Tricare Standard).  The second "only" wanted $250 for his administrative fee.  He came highly recommended, so I went with him and because we were going to be there for such a short amount of time, the fee ended up being waived....but not until after I had saved up and went to the first appointment (about 5 months after my last visit with my surgeon in KS).  I think I got to see him 3 times and received a fill each time.  When I left Florida at the end of May 2011, I had 5cc in my 10cc band.

So we arrive in Maryland in June 2011.  The search starts again. I think I'll make it easier on myself and go with a version of Tricare Prime that will allow me to use the Johns Hopkins system.  As previously posted, I was able to maintain throughout the move until we got settled.  I got a referral from my Primary Care Physician in August.  I didn't get around to calling the specialist until the beginning of September.  The first words out of the person on the other line's mouth were "We won't see you.  You didn't have your procedure done here."
My response:
"Really?!  You accept a health insurance plan only offered to military families...who by the very nature of the servicemember's career are very transient because we move with the needs of the Army...but you won't see someone who had the surgery somewhere else?  What happens to your patients who move away?  Do you really just implant a medical device in people and say "good luck" if they move?  Would you want your patient's treated that way?  Would you want to be treated that way?"
So then she informs me they have a "process" and if I can fax that info to her she will submit it to the director and he will decide if they will see me.  Fast forward three weeks after I fax the information and I have still not heard anything, I call to check on the status.  She doesn't know but when she hears something, she'll call me.  Another week later, i still haven't heard anything and had to make a visit to my PCP for another acute issue and mentioned my experience.  He gets a little upset because just days before the Chief of Surgery for this group had been saying how they really wanted to start seeing more of the patients on the same plan I am on.  My PCP talks with his receptionist to make a phone call.  Apparently the phone call didn't get too far, so my PCP ended up sending an email to a specific doctor and his receptionist calls to give me his name.  I then call back to the surgeon's to schedule.  Now my info is missing...but I have a different person on the line and I after going through the above spiel again, I mention my PCP is involved and has worked it out with a specific surgeon.  She does a little checking and low and behold!  I'm right!  So since my info was all missing, I had to fax my records once again and then fill out new patient info which I faxed back.  This is all over a month after I originally faxed the requested info and I still don't have an appointment.  Hopefully, that will get straightened out tomorrow.

So....long story short:
If you are an active duty family member who is likely to be moving every few years, be aware that recieving follow up care can be a very real challenge.

On another note:
I am hoping the appointment is sooner rather than later and I am hoping for some imaging with contrast.  Again I'm having problems with pain on the left side of my stomach, similar to the pain I had pre-surgery that I think was related to the hiatal hernia that was repaired.  I'm also concerned about possible slippage or erosion and am still considering revision to bypass.  We will see.

The Confession

Pretty much I'm just posting to admit the truth. I am a Lap-Band failure. I am still stuck in the same 5 pound plateau that I have been for over a year. Again, another move and it's been at least 3 months since I've seen a bariatric specialist. I'm pretty sure my pouch is now stretched to a full size stomach. There isn't much I can't eat (except sandwiches made with bread). I will have to call this week to set up an appointment as I finally got a referral. I'm tossing around the idea of having surgical revision to gastric bypass. But honestly, I've just pretty much given up. This fat chick isn't getting skinny and will forever be a fat chick.


As for the rest of my life, we have made the move to Maryland and things have gone much smoother than the move to Florida. I actually start work with the health clinic here on Tuesday. I'm also looking into going back to school in the fall. I was only going to do an associate's degree but the school here I still wouldn't be eligible to start until Fall 2013. So I think I'm going to go for my bachelor's instead and should hopefully be done at the same time as if I sat around waiting. I'm still looking into the area schools and seeing what kind of courses I could take through the colleges here on post (the gen ed stuff).

Munchkin and Monster are attending private school here. That is something Hubster and I thought we would do. However with the public school we were zoned for and the uncertainies of Monster having a slot in the child development center here on post, it was the best decision. They are both doing very well so far (last week was their first week).

We've had some adventures here in Maryland, already. Namely the earthquake that was felt from the Carolinas to New York and then Irene. We were very lucky with Irene. We did not lose power at all. It's very strange how just outside the gates the damage was much worse than the installation received. God had his hand over us. As for the earthquake, it was over before we really knew what was going on. Honestly, my first thought was "What are the guys blowing up today?". LOL

You probably won't see much from me as there just isn't much to report.  I hope you all have a great time at the BOOBs convention!  I just wanted to say hi and let you all know that I do still follow you and think of you often!

awesome!

Due to our move, I haven't had a home-cooked meal in almost a month. I also have not had a chance to step on a scale during that time either. But yesterday, I unpacked the scale and of course the first thing I did was step on to see what the damage of he nomadic life was.





No weight gain!!!! Yes, I think that is pretty awesome.


more on the moving adventure once our internet is hooked up and I'm not having to use my phone. But in the mean time, if anyone has any recommendations for a Lap-Band doctor in the Baltimore area, I'd love to hear from you!

Once Again

Hubster graduated from EOD school just over a week ago.  I'm so proud of him!!  It was a very trying and challenging year for both of us.  One I think we are both glad is over...but now on to new adventures.
We're moving to the northeast in just two weeks!  I'm a jumble of emotions...but stressed seems to be at the top of the list.

I'm sad, too.  Sad that we're not going back to Kansas.  Sad that I'm giving up a really great job where I really love the people I work with.  That also adds to the stress...once again being unemployed.  Send some good vibes that something will be available at the clinic at our new duty station.

I'm angry.  Angry that I have to give up this great career opportunity, once again, for his career to advance.  I'm angry that, once again, I am forced to move somewhere I really don't want to go, where I know no one, and will have learn to adapt and help the kids adapt....alone.

I'm worried.  I'm worried because I know how dangerous this new job of his is.  I know families who's loved ones have been seriously injured and killed in this field.  I'm worried because this will be my daughter's 5th school and she'll be in 5th grade (she went to the same school from preK - 1st grade).  She's painfully shy and changing schools is very hard on her.

I'm hopeful.  We will be at our new location for 4 years.  I can actually unpack all the boxes this time.  I can hang pictures on the wall and make our next house a home.  We will be in an area that offers much to see and do and I hope to see and do as much of it as possible.  I hope the kids enjoy it as well.

Gosh-darn-rootin-tootin' Time!

A week late, but I am officially 30 pounds lighter since surgery.  It's 20 shy of my original goal for 1 year out but since I went 4 months without follow up immediately after surgery, I'm giving myself until August 2 to lose those 20 pounds.

In other news, tomorrow I'm meeting "The Queen Bee".  :-)  I'm also going shopping for a new dress to wear to Hubster's graduation, which is just 3 weeks away.  I'll be putting in my notice this upcoming week and May 18 will be my last day with this medical squadron.  I'm working on transferring my license to Maryland, where we we will be headed at the start of June, as well as sending out resumes.  Cross your fingers I can find something at the small clinic on the military installation we're headed to.

Also, I'll be leaving for B.O.O.B.s from Baltimore, so if anyone else is heading out from there and knows of any deals, please share.  Not sure yet if I'm going to fly or drive (might have to drop the kiddos off at Grandma and Grandpa's along the way).   Not to mention if you're in the Baltimore area and would like to get together, let me know, too!

Hope you all are having a great weekend!