Kristina J.

All I can add is that I did about 7 months of research and worked with my awesome PCP who helped me by doing some research of his own, when we met back up, we both had come up with the same name, and that was Dr. Garcia. I spoke with a lot of his patients about their experiences looked into his credentials, the hospital he works out of, his support staff and couldn't have been happier with what I heard. The fact that my PCP came up with the same surgeon had me completely sold! Best of luck!!

I trust that I would probably be fine with just a birth certificate and an ID. But there's no way that I'm going to skip our passports to save money or schedule immediately, and even my coordinator told me I'm better off with a passport. If there is a complication and our passports aren't delivered, it's a good back up plan, but for me, it's a "better safe than sorry" plan for sure! Not that it's not tempting to forget this whole passport mess and head out for surgery next week!!! This wait is driving me bonkers... So ready!

I'm horrible at diets!!! Lol I'll probably GAIN... But I'm gonna try. Cadbury eggs are part of a healthy diet right?! Everyone is always talking about how eggs are a good source of protein. I think I may have this diet thing nailed.

I've been tempted... and I did indulge in a cadbury creme egg lol but I'm trying to do my best to really avoid having any real food funerals. Sticking to a diet that will be similar to a post surgery life. Figure it's best to throw myself in. Full commitment, no negotiating. I'm not giving up food. Just learning to love it in a new healthier way! Plus, any weight I can lose before surgery will lower my risk of complications and ease recovery... So win win!!

SoonerGirl... I've had way more people confused about Mexico than the surgery itself!! I so know where you're coming from on that one!! Ugh!!! Lol

I'm so sorry if my post made you more anxious, that really wasn't my intent at all! I am very anxious too. But some of the people that we post with here have come very close to death. It's something that we need to consider as we make this decision, especially as parents. It's not all weight loss and life change. It is life risking surgery. But as parents I definitely agree that we have a responsibility to do what it takes to be the best and healthiest moms we can be and I know for me, this will definitely make me a better parent. I felt the same icky feeling when I was making out my will and deciding who would raise my children if my husband and I died. I am an anxious person by nature! But I'm also an organizer. It makes me feel more in control in case something happens. So please don't let my post freak you out more. lol We take risks everyday. We run a risk of getting hurt every time we get in a car to go make money so we can buy our children food!! But we do it because we need to be good mom and feed our kids!! this is a bigger extension of that idea... We are taking a risk to be a good/healthy mom! I'm so sorry if I freaked you out more, especially since I'm going through it myself! Lol so didn't mean to do that!! Just keep breathing... Before we know it, we'll be recovering and struggling to chase all these kids around on a liquid diet!

I am also making a video after reading through complication stories :-/ I know the reality of my situation at 130lbs overweight with heart problems (among others) so I know that this what I need to do, but I am not blind to the risk. I worry so much about not coming home. I worry about what that would mean for them. But I worry about my heart giving out if I don't do this, so I have decided to move forward. There is a certain kind of pain with this decision with small kids at home. Mine are going to be 2 and 3 and a half in May. Like I said, I am making them a video. I have attempted twice so far and have not made it through. I do not want to leave a video full of tears. If that is what I leave them, I do not want it to be sad. I am also leaving letters for when they get older. Hopefully I will be super prepared for absolutely nothing! But I will feel better knowing that everything is in order just in case. Oh, and I read in a thread from a mother who had survived horrible complications that suggested leaving a note... She reminded Mom's to never put in the letters that you did this to get healthy for them!! They don't need to live with that! I thought that was an excellent point!!

I'm so sorry to hear that. I also had to have a hysterectomy this year. Did you have your cervix removed as well or did they leave it? I ask because if they leave it, one of the downfalls of that can be that sometimes women can experience some light monthly bleeding still. However if it was removed and you are still experiencing bleeding, that is really concerning! :-/ I had to have everything removed but my ovaries so luckily I am done with all of that! You are definitely in my prayers as they figure out what's going on with all that as well!! Sounds like there may be something medically going on and maybe that could be interfering with your weight loss! Maybe when you resolve one, you will resolve the other!!

I think all the information you are providing will REALLY help the vets to give you some insight into what's going on! They are wonderful and with the right info I swear they are better than a team of doctors!! I would try maybe posting your story on the veterans forum in the form of: "My weight was X when I was sleeved X years ago. My daily intake is roughly X. With X Protein and X carbs. I drink X amount of Water. I exercise X amount weekly. (Add in other pertinent info of course) I have only lost x pounds. I am looking for some insight on what dietary or exercise routine changes I could make to jump start my weight loss. What has worked for you?" I have found (in my early experiences here) that the more info you provide up front, the more answers and help you can get!! But there is SO much help to be found!!! And SO much hope to be had still!!! And maybe if I had waited 10 minutes for you to respond, I would have seen that you had plenty of responses to give!! Good luck you. I really have been in your shoes before with another WLS and I understand your frustration and pain first hand!! You are in my prayers, and I look forward to watching you progress. I know you can!! It's not too late to use all the help here and make this work!! All my love!!!

I see that you are here and reading responses, that's great and I hope you see that people really do care about what you're going through. We really do want to try and help you, but that's not possible if we don't know the details of your sleeve and starting and current weight along with dates and such! I really hope you'll share this info so that people can help you. Your situation is not hopeless and there are people here that want to help you. Posting and ignoring all of these people that do want to help isn't going to accomplish anything unless you just wanted to vent!

Awesome!! That's wonderful!!

Amie, I love you!! I don't think ANYONE should be ashamed, at ALL with their decision to tell or not. It is so very very personal. And I also get the sentiment that we have become a share all culture and that doesn't work for some people. Some people will share everything, like myself and Amie. Some people would rather keep to themselves like my sister and some of the other posters here. No one is wrong. I think ashamed was maybe the wrong word, because I get what Amie meant and she has a wonderful heart and is coming from a place of support. I'm glad that at the very least here at VST those who don't want to announce to the world can come and share with a little anonymity. It is a great forum to learn and share with people that all share the same struggles! And for the record... Our annual income is only about 52K, our house cost $80K for 1600 sqft which equals about a $500 mortgage and the "last time" was 3 days ago... We've slowed down a bit since we had two kids I really do value the input from all of your experiences, both similar to mine and different. It helps me grow!!

Add me to the list of band survivors that would urge you to just say no!!! Lol I too am revising. My date is set for May 11th. I have actually had TWO bands because of major complications with my first band. Now after complications with my 2nd I am finally revising to the sleeve. It has been 10 long years. I am counting the days until this thing is out of me!!! Best of luck whichever you choose, but I would definitely say the sleeve is a better choice in my experience. Check out the complication and success boards on both Vertical Sleeve Talk and Lap Band Talk... That should be more than enough to make up your mind. There are risks with both surgeries of course but there are FAR more long term risks with the band and much more long term success with the sleeve!

Well, in all fairness she did say she may be starving tomorrow! So I think she's more than open to the possibility that her mouth will be open for crow at any moment... But she's willing to do anything possible to fight it off. I know with my first WLS I was hungry and let my food addiction get the better of me. I started looking for what "other surgeons" allowed instead of sticking to what my surgeon dictated for me. However, after failing last time, this time around I have accepted that my food addiction is just as much a problem as my inability to control portion size and I have been working with my therapist on it for a few months leading up to my revision which is still 70 days away (not that I'm counting). I have worked on maintaining a pre-op diet that restricts things that my head would love to have or feels like I'm dying for that I know my body doesn't need to survive so that I can get through those moments that I know I've failed in the past. The honest answer to your question is pretty much what Laura said, because again, she's pretty much a rockstar who knows it all. We are food addicts who will look for an excuse to break our diet. It's the same reason you can find a hundred threads comparing pre op diets and how fair or unfair it is! We are emotional eaters in transition. But with all that said... Please be sensitive. It's easier for some than others. You seem to have your head in the right place. For some of us (me lol) that takes failed weight loss surgery, a divorce and remarriage to the right person, a few years of therapy, VST and the right revision surgeon to figure that all out!!

Casey, I have had such a hard time finding info on this too. I am on adderall and am anxious about how the sleeve will effect my meds. My PCP isn't sure so we're taking a "wait and see" approach" ... Oh joy! Lol I don't have nausea issues but it does curb my appetite. I'm a little more worried as some people have complained that adderall can make them feel wired. I have never had that side effect, but I worry I may post sleeve or as I lose weight... I guess I will "wait and see" lol Good luck!!

Totally TES I realized immediately after I posted that, that I should have quoted who you quoted and not you since it made it look like I might have been countering your point instead of backing it! Lol I agree with you completely!!!

I told everyone when I was banded 10 years ago, and this time around, it's pretty easy since they already all know that I still have that band in. I am telling everyone (well, family and friends and old coworkers since I no longer work) that I am getting my WLS revised or fixed (for lack of a longer or more detailed explanation). I would imagine if I was working new coworkers would know about my band too since I tell new people about it too... So it would probably be the same thing if I was working. I have failed at WLS once, and THAT was hell. It was torture and I do not want to go down that road again. I am commuting to this 100% and I can use all the support I can get. I know that there is a stigma about it and I know that some people don't agree. The same people the didn't agree before, have watched me fail and think I'm just compounding my mistakes. I am really hoping that this will be the answer for me and that they will be able to be happy for my success, but honestly, it doesn't matter. I am doing what I need to do for me. And I don't care what they think enough to try and hide it from anyone. The people that support me are wonderful and that's what's going to pull me through this and help me really succeed!!!

Fair!! Didn't count bladder release! Lol

So wrong... That sounds like a medical condition...

Sexiest $5000 pair of socks I've ever seen!!! You'll do great today!!!

I'm so sorry for the pain you're going through. There are more than a few of us here that have felt that pain with a weight loss surgery before too. I also went through that with the lap band. My best advice to you is to continue working closely with your medical team. When my band was failing me, VSG was not common and I had never heard of it. Perhaps your answer will come. Please do not give up hope. It sounds like you are working very hard and there are more people that understand your pain than you know!! If you feel comfortable giving some more of your details, some of the sleeve veterans may have some additional insight as well that could help you. There is such a wealth of knowledge here.

Wishing you safety and success!!!! You're in my prayers!!!