MGM

I no longer have a thyroid. My surgery day weight on 8/22/2012 was 250. This morning, 173.5. I find I'm in the slower side of losing, but overall, so happy I did this!

I feel it too. More than 90 pounds gone, still the same 'shape, just smaller. I finally figured out why I don't feel different. I thought I looked pretty good at 268. I didn't see the me in pictures that was staring back at me in the mirror. I just thought photos make you look bigger. I have to tell myself all the time I WAS THAT BIG. I was a tight 24 when I started this. I can now wear 14's and some 12's. 27 more pounds to my personal goal. Yeah...it's hard to retrain the brain!

I used dr Kelly August 2012. A lot has changed with workers then, but I have had zero complications with my surgery.

Mine was a clear bluish color and tasted really bitter. It was the texture of Water. It sounds like everyone describes something different. Interesting how they use different things!

Awesome job! And I love Lsu too! Goo tigers!!

Awesome job.

Thanks y'all.

Yes, I was a little disgruntled with the not so stellar customer service everyone else had spoken of, but my health has been fine. I never pulled the BIG numbers...but I also haven't really had a stall either. I no longer have a thyroid so that could be a factor in no HUGE loss numbers, but for once in years I feel alive again!

I'm 8 months post op 85 lbs gone total. No complications...not even nausea. I just felt like I had done hundreds of sit up the first few days after surgery. Word of advice. Stay away from slider/bad for you foods!

Starting weight 268, surgery weight 250 started size tight 24. Current weight 182. 5'4". NSV...size 14 not women's store. First real purchase! (Not from second hand store or hand me down)

Total weight gone today...85 pounds. I did not lose it, I let it go and I don't want it back ever again. 32 pounds away from my first goal of 150!

You didn't gain it overnight either. I have 115lbs to lose from the beginning. I'm 8 months out and I have lost 80. Only 10-15 pounds a month the first 4 and the last 4 has been 5-10 pounds a month. I've never pulled the big numbers, but from highest weight of 268, surgery day weight 250 and current weight of 185, 35 left to go...I'm pretty happy with the slow and steady. I think I'm losing it at a healthy pace. Just be patient and remember you didn't gain 25 lbs a month, you may not lose 25 lbs a month. Any loss is a loss.

Thanks y'all. My family is pretty finicky, so if I make something I love, they hate it...if I make something they love, I don't like it. I only eat maybe one serving of gluten a week, so I cook around anything with gluten in it. I don't know what to say 'gman' it's like the only thing that 'tastes good'/'worth eating' is the bad stuff. ie: rice Pasta baked goods, I'm not a huge meat person. Beef twice a month is good with me. chicken or shrimp everyday would be great! I do like the deer Jerky my father in law makes, but...can't expect the family to live off that, so yeah, I'm still trying to figure it out. I have gotten to where I will only eat pasta if its worth it...my favorite dish from Copeland's, which we don't go there that often. I'm not really enjoying anything, if I think about it. I'm fine eating my Greek yogurt for lunch, 2-3 ounces of salmon with vegs for dinner, cottage cheese or something for more Protein. Chex gluten free dry Cereal or some kind of nuts/seeds for work out carbs...oh, and it's not the quantity or lack thereof that bothers me. food really isn't all that great anymore. I eat because I'm hungry or I know I need a certain nutrient, that's all.

I was sleeved 8/22/2012 and have lost 80 pounds since 8/1/2012. I was a very decent cook before my surgery. It's been almost 8 months, and my cooking sucks! It's like since I don't enjoy eating anymore, I no longer have creativity. I think my family may be getting tired of sautéed chicken breast, vegetables and potatoes. The only thing I can still cook is chicken and andouille gumbo, cause I didn't eat it before either, so the taste isn't a factor. I don't know what to do! I'm not even interested in relearning how to cook. And my nest has gotten more empty too. Only 1 full time child left, and it's 50/50 whether he eats at home! I'm a horrible wife and mother!

I don't think you would benefit from just implants since there is so much skin. I had a reduction in 1996. The scars never bothered me. But if breast feeding is a concern, there is no guarantee you will be able to again as some of the mammary glands are removed. But I don't think a reduction is what you need it's a lift and implants. I am no medical professional but I think with those two you would still be able to breast feed as they are only removing excess skin. The scars are exactly the same as a reduction but no tissue is removed, just skin.

Smooth Move tea. It's all natural. And it's awesome. I use it every Friday.

1) Before I had surgery' date=' I had cut out all sodas for weeks, was drinking lots of Water, and as a result, my urine was almost completely clear and looking great. I know that's gross to say out loud, but I was so happy with that because I've had chronic UTIs in the recent past from drinking too much Coke Zero and not enough Water. I was just wrecking my system. So, seeing that healthy turn, and it being something that I did on my own, for my health, was a huge step for me. I've noticed since my surgery 4 days ago that my urine is really dark. Is that normal after surgery? I know that the nurses monitored my output in the hospital when I had the catheter, and even after I started going to the bathroom on my own, and they never said anything about it. Still, being home and seeing it so much darker than it was is a little worrisome and I just want to make sure that is normal.

MINE WAS TOO. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE AREN'T GETTING IN NEARLY AS MUCH WATER. 5 1/2 MONTHS OUT I STILL DON'T DRINK AS MUCH AS I DID BEFORE.

2) Starting last night, my stomach is insanely LOUD. It is making so many noises. I was on the phone last night and it rumbled so loudly once that my friend thought someone had driven down the road without a muffler. xD I'm thinking it's maybe just gas moving around, because it's all over the place. On the other hand, I don't know about that because by an extreme miracle, I had ZERO gas pains after surgery. I have had gas, but I didn't have any of the shoulder pain or pressure anywhere. I'm so grateful for that! So, the noises... what's happening down there?

I BELIEVE IT IS GAS.

3) I'm having a super hard time getting any Protein in at all. Is this normal the first week or so, and is it going to hurt me? The surgeon said to concentrate on just staying hydrated for now, and that that comes first before the Protein, because I can dehydrate really easily right now. I'm just kind of freaked out by that. I basically haven't eaten in days and days, since I've only had a couple of ounces of Protein Drink each day. I was able to take the chicken broth at the hospital pretty well, and will continue that at home, hoping it also has some nutrients in addition to just water. I'm just scared something bad is going to happen, or that it will hinder my healing or something. Please share your experiences/thoughts on this, if you have them. In the mean time, I will keep trying. I'm finding the Syntrax nectar nearly impossible to drink, so going to try Isopure Zero Carb later today. REALLY hoping it will be better, because it's really my last option until I'm past Clear Liquids stage.[/quote']

I WAS TOLD TO CONCENTRATE ON GETTING ENOUGH liquids AT FIRST. YOU DON'T WANT TO GET DEHYDRATED.

I guess my expectations may be different than some. Im going out of the country for surgery. I don't expect to hear from these people ever again unless I contact them specifically. Once I leave Mexico' date=' I don't expect emails or phone calls. I expect to get what I'm paying for, and they will move on to the next group. As long as my surgery is performed well, I'll do the work and follow up regularly with my PCP. I wouldn't get much more than that in the states unless I paid for some bariatric docs extended program. I make it sound kindof back alley lol, not the way its meant but I guess I just see it as a way to get what I can't afford here.[/quote']

I could have penned this myself 6 months ago. But after my experience there, and now 5 months out and some days clueless, I feel a tad differently. I do follow ups with my pcp but he doesn't know my specific nutritional needs, etc. Having a dietician or nutritionist to ask questions to would be very helpful.

I know his in house coordinator (Omar) left to work for his assistant surgeon (Dr. Illan Fraijo at Baja Bariatrics). While I had a great experience with Dr. Kelly and Omar' date=' they weren't incredibly organized, so it doesn't surprise me either. I know that I started getting phone calls from a lady recently to check and see how I was doing, so I am not sure if Omar was replaced or if Dr. Kelly started using coordinators.

I decided to go with Dr. Kelly due to his experience and the excellent reviews I had read from others. I was not disappointed. I had not complications with the surgery, and I have had great success. What made my experience in Mexico go so smoothly was having Omar as his in house coordinator. I feel a little lucky to be able to have my surgery at a time when Dr. Kelly wasn't using outside coordinators, so I didn't have to worry about all the confusion that come with coordinators.[/quote']

Lucky you...regarding getting calls being checked up on. I had surgery 8/22 and Omar was the only one that acted like he gave a hoot about me.

When dis Dr Kelly start using coordinators again?

All I know is because of some things that happened while I had surgery with dr Kelly, Omar winded up going to work for another doctor, so maybe that's why he decided to go back with coordinators? I had a great surgery experience, but everything else after when it came to dealing with dr Kelly and his wife was very unprofessional and that's all I'm saying. I had a bizarre negative post experience, though my post op I've been fine, I don't feel I have the post care. Cecelia IS dr Kelly's wife.

That's alot of Water. That would be 119 pounds of Water for me.

Actually it's 1/2 your body weight but you don't drink 119lbs if water, you drink 119ozs of water.

It's common for incisions to have a hematoma (swelling) under them. As long as its not red or oozing. My incision they took the stomach from had a hematoma for approximately 10 weeks!

It was less than $500 round trip. I flew to I think Dallas first than San Diego. Flight home was on...considering my flight back to New Orleans got cancelled because of hurricane Isaac. I did get to fly into Biloxi and my sis came and picked me up. Take a couple fixes if dissolving gas x.

I went to dr Kelly but have read a lot of good about dr Alvarez too. I didn't feel unsafe, my 19 yo son went with me and I'm glad I did it. No regrets. I'm losing slower than average due to health history, but IM LOSING! 250 day if surgery 213 now. 265 before preop diet. It has its hard times, but if you are emotionally ready, it's sooo worth it!

I hope I didn't offend? My hubs is 49 I'm 42 and ill never go my age or older again! So I'm serious! You only live once and he sounds great!

Well if it doesn't work for y'all he could be a good catch for your daughter! Lol. Just picking!