There is a support group meeting scheduled for June 25, 2007, 6pm, BFV medical clinic conference room. There will be a guest speaker. email me if you need any information.

I just read your porfile. It seems to me that they need to concentrate on your BMI. May be your dr can point out that you are really short and 100lbs over weight for you is more like 140 lbs overweight for me. I am 5'7" and weight just under 260. If you don't get things under control now you are going to lose all your joints and develope type II diabetis and high blood pressure. Make sure your Drs make comments about your height. Maybe I need to write about myself in my profile. This is the only place that I feel comfortable talking about my weight. It's a great resource. I will cross my fingers for you. Diana

I am new to the web site. I like the thought of a military forum. I hope you young people don't mind some older retired military people. My husband spent over 40 yrs in the Army. He's been wounded twice and has seen more combat than most anyone in today. He thought he was really tough so he became a Ranger. ( he was and still is) Can you believe that the Army has asked him to come back in. He is 68; but they can call him bac****il he is 72. They said they don't care that he has high blood pressure that is very hard to control and a bad back, they would modify his pt requirements. His lungs have some problems also from agent oragne. He just doesn't want to go back in. What is funny is we have a 20 year old daughter. Her friends can't believe that her dad is that old. I am really happy with Tricare. They have really been good to us. For a few years we were self imployed and had private insurance. Try paying $1,200 per month for lousy insurance. I have just gotten my referal to see the surgeon. I am excited and nervous. I hope to see some more participation on this forum. Diana

Hi Molly, I'm just starting this and I'm going through a onbase PCM and a MTF. I don't know if this is everywhere, but here we have to go through a program for the surgery. We have to do a food log, a exercise program, all the evaluations, and sit through the pre surgery support groups. I don't mind doing these. I already exercise 3X's a week. I'm not good with writing down what I eat, but that won't be too hard. The Coordinator also told me that it would be a 6 month program, but that I really determine how long it will really take. I find out more on Tuesday though, so we will see. I also asked her (my coordinator) about the diet and she said that our surgeons want it, but they have made exceptions about it at times. Such as a 1 month diet, if I follow all the rules and haven't lost anything then they might accept that. I already know that their "diet" won't help because last time they put me on it I gained 20lbs. Trust me Atkins doesn't work for everyone.

Your surgeon's office may require the 6 month diet? I'm not sure why the referal person is telling you that. My surgeon's office made me lose 5% of my weight before they'd submit to insurance. According to my surgeon's office all Tricare wants is my height, weight, psych eval and if you have co-morbidities any tests/proof of those. BUT my surgeon's office adds everything they require (5 year weight history, diet attempts history, sleep study, nut consult, etc) as well. Good luck! Andi