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I found out that tricare has finally put the new standard in the policy manual that will allow for bmi as the criteria instead of the 100 lb or 200% that has previously been their standard! It isnt posted on the tricare websites yet (they have until mid Sept to do that) but it is on the Tricare Management Activity site in the tricare policy manual. I believe the site is http://manuals.trica...ame=TP02toc.pdf and it is in the section for surgery, and is policy 13.2. I hope people can find the information from this link but if not you can go to www.tricare.mil, click on the TMA tab, go to policy, tricare manuals, click the 2002 policy tab on the left, then under the tricareprogram manuals 2002 section click the one that refers to the policy manual. That should bring up a page that says most recent change number 145, click that section and under it you can see the whole manual at change 145 and it is in chapter 4 (surgery) and it is down at number 13.2. I hope this information can help people who are currently looking into this through tricare since it may open the door for some but could make new hurdles for others to make sure they qualify.

It is normal to feel that way. I've had 3 surgeries in my life now. I've had no problems and it really does seem like only a few minutes have passed. The only weird thing about the lap-band surgery was how they strapped me down on the surgical table before being put under. It was literally like I was being strapped down like Jesus being put up on the cross. Your arms are stretched out to the side and each leg has its own holder or stirrup..I guess after you're out they move the table up at an angle, so you really do look like you are on a cross. That is the last thing I remember before they said you'll be falling asleep in a few seconds. Bizarre.

I also thought I was going to mourn food more. For some reason, after the surgery, a switch in my head just went off. I think maybe the surgery was my rock bottom. The fact that my eating and lack of exercise got me to a point where I needed to have surgery to correct it. I have a few friends with the lap band and I have seen them fail. Go back to bad habits and not go to follow up appointments. I didn't want to be that person. I used to love junk food and fast food. What is not to love. It is easy, quick and tasty. But then you have surgery, and then you start counting calories and looking at labels and you realize how much crap you are putting into your system. For me, it was a wake up call. This surgery saved my life, but I know it is now all on me to see the rest through. You can do it. You are already doing it. Good luck to you.