altagirl

I was self pay. I saved so I could pay cash. If it is a stretch you will just have to start saving now and have surgery when you can afford it. That is what I had to do.

I'm in I am 163.8 this morning. I would like to be 150lbs by Thanksgiving. Let's do it!!

I had surgery on 9/10 and I just had a piece of pumpkin streusel bread from Target (toasted) tonight. I have been craving pumpkin so I caved - I can still feel it "sitting' in my stomach. I am regretting my choice. Luckily, I have loads of people at work who will love this bread!

I think leaks happen everywhere (although my surgeon says he has never had a leak). They happen for a variety of reasons - some of which we will never know why. I called my insurance before I decided to have surgery. My insurance covered complications (but not transport). I would just check out your insurance options before you worry too much.

I will second the suggestion to "escape" with a movie (since moving away is not an option today!). I was having a crappy day last week and I went to see Pitch Perfect - it really lifted my spirits and made me smile. {{{HUGS}}}

I am 5'3" as well. My goal weight is 124. I know my surgeon will to the sleeve on anyone who is BMI of 28+. I also think things might be different if it is a revision surgery. I find it a little off putting to question the ethics of a surgeon when we don't know the whole picture - there are many factors that go into this decison. I think because you have less to lose it is slower. I was glad to read someone who posted that you will lose about 2 lbs per week until you get closer to goal. Right now I have lost 20lbs since my surgery on 9/10. I was 184 on day of surgery and today I am 164! Good luck - it may be a little slow going but you will get there.

My suggestion would be to pack and then take half out of your suitcase. You really don't need much at all. This is the only suitcase I brought, it is a mini carry on - I was surprised to see others lugging so much stuff. This suitcase fit everything, including my laptop plus I had a small purse.

I am so sorry to hear this - I would be just as concerned and even really annoyed! I think you got some great advice - the weight should keep coming off.....at least that is what I am hoping! I am at that dreaded stall and feel frustrated but know that this too shall pass.

I went to MX by myself and did not tell anyone - at all. I still have not told anyone and do not plan on doing so. I have yet to have anyone ask me why I eat so little. As a side note, I went to TJ on a Sunday, returned home on Thursday evening and went back to work on Friday morning. I worked a half day and then went back to work full time on Monday. I had 1 person as me if I was "ok" just because I was moving a little slower than ususal. Good luck -

I had surgery in TJ with Dr Ariel Ortiz on 9/10. I am a nurse in a large academic medical center - I had a great experience. The physicians I encountered at OCC were leaps and bounds better (in skill and bedside manner) than the vast majority of surgeons at my facility I encounter on a daily basis. I wish I was paid for my praises! I would recommend Dr Ortiz to anyone considering this surgery. It is not a hoax and I have no regrets

I was sleeved 9/10 and have lost 19lbs so far.

I would base your decision on your health - not on "in a few years....no man will want" I would go to in person counseling/therapy to make this decision. I had the sleeve on Sept 10. FOR ME, the complications of not having the surgery far outweighed the complications associated with the surgery. I have no regrets and have been happy with my weightloss so far.

I feel exactly the same way!

I looked into many different surgeons in TJ. I was very pleased with Dr Ariel Ortiz. He is an excellent surgeon - I believe he is worth the extra money.

I bought mine at Whole Foods - I wasn't a huge fan, it's ok if you need a pb fix but I don't use it as often as I thought I would

Since you had surgery in Mexico (I did too, with Dr Ortiz) I would suggest going to your PCP. If you don't have one, now is the time to find one. Dr Ortiz has been great in communicating with me and with my PCP. Good for you to learn to swim - that is great exercise. Also, congrats on the weight loss so far. Just get back on track now and don't look back except when you need a reminder of how it feels to go off plan!

I only took 4 days off work. It was fine for me - I am a nurse in an administrative position so I mostly sit at a desk but do end up walking a lot. The problem that you have is that (per my dr's intstructions) you are not suppose to lift anything for a while - I am not excatly sure the time because I never lift more than a gallon of milk! I would think working with kids you are picking them up often. As far as telling - my job doesn't require anything - I just sent an email to HR saying I would be out these days - originally I was planning on taking a week off and then going back part time for 2 weeks but honestly I was fine so I had surgery on Monday morning and went back to work that Friday. Everyone is different and I have had 2 abdominal surgeries, I thought the sleeve was a cakewalk. I think you can always tell people the surgery is "personal" - most people assume that means you had some type of female surgery and don't ask too many questions. I did not tell anyone that I had surgery. When I went back to work someone asked me if I was "ok" because I was moving a little slower than usual. I said that I had some pain but things were fine. I was a "lightweight" so my weight loss will be more gradual and less obvious so I am not worried about anyone asking how I lost so much weight. Whether or not you tell anyone about the surgery is very personal - do what you think is the best. I will caution you - from other people's experience - if you tell one person you might as well tell everyone because no one (not even husbands or moms/dads) can keep things private! Good luck - I had my surgery on 9/10 and am very happy with the decisions.

I have to respond to people who think you should tell everyone. I did not take "weeks off of work" - I took 4 days off. Not too unusual. I have lost some weight but because I am not that heavy to begin with my weight loss is not "shocking" nor is it that noticeable. Only one person has mentioned it - but she didn't even ask me how I lost weight, just that my face looks thinner. I am not ready to share with the world how I am managing my medical condition - and I probably never will. I have not misinformed anyone but to be honest, no one has asked me anything. I am sensitive, always have been. The comment of taking the easy way out would have ruined my week. It is a nice thought not to let others get you down but that doesn't work for everyone. I am sorry your co-worker hurt your feelings. Just stay on task and keep working toward your goal.

Wow! Great job! I love the before and afters with the same outfit. I wish I had thought of doing something like this. You look great!

It looks like we have similar stats -I would like to lose about 70lbs. - I think the less you have to lose the slower it goes. Also, I had a dream about a leak last night (I had surgery on 9/10)- so you are not alone on the worrying. I am moving to soft foods and I think that will help some. I now know that sweets are a no-go for me - a few bites of soft serve ice cream and I had an adverse reaction!

Toyaboo22 I am so sorry for everything you are going through. You will likely stay in hospital until they manage the clots. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted. Hugs

I just had a few bites of soft serve and it is awful. In about 10 minutes I started feeling nauseous and threw up. Now I have diarrhea and the shakes with sweating. I got online to see what is going on. Oy vey. That cured me of sweets. So don't feel guilty, feel fortunate that you didn't have my reaction.

I did not tell anyone. No one at work even knew I had surgery. My daughter knows I had surgery but she didn't even ask what it was for (she is 14). I had my surgery in Mexico so I did most of my recovery days there. I went back to work soon after my surgery with little discomfort. I only had 2 people ask me if I was ok - but did not pry. I was considered a "lightweight" when I had my surgery and when I was throwing the idea around a year ago there was so much negativity that I did not want to deal with it. I also didn't want people to say, "if you would just excerice, eat less, or have less stress, etc, etc" The fact is that I have tried everything and the 50 pounds became 70 and if I waited any longer the 70 would turn into 90.....I decided to do this BEFORE I got to a high BMI (my BMI was 33 on day of surgery). I have only had one person ask me if I have lost weight (I am down 14lbs since surgery) but she didn't even ask what I was doing! I think because my weight loss will not be as dramatic I won't have many people talking about it compared to someone who has more weight to lose. Good luck with what you decide - I am very happy with my decision to have the surgery and keep it to myself!

I was sleeved on 9/10 and so far am down 12 pounds from the morning of my surgery. I still have one more week on the full liquid diet - I can't wait to get to my soft food phase.

I am a nurse in an adminstrative position. I am mostly at a desk but do have to walk around quite a bit. I had surgery on Monday 9/10 and went in for a half day on Friday 9/14. I was moving slowly but I was fine. By Monday I felt great- my only problem is that I didn't tell anyone so I keep having to make excuses of why I don't want to have lunch! Finally today, no one asked me to go eat. It is hard because there is candy and junk food everywhere. I am not hungry at all but it is tempting. If I had planned better I would have had surgery on a Friday and then had 2 weekends to get settled, even though I didn't need it - I did not need any pain medicine after day 2 post op.