Max2735

I'm 41 years old and I have battled my weight since age 5. As a teenager, I went to fat camp many summers (I lost in summer, but gained it back). I'm 6'2'' tall. At age 25 is was 200lbs. Age 30: 235lbs. Age 40: 260 pounds. Now, I'm two months shy of age 42, I'm at 270. The problem is, I'm always hungry and diets are hell. I was around 185lbs from age 18-21, but I had to do aerobic exercise at least 45 min a day and diet like hell all the time. The moment I stopped dieting or exercising I gained weight. My best friend (who has always had natural six pack abs) calls me insane for wanting this done, and tells me workout/hit the gym, but he has no idea what it's like to wage a 37 year weight loss battle (i used to go to the gym, but I admit I've sort of given up). What I'm most freaked out about is the irreversibility of this surgery. I read one post (somewhere) where it basically ruined a woman's life (gave her all sorts of health issues and illnesses she never had before the surgery). I don't want to be that one in a thousand people whose life is ruined by this. In January of 2012, I did go to Mexicali and met with Dr. Aceves. I also met with Dr. Oritz (obesity control) and another doctor in T.J. whose name I don't recall, but it was a scary place. I was seriously considering doing it, but but chickened out and decided I would mount one last offensive and lose some weight (now I'm 10 pounds heavier). I've been looking at the sleeve and plication and tend to think the plication is safer, but it's so untested (and what about ghrelin?) Has anyone out there come across any information that led you to choose the sleeve over plication. Please let me know - and any other words of advice would be welcome and appreciated. Thank you, Daniel

Ill be sure to let you know how my surgery goes next week!

Good to know about about scarrs. My BMI is 34, so I don't think i would have to do 7 days.. i'll ask.

i will start 7 days before.

I'll post how it goes.. so look at my profile after the 30th

Yes.. having surgery with Dr. Garcia on the 30th.

It's better to have fewer - so he can devote all his time. I"m the only one thus far on 4/30

My surgery is April 30th in TJ with Dr. Fernando Garcia. Is there a sleeve support group here in KC?

I am right there with you. I first visited doctors in January 2012.. but thought i'll give it one last go to lose weight, only now I'm 10 lbs heavier. Just today, I committed to surgery on April 30th. I"m scared out of my mind, but after 1+ year of research, i'm going for it. I've spent 35 years fat and unhappy - so I'm going for it. There are no guarantees in life. Most people seem to have a great experience, but a few have had problems, but I'm only 35 BMI, so hopefully I won't have any. I think everyone is scared - i think there would be something wrong with you if you weren't. There is no going back after having 80% of your stomach cut out ! Hang in there, Daniel

Thanks. I think i've ruled out the plication - just too many unknowns. Thank you.

Thanks. I think I've been convinced that plication is not the way to go. I think the plication might be reversible in the first few weeks - maybe months, but it will grown together. Then, even if you un-did it, there would be loads of scar tissue and it wouldn't function correctly. Plus, parts of the stomach can die - AND, this plication has only been around at the most 10 years.. what happens at 30 years? With the sleeve, the tissue is removed, and isn't subject to shifting or dying. It is a huge step, but honestly, I hate how fat and miserable I've gotten. I avoid photos of myself like the plague. It's time to do something.

With the sleeve, I'm not afraid of missing food - I'm afraid of complications like permanent heart-burn, or some other issue that require un-doing, but it can't be undone.