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As Billy Crystal used to say, you look mahvelous! Thanks for the inspiration!

(((HUGS))) I know the feeling. I'm not there at the moment, but I've definitely been there. I also recently avoided a birthday party because I just wasn't feeling good about myself. I have a very select few friends that I can manage to be around no matter how low I feel, but when I'm in the dumps about my body, I just can't bring myself to go out in public or be around anyone who isn't one of them. You already know that I am also in agony over my 4 month wait for surgery, but I keep telling myself that it will fly by, just like you said. In the meantime, I'm gathering info, getting inspired (and warned) by others' stories, and preparing (making shopping lists for pre- and post-op things, trying to more or less memorize the diets at the various stages, and just yesterday I started contemplating what foods I will have to have food funerals for). I wish I had more/better advice about how to pass the time--maybe knitting? If there's anything that you can do to help take your mind off of the wait time, try it.

Sending more prayers your way. I wish you a smooth surgery, a speedy recovery, and much success!

You look great! Thanks for sharing your pics--very inspirational.

Wishing you a smooth surgery, a speedy recovery, and much success!

Best of luck! Wishing you a smooth surgery, a speedy recovery, and much success!

I started a thread about this in the VST Forum Assistance & Suggestions forum: http://www.verticals...te-ticker-issue I was told that the external tickers were slowing the site down.

HGH stands for human growth hormone and it is produced in the brain, so no, we are not losing that.

Can Dr. Jesús Ortiz be added? His full name is much longer, but patients will look for Dr. Jesús Ortiz: http://www.alejandrolopezmd.com/our-surgeons/staff/dr-jesus-elias-ortiz-gomez-curriculum-vitae/ Similarly, Dr. alejandro lopez is listed in the drop-down as Dr. Alejandro Lopez Ortega, which is confusing for most, so can this be changed? http://www.alejandrolopezmd.com/our-surgeons/dr-alejandro-lopez/ Thanks!

I, too, am going alone because of all of the reassurance I feel from the stories of those who have gone alone before me (about not actually being alone, etc). The only thing that might pose the tiniest bit of difficulty for me is finding a cab driver who will carry my bag up to my apartment after bringing me home from the airport, but I don't think it'll be that much of a problem.

Good to know, although I was really hoping that losing the portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin would help some. Hopefully eating better and earlier during the day and taking melatonin at night will help me to get this (at least somewhat) under control before surgery.

Thanks for this--it's so nice and detailed. I'm glad for the advice about not exchanging to pesos. Quick question: can you explain a little more about the breath tube to prevent pneumonia? This is the first time I've heard of it.

If that link doesn't work, it's because it included the period at the end of my sentence in it. Just delete that and you'll see it. I'll also try to fix it.

I am still pre-op, but I've read from tons of people on here that there is a stall in the 3rd week--I fully expect it. Another member on this site has a link to a webpage about this very thing and it's very informative, so here it is: http://www.dsfacts.c...r-plateau.html I hope it brings you insight and comfort.

I know how frustrating it is to find a therapist that you click with, but I do think her story is plausible. Perhaps her boss' cold was or turned into something much worse? Running the office probably means that she has to see all of her boss' patients as well as her own and who knows for how long, depending upon what's going on with her boss. Technically, an intake appointment isn't the same as a therapy session, so you are still a new patient to her. For your own sake, try not to think of this as a rejection--sometimes things like this really do happen and it's not personal.

Hi again, Another member (Butterthebean) has a link in his signature about stalls after WLS, so I thought I would share it here. It's very informative and I hope it helps to give you some insight and comfort: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

I'm pre-op, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help, but I just wanted to thank you for the link in your signature about the dreaded stalls. I will definitely be mindful of the info.

I wish you a surgery free of complications, a swift recovery, and much success!

Yeah, I will probably also do measurements when I stall, so that I can at least see some numbers going down (hopefully ).

I haven't had my surgery yet, but my plan is to weigh weekly and to take pictures monthly. I also plan to take my measurements (from my neck down to my calfs) monthly.

There have been so many great responses here, including ones that echo what mine would be, which is that God gave surgeons the wisdom to create this surgery. Also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pipula's response. I mainly just want to say that I am glad that you have made it through your surgery safely and are on your way to better health and life. I also hope that your friend comes to understand that God provided you the opportunity and blessed your decision or at least that it is not her place to judge you--one of my pet peeves is Christians who pass judgement since it is clearly written in the Bible that we're not supposed to do that. I wish you peace and much success!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience--it's really reassuring.

I think you mean well, but I think that telling those of us who have chosen to be selective in who/when we tell that we don't love our loved ones is unduly harsh. For me, I really do fear that my mother would literally worry herself to death if I tell her too far in advance and maybe I'm not giving her enough credit, but I'm also not taking that chance. My bf knows and he would be the person most responsible for taking care of me (or for notifying people of my death) if things were to go wrong. I tried to tell my closest friend and her response was so dejecting that I'm not willing to go there yet with people that I'm less close to. I have absolute confidence that my true friends will understand that I felt I had to make this decision on my own and when I tell them (immediately upon my release from the hospital or possibly even via email on my way to the hospital), they will be supportive whether I have complications or not. We all have different personalities, perspectives, relationships, coping mechanisms, etc and we come here for support not harsh judgments. I respect everyone's choices and I only want the same in return.

Thanks! This is helpful.

What a great idea! I've always wanted to learn to sew...