Purpleswirlie

You are 100% correct. Thanks for the reassurance. I guess I'm just still a little scared that after all the work leading up to this point that it seems "too easy" or "too good to be true". This is something I should talk to my shrink about. I spent so much time agonizing over should I or shouldn't I, then being scared about the surgery itself. Now everything is back to normal and I'm doing great. My brain is just looking for something to be anxious about.

Hi y'all! I'm exactly 1 week post-op today and doing awesome...possibly too awesome. Absolutely no pain or nausea & I'm drinking fluids like a champ. A few mornings I've woken up and forgotten that I had major surgery last week! I'm already down 15lbs from my pro-op diet until now. If I play it "by the book" I'll move on to fuller liquids this weekend. However, I'm worried this is going too easy and I won't be successful on the long-term post op diet. For example, the other day I was giving my dog a pill w Peanut Butter and out of habit licked the rest of the peanut butter off the spoon (for the record, no the dog did not also lick the spoon!). The peanut butter was SO yummy & didn't bother my sleeve at all even though I'm not supposed to be eating that. Then it occurred to me that there may be lots of foods I *can* eat but shouldn't. This wouldn't be a problem, except for the fact that I'm totally hungry! To boil this down into a few questions: Does the hunger feeling go away eventually? Is it OK to move on to fuller liquids early if they don't bother me? Is it possible that this surgery won't work for me?

That's so great to hear everyone! I'm 1 week post op and I feel like I could eat a horse. Liquids just are not doing it for me.

Love you guys. Thanks for the support/information and virtual hugs. I really could not have done it without this forum.

I'm out of surgery and have been sleeping like a champ since noon. Dr. Alvarez& staff kick butt. My pain isn't bad, like menstural cramps just higher. Xoxo

Today is the big day. I thought I'd be freaking out but I am strangely serene. Sleep was not a problem - I thought I'd be up all night worrying. See you on the other side, campers!

Started a blog too (I use a lot of curse words so if you are easily offended, consider yourself warned): http://fatgirlslovecake.blogspot.com/ ________________________________ Update! July sleevers surgery dates July 1 2 Smoggy, Patrick Curl, Faganberry, sleevertobe, ChristineS NY, ladyarwenrose, emptynesterpam, Milca, Pattyhdz, Bigdogkc, BeatrizS1974, khernandez72, Nettle, justme360, deetaylor, kia, 4myfamily, 3 Nabird77 (Gena) , StarshineMama, letsdothis!!!, Christylove, z3djinn, gingersnap70, dar1983, 4 5 tonileebre, 6 Mishy, Beth-n-e, 7 mizzliz83,Sweetsusie, joyfuljoy,LzL1958, 8 9 Shangefan, Gisele3264, ~Donna~, mel2643, Argnewcan, Twhite, jason, vsgchichi, NuStyle, 10 lacie1221, tjloser, KSDallas, bmooney364, lizzybeth, LauraTarry, aranda510, k8tie1, mary101678, 11 Mimismom, thinmomsoon, biggiesmallz, DelongH, lowe1961, SkinnySmurf, soontobe1/2ofmyself, JenniJune, stephyfly, JenniJune, canidothis?, Love1296, Tameka, Island Girl, 12 wyattgsmommy, GI283, Paulson1304, Danielle Beadle, phillygirl8133,vhoke1, 13 LizEac, juliewantstbthin, 14 lorijo67, 15 Mrslittle (Sharnae), 16 Amyl219, laragarza, Marty McSkinnystein, geno5150, lovelyladynhouston, 17 misschris, purplekt, lynnz, RainyGirl, evelynvsg, 18 aleach0003, momoffive, prisytomboy, ButterflyAngel, cindyintenn, juicyr3d, Rafter Jones, Sparky79 19 Minnie Me, Sleeva, Mommy2three, 20 fbelle29, MsE, ko22, 21 22 23 PhoenixFire, Texarkolina, Mamaof8, StrangelyNormal, dixienms, 24 kimbernada, Red597, skowronski777,Red597, mickey1, Trcyprkr70, thin soon, milkD, 25 Tinker, kilzanich, Butterfly7, Jlewis229, justchristy123, CBT 26 Jrabbit81, Purpleswirlie (& my BFF who isn't on here I don't think) 27 Ymabme, Vegassleeve, 28 29 30 newmrsL, Born 2BFree, JaciBear, slim lady, smartypants,KikivonMoonshine, 31 Lovemeifyoucan, Carey, PLEASE ADD/ CHANGE YOURSELF AT WILL

Dr. Alvarez also does staples and oversews the cut part of the stomach. If you are not too sqeamish there are actually lots of videos on YouTube showing doctors performing the procedure.

Yay! Something else to look forward to. I wonder if lots of water and simple, "pure" foods are part of the reason. Anyone know the real reason why?

Oh hunny - I was SO in the same boat a few months ago. For me, the money wasn't the issue so much as the hassle that US doctors put patients through. My local doctor pretty much blew me off when I asked about wight loss surgery, but Dr. Alvarez in Mexico spent a ton of time explaining the procedure and was willing to Skype with me and my husband to introduce himself and answer all my questions. A book I HIGHLY recommend is Patients Beyond Borders http://www.amazon.com/Patients-Beyond-Borders-Everybodys-World-Class/dp/0979107903 . Basically it dispels a lot of myths about medical tourism and gives you things to look out for, The US does not have the best hospitals, far from it. The US ranks 37th overall in quality of healthcare. The only thing our doctors are #1 at is price! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization_ranking_of_health_systems Anyway, as far as your husband goes, his reservations are totally normal. Arm yourself with facts and present them to him in a non-threatening way. The thing I learned the hard way was that my husband had to be "in the mood" to talk about it. I finally built up the courage to tell him my plan while we were walking the dog - no TV to distract us. After attending local seminars and researching this for YEARS I said to him, "Look, this is what I want to do and I'd really like your support." It helped to have everything figured out first - I have money saved up (it doesn't hurt that I'm the major breadwinner). I checked with my life insurance lady to make sure this didn't void my policy (it doesn't). Now he's kind of excited to be going to Mexico - neither of us have been there before. I'm gettin' sleeved the 26th of this month and I'm THRILLED!!!! Good luck, Taylee! By the way - your dog is SOOO cute!

I'm getting sleeved by the same doc in a few weeks. All of the videos show such perky people post-op, and I was dubious. They seem to be very proactive in managing pain and nausea, CONGRATS! I'd love to hear more about your experience. Is there anything you wished you had brought but didn't? Is there WIFI at the hospital? Do the nurses speak English?

July 26th w Dr. Alvarez in Peidras Negras, Mexico. I'm headed there with one of my good friends who MOVED HER DATE just so we could do it together. (Jayne, are you out here, hun? Can't find you on this disco group!) How selfless is that? Our husbands are friends too, so they will have someone to eat nachos with! I am scared/excited and so full of emotion. I know I'll be weeping like a child as they roll me in.

Last week someone had posted about the effects on your brain of having less ghrelin in your system. Where the heck was that? When I search in Ghrelin I get a zillion hits. I saw this article and it scared the bejesus out of me. If I have to choose between fat and smart vs skinny and dumb, I'll take the former. The article is about RNY, but VSG takes out more stomach tissue. http://www.docguide.com/patients-develop-cognitive-complaints-after-gastric-bypass-demonstrate-brain-atrophy?tsid=5 What I really want to know is: does VSG make you ditzy? THANKS!

Does this sound familiar to you? Emotions through a typical pre-op day: Happy. Happy. Excited. Totally distracted at work. Happy. HOLY SH*T AM I REALLY DOING THIS? AAAA! Scared. Read more blogs. Feeling better. Happy again. Repeat.

So sorry for your loss. It's great that you can turn your grief into a (sorta) positive thing. Thanks for sharing and hugs!

I just want to say thanks to everyone for being patient with my noob questions and giving their support. Have any of you tried the Weight Watchers' Forums? Ugh - that is a quagmire of cattiness, flamers, trolls and b*tches! Here's my story (so far). I'm crossing my fingers that I can have my procedure in July/August time frame. I'm still trying to talk my husband into thinking it is a good idea. He's a baker/pastry chef and worried that I won't be able to eat his "experiments" any more. He's also concerned that this is too extreme of a measure. I've been trying really really hard not to imply that his profession is to blame for my obesity - but it is really difficult to resist warm, gooey monkey bread fresh out of the oven. I'm hoping getting sleeved will give me the willpower to take one bite and move on. I just joined this forum a few days ago, but it is already been more helpful than most other weight-loss forums I've been to. Thanks! purpleswirle (ps add me on MyFitnessPal! I'm purpleswirlie there too).

Thanks for the heads' up Ann. I'm still learning and mentally preparing for all possible outcomes. If I can't eat bread at all - so be it.

Hope nobody minds I'll be adding some VSG buddies too. I'm pre-op, but trying to get into the habit of tracking my diet. My username is purpleswirlie (same here is it is on MyFitnessPal). I hope to see you there!

Hi all- I know one of my pet peeves on other forums is when people ask questions that they could have easily found by searching - but I came up with no results with Milwaukee and surgeons. Anyhooo... I was working with dr Alvarez's patient coordinator when I finally let my husband in on my plan for WLS. He's not crazy about the idea, but would feel much better if I had surgery closer to home (Milwaukee, Chicago or nearish to there). I am self-pay but luckily $$ is not an issue. I'd rather be heathy than have a new car! Long story short: I am looking for a VSG surgeon in my general area. Your input is greatly appreciated! Thanks! L

Thanks!