Mom_24

Welcome Nina. Also, my apologies for filling a whole page with posts! I keep up with everyone though emails on my phone, but haven't had time to sit down and respond until now (haven't gotten the hang of the app yet). Thanks for your patience.

Icandothis, I'm sorry you are struggling. It will be worth it. Have you tried varying the protein drinks so that you can have different tastes? I know that when I go full liquid, I am going to get tired of the sweetness from all of the shakes, but I do plan to vary it with some unflavored mixed with the less sweet options, or option, like broth. Have you tried that yet?

The Muscle Milk Lite says it has no dairy, if that helps. Also, I was at a vitamin store the other day, and they had a couple that were being marked down that supposedly mix up like juice. I didn't notice whether or not they contained any dairy though. I wish I could remember the name, but you could probably google it.

A great reason to start early, because I think there is a learning curve for just about everyone. I plan to start early as well. I have already started replacing two meals a day with protein drinks, but I haven't made great choices with the meals yet. I have cut out all extra sugars and caffeine at this point though (except one deliberate choice yesterday, and an accidental slip the day before). I am using this time as an adjustment period and for the learning curve for what changes to make and how to make them work for me. I am required to have a 10 day liquid, but I am going to start 3 weeks out, which is this coming Monday, just in case I have some mess ups along the way - and I figure it can only help my liver, and Dr. A.

That is awesome. I can't wait to get there! I'm concerned that as long as it is 3+ weeks away, that I will get scared once it is here, and I will not have peace again. I have total peace about having the surgery, I am just afraid of complications (which are rare), because of my little ones at home. I also am not a fan of general anesthesia. It is all phobic though, not based in statistical reality - hence my fear of flying as well. I am glad to know that maybe I will come to that same complete sense of peace too. Thanks for sharing.

I was going to have the Lap-Band with Gastric Plication at first, here in Houston. I would have used CareCredit, but after wondering what in the heck happens with the stomach that is folded in, and with all of the discussion of band complications and then band-to-sleeve revisions, I decided to skip everything else and go straight to the sleeve, but the sleeve surgery here was going to be about $5K more plus all pre-op testing costs, etc., and I just couldn't justify financing that much. So, I decided to see if there were other options and kept seeing posts by people going to Mexico. I really didn't want to have to fly, so I looked for a doctor across the TX border, and I found Dr. Alvarez. At that point I researched him as thoroughly as possible, and found that even if I could do it here in the states for the same price, I believe that he is the doctor for me. Susan, his patient coordinator, is excellent and a wonderful resource. Fortunately, I have family that is able to do a short term loan so that I can have it done there without all of the VERY EXPENSIVE out-of-country financing, which I would not have done. I forgot to mention that my cost for surgery will be $8700. I had my regular doctor do a full blood-panel work up which was covered by insurance, but that is not required. I also had an EKG a few months ago when i had bronchitis, because I was having some chest pains, but the results were fine. I think Dr. A does a chest Xray prior to surgery, and probably some other pre-op labs.

Charmichelle, I am so sorry that you are experiencing this. I had to have a skin biopsy last week and was on pins and needles wondering if I had cancer, and then delay of surgery, and even worse... Fortunately, it came back benign, but I understand the fear and disappointment you must feel. I will be praying for you that everything will be resolved quickly and that your health will be restored. Blessings,

Yes, and me on the 13th. I wish we were all going to be able to meet. I hope the non-Texans will make it to one of the reunions Dr. A holds.

That's a great idea!

Very exciting Joyce!!!

Thanks, Audrey.

Joyce, Thanks. I was glad that the doctor was assertive enough to say, "We need to biopsy that," without worrying about my vanity. I would rather be safe than sorry. I grew up in the 70's and I don't think they even had sunscreen back then, much less awareness of the effects of UV rays, and I can't tell you how many blistering sunburns I've had over the years, so I was really a little surprised that it came back fine, and of course very grateful. But I tell you, I will be going for regular skin checks from now on! Blessings,

Amy, I am August 13, too!!! Thanks for sharing your story, and I am so glad you have such a great support system. You may want to also post in the August thread: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/38113-august-sleevers-where-yas-at/page__pid__413252__st__600#entry413252 for additional support.

I love the Atkins shakes. Besides the chocolate, I enjoy the wild berry. They also have a strawberry-banana that is pretty good to my taste, and a mocha coffee flavored one of which I can't remember the exact name. I find them at my local HEB/Central Market grocery store, and some Wal Marts carry the different flavors I mentioned. I also really like the Slim Fast Low Carb RTDs in chocolate. I just recently got some Jay Robb's powdered in chocolate and in tropical dreamsicle flavors. They are sweetened with stevia, and taste really good to me. I also found those at HEB. If you are coming from somewhere other than Texas, where there is no HEB, then when you are in San Antonio, or maybe even Eagle Pass, you could visit an HEB and pick some up, if Rosie is willing to do a stop, or perhaps take a cab from your hotel. I don't know what the guidelines are on stops with Rosie. Getting very excited!!! I too am going to start my liquid diet early. Just haven't decided exactly how early. I think I will do the full-on liquid only for two weeks (vs. the required 10 days). In the meantime, I am working toward replacing some of my meals with full liquids. Though I would have like to have the surgery done and over with, I am actually grateful to have had some time to process and mentally prepare for this life-altering decision. Originally, I was to have surgery here in Houston on July 12 (last Thursday), but I feel so much better about my decision to go to Dr. Alvarez, and I believe it will be worth the wait. Blessings all!

So, I had a "funny mole" removed last week and sent for biopsy. My imagination has taken me to all sorts for places this last week (worrying about chemo, radiation, dying from cancer and leaving my kids, etc.) I got the call yesterday that it is benign. I can't tell you how grateful I am for that. Now I can move on and focus on my upcoming surgery.

Thanks for sharing this. It made me laugh and not feel so alone.

I just posted this in the Dr. Alvarez thread, but thought maybe we should do it here too, including the July sleevers that are joining us, just to make it easier to see when each of us has/had surgery and can keep up with each other. I will compile a list for us. Thanks! Okay, I am getting lost in all of the forums, especially since the August group has become so big. I can't remember who I know from which forum! Since we have it narrowed down a bit to Dr. A. Can everyone post your date for surgery with him, so we can see who will be getting to meet whom? I'll go first: August 13 Mom_24

Okay, I am getting lost in all of the forums, especially since the August group has become so big. I can't remember who I know from which forum! Since we have it narrowed down a bit to Dr. A. Can everyone post your date for surgery with him, so we can see who will be getting to meet whom? I'll go first: August 13 Mom_24

Yea! for finishing your MBA!

I want to be able to run again, and to do other things that currently stress my knee too much. It would be a dream come true to be able to play rec soccer again.

Great idea dooter! I know one of the differences seems to be that we have three weeks worth of liquids before trying soft foods post-surgery, and a full liquid diet before surgery. I think that is atypical. It seems like many doctors allow foods before even two weeks are up, sometimes even before one week post-op. I can't help wondering if this doesn't contribute to discomfort in the post-op period.

Now that you mention it, I do remember reading that post, and as you can see it was quite forgettable. I too took it with a grain of salt. Based on the tone, I suspect that the complaints were coming from the poster's own biases, versus any real issue that went on.

Phyllis, I, like you, have been unable to find any negative experiences posted anywhere about Dr. A. I have been corresponding and working with Susan from his office and it has been nothing but smooth so far. I'm not saying negative reviews do not exist, but I haven't found one. His whole practice seems to be top-notch and very professional. Good luck on your journey.

I have so been wanting to ask that. I figured I would eventually come across the answer. Today, at Wal Mart and HEB, I saw them, but did not put 2 and 2 together as the "bullets" everyone has been referring to. NOW I get it.