I am feeling a lot better and am able to get up and walk a short distance. I have lost 25 lbs, not a lot, but it is making a difference already. My blood pressure is stable and normal, I can walk about twice as I could before and my jeans are going to have to go through the dryer. They are really saging on me. I am smaller than I have been in about 18 years except for a short stint on Phen fen. 3 more lbs and that will be 20 years. The bad thing is I no longer fill out my bra and I just bought 2 new ones. Oh well, I'd rather lose the weight. I wish my knee would heel itself, but I know it won't. I am more afraid of that surgery than the Bypass. So, far everything is going well. I am overwhelmed with work. I got behind becasue I couldn't sit at the computer for 2 weeks. I am working 14 hour days trying to get caught up. Everyone wants to get their house going and I am the first step so the pressure is on me. At least it is at home and I don't have to drive to work or get dressed up or deal with coworkers, so it is not that bad. So, if I am not on here every day you know why. Take care everyone, Diana

I have to ask What is ChampVA also? My hubby is on Tricare for life. It is great. he pays nothing. Medicare pays and then Tricare for Life picks up the rest. The only requirement is he has to go to a Dr that accepts Medicare. I am still on Tricare Prime since I am not yet 65. Diana

I am Diana. I live in Idaho. I see a civilian dr. We are retired Army. I am just 1 month out of surgery. I am doing quite well. I had a sustantial blood loss because my platlets don't stick very well and I bruise and bleed easily. I have with every procedure I have had done. I just ooze for a while after. I had a GI bleed for about a week. Everywhere they cut me I bled. there is not much they can do about this. It just takes time to quit. I don't lose enough to be really dangerous. I am adapting quite well because I can have the things that really matter most to me, fruits and vegies. I'm kinda weird. I just get to eat one plum (they are small) rather than 10. I am getting my strength back and am now able to walk a ways. I can't walk far becasue of my knees and back. I am a slow loser (better than a sore loser). I'm sure it will pick up a little as I can walk more. I have lost 25 lbs and my blood pressure has returned to stable and normal. I have also lost over 2" off my waist and my hips. So, I am happy. I have a very good support system with my Dr's group. We have a lot of fun and help each other all the time. I'm not sure I have much wisdom. I do say it is important to be prepared. I practiced chewing my food forever and no water with meals before surgery. That has helped a lot. I have not been able to tolerate the protein shake that I started with. It is not the milk as I can drink milk fine. I found out it was the protein itself. I could drink it fine and it tasted OK before surgery, but after I couldn't gag it down and I dumped big time with it. I went to Isopure and it is working well. I do take about an hour or 2 to drink it and I dilute it more than they say to. I use the powder and use a lot of ice with it. I actually enjoy it. I have been able to get in all my water since about 4 days after surgery. I just keep on sipping. Gluping makes me sick. I think this is very important.

Is there still ChampVA? I know that several years ago they changed the name of Champus to Tricare. Is ChampVA different? Just curious.

Don't worry about ranting and whinning, that's why we are here. I am on Tricare Prime and my out of pocket expenses were $250 and that was for the nutritionist, supplements and the shake they wanted me to start with. I also had to pay $129 for the psychologist. Everything else was covered. I am lucky and have a dr about 15 miles away. Some Drs are listed as a provider, but have quit taking tricare. It is up and down. 3 years ago there was not a single orthopedic surgeon around here that would take Tricare. Now there are about 6. I am seeing a dr that is 350 miles away. If I am lucky I will be able to have my knee replacement done here instead of Ogden, Utah. Do you have some friends around that could help you with your son? I would call the other drs that do the procedure in your area and ask if they would consider taking Tricare. I know that a center in SLC, Utah is not a provider, but they have taken it for some patients. Take care, Diana