6 month Dr. Visit (@7.5 months)

Hello all, Sorry I have been missing from the message board but I have been busy. I just have not had time to keep up with all of the new messages. There are so many newbies on the board now! I had my 6th month check up today although it was scheduled at 7 1/2 months! All my labs were good. They were impressed with my success. Commented on how good and happy I look. (Imagine that after having to drive 50 miles in pouring rain then wade through 10" deep water to get to the office!) They took another photo of me as I had changed so much. My official weight loss was 101 pounds although according to my scale at home (stripped naked of course) it is 103. So I guess after weighing fully dressed on the doctors scale, mine is right on target! I have been painting for a friend at his new fitness center. Making a few bucks here and there. Selling loads of clothes on ebay! Then I'll have to go shopping again! Oh such a chore! HA! I just want to say Hi to all my buddies on thie message board. Please add a little note for me, I'd love to hear how you all are doing now!!! We just don't all seem to make it to the message board as often as we used to! Take care all! Tracy 261/158/115 43 pounds to go to goal!!!

Hi Tracy Great to see you back on the board. It sounds like you've been doing great. Unfortunately, my month of challenges seems to be on-going. I had surgery to repair my broken left arm last week. That went very well, but the "fun" began after I was relaeased from the hospital. First I got this hot, hard swelling in my left leg. Doc sent me in fot DVT ultrasound, no blood clots. But by Saturday morning I had a full blown phlebitis in my left leg, which was joined by another in the right leg. Very painful, even with the post-op pain meds. Then, to add insult to injury, Godzilla the Hemorrhoid showed up on Sunday. So I saw my PCP Monday, and am on anti-inflamatory meds ror the phlebitis (which is helping) and sitz-baths and cream for Godzilla (which isn't). Tomorrow I have to make an appointment to have Godzilla surgically evicted. I sure hope I don't have to wait too long for an appointment, because my friend 'Zilla is the only reason I'm up on the message boards at 3:45 am. On the bright side, I had my first PT appointment for the arm this morning, and the therapist was surprised at how much range of motion I already have in the arm. I have exercises to do every 2 hours, and it feels good to be able to move the arm. The rest of the time I keep it in an immobilizer, mostly to keep myself from accidentally hurting myself by forgetting that it's still weak and doing something stupid. I'm even able to use the left hand for It's great therapy for the fingers, since the nerve that lets me pull my fingers back was irritated and typing requires a whole lot of little movements of those fingers. Anyway, Great to see you back and doing so good! Deb

Hi there Tracy, How are you doing? I am glad you are ok and yes I am busy also this summer. I am on vacation. I went to Philly and had a great time. I will post pictures on my profile on AOL until the Pictures appear here on my homepage. I am now down 96 pds and am very happy about it. I am now weighing 149 lbs down from my pre-op of 245. It just seem I can't get to the CENTURY CLUB. I am tall and listen to this....... " THIN" At 5ft 6 this is fine for me but my dr wants me at 135 lbs. I will hope it happens.... Glad to hear from you... Lorraine

Hi Tracy, I don't get to the board as often as I used to either. I suppose we are all too busy "LIVING" and not spending quite as much time in front of the computer. I went to see my primary doctor today and he referred me to a plastic surgeon. I have Tricare (military insurance) and I am hoping they deem it medically necessary to remove my tummy....loads of skin but I'm not sure. I can't do anything about it if I don't try. I just know i'll be denied but thats okay...at least I will have tried. I am 17 pounds from goal and it seems to be harder than ever for me to get the scale to move...GRRR! Hope you have a great week! ~Rachel

Rachel good news for you.... probably won't have a problem getting it covered! BUT I am not sure I want to be "practiced" on.....I would think as a dependent your chances are quite high to be covered! Check this article out!! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5487712/?GT1=4244 Plastic surgery available on taxpayers' dime The U.S. Army has long lured recruits with the slogan "Be All You Can Be," but now soldiers and their families can receive plastic surgery, including breast enlargements, on the taxpayers' dime. The New Yorker magazine reports in its July 26th edition that members of all four branches of the U.S. military can get face-lifts, breast enlargements, liposuction and nose jobs for free -- something the military says helps surgeons practice their skills. "Anyone wearing a uniform is eligible," Dr. Bob Lyons, chief of plastic surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio told the magazine, which said soldiers needed the approval of their commanding officers to get the time off. Between 2000 and 2003, military doctors performed 496 breast enlargements and 1,361 liposuction surgeries on soldiers and their dependents, the magazine said. The magazine quoted an Army spokeswoman as saying, "the surgeons have to have someone to practice on."

Thanks Shannon, You know I had heard that was a possiblity but like you said...practicing on me scares me...lol. I will have to check into the doctor and find out if someone more experienced is in there with him...etc. The other thing is BAMC hospital that was in the article is just 3 hours away in San Antonio. You made my day...thanks! ~Rachel