circa

glad you're home and starting to feel better! Everyone I know that's had surgery has had the "remorse" period - but that ends VERY fast.

You look fantabulous! Congrats!

I've got about 200 to lose myself - I thought about that whole "big girl" confidence and ya know what? I had a damn good sense of humor before I was this big, so I know that while I tend to deflect with the happy go-lucky on the outside, I'm quite certain I'll have the same ole funny me back when I'm comfortable in my own skin. Just make sure you check in with your heart, mind and soul along the way to make sure you're transforming them when you're transforming your body.

In 30 days I will be giving myself the best tool I can find to get my life back. I have tried for a couple of years now to work with insurance companies and it just didn't work out. Either they didn't cover the procedure, didn't deem it medically necessary, or I lost my insurance as soon as I got approval, or my employer didn't pay my insurance premiums - its just been one thing after another. I tried 5 times with insurance companies. Not always their fault, certainly not mine. This time, I've got the power in my own hands. I have the funds to do it myself (pay for the surgery, not perform the surgery - although I would if they would let me! haha) I'll be heading to Mexico the day after my birthday to have the surgery. Dr. Almanza will be performing it. I have done a TON of research. I know that this is the best option for me. I probably won't stay in the recovery house, but at the hotel with my husband. I can't stand being around people when I don't feel well - especially if they don't feel well too. I would like to have my husband be comfortable and he won't be unless he's WITH me. I understand that I will be in a surgical clinic - I'm fine with that - in fact, I prefer it. Hospitals are the biggest source of infections there is - why? because there's SICK people there! I don't feel I need an ICU on hand. I don't have any comorbidities to worry about. I'm actually in relatively good health now that I'm past the heavy metal poisoning and unfortunately I'm left with about 200 lbs extra of me from the aftermath of the treatment of chelation and steroids. I of course didn't help matters - I was weak and couldn't exercise. I was pumped full of steroids and was unsatiably hungry at all times. I made poor food choices a lot of the time. Would I still be in this situation if I had made the best food choices? Yes. But probably not as bad. In conjunction with my surgery, I'll have additional treatment for all the steroid damage. I'm looking forward to getting my life back. It hasn't been all that long that I've been without it. This all started in late 2007. So its been 4 years. 4 years since I've been a size 10. 4 years since I ran 5 miles a day. 4 years since my husband looked at me like I was absolutely the only person on the planet besides him. 4 years since I've had the confidence to be who I am. I can't wait to have that back. Just recently, I've realized my actual size. Wow did that hit me hard. Before, and sometimes still, I feel myself to be a "normal" sized person. Hopefully that will help with body image issues. My body was never perfect, but I was comfortable with it. That's all I want to be - healthy, active, and comfortable. Here's to that goal.

Your body is probably used to stopping there - I have those stopping points too - but your body will learn that it needs to get over it! You're not doing it wrong! Hang in there!

I kept all my clothes on the way up - when my whole "weight gain" thing started, it was supposed to be temporary. I was only supposed to gain weight when I was on the huge steroid treatments. Unfortunately, they caused tumors and now that I'm getting those treated and having the sleeve, I'll be all set. But its only been 4 years, so I have lots of basics that are still relevant in every size for the trip back down

Maybe you can schedule your sleeve in Mexico with someone else here? I'm going at the end of January to Dr. Almanza - maybe you can find someone going when you want to have yours done and to the same doctor? Then you won't be alone!

oh that is WAY cool!

Have you tried the Naked brand protein drinks?

You've mentioned your calorie intake, but you haven't said anything about calorie expendature. What are you doing to burn calories? Have you changed what you eat at all? The sleeve won't do it all for you, especially those last pounds to get you to that "perfect" spot. I would definitely up the exercise.

Everything I've read is 3 weeks. I would just call your doctor and ask. Can't hurt

keep us up to date on your progress! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

That is awesome. I'm the baker of the family, birthday cakes, holiday events, etc. I don't really eat much of any of it, but to avoid eating the stuff I DO like, I'm putting nuts in everything I would normally eat - I'm allergic to nuts haha.

Manis and pedis, massages, new hair, new clothes, spa day, all sorts of goals. Shoes are always on the list - shoes are a necessity hahah Can't wait to wear those heels again!

no, she doesn't have a point. What she has is a bad attitude. Perhaps her poor attitude has contributed to other attempts not working for you. Perhaps she should look in the mirror and find out what she's doing to help you. My husband was not supportive at first and I let him know that not being supportive was going to cause me to resent him later. You can't just be there for the good - you have to be there for the bad. She doesn't have to LIKE the decision, but unless she wants you to resent her, she should probably do a little research herself and GET ON BOARD. You didn't just try a diet for a day and give up and say "ok cut out my stomach, I'm bored with this" It doesn't work that way.

I bet you make a believer out of him!

If you read the post, be sure to read all the comments that follow. I don't know how much of the situation I even believe. This person was ill prepared and ill advised about their own surgery.

I had surgery in a hospital here in the states and I had my credit card and ID stolen out of my wallet that was locked away - should I not recommend ever having surgery in that hospital because of a thief? No. I would recommend having someone hold on to your wallet though.

Is there substandard medical care in Mexico. Yes. In some cases, there is. Is there substandard medical care in the United States? Yes. In some cases, there is. The WLS centers in Mexico are specialized places that have been licensed, tested and proven by thousands of successful patients. You take risks with any medical procedure. I feel safer not being in a hospital, personally. Surgical centers don't bother me in the least. Many of these surgeries are now being performed on an outpatient basis here in the US so recovering at a hotel or recovery house is actually a step up to going home from the hospital for me. Infection ratees in surgical centers are substantially lower than those of ORs in hospitals. I think everyone needs to do research on not only the person performing the surgery, but also the place where the surgery is performed. Back home, I would rather have surgery in a gas station bathroom than one of the hospital OR's because of infection rates being so high. Every place is different. Just do your research and make the best decision you can for yourself.

I'm headed to Mexico at the end of January. I cannot wait. I'm having Dr. Almanza do my surgery as well. I know this is a great decision for me. I have fought and fought with insurance companies and i'm tired of things being out of my control. I've heard nothing but good things about Dr. Almanza and a lot of other doctors in Mexico.

Its your body. Its your choice who you tell. Its none of anyone's business if you don't want it to be. I won't be telling people. My husband knows and my sister knows. That is IT. If I choose to tell other people, then that's my business. I won't be telling others in my family because they seem to have their own opinions on just about everything. For example: Why I don't have children. Well, gee. That hole in my uterus and the fact that my medical treatments for that genetic disorder has rendered me unable to carry a child - not to mention, I don't necessarily want children. The response: "oh - you'll want them someday and you'll be sorry you didn't have them now". *blink*blink* nevermind the fact that its physically IMPOSSIBLE for me to have children. So yeah - there's not going to be much talk about any medical decisions I make in my family. Yes, that's right. People in my family admonish me for not having children when I'm physically unable to. The shallow end of the gene pool is full, folks!

It took me a while to muster up the courage to ask my doctor. See - my doctor has pictures of herself all over her office and exam rooms of her running the Boston Marathon and other healthy fun stuff like that. At first it made me kindof ashamed for the condition I'm in. I used to be a runner. I used to be in great shape. I always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. I left, tail between my legs. I got home and was bummed for quite a few days. Then I realized, well damn. i'm never going to be able to do that unless I rip off this band-aid. So I made another appointment and I said "well, I'm considering weight loss surgery" She had a smile on her face that would rival anything you've ever seen and said "I was hoping you'd say that!" She filled out the form and faxed it to the surgeon's office while I waited. She came back in and told me that its not a light decision so she doesn't just spit it out to patients -she wants the to come to that decision. It means they've actually put thought into it and have become their own patient advocate. I don't lie to my doctor - I'm honest with her. I didn't want to keep that from her. I went to her, prepared with every reason she should refer me to the surgeon's office for the surgery and didn't need any of it. I hope you have a similar experience! I think its normal to not want people to know that you're thinking about this decision - but the reality is, as a healthcare professional - they know that you are. Just rip off the bandaid. Its a great sense of relief when you do.

Hell no. For some people, low carb or low cal or special diets work - its their hammer to the nail. Well for other people, because of body chemistry or other issues, trying a low calorie diet is like trying to hammer a nail with a flip flop. It just doesn't work. Its about finding the right tool for the job. Over my life I have fought with my weight. I did very well with a low carb lifestyle. Until I got sick. Well, that tool no longer works for me. I have tried every other tool in the toolbox. I finally opened a new toolbox. This surgery is a tool. its what we have decided to use to make life work. Everyone gets the same set of tools. But not everyone can use them as efficiently and effectively. That's why for some people, surgery doesn't work. its not easy to agonize over this decision. Its not easy to go see a doctor and ask them to remove part of your body. Its not easy to go under anesthesia. Its not easy. There's nothing easy about it. I think sometimes it may feel easy to people because when you're finally properly equipped, any job can feel "easy" That means it was the right decision in my mind.

I think anyone that goes into a decision like this as if they were getting a pedicure is insane. You SHOULD have concerns. You SHOULD maybe have some apprehensions. Its a big decision! Anesthesia for any surgery should not be taken lightly. If you're anything like me, you've watched the videos of the surgeries, you've read 550,353 posts from people who have had, are having, or are thinking about having the same surgery. You've tried every type of weight loss option that you can. You've agonized over the decision. You've looked at the other surgeries and used logic to whittle down your decision to have this surgery. You then decided not to do it. Then you started over and did everything you did the time before and made the decision to have the surgery. As the date approaches, you start to second guess your decision because others may have opinions. You think "I can do this, I don't need this - its the easy way out" Then you remind yourself that you need a break. You need that extra tool to make everything you KNOW work. You're not dumb. You're an intelligent human being. You know how all of this works and you're trying very hard to not let preconceived notions that others, or even you yourself have outweigh the logic that has led you to your decision. Its not the easy way out. Anesthesia for anything is a daunting thing. Whether you're having this done, having plastics done or having your appendix removed, or any other surgery - especially being overweight. Anesthesia is calculated by weight. The more you weigh, the more you get. So even though you may be a "healthy" obese person, there are effects that extra weight have on the body that compound as you age. There's a reason that once you reach a certain weight, you're not called overweight, but a clinical term of "obese" - its an ugly word - and its meant to be. Bottom line, one way or another - getting away from that word in the best way you can is important. Either through conventional methods, or via a surgical method if conventional methods aren't working. I'm not going to say you should have the surgery. I'm going to say that you have to do what's right for you now, and for your future. If you don't feel that you're at a point in your life where you have exhausted your other options and that you can keep your health in check, then you have to make that decision. I just know where I am and that maybe you've had some of the same thoughts I have.

I'm looking forward to having the "loose skin problem" cuz its one hell of a lot better than the extra fat-can't-do-anything problem I have now. I know I'll have loose skin - I had it before I gained all this weight. I've always had flabby arms - I broke my forearms and had no upper body strength. I am willing and WILL have plastic surgery. I don't mind scars - I see them as reminders from a lesson learned. I don't want to wear a bikini, I want to be healthy again and feel good about myself. If I have a scar to remind me of all the hell I've been through, then so be it. It'll match all the other ones. The one on my right breast reminds me to do my self exams. They're my battle scars - I've survived a lot and I'm going to survive this. I have about 200 lbs to lose to be at my "ideal weight" but ideal is relative. I'll be happy with losing about 160-180 lbs. You're not alone here. We've all got a number we're fighting against. I think I'm going to stop fighting the number and start searching for the feeling. The feeling of being healthy. It doesn't have to equal a number.