WOO HOO! Congratulations! I was told by my Tricare people that once you are approved for the initial consult with Prof. Weiner, that means that you'll be approved for surgery. They have started getting seperate autharizations for the consult and the surgery because the surgeon was not getting paid for the consult. When I asked the Tricare lady if people ever get approved for the consult and not the surgery, she replied that she never saw that so you are pretty much approved! Prof. Weiner's staff is excellent at submitting the paperwork to get the final approval. Remeber to mark down whatever joint pain you may have due to your weight and whatever other problems you may have. I had a hard time going up stairs and doing the dishes due to back and knee pain. When you go for your consult, you will fill out lots of paperwork and a large questionairre. You can also print out the paperwork prior to your appt at http://www.profweiner.com/ Good luck and feel free to contact me with any other questions!!!

can't wait to hear!

Hi Melissa welcome! I am also in Graf. Have you tried the support group at the Library? It is a wonderful place to meet everyone from around here who has been through or is going through what you are right now! Congratulations on your progress. Tricare is very quick to approve surgery over here. Just make sure to follow up with the referrals offcie for quicker results. Glad to have you here... Daisy

Hello, I am not in Germany but we are in Ghedi, Italy and I went to my PCP on 2/19/08 and got referal, saw a sergon on 2/26/08 and surgery is scheduled for 4/21/08. Dr. wanted to do it next week but I needed to make arrangmants with my kids, I have twin baby boys, 1 year old, so my mom can take them in April. Tricare took like 30 minutes from recieving Dr's notes to sending me email saying APROVED...Tricare rocks. They say the hardest is to get referal after that is a waiting game. Good luck and I am new as well but if I can help let me know. Amila Smith

Nope, I sure don't know anywhere to get them local. Kind of a bugger trying to get that stuff over here in germany. Did you think to ask someone in the states to get some and mail them to you. I am sure they could pack a whole mess of them into the Priority mail flat rate box for $8.95. Also starting March 3rd they are going to have a new larger flat rate box that can be shipped to APO's for a discounted price of $10.95. Maybe you could call one of the companies you are trying to order from and ask them nicely to put it in a flat rate box for you. All theycan say is No. Good luck... Daisy