One month update and Tricare

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear you are doing so well. I hope you continue to have such good

weight loss. hugs and slugs marg

[Guest guest]

I'm only on the post-op list now because of the volume of mail here

and because law school starts next week. I wanted to update everyone

on my weight loss though. I had the MGB on 7/14/00 and as of 8/14/00

had lost 30 pounds exactly. I feel great and I can eat anything I

want, so far. I've tried many things, including beef, shrimp,

chicken, and pasta, fruits and veggies. I can tolerate sugar without

any problem, but don't want it. I had a bite of my daughters

chocolate chip cookie the other day and then just gave it back. It

didn't taste the same. I've had an Oreo too and it didn't taste that

great anymore, when before surgery, I'd eat them all day until they

were gone. I haven't vomited once and I have no pain or reflux. I

just stopped the carafate and the prevacid, so I'm paying attention

to

how my stomach is reacting. So far, so good.

Let's see, I'm down to a size 18, which is so nice! My clothes are

all falling off so I've got to restock the closet. My cravings are

gone, gone, gone. That has been the biggest blessing of all, that

plus the savings from not eating fast food!

As for Tricare, I saw the messages about it when I checked the board

and wanted to let you know what Tricare paid Dr. R for my surgery

because I received the statement last week.

Out of the $4,000 he billed, they paid $1177 and disallowed the rest.

My heart goes out to those tricare patients who cannot get this

surgery. I hope something can be worked out. I'm pretty sure I was

the very last tricare patient Dr. R operated on and I count my

blessings everyday. You are right, Dee, we endure so much as

military

wives and then for our insurance to be so crappy just adds insult to

injury. I swear, besides my genetic predisposition to being fat, the

life I've led as the wife of an Army Green Beret for the last 15

years

has contributed greatly to my depression and weight problem.

While I kept the home fires burning, my husband has deployed with

Special Forces teams for the last 8 years. Teams that encourage

infidelity, because " what goes on with the team, stays with the team. "

Suffice it to say, it helped to ruin my marriage. That, plus my

spouse's inability to keep it in his pants... I won't get started.

(I envy those ladies whose spouses give them unconditional love,

regardless of size. I hope to run across someone like that one day.)

The good news is that my life is changing drastically. I've had the

MGB and law school is starting and they've given me a full

scholarship! I feel great and I feel free. The best revenge is

living well and Dr. R helped me to do that.

Oh yea, Tricare also refused to pay the $255 for clinic, which I have

appealed, but will pay for if they don't.

Sorry for the discourse, I really only started out to update the

stats

and tell you how much tricare paid.

Take care,

Donna

Chapel Hill

MGB 7/14/00

Highest weight - 256

Surgery weight - 238

Today's weight - 208

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,

I enjoyed your letter as I have been wondering how you're doing. I love to

hear stories of how people are letting go and taking charge of their lives.

It sure sounds like you've got it all figured out!!! Best of luck to you and

keep in touch when law school isn't wearing ya down!! Hey great weight loss

too!!

in Raleigh