Suzannesh

Hi, Very well said. I experience what I called "Head Hunger" My head was telling me I should eat. I had to learn the difference between wanting to eat and needing to eat. It takes time to figure that out. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, I am so very proud of you for doing this. What a leap of faith you are taking--Yeah for YOU. I know you are scared out of your mind. But honestly, you are doing something that is going to save your life. You are so beautiful. One day you will look back and I want you to step up to the plate and tell someone your story and encourage them to do what you are going to do. You are scared and with good reason---so was I and most of the people who make this choice. It is the unknown that scares us. We have to start to control our own thinking. You have an addiction to food and this addiction can kill you just like the people who have an addiction to drugs. And we still have to eat no matter what, so it is difficult to stop that addiction. But, it can be done and WLS is your answer. You will have what I call "head hunger" your brain is telling you that you should be eating. We all struggle with this. So you need to learn the difference between NEED and WANT to eat. The brain wants to eat. The best part of this is that you know that you are doing the right thing. Yes, it is hard, but you are taking the right steps. Hang in there and just keep talking to us. We are here to support you all the way. It will require a lot of work and effort on your part. When you are having a bad day come back and we will talk. When you are scared or have questions come back and we will talk OK. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, It is always great to hear that somone has had such a positive experience with WLS and their doctor.

Hi, First of all I am sorry i didn't get back to you sooner I was out of town attending a conference in Las Vegas. OK here goes--hung on OK, I am going to say somethings that I hope will start you to thinking for YOURSELF. First of all you are going to die sooner and faster from being fat than you ever could from "Sleeve" weight loss surgery. Yes, I said fat, I was fat and I knew it. I found all kinds of nice words to describe it, over weight, fluffy, chubby, excess pounds. But I was fat and there was no getting around it. I understand your fear believe me. I have been down this road. But, I wasn't willing to give away more days of my life because fear had paralyzed me. You are paralyzed by this fear and you are allowing it to control you. NOT GOOD and you know it. OK take a good look at my picture I am 65 years old NOW--did it age me not hardly, I look 10 years younger since I have lost 105 pounds of fat. You will not have a bowel obstruction--where does this information come from--they are so misinformed and you are going right along with them? I may get constipated but, I know that exercise and taking Miralax everyday (which is not habit forming) keep me very regular. And this crap (sorry about the language) but it is crap about vomiting. NOT TRUE. Who and were did this person get this information --start to question people when they tell you these kind of things . When you have weight loss surgery and it is sleeve surgery, you need to learn to take tiny, tiny baby bites of food and chew and chew and chew until it feels like liquid in your mouth. if you don't do that,then you will do what we call "sliming or fleming". It isn't vomit, it just feels like the food is stuck and it may come back up in a clear liquid like sliva clear--with some of your food in it. It is NOT VOMIT. And you learn pretty quick to chew, chew, chew and chew some more before you swallow. People who have lapbands do have BIG time issues with swallowing and vomiting. Do NO have a lapband OK--there are so many people who have had to have theirs removed because they fail. If these are your friends who are telling you this, did you ever stop and think just maybe they want you to stay fat because they are fat? They need to be educated about what "sleeve" surgery is like and what you do and don't do. I want you take some time and read and learn about about what sleeve surgery is and how we deal with our new stomach. Why on earth do you give your power away to people like this who don't want the best for you in life??? :confused_smile: You know in your heart that this is what you need to do--so go for it. Stand up for yourself for the first time in a long time and realize your are worth the effort girl. You are a bright and intelligent lady. So start thinking about the positive things you will achieve in your life by having this surgery. You will be healthy, make good food choice, love yourself a whole lot more. Take less medication, your knees, back and hips will not hurt. See your doctor less and have more money in your pocket. You will have all kinds of energy. At some point people will walk past you and not recognize you. You will be able to by clothes at place that you never could before. You willwalk past a mirror and think--Oh my gosh that is me and I am thin. The first time someone calls you skinny you will think are they talking about me??????? You bet they are. You need to want this more than anything else in your life. If you needed to have your appendix out would you stop them from doing this because you feared you would die from the surgery--guess what you would die if you don't have it??? Weight loss surgery is NO different that having any other kind of surgery.. The sleeve surgery will work for you. It requires work and effort on your part--you are worth it. It is a lifestyle change. I am not on a diet, but I do eat healthy. I can have anything I want to eat. I just eat small portions and I make good choices. Do I ever eat cake, Cookies, or ice cream or pie--sure I do, but it is a tiny piece or just one cookie. It is all about moderation when it comes to eating. You will start to crave and want to eat healthy, and will start to become a better cook, because you will experiment with new foods and how to cook them. Remember you are going to die faster from NOT doing this surgery than if you continue to eat like you are and killing yourself with food. You are right your have a food addiction and food kills just like drugs kill people with addictions. This choice has to be yours and I am here to support you every inch of the way. If you want to call and talk with me, let me know and I will send you my phone number. I don't mean to be hurtful with my words, I am trying to make you use YOUR OWN THINKING BRAIN NOT OTHERS and make you stop and think this through. :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: Hugs, Suzanne I have NO idea where these people are getting their fact about sleeve surgery, but they are full of misinformation. I am amazed at the things people will tell you.

Hi, This is a great thread--I agree, and I felt all the same things you are feeling. My kids are in their 30's and I know I sure didn't want to miss anything in their lives either. I thought to myself, what if I never wake up and I am in Mexicali, Mexico dead!!!!!. My husband knew where I was--he didn't go with me--they called him the minute I was out of surgery and told him how well I was doing--I know he felt a whole lot better. It is really normal to have ALL these fears. What we can't do is to let the fear paralyze us. We need to keep our eye on the target and the target is our better health and to achieve this we NEED to have weight loss surgery. What we have been doing is not working for us. This is the last thing you will ever have to do when it comes to WL. It will require a lot of work and effort on your part. It is a lifestyle change NOT a diet. I am never going to be on a diet again. But each month it becomes easier and easier. You will get excited about your weight loss. Never lose track of that target you are going after. You will have some small bumps in the road--again we all have had thoes, like stalling and not losing weight--I had 9 days like that in the first 6 weeks when I didn't lose any weight. It doesn't mean that you have done anything wrong. It means that our body is resting a little bit and you will start to lose weight again soon. Just keep eating the right amount of things. You will feel much more relaxed when you get to the hospital--that is a big thing to get there and see it and they start about as soon as you walk through the doors with getting your tests started for the group of people you are with. Just remember there have been 100's of us who have been through what you are going through and we are all alive and well. You will be too, and one day you will be saying to someone--"you know I felt just like you are feeling right now and you are going to be just fine." Hugs, and take care, Suzanne

Hi, As I said before, NO I don't know anything about Dr. Jose Rodriguez. The only thing I know for sure is that it isn't a very safe boarder to cross--last time I checked with the US State Department. If you are considering going to Mexico and you are self paying, why not go to the BEST there is?? I did a lot of research before I went, and I had Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico. I do know that it is a very safe boarder to cross and it is a wonderful, state of the are equipped hospital. Many doctors DO NOT have a hospital that they do surgery in. They have a "clinic" and then send you to a hotel to recover, with someone who checks on you once a day. So stop and look at all your options, and if you have any questions about Dr. Aceves please ask away. He is a very highly skilled surgeon, who had done MANY of these WLS and is rated extremely high. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Erika, I would be worried if you weren't scared or terrified. You are taking some big steps. But, this is the one thing I know for sure, you are going to LOVE having a sleeve vs the lapband. In a few months your life will become pretty normal and you will find that your new healthy lifestyle will be be great. What you eat is important just like anything else you have done to lose weight. I ca promise you ONE thing. You are going to love the staff and Dr. Aceves. I have never encountered such a wonderful, and honestly caring doctor in my entire life---and I am 65. I only wished he could become my Primary Care Doctor. What a soft spoken, gentle man he is. And on top of that he is highly skills as a surgeon. And you wall ALL of these things when it cones to having any kind of surgery. If you have any questions I am here for you. This might be helpful for knowing what to pack when you go to Mexicali for surgery. If you have everything under control then just delete it. Here is what I took and you might want to have when you pack for the Weight Loss Surgery with Dr. Aceves. 1. Gas-X because you will have gas after the surgery and they don't have Gas-X in Mexico. They (the nurses and doctors) will ask you are you passing gas? It is nice to have this on the plane ride home too after the surgery. I bought a box (of 36 tabs) of Gas-X (thin strips) that you just put the strip in your mouth. It tastes good and it is easy to take--no Water required—nothing difficult to swallow either. 2. A comfortable bra & panties--nothing very tight (cotton is nice—what ever you like to wear) to wear home on the plane or if you want to wear these items in the hospital. Everyone was pretty relaxed with what they slept in or wore around the hospital. I didn't bring a robe at all--Just T-shirts and comfortable pants. Maybe a sweatshirt because the air conditioner makes it cool sometimes and then there are times when the air conditioner isn’t working that well. Bring some extra T-shirts in case you spill on yourself. My IV came out and I got blood on one of my T-shirts. I just washed it out in the sink and hung it up in the shower to dry. 3. Drawstring pants or pants with elastic waist—nothing tight around the middle section. I had some Nike walking pants and they were very comfortable—or short, or pants you would wear to relax in. I also had some that I wore to sleep in, walk around the hospital in and wore them home on the plane too (a pair for each day you are going to be away from home). Sweatpants work great too. I was there in Oct and so the air conditioning was going and sometimes it was cool at night when I was sleeping--so I brought some warm socks along too. But in some rooms the air conditioning wasn't working so well in their rooms and they were warmer than some of us were. If it is too warm or too cold tell one of the nurses they will help you with anything you need. They are excellent when you need something—don’t be afraid to ask. 4. A heating pad--I was so glad I had mine (someone had suggested I bring one) because it felt good on my stomach area. When my feet were cold at night I used my heating pad on my feet. Also when I was there with a friend for her surgery in April 2009 I found out at the nurse’s stations they also had heating pads—so if you don’t want to bring your own use theirs. 5. Some kind of slip on shoe for the plane ride home and something to wear in the hospital (I had some flip flops for the hospital and some clogs for the plane ride home. Flip flops didn't take up a lot of room in your suitcase. I also carried on the plane my tote bag carrying some things like, meds, change of underwear—in case my suitcase got lost, a snack so I could eat something after the tests that first day you arrive—because they will tell you not to eat a few hours before you get to Mexicali because of the tests you are going to be having upon arrival at the hospital in Mexicali. Sometimes you have to wait for everyone to have their test before they take you to the hotel and your are soooooooo hungry because you haven’t eaten anything all day long because most of us are flying into San Diego, so bring a snack that you can eat after your tests while waiting to go to the hotel. I brought along some packages of trail mix—bring what you like. 6. Only one (1) small or medium sized suitcase with wheels is really great because you will have to deal with your own suitcase at the airport (coming and going). I also brought along my laptop computer so I could stay in touch with my friends and family—I carried that on the plane too—don’t put it in a suitcase—too much stuff has been stolen out of suitcases. 7. Please be aware if you use your cell phone in Mexicali they will charge you roaming fees to CALL OUT. For me if people called me from the US to Mexicali and they were calling my Cell Phone there were NO ROAMING charges because they called me from the US. Most all cell phones work in Mexicali; I think they said Cricket was the only Carrier that they had problems with. I didn't have anyone come with me for the surgery, and they were so nice as to call someone (in the US) for me after surgery and let them know that I was doing great. I brought my own favorite small pillow with me (almost sofa size). It was nice to have it while I was in the hospital and on the plane ride home. 9. As far as money someone suggested I bring about $45.00 to $50.00 in one's so that I could have them for tipping—they all accept US money in Mexicali. I tipped Ernesto $25.00 who picks you up and takes you to the hospital, takes you to the hotel, takes you back the hospital for surgery and then back to the San Diego airport. He takes such good care of everyone and I tipped him at the end when he took me back to the airport to go home. I also tipped the hotel guys for taking my bag to my room, and when I had dinner that night at the hotel. I would also bring along a small gift for 4 or 5 nurses or give them a little cash—I understand they really don’t make a lot of money and they might appreciate the cash as a gift. I would suggest that you take enough money or Credit Card or Debit card to purchase the medication that you will need after the surgery. There is a pharmacy about 1/4 block from the hotel--anyone at the hospital will tell you where it is—it is a easy walk. The Nexium that Dr. Aceves suggests you take after surgery for acid reflux for about 3 months cost a lot less —don’t forget they will negotiate over the price of medication in Mexico –even when it is at a pharmacy-they will give a price and then ask them “if I buy 4 boxes will you sell it to me for—ask for a lower price. This medication costs a lot less in Mexicali than in the US—so don’t forget to buy it while you are there. I also bought Prilosec because some people had told me that Nexium did work for them—as it turned out I was one of those people that Nexium didn’t work that well on and so I was glad that I purchased Prilosec. 10. Do not take any jewelry with you or wear any. All I took was my watch. Leave ALL other jewelry at home. 11. Be prepared that Ernesto will be late picking you up--find a place to sit down in the baggage area where they said he would pick you up. Make sure you can see people walking in that area and he will come walking down through there with your name on a sign holding it up. He will have you back at the airport on your return trip home in plenty of time to catch your plane ride home. 12. Bring a camera along to take some pictures of yourself in the “before stage” and maybe a group picture of the other people who are going to have the surgery the same day you do. I have kept in contact with them. You will be so glad you have done this. Take lots of pictures. People really do enjoy seeing the pictures if they are considering doing this surgery. 13. Don’t forget the personal things like toothbrush, shampoo, soap that you may want to use in the shower, a razor, cream rinse for you hair—maybe a hair curler and hair dryer if you want. I don’t know if you want to bring make-up—I did, because I wanted to look ok going home on the plane. Yes, we used their water to take a shower—it is ok for showers… they do give you bottled water to drink. 14. I brought along a book I wanted to read along with my Ipod, so I could listen to my own music. You may or may not get a lot of reading done because you might want to take some nice naps too. Getting up and walking around is good for you and it makes you feel a lot better too. 15. Bring along some chap stick for your lips—they dry out and it is good to have something to put on your lips. If anyone else can add anything please jump in here and help me out! I know you are worried about a few small things and I can tell you not to worry because we all have been where you are. Just keep posting to the web site-- anything you want to say or ask. We all understand and have been where you are right now. I wish you GREAT success and it will be a life changing event and in about 2 months you will be saying the same thing too. Also Linda adds that when they make you drink the vile stuff to make sure your new stomach has no leaks don’t for get to ask for chips of ice. It numbs your taste buds because they are so cold and you can drink their YUCK stuff. She did it and it worked great for her. I didn’t know about it and I wished I would have. I think they do this on the 3 day before you go home. Suzanne This is what someone else added to what I put on my list--you never can have too much help or information I wore and underwire.....so I didn't get that message! I also brought a robe...for sure and maybe flip flops or slippers for doing lots of walking after the surgery. They give you those hospital gowns, but the day after the surgery, I was in my own pjs that were button down the front and elastic band capris...something easy to slip in and out of. Suzanne says-- I put my on PJ’5 on after the surgery when I got up to go to the bathroom. I would definitely take a comfy pillow for on the plane ride too. Just don't over pack! You will need very few things....one outfit for the day you arrive and one for when you leave and just the PJ’s for comfort. You may need to have something on the plane ride....maybe some tea from Starbucks or get some hot water and add some chicken broth to the hot water--(take Chicken broth packets from Top Ramen Noodles works great for the Chicken broth. You most likely won't be hungry at all....but just in case......a clear broth with water works. I realized that most of the stuff that I brought, I didn't even need.....so pack light! You will mostly be walking the halls of the hospital! The best of luck to you! You will do great! Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Tonyia, Any surgery is scarry and there are always risks. They are pretty rare. It is normal to be scared. I was scared, I was going to Mexico, to a doctor I had never met face to face. I knew a lot about him, and that is why I was going to Mexico. I went alone and I wanted to go alone, I am a very independent lady. NO you will not turn into all skin. Some people do go back later and have skin rmoved--plastic surgery. I am not sure how much you have to lose. If people don't want to be around you, then they were never your "real" friends. Those that are will love you know matter how mch your body changes. I wll write more to you later this weekend. I am in Las Vegas and time to go have some fun. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Michelle, NO I do not know anything about this doctor. I have heard that Juarez was NOT a safe boarder to cross, If anyone else knows anything about this doctor, please chime in. I wish you great success. All I can speak about is the doctor that I went to and that was Dr. Aceves in Mexicali Mexico. If you have any question please let me know I know this a BIG step to take. Hugs Suzanne

Hi, Are you scared about having WLS? I was too, and I am willing to bet that 99% of all of on this site were too. We have talked ourselves in and out of going ahead and taking that big step at least 75 to 100 times. We have been convinced that there is something weak or wrong about having weight loss surgery and that is really all wrong—it take a lot of courage to have weight loss surgery. For so many of us we have a disease and just like any other disease we need some form of treatment. If you needed surgery for something you wouldn’t think twice about going to the hospital and having that surgery because if you didn’t you could die. Well the same this will happen from be fat, we are going to die faster from being fat than we are from weight loss surgery. I know it is scary and the unknown is what scares us the most. Never give up on your dreams of losing this weight and being able to keep it off. It will require WORK and EFFORT on your part to be successful—it does not just melt off of you. You will be given the tool (WLS) to achieve this. You are on the right track if you are thinking about it. I did it 2.5 years ago and lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. I am here to help you, answer any questions you might have about WLS—I had the sleeve. You are WORTH the effort it will take. It can happen and your only regret you will have is that you didn’t do it sooner. Hugs

Hi Vicki, I did just vote for you. I want you to know that I had some of these very same feelings about what would happen if I didn't wake up. I was also having my surgery in Mexicali with a highly rated and skiller Dr. Aceves. I am here and it that was almost 3 years ago. I was 63 years old and I thought wow I am older than a lot of these people, I have been over weight a lot longer. I had a lot more going against me than you do. It is pretty normal to feel this way, because we all know that there are some risks in having any kind of surgery or even tests. But, those things are so rare. I want you to look at all the benefits that you will receive by having this surgery. It take more courage to go ahead and have this surgery, than to do nothing. You will die a lot fast from being fat than from this surgery. It sounds like you are done a lot of the right things. You have picked a good doctor who has a lot of experience at WLS. You know what kind of surgery you want, you have been doing a lot of reading and are on this board and are educating yourself. I want you to look at the number of success stories that people are having. Look at some of the the before and after pictures. The will motivate you! Please NEVER give up on having this WLS. You want to be a participant in your own life and not just stand on the sidelines watching it go by. Even if it has to be a self pay WLS go for it. Start making a plan just in case you don't win this WLS. You know that some people make "car payments" for a big ticket items that they want. Why not make "body payments". There are places that loan money for just this kind of surgery. Now that is something that will last a life time. I have to say I am not the one who came up with the term "body payments", but I loved it and I told her I was going to borrow it. I wish you great success, I want you to do this for YOU and no one else. Then everyone in your entire family will benefit from it. You are going to look back on this and think I am OK and I wished I would have done this sooner. Hugs

Hi Gina, You are half way there. I know it is very frustrating--just hang in there, they will try to wear you down. If they do they they will not have to pay for the surgery. So my advice is that you NEVER give in to them. You will never have a regret once you have had the surgery. And you will love your new life as a thin and healthy lady! Hugs,

Hi, You would NEVER be allowed to leave if they detected any kind of problem. They would fix it and make sure you are OK. This is a valid thing to talk about, but don't make it your total focal point. They leave a drain tub in you and the morning after your have the surgery they give this blue apple juice to drink--it really tastes good drink it. They would know right away if you had a leak. Because the blue liquid would appear in the drain tube. They take the drain tube out on the 2nd day--I does NOT hurt at all when they take it out.. Please try to think of the more positive things that you are going to get from this weight loss surgery INSTEAD of the negative things. You have so much to be thankful for. You have picked the very best doctor and staff for your weight loss surgery. You are going to a top of the line hospital that is incrediably clean. They will control your pain ALWAYS and if you have pain tell them, they will give you something right away. Never be afraid to ask for what you need--if you are too warm or too cold tell them. They make every effort to meat all your needs, but if you don't tell them they can't help you. I promise you that this is truly going to be just fine. Keep asking me questions if you have any. I have been down this road ahead of you and I am happy to help you. Hugs,

Hi, You are so right when you say that things do get better once you get there. I am happy that you wrote what you wrote. If enough of us just keep posting and telling everyone that it will be ok. Some people need a lot of support and there isn't anything wrong with that. Hugs

Hey Sweetie, No problem at all. I love my new name! You are the best, it is going to just keep getting a little easier each day. I will try to wirte more tomorrow to you. Hugs, Mama Sleeve!

Hi Renee, Ok I have to jump in here and tell you--that you will have NO pain. They are excellent at controling your pain. You do not feel druged at all. You just don't have any pain. They send pain meds home with you--which I didn't use at all. I was up walking around 2 hours after my surgery, and that is something they want you to do. I PROMISE you if I can do this so can you. I was 63 when I did it--and it was a piece of cake. I was nervous about going, about having the surgery, 2nd guesed myself. Once I arrive there, I was so comfortable and at ease. Then at the hotel that night I started to worry some again. So these are all normal things. It is OK to cry, you are human and scared. Keep come here and telling us how you feel, we are here for you and your questions, and fears. Hugs, Suzanne

Hey Everyone, The difference in where you have your surgery I have been doing a little information gathering in the past few days. I live in the state of Oregon and in the city of Eugene. I have discovered that they do NOT have anyone in my city to do WLS. I spoke with someone who was going to have to drive to a smaller city than we live in to have her sleeve WLS. Then I was shocked when she said they are doing it as DAY SURGERY and the doctor wants her to go stay in a hotel close to the hospital once they release her from Day Surgery—just in case something goes wrong she can return to the hospital quickly. The doctors have only asked her to say in a hotel for one (1) night then she can come back home—about 60 miles away from where she had the surgery. I was SHOCKED to hear that she is going to receive so little care from the doctor or hospital. This just reaffirms why I went to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico. I was cared for so differently. I spent part of one day getting all my tests done—which I am sure in the US they do the same thing. I had the opportunity to see the hospital and I also saw how often and how much they cleaned just being there for 3 hours for the tests. I was given paper work to fill out the night before surgery (which they must have you do in Oregon). I met with a doctor the night before (he comes to the Hotel you are staying in) the doctor who explained the surgery and how it is done went into great detail and asked if I had any questions and then spent more time answering my questions. In the morning, I was assigned my very own nurse who was taking care of me—she got me ready for the surgery. That morning I saw the two surgeons, and the anesthesiologist, who again answered ALL my questions that I forgot to ask the night before. They explain exactly what they were going to do and what I would feel like when I woke up. They would have NEVER sent me to a hotel to recover. I spent 4 days and nights in the complete fully equipped hospital seeing two doctors 3 times a day. I was given a battery of test before they would consider sending me home. On the 5th day, I was driven to the San Diego Airport and I flew home. This is the kind of care you should EXPECT AND DEMAND if you are having this kind of surgery. You need to be doing your recovery in a HOSPITAL. So the next time someone makes the comment to me about why would I go outside of the US for this kind of surgery this is EXACTLY WHY. When you want the best you do your research and find the best. That is just what I did. Now I can’t speak for other doctors in the US or other hospitals, only what I learned while doing a bit of research here in Eugene, OR If you are having WLS PLEASE ask the doctors, the hospital and those involved what their care is like, and what they will be providing you during your WLS. YOU have the right to have the best care possible. You NEED to be your own advocate when it comes to your Health Care. NEVER SETTLE for anything less than the best when it comes to your health.

Hi, It sounds like you had excellent care and I am so happy for you. All I could compare is what I found out about my own city. Thanks for letting me know. I wish you great success in your weight loss journey. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, You made me smile. Glad to see that you have a great sense of humor! Always keep your great sense of humor! Hugs, :D Suzanne

Hi Mac, I am Suzanne and I live here in Eugene too. Are you self pay for this surgery? And why Coos Bay to have it done? Sorry for the questions. If you need to talk with anyone, please let me know, I had a sleeve done by the BEST doctor there is to do this surgery. I went to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. I have lost all my weight and kept it off now and I had my surgery Oct 2008. I know you are scared, and must have all kinds of questions. I am sorry that they are only going to do day surgery on you and then send you to a hotel--I never experienced anything like this at all. Mine was done in a wonderful hospital and I was in the hospital for 4 days before they would even think about sending me home. I wish you great succes and if you want to talk just let me know. I will give you my phone number. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, I thought about how much WLS cost and then I sat down and did a little calculation on what I would save each month. I was amazed when I figured out that is sure didn’t take me long to pay myself back because I wasn’t spending as much for food, medication, doctor’s visits, eating out and less gas for my car because I walked a lot more and did my shopping on my walks. Yes self-pay does cost us more. I gave up waiting for an insurance company to say yes, because I knew that they just weren’t going to do it and I wasn’t willing to give away any more days of my life. I knew Dr. Aceves was the best and that was just where I was going. Check out my numbers and think about how fast you actually recover your initial investment in yourself. Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Total weight lost 105 pounds Item Saving Costs per month Savings Cost of my Sleeve Surgery Food $150.00 $1,800.00 by Dr. Aceves Eating out $150.00 $1,800.00 Medication $75.00 $900.00 Doctor $100.00 $1,200.00 Gas/walk more $25.00 $300.00 Saving per month $500.00 Total savings for 1 year $6,000.00 $8,700.00 How long it took me to pay myself back for my WLS because I was saving each month because I wasn't eating as much or going to the doctor as much and taking less medication. So at the end of 17 months I had saved enough money to pay myself back what I spent for the cost of my WLS. AREN'T YOU WORTH THE COST OF THE SURGERY? Take care, and be happy,