Karen H.

I am so stinkin' excited I can hardly contain it!!! I made my pre-admit appointment today. I have purchased my lovely cases of Slim-Fast, memorized my pre-op diet choices and started my to-do list for the hubby. Its really gonna happen and I couldn't be happier. This is a total fluff topic, but I am the last one up in my house at the moment and I really wanna scream and jump around for joy! Yeahhhhh for me... Now I have only 28 more sleeps to get through! G'night! Karen

Wow~! So many replies...I am so thankful! I am definetly going to look into craigslist and ebay. And yes, I may need to up my budget to get a well-built sturdy machine. I sure don't want to have to replace it quickly... Thanks everyone! KAren

Hi there! I can see where you would feel strange! I am a nurse as well, and I always bump into my gyno doc on the floor and talk about cringe ! Awkward, party of two... I read about how your surgeon cancelled you and the aftermath of that, and I certainly get where you are coming from, but everyone makes mistakes and its what you do after that really tells you what you're made of. I can't help but think that after you go through what may be a period of awkwardness at your new job that things will be good. Just think about how you'll make each WLS surgery patient feel when they wake up to your thin face telling them they are gonna be fine! You'll have such a better perspective on what your pts are going through and even if you don't let on that you have been in their shoes, your care for them will show it! Best of luck to you... Karen

I am not there either (May 10th!)...and I agree with Fatbgone, its posts like these that really help. This forum is such a fountain of knowledge, and I am finding that I spend more time here than on facebook (gasp)! I so appreciate the experiences of each sleever that has come before me and I can only hope to be as helpful to those that come after. Lisa, thank you for your 'meltdown'! I know I have learned from it! Take Care, Karen

Hi Sarah I was wondering about this problem as well because I have very heavy cycles as well, or at least I did until yesterday. I had the NovaSure procedure yesterday at my gyno's office. It is an endometrial ablation procedure that completely eliminates menstruation in about 60% of women, for the other 40% there is some to slight menstrual bleeding monthly. I pray I am in the 60%! But even if my periods are only half as bad as they were, then I will call it a success. I wish I had just done it as an outpatient in the hospital so I could have had more sedation, but I made it through. I am pretty sore today. I had to switch gyno's to have it done, all my female gyn wanted to do was put me on the pill, which I don't need and I sure don't need the increase stroke risk with my weight. Hopefully my periods will be easier to handle when I get my sleeve on May 10th! Best of luck to you! Karen

Bonnie, Your progress is truly inspiring! I am very happy for you and wish you continued success! Karen

Hi there! My name is Karen and I will be sleeved on May 10 at Forest Park in Dallas, by Dr. Nick Nicholson. Its coming up quickly, isn't it? Yet it feels like its been forever since I started this process. Waiting is the worst part, and this site is so helpful in the meantime! Best of luck to you, Kara! Karen

I will be hanging out here in Texas for my surgery, but I wanted to wish you all the best in Mexico. There is a ton of information on this site regarding Mexico, and its all good stuff! I'll be praying that you have a wonderful experience and successful start of your journey to health! Karen

Hey there! I am also with Dr. Nick. I am a self pay, so I have a few more dollars to save before I have my surgery, but it is scheduled for May 10! I had my consult back in January and I thought his office staff was great, although I can appreciate your feelings about the 'cattle' issue. I really enjoyed my talk with Brittany, his PA, and with Dr. Nick himself. He spent about 40 minutes just talking and answering all of my questions (and I brought a list). He is cocky and I think thats a good characteristic for a young surgeon. I even asked him "Are you sure you're old enough to be operating on people?". He laughed and said "Yes, ma'am"..which of course makes me feel old! (I turn 39 tomorrow) I also really like the fact that he implicitly tells you that this surgery is a tool, and you can cheat it and if you work it like a tool that you can have success, and if you slack, you won't be successful. The only time I felt 'cattle-esque" was with the gal who took my weight and blood pressure, she was way inside my bubble! Just my thoughts...I wish you all the best with your surgery! Karen

Thanks..I have read your blog and I am really inspired by your success!

Hello! I am researching Dr. Aceves and am impressed with all the good information on him and his clinic. What I really need to know now, and if anyone would share, is his price. Also what his price includes. I am set to go with a doc here in TX, but I am thinking that my poor husband may quit his lucrative job and I may need to find a less expensive alternative. My husband doesn't want to quit, but the environment at his job is toxic and it is becoming very hard for him to continue to go. I want him to be happy, but I also want my freakin' surgery so bad I can taste it (bad pun, I know!) Any information y'all could share would be great! Karen

HI there! I actually just met with Dr. Nicholson and his 'team' this last Thursday (1/20). I was very impressed with him. He's young and cocky and incredibly knowledgeable. He answered every question my husband and I threw at him. He definitely doesn't sugar coat anything, and he lets you know up front that the sleeve is a tool, and you have to really want this change in your life. He gave me a three ring binder of information to go over and I left with a surgery date of March 15, 2011! I am thrilled beyond words, and if the timing were better, I'd have surgery tomorrow. I have researched Dr. Nicholson extensively and thought enough of him (and myself!) to drive 175 miles away from home to see him. Best of luck to you! I am really happy for you~ Take care, Karen

These are all excellent questions. I have printed them off and I am going to use these next week for my first appointment. Thanks a bunch!