HoosierGirl

Stepped up a level on Body Revolution today - OMG....super sore but LOVING the calorie burn from this workout! AND hit the 50lbs lost mark this morning! The sore is offset by this feeling of VICTORY!

I had a refrigerator. But I cannot recall about a microwave. They bring you bottled water and I didn't drink the water from the tap "just in case"! Haha!

Heather, I don't know you, but I know that you are worth WAY more than a few thousand dollars!!! Get this surgery. Lose the weight and feel healthy. THEN tackle all the other stuff that you would like to fix.

I went through all the insurance requirements at my local Bariatric center last summer. So I had all the nutrition classes, group appointments, psych eval, EGD, etc. Anyway, my insurance denied me because all my co-morbidities were managed with medication. Before I went to Mexico, I felt like I had a good understanding of my pre-surgery health. However, none of the pre-surgery tests are needed in the US prior to surgery in Mexico as the OCC staff will do an EKG, nutritional consult, and blood work before surgery. The OCC gives you the results of all tests after your procedure. I took those to my PCP at home and she helped me get off all my meds as my weight went down. They OCC website lists all needed post-op blood work. My PCP helped me with the needed blood tests. You should not have anything to do in the States before surgery in Mexico.

I did a whole blog about selecting a surgeon in Mexico and my experience with Dr. Ortiz. www.hoosierfatty.wordpress.com I had a friend with me the day of surgery, but then recovered alone and traveled home alone. It can be done and I didn't think it was a big deal. The blog has all that info. Good luck!

Very excited for you! Hope you have a positive and uneventful experience too! Good luck!

SaraLou - glad the blog helped! Before surgery, I was really needing to find out all I could and vowed I would blog to help others. This surgery been simply amazing for me! Hope it will be for you too! OK - to answer your questions...Dr. Ortiz asks his patients not to disclose price. But what I found is he is about middle of the road. Less than Dr. Alvarez or Dr. Aceves, but more than Dr. Ponce de Leon and others. He is the same price as Dr. Pompa who also practices at a Center of Excellence. Call his office and they will give you the rate and they don't pester you like the coordinating companies do. I felt it was a good value. Next - I got over the fear by getting very logical with myself. My physical appearance sucked. I felt tired all the time. I was on two blood pressure medications. The only thing being heavy was getting me misery and less life span. Plus, people a lot sicker than me have surgery, recover and thrive. Why not me? Why not set my mind to doing ALL the doctors said and kicking-butt during this surgery? For me, it was totally a mental attitude. The pre-surgery diet was a breeze because I kept telling myself, "I can stand this because it's only two weeks...my solution is only two weeks away!!!" Although I was nervous before surgery, I kept telling myself, "You've got this. You can do anything you set your mind to. You have chosen experts in their field. An anesthesiologist and cardiac specialist are right here during surgery in case anything happens. I am a very short flight to San Diego. etc. etc." And I TOLD their staff I was nervous and they helped me through it. Never did I feel like I was just a number and never did I feel like they couldn't "help" me. The pre-surgery phase is crazy with wild dreams, irrational fears, and the biggest nagging feeling ever. If you can get through the pre-surgery mind-games, the surgery and recovery are a SNAP! Ha ha!

Never have vomited since surgery (knocking on wood as I type). But I did make myself really really sick eating a few French fries about 8 weeks post-op. Terrible horrible unbelievable nausea. Have tried fries only once after that in a smaller amount and got the same sick feeling. So, I am officially "done" with fries! Yuck! Thank you VSG!

Love you my friend. Glad you are doing better.

I used Dr Ortiz and blogged about my research and surgery experience hoping it might help someone else. (Now the blog is like free therapy for me! Lol) You are welcome to read the blog or message me. Good luck and good job doing your research! Www.hoosierfatty.wordpress.com

I'm still after it - and was successful at losing 3.9lbs last week and weighed 189.1 yesterday morning! Not sure if it is the clean eating or focused exercise, but my goodness it is sure working! Happy happy happy!

I am sure he knows logically that you will benefit from weight loss via the sleeve. And he may not really understand how the sleeve is different than the band. Still, he is probably scared that your new reality is going to change HIS reality too. Talk about it now. Don't let it continue. Even if he agrees to disagree with your decision, you need to clearly tell him that this is happening and things will change. You don't need his support, but don't need negativity either. Glad you are hearing about it now instead of after surgery. Good luck!

Love this!!! You keep the "moving on" attitude and you are going to rock your sleeve!!! Please be sure to re-post to this thread so we can all follow your progress!!!

Shoot, I just wanted to wear normal sized underwear. No more 'granny-panties'!

Congratulations!!!!! So happy for your success and what a fantastic reward! Looks like you had a great trip too!

Today, I am half way to my weight loss goal of 92 pounds! Yes - I am eating well and exercising, but I've never lost 46lbs just eating well and exercising. And NEVER could have lost 46 pounds in less than 4 months! Feeling so blessed and free from past demons. I am re-writing my future and it feels so wonderful!

Oh yeah...the worst part is getting started! Hope you are feeling better tomorrow. Getting off the crap food is no fun. Day 3 is usually better.

You should be able to get some guidance from your bariatric doctor about that. I believe if you ask your doctor how to document that, you should be able to tell the doctor what you have been doing so he/she can put it in your medical chart. Good luck!

In the weeks following surgery, I really enjoyed the Isopure drinks you can get at GNC or online. They have a lot of protein and the grape, orange and apple melon flavors weren't bad. Could be worth a try?

OMG - this made me laugh out loud! Hilarious!

Your attitude will get you thru...what is it they say 'weight loss is mathematical, not magical'....you keep it up and it will come off. This is super fun to share all this with you guys!

YET! You keep trying and you will be able to! A few weeks ago, I could barely finish the workout....now I am able to do the whole thing! You don't have to be perfect, just a little better than yesterday (new mantra...smile)!

THIS IS AWESOME....weighed in at 193 this morning!!! Lost 1.5 last week. This weekend I managed to eat well despite a big family get together and make time for exercise. Still doing the Jillian Michaels Body Revolution - Still on Phase 1: Monday workout 1, Tuesday workout 2, Wednesday cardio, Thursday workout 1, Friday workout 2, Saturday - cardio, Sunday rest day from Jillian but went for a walk with my family. ALSO, I purchased a fitness monitor (a Polar FT7) that calculates calories burned based on your heart rate and weight. It's wonderful to know what you are actually burning through exercise to be able to track it. The worst part about this whole thing is just getting started, after that, easy easy (and pretty fun!)

Thanks Lauraven...I still cannot see them. What the heck?!

[url=http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/gallery/image/19705-jan-to-may-2013/][img=http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/uploads/gallery/album_5275/gallery_44780_5275_148822.jpg][/url] UGGGHHHH! This makes me want to say bad words...how in the world to you post a picture from the gallery here???!!!! GGRRRR