DanaInNewOrleans

While doing my research trying to decide if WLS was right for me, I read that the success rate for Bypass and Sleeve was about the same -- 85%. The Sleeve has the benefit of less complications. I'll have to research what exactly "success" means in relation to the study. Is "success" losing 50% of excess body weight or 75% of excess body weight ( or whatever percent). I'm sure I read the statistics but I'll have to go back and look it up. For me personally, I would say GS will be successful if I can get out of the morbidly obese range and get to the overweight range. Heck, at this point I'd be happy to get to the low end of obese! Anything is better than nothing at this point.

I agree with this too. I think extra care and attention is given because of the fact that their followup is limited. I also think the great treatment so many Americans are benefiting from in Mexico is the same treatment that wealthy Mexican citizens receive. In reality Mexico is basically a country of only two socioeconomic classes -- the very wealthy and the very poor. They don't have much of a middle class. Maybe I've got it wrong but I kind of look at it like "Boutique Surgeons" and "Boutique Hospitals/Clinics". Many surgeons and boutique clinics around the world have cashed in on the same business model. It's a win win win -- for American patient (or Canadian or British or whatever) who gets very personalized quality medicine, for the surgeon/staff-- they're making a killing!, and the country itself that benefits from the economics of medical tourists.

I agree with starting the pre-op diet NOW. I'm 2 months from my surgery date but I am mostly having 2 Protein Shakes a day and dinner ( Lean Cuisine, chicken breats & Veggie, etc) I stay around 1000-1200 calories a day and have barely lost a couple pounds in 1 month. I've been staying on about 1200-1400 calories a day for the last year and kept gaining a pound here a pound there. I do not want to take any chances --- I don't want my insurance company to deny me because I gained weight. Start now!!

That is one of the things I noticed about the Mexico Sleevers posts -- they just did not seem to have the same type of discomfort after surgery. They also did not seem to have as much nausea. I don't know -- it's kind of crazy. I have insurance coverage but if money were not an issue for me and I really believe I would have the surgery in Mexico. Although getting on a plane a few days after surgery does not sound very appealing. I've also seen a lot of posts about horrible US hospital staff treatment and care. Most everybody loves their US surgeons -- but again, I'm talking about the overall experience.....and it sure does seem like Mexico wins that criteria. I would definitely consider using a Mexico physician for plastic surgery if I can get to that point. But the plastic surgery seems to have quite a bit more medical needs after surgery -- drains, dressing changes,recovery time in order travel....The only way I would do it is if I could stay 2 weeks..... Do the Mexico hotels that the surgeons use give discounts to those patients?

The closest I will get to skydiving is watching someone else do it!

Ok, first I hate that word. It just sounds so crude and gross. And I know it is not referring to what actually comes to mind. But still.... gross I've seen a number of posters here sharing their "dumping" stories. The causes seem to be all over the map. It is subjective to each person? Is the only way to know is by trial and error? That seems pretty miserable. Is there a general rule of thumb? And does this last a lifetime with the sleeve? Will we ever be able to eat a scoop of ice cream in say, 2 years down the road?

Me too. ...........Every....Single.....Minute.....of......Every.......Single.....Day.......

Wow! What a great poetic description of wanting out of "this" body...... Yes, I feel the same way. Late November can't get here soon enough....

Congratulations!!! So great!!

I'm 8 weeks BEFORE surgery and I definitely feel like I will be the First Person In History not to lose weight the the Sleeve! LOL....

My doc requires a pre-op diet -- I think it is like a two thing right before surgery. I know Aetna requires the 90 day program-- of course they do not specify what program so I'm hoping that she is cool with me improvising with something I can tolerate. The PrescriptFit program is that you drink 4 your the shakes (gross) per day and eat one particular food each week. So it's like Week 1 -- 4 shakes a day and all the seafood you want (within reason) Week 2 - 4 shakes a day and all the vegetables you want, Week 3 - 4 shakes and all the chicken..... and so on and so on....

Hi Jancinta, welcome to November Sleevers. It will be so great to have so many of us experiencing the same part of the processes together.... Should be a great support system! It looks like I'll be in late November....

Damn! It's too bad US insurance companies won't cover for surgery in Mexico! They'd save a ton of money too.

I'm always aware to that too!!! So I try to cross my legs at the ankles! Yes, November can't get here soon enough!

Oh my God! I'm thinking the SAME thing! I don't want people to know that I'm FAT ENOUGH FOR SURGERY!! You're right! As if they can't already see that!!! LOL....

Hi, I feel the same way -- I was disappointed in my first NUT visit. My second is this Monday 9/17. Maybe she will get in to more detail but I was not impressed with the level of info I was given. My "program" was supposed to be PrescriptFit. The shakes were gross. I could not do it. So I just improvised and did my own thing with Atkins Shakes and Pure Protein shakes. I also add unjury Protein powder too. I have no idea how she will react to it, and if she gives me a hassle I'm not sure what I'll do. What nutrition program are you on?

These are my daily thoughts and conversations with myself (the VST names are fictitious!) You Dana are daydreaming if you think this will work.... Ha! Here you go again...thinking you can actually win this battle... NO really, look... FattyCathy lost 101 pounds in less than a year, SleevaDiva lost 92 pounds in 6 months, TubbyMummy lost 50 pounds in 3 months.. don't be ridiculous Dana, do you really think YOU will be able to lose that kind of weight? YOU are different...you are destined to stay fat and live a half life...those others must have something you don't. No really, this could be different. ......Could this possibly really actually be different? Maybe, yes, maybe it can... .... oh please, don't get your hopes up. You'll let them poke 5 holes in your stomach, blow it up like you're 7 months pregnant and then slice off of 90% of it. FOR NOTHING. You'll be throwing up, getting nausea inducing bloating off 3 green Beans and having to concentrate like it's a full time job on sip sip sip sip sip, chew chew chew chew, don't throw up, did you get your Protein in today?, maybe I have a leak, uh oh- that pureed egg salad Soup did not agree with me, trying Protein powder brand #63 --taking one sip and gagging -- and on to brand #64...., oh thank God, it's been 4 weeks-- I can finally eat the Gerber pureed liver and brussell sprouts- yum!!........... all of this will be for NOTHING, because you are delusional if you think YOU will finally shed the monster that has consumed your life for 40 years. YOU are destined to stay fat -- and your surgeon will be dumbfounded by the fact that YOU (the failure) are not losing weight...he'll think, well she must be sucking down Haagen Daz by the gallon every day... wow, what a failure...Never thought I'd find a fat person that could not lose weight with this... Dana Must Be the First Person In the World who has been an utter failure at not losing weight under starvation conditions.. yep, he'll find you out...you are just a failure.....now just go back to worrying that if you die at home in the shower the paramedics will have to lift your 260lb naked ass to load you and then the funeral home will have to special order an Elvis Presley casket...... but maybe, Oh please God, maybe this COULD work? And all of these thoughts are in just the first 9 minutes since I woke up....

I read the same article. They summed it up by saying that if you are fat beginning in childhood the body will do try to stat fat no matter what. Very interesting...

I'm laughing out loud at this one!!!

Just last night I begged my husband not to tell his family about my decision to have this surgery. He was dumb.founded as to why I would feel this way. If people only understood. There is NOTHING easy about this. First, you have a person that has been tortured by the societal stigma of being fat. Being able to still face the world and all its prejudices takes a huge amount of courage. I know, I've been doing it since FIRST GRADE. But I persevered. Through my thin beautiful mother's disappointment in me, through elementary school, high school, college, professionally. Through my divorce and remarriage. Through medical diagnoses -- cancer, multiple sclerosis and lupus. Then you come to the decision to have SURGERY -- knowing the risks and the life changing consequences. But you are willing to risk your life and endure major, BODY/LIFE altering SURGERY for the chance to be finally be free of the self loathing and have peace in your soul. By the time you come to this decision you probably possess more courage and character than they could possibly understand and could possibly hope to possess. .

I sleep with the TV on (very low- like white noise)--usually on CNN. I woke up, stumbled out of bed and something on CNN caught my eye. It was a spectacular shot. They were showing a shot of the WTC with a giant hole and smoke billowing out. The first thing I thought was they must be showing a clip from a movie or something (remember, the TV was low so I wasn't paying attention to the sound). Of course within seconds I turned the TV sound up and was horrified and mesmerized. CNN (or whichever channel I watching ) was still speculating that it was a horrible accident. I watched it live as the second plane hit and then everyone realized it was no accident. I am now married to a man from NYC-Staten Island. He still will not watch any coverage or documentaries about that day. Almost every time we/he goes to NYC for a visit we go the site and pay our respects. God Bless America!

What the heck is "ONEderland"....lol....is it when you get to magical point of 100 pounds lost? Or is it when you go from the 200's to the 100's.....

By the way, love your member name! You must have been surprised it was still available!

Thank you!! I hope I make it!!

WOW! This site is soo cool! Thank you nyxa!