AmyInOrlando

Should I bring my lap top to the Hospital? I'm going alone and I don't want to get bored. Do they have wireless internet? I can't remember the name of the hospital Dr. Alvarez uses... but if you've been there please let me know. Thanks

I'm hoping to develop a dislike for 3 old "friends".... Sara Lee, Ben and Jerry.

I'll be 61 in September. When I was younger I used to be able to lose weight quickly and easily.. I was just never able to keep it off. Now it's a S.....L.....O.....W process. I'm hoping that won't be the case after surgery. I've always been a volume / binge eater, so maybe drastically limiting my portions will make a big difference. For the past few months I've been doing Weight Watcher's, but overeating anything... even with "no point" fruits and veggies, the calories still add up. I wasn't losing fast enough to stay motivated, would get discouraged and blow it.

Well, hopefully he's not left alone in the operating room with a Patient still under anesthesia...

Call Susan, she should be able to help you 1-866-697-5338. When are you having your surgery? I'll be there on July 31, for surgery on Aug. 1st. I'm still waiting for my pre-op instructions, so that's the only information I can give you. I'm excited... it's gonna be a long 5 weeks waiting.

http://www.ama-assn.org//ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics/opinion814.page Did everyone miss this link posted earlier, or are you all just caught up in the drama? If this had happened in the U.S., if reported, the Dr. would have been investigated and reprimanded. He wouldn't lose his license, but he'd probably have to attend classes on maintaining appropriate boundaries, and possibly be placed on probation. The woman was vulnerable, used bad judgment, and in the end was hurt. She got angry and lashed out here.... all understandable. But the bottom line is.... what he did was unethical. Boundaries need to be maintained during and after office hours. I'm sure there are situations where relationships are formed and the outcome is very good, but usually this isn't the case. http://www.ama-assn.org//ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics/opinion814.page

Refried beans, really? I'd be so afraid of gas...

I'm flying out July 31, and having surgery on Aug 1st. I'm so excited. I hope to find a "sleeve sister" here that will be having the procedure the same day, so we can support each other. I'm going myself, so it would be great to have a new friend.

I've been a Nurse for 38 years. I can't understand not draping Patients. In the US everything is draped except the body part that's being worked on. As for the diarrhea... with my history of chronic constipation, diarrhea will be a blessing.. that is unless it happens on the plane or in the Van on the way to the airport. With that said... maybe I need to pack some "Depends", and baby wipes. As for the waiting... when I went to see Dr. Jawad in Orlando, I waited a total of 3 hours. First in a classroom, then in the exam room, then waiting to talk with the Doc, and then waiting to talk to the insurance guy. I spoke with each one less then 10 minutes, and the "class" lasted maybe 15 minutes. If I had seen the Insurance guy first, I'd have been out of there after the first 10 minutes. Insurance company turned me down because I haven't been employed by the hospital for 24 consecutive months... now that was non-negotiable. They'll give free medical care to people without insurance, but turned me down, and wouldn't offer me a discount for cash. I worked for the hospital for 10 years, left to take another position and returned 4 years later. I didn't want to wait another year for my surgery...and if I lost 20 pounds, I wouldn't meet the BMI criteria.

August 1st, With Dr. Guillermo Alvarez in Piedra Negras, MX.

I have a very small head, so some of the wigs were too thick for me. I took them to the girl that cuts my hair and she thinned them out for me. You absolutely cannot tell they're wigs. They look really natural. People that know me are amazed. They don't have that "wiggy" look. Just make sure they fit well and have the mono top.

NurseGrace, I've been a RN for 38 years. I am not going into this procedure "ignorant" of the risks. I've done research on the procedure, the Dr. and I'm well aware of the complications that can occur, and believe the benefits more then outweigh the risks. After reading hundreds of posts and watching youtube videos that were mostly positive, I came across this thread specifically addressing serious complications. It just showed the other side (one after the other). It just made me think "holy crap, this happens more then I thought". The reason I'm going to Mexico, is because my insurance company denied me because I haven't been employed with the hospital for 24 consecutive months. (I worked there for 10 years, left for 4 and came back). I didn't want to wait another year for the surgey, and if I lost 20 pounds I would no longer meet the BMI criteria they require. Phantompouch: Dr. Guillermo Alvarez is the Surgeon I chose.

I have extremely thin hair, it's genetic, my Mom also had very thin hair. I have purchased a few high quality wigs from Namebrandwigs.com. What I did was go to an expensive wig store in town, tried on a few wigs and copied the info from the label re manufacturer, color and style. I found the same wigs on line for half the cost of the wig store. The Mono top (monofilament) wigs are the most natural looking.

I'm scheduled for August 1, 2013 in Piedra Negras with Dr. Alvarez.

Wow.... I'm impressed, a few hours post op and you're posting already. Hopefully the pain and gas will subside quickly. Take care, feel better soon, and keep us posted on your recovery.

The information I got was 1 week of liquids pre-op. My plan is to use the HMR shakes. I don't anticipate it being too bad, since 10 years ago I did them for 6 months. Lost 100 pounds, but gained them back. Hopefully the surgery will be the tool to resolve my binge eating disorder and yo-yo dieting. This won't be my first rodeo... I've lost over 100 pounds 3 times with diet and exercise. They say when you lose it, you find it, so this time I'm getting rid of it !!!! My plan is to post my beginning stats the day I start my pre-op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for Aug. 1st.

I have a 2 1/2 year old Cairn Terrier / Poodle mix. Mom is 1/2 Cairn and !/2 Poodle, Dad is Poodle. She's got the brains of a Poodle, and the personality of a Terrier. She's not spoiled, I'm just well trained. She's my "baby girl", I post pictures constantly on Facebook, and once I figure out how to do that on here, I'll probably do the same thing. Besides getting ready for my surgery.... she's my #1 obsession. She loves the beach, loves to swim and play fetch. She's got the energy of the energizer bunny, and will play non stop. Her name is Kaity.

My surgery is scheduled for August 1st. I'm going to Mexico, and my Surgeon is going to be Dr. Alvarez.

I'm considering having the surgery in Mexico. There are so many Dr.'s there doing the procedure, it's hard to decide how to choose. Can anyone who's had the surgery there give me some ideas as to what to look for to stay safe. I'm a Nurse, but my insurance won't pay for the surgery, so Mexico has to be an option.

I'm so happy for you. If you're well enough to post, you must be doing great. I made my decision today to have the surgery in Mexico. I'm planning on Aug 2nd. Keep posting on your progress. I'll be looking forward to hearing good news.

If they have to put a catheter in me, they'd better put it in and take it out while I'm under anesthesia, I don't want to be awake. (and I'm a RN.... LOL)

So sorry you went through that.... but, you're explanation was hilarious. You chose your words well. You should write for comedians. In the words of "the cable guy"..... now that there is funny, I don't care what anyone says. NOT what happened, but the verbs you put in your sentences. Your husband must be an angel for being so supportive. I pray you never have to go through anything like that again. (((hug)))

It's mostly late night eating that got me here in the first place.