I was told Tricare would not pay for plastic surgery and our Amry hospital does not do it either. ????

Sandy, Where in WA are you? I go to an off-post PCM in Lacey (Olympia) and I just LOVE him! I swear...if I weren't married...lol j/k. Seriously, when I went in for my initial consult, him and his nurse spent a combined total of more than TWO HOURS with me! He was very friendly, compassionate, understanding, and made sure he didn't leave the room until we had discussed everything on my (rather long) list of topics I brought with me. It was amazing - my poor husband was out in the car waiting with the kids, and he was thinking maybe I slipped out the back door and took off without him or something lol. If you haven't already found a PCM, I'd be more than happy to give you his name/number. My husband and I are considering moving up to Tacoma in April, but I plan to keep my PCM - it's worth the extra trip! Let me know! My e-mail addy is [email protected] - I'd probably reply quicker that way, since I'm traveling right now and haven't checked the boards in a while. Keri

Heather, Well it sounds like you are ready!!! You will have to keep us updated on when your surgery is. Have you been to all your pre-op stuff? Do you know what your food intake will be after surgery? Okay I am glad to see you on here. Good luck in your process!!! Keep us updated!!! Becky P.

Hello Heather, I just wanted to welcome you to this site!! I live in Seal Beach, CA and my husband is in the Army. We moved from Germany last year. We were there from Aug. 2001- June 2004. I have a friend that lives in Wiesbaden right now and her husband is going back to Iraq. I had visited her there in Wiesbaden several times and it was a nice area. Good thing is that it is very close to the Airport to be able to go pick visitors up when they visit. I had WLS Jan. 25, 2005. I am now about 7 1/2 months out and I am down 95 pounds. I can't tell you how much better I feel. I feel as if I have my life back. Just make sure that you have done lots of research and make sure this is for you. I always have to plan ahead and make sure that I have everything that I need with me when I go anywhere. I will tell you that although I feel great right now that this has been one of the hardest things I have done in my life. People who say that this is the easy way out are so wrong!!!! There are so many emotional things that go on after surgery. I don't know about you but I am an emotional eater and for the first three weeks after surgery ( I could only have liquids) I really went through withdrawl with food or lack of. I am one of the lucky ones though because I haven't gotten sick at all so far. I am very careful of what I eat now because I don't want to get sick. I stick to my doctor's plan to the tee because I know this is my last resort and he gave me the tool but it is up to me to make it work. The weight can come back on if you don't stick to the plan your doctor sets for you. Just somethings to think about. I didn't have to do a pre-surgery weightloss plan. I was grateful. It is good that you are with your family and have the support that you will need after surgery. Your husband will be so shocked at how you will look the next time he sees you!!!! Okay I just really wanted to say hello and welcome!!! Let me know if you have any questions that I can help you with!! Take care, Becky P.

Yeah my Dr. makes you go on an "atkins" type diet for 2 weeks...no more than 30gr carbs and a min. of 80gr of protein per day. It was to shrink my liver so that when they pick it up it is thin and doesn't bleed..yum..lol Good luck Ashe 278/216/145 P.s. I like the name mahaley...never heard it before always looking for something different.