sickofrollercoaster

Teresa, sorry that she said that! I know this is easier said then done but... STICKS AND STONES! How about "Hey Mom, if I could have surgery to save my life, would you support me?" I think the nasty comments sometimes from our family MIGHT be masking their own fears about what we are doing, just a thought. You sound like you have your head on straight and this decision was made with your head AND your heart! Best of luck!

I am at 33 BMI, did not take long at all! Oh that would be nice!

Mommy, I am also a "lightweight" and can't keep the extensive regimen up that it takes for me to stay in a healthy weight, when are you planning to go for surgery? I am scheduled May 10th. My Mom is going with me, if you are there at te same time you are more than welcome to "hang" with us!

Stacey, I agree with you! I can't wait to regain my self confidence and I know that this is not a quick fix but already I am feeling better about myself and it is 3 weeks before surgery. I guess I just feel like I am FINALLY doing something that will help me get where I want to be and STAY there!

I watched some videos on utube on the Sleeve procedure, how can they be so precise, it all looks the same to me, how do they know what they are cutting on??? Dr. Aceves is my surgeon. One video I watched that is not from Dr. Aceves showed clamps on top of staples and then an epoxy type membrane on top of that. I wish I had not watched the videos now!!! Anyone have info on Dr. Aceves' techniques?

No actually, I am not kidding. I am not sure how to take your tone but I will choose to take it lightheartedly. I have been to Mexico 5 times since 2001, once just across the border in Texas and 4 times in areas of the Western Caribbean. It is a lovely country, I agree! I have also been to Jordan twice, another third world country. In all cases I was told never to drink the water and everywhere you went, you were given bottled water. I have spoken with other patients of Dr. Aceves and they were told not to drink the water by Nina. I trust she knows what she is talking about. Did I think the surgeon was washing his hands out back? No. Do I know that water can be run through a filtration system. Yes. Please understand that this forum is supposed to be a place for folks to feel comfortable coming here to research their options and get the information they need. No question is ever a dumb one, if it is a question in your mind then you should ask it! This is about my health and my safety, so although to some my question might seem quite ridiculous, if that is what I need to ask in order to have a clear mind going into this life changing event, I will ask it!

Amazing what you think about 3 weeks prior to this surgery!!! Ok, question??? If you cannot drink the Water in Mexico, what do the surgeons was their hands with? The same water that you cannot drink? Might seem trivial and I am hoping someone has a great answer for me! Thanks!

Frankie, another question (sorry, I will probably have more before my date in 3 weeks so bear with me!), how many leak tests did Dr. Aceves do?

Franki, glad to see you are doing well! What doctor did you go to?

Just saw a Slimfast commercial, making it seem so easy to lose weight fast! So, why are WLS patients put down so much because we will lose weight fast? So surgery makes it different? Maybe because this IS a more successful (permanent) way? We all choose our way, we are all different, one size does not fit all, so glad I have my mother's experience 16 years ago to go by, I know i am making the right choice. Tiff, bottom line, believe in your choice, know there will be changes, you needed them whether through surgery or some other means! Belive in you!!! You can do this!

I am so praying for you guys!!!! I hope all goes well!!!

I think my main issue with other's reaction is that I am not morbidly obese right now, I have been there but those that know me now did not see me then. They have seen me lose the same 50 pounds and gain it back. At 5' tall (used to be 5' 2" but I have scoliosis!). I get around just fine, I take the stairs at work instead of the elevator, I run to my SUV in the rain instead of walk... But they don't know my history and what I am headed for with all of the stress in my life, I have three kids on my own and a very demanding career. I can either choose to do a very healthy diet and exercise 2-3 hours a day OR I can choose to work and raise my children the way they deserve to be raised, right now it is hard to choose both, and i am sure I will get bashed for that but if you have never been a single mom of three children with a professional career then you really do not know what I have gone through. I have dance and karate 4 nights a week, this is after an 8-10 hour work day! So my kids DO deserve a healthy Mom but I know what that takes, I have been there. I do not have the energy left at the end of the day to put them to bed at 8pm and then workout. This is somewhat of a confession for me however my Mom has been my angel through all of this, it is a realization. I want EVERYTHING for my children so I GIVE them EVERY OPPORTUNITY, My needs come second and always have! The only reason I moved from the Morbidly Obese category to the Obese category is because 3-4 years ago, stress made me lose weight and that inspired me (sick, I know...). Now at 35, stress makes me depressed, I eat and dont care to exercise. I need the boost of motivation AND I need a tool to help me get there. Yeah, I have about 60 pounds to lose, sounds small to some but when we are talking quality of life, it is everything to this Mom!!! I have danced all my life... My girls are heavily involved in dance. I danced at their recital last summer with some other parents, everyone says oh wow, you are a great dancer! Yes, that is part of me but I just cant show all of what I love to do until I lose this weight! My dream is to dance on stage with my girls!!!

That is what I always say to folks that want to point out that I have a large back side, "Surgery and healthy habits will help me fix that, too bad there is no surgery for your nasty attitude!" Also, I tell my children all the time when someone says something to hurt their feelings, people who feel it necessary to put you down is actually not feeling so well about themselves. I find this to be so true! A little boy told me son the other day that I had a big butt, yes a LITTLE boy!!! My son was so upset!!! I had to teach him the sticks and stones saying. My son told me right in front of the little boy AND his parents. I made sure that my response to him was that I did not care what others thought about me, it is all about how I feel about myself and that this little boy must not feel too good about himself to be talking bad about someone's Mommy that way! My son said "Mommy, I think he is jealous that I have such a great Mommy!" CLASSIC!!!

Oh another question, alcohol, is it completely off limits? I am not a heavy drinker but enjoy a glass of wine or a few beers on the weekend...

Great, thanks, sending the kids out to a movie with Dad while I go grocery shopping today! This helps! I do not have high blood pressure so not a worry there, just want to make sure I do not miss anything on the nutrition side...

Thanks so much for all of the advice, really appreciate it! I do have a question on sodium, broth is typically high in sodium, is that not a concern being on these liquid diets?

Thanks so much for the info Grace, this helps a ton! I wondered about how hot/cold the hotel room would be, so do they not have central air? So much respect for those ladies that were there for surgery and went through the tremors! What an even more exciting time! Just 3 weeks away!!!

Wow, can't tell you ladies how great it is to read all of your posts! My date is May 10th and although I want to fast forward to that date, I am nervous! My BMI is at 33 and I wanted to do the pre-op diet. Nina told me that they would not recommend it because if I lose too much I would not be able to have the surgery so I am just maintaining. The earthquakes scare me a bit but it appears that the hospital is constructed to pretty high standards if the structure itself was not damaged (sorry, I am a civil engineer so yeah, I think about these things!). It is still hard to believe that I will finally have a tool that will work for me. I have been thin before... In HIGH SCHOOL! I can say that I have always been one to lose weight when I am stressed.... Until I got into my mid 30s, now it is just the opposite so obviously that "diet plan" is not working for me anymore. A few questions as I get ready for this awesome experience: Did you just use the hospital gown or did you bring jammies (nightgown or shirt and pants)? Do they give you bottled Water (I have traveled to Mexico and Jordan before, typically bottled water is the custom)? Any shopping right around the hotel and if so, did you fee safe walking on the street? If you took a companion, was the room comfy for them to sleep (my Mom is going with me, she is 4'11" and about a buck ten so she does not much but want to make sure she will be comfy)? When do you get to take a shower after surgery? Do you wear a compression garment and if so for how long? Did anyone need a wheelchair at the airport? This concerns me a bit, after three days in the hospital I would hope I was good enough to walk on my own. CONGRATS to everyone on their success, I can't wait to be one of you!!!

PS Why doesn't my profile picture post when I make a post? Not sure what I am doing wrong there?

Thanks Tiff, always so helpful!!! I am mainly concerned about three things: 1) Not getting enough of what I need and 2) not being able to swallow a pill and 3) what Vitamin I do take making me nausiated. I probably need to start trying to find the right Vitamins now but not sure how that will help me once I do the surgery. Also, I am having surgery on May 10th and will return to work on May 17th. I will not have a lot of time to shop post op and I am a single Mom of three kiddos so I need to get things lined up for myself as best I can now. Thanks so much, I feel so much better between this website and youtube, such a comforting place to go when I have questions, doubts, fears!

So sorry to hear about that! Honestly, I would have been fine going alone, I tend to be pretty independent but my Mom is really in support of my decision and so it makes sense for her to travel with me and share the experience. I do worry about her getting bored but I hear there is some pretty good shopping so she should be ok! I found an area of obesityhelp.com that had forums by month so maybe try there to see if there are others that are going at the same time you are to your doctor. Keep me posted, can't wait to hear how everything goes!