IdahoGirl32

These are great! I've been looking at mybodygallery.com to see what I'll look like when I'm at goal. It's nice to see what it looks like on real women.

Hi! You're safe here. I am pre-op but I also feel like I'm heavier than most people here, at 350. It seems like those with more to lose will lose faster and more weight initially. So, that's something to look forward to! If you have trouble losing all of the weight with the sleeve, you can always do duodenal switch later on. But you're young, and you're willing to work hard, so give yourself and the sleeve a chance.

Good Luck! Let us know how it goes!

Specifics? I'm considering this surgeon and would love to read more about your experience.

Congrats!!

I'm excited to hear about your experience! Good luck!

If you feel like its more than just fatigue, like you can't expand your lungs all the way, you should see your doctor. Its not uncommon to get pleural effusion after abdominal surgery and sometimes it doesn't resolve on its own.

Yay! This gives me hope.

Whoa! You look great! So inspiring!

That definitely sounds weird...who were you working with? I know some of them charge an extra fee if you use a credit card, but I've looked into quite a few surgeons and none of them ever said I could't use a card. I know the coordinator I'm working with would let me use a credit card, no problem. If you mother-in-law will let you use her card, that'd be great! Yay! This is so going to happen for you.

SaraLou, I totally feel you! The main reason I'm having surgery is for infertility. It's so hard when you're at that age when all of your friends are having babies, posting pictures all over facebook, you've attended a million baby showers and all the while you're trying not to turn into that bitter person. I always joke about stealing my friends' babies...but I'm kind of half serious. lol I understand how much it hurts and that it's hard to explain to other people, and that people in your life don't understand how painful it is to be unable to do something that comes so easily to everyone else. And, of course, the guilt and shame that you feel when you tell yourself that it's your fault because you just can't control your eating and wondering if your husband feels like he made a mistake by marrying someone who can't have children. Ugh. or maybe that's just me. As far as paying for it, I am saving up slowly with the plan to have enough by December for surgery and I'm going to put the flight cost on my credit card. It's a while away and I get more anxious by the day, which means that I should be certifiably insane by December. This is definitely the downside to having to wait and save up for months, especially if you tend to have anxiety already. Bleh. Here are some other ideas: Getting a loan through a credit union, you may be able to get a credit card with a high enough limit that it'll cover, you might consider asking a parent or grandparent for a loan - which I know sucks, but it could be a last resort. Sometimes you can borrow against your retirement. That's all I've got. I REALLY hope you find a way to do this.

Looking good! yay!

I've heard it's possible to use the cost of your surgery and travel in Mexico as a tax deduction, as long as it's more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. Did anybody do this? Or perhaps there's a tax-professional sleever here who can advise?

Hello, to those who have used Dr. Illan, can you tell me about the drain situation? Does it stay in while you're in the hotel, or come out before leaving the hospital? Also, do you know if he uses a blood thinner to prevent clots? Thanks for any info!

Go to the ER! Don't risk it. Seriously. Go right now! If you are low income you can file for hardship once you get the bill and they'll write off most, if not all, of the cost.

TOTALLY sounds like a scam. But, you should ask for them to send you an itemized statement through the mail, just to be sure. If it really is a scam, they probably won't go to the trouble of trying to convince you further. They're probably just hoping you'll send them a check and not ask questions. It would have gone to collections by now, if it was a real bill. Nobody holds onto a 3 years past-due account. You might be able to find the company on the internet. Google the name plus "scam" and see what comes up!

Dr. Ariel Ortiz at OCC. That's the one she checked on. The only thing is that she called a few times and spoke to various staff at his office but could never get him to call her back. I talked to the coordinator about this and asked if she could urge him to return her call and she informed me that he doesn't return phone calls. So...I don't know if it's just because he doesn't have time or doesn't think he needs to, but that was a little off-putting. I haven't paid my deposit and committed to a surgeon quite yet, so I'm going back and forth between Dr. Ariel Ortiz and the other Dr. Ortiz with A Lighter Me. A Lighter Me is less expensive, but I feel like they have better customer service. Dr. Ariel Ortiz at OCC is a Center of Excellence, but the coordinator is a little stand-offish and I've heard that they are a little deceptive when it comes to advertising that they were in Newsweek. Both have good reviews from people on this site.

Hello All. I'm planning to be sleeved in December and one of my biggest concerns is how I'll deal with my emotional eating. I eat for comfort, for celebration, when I'm sad or stressed, or happy and optimistic...for just about any emotion. It's how I cope. I know this is a problem for many of us with weight issues. I know I need to use this time before surgery to practice some other coping mechanisms and change my relationship with food. I guess I've leapt the first hurdle by identifying the problem, but I'm at a loss as to how to deal with it. How did you deal with all of these emotions after you couldn't use food? Any concrete examples of ways you managed your emotional eating? Thanks for your help!

I talked with my PCP. She is Mexican and went to med school in Mexico, so she actually called a few friends in Mexico to check up on the surgeon I chose and see if he's legit. I believe she also verified his credentials. She gave her blessing and wants me to come in when I get back from Mexico so she can check on me and see how it went.

Now is a great time to quit! My husband recently quit using the patch and toothpicks for the oral fixation. You can do this! Get healthy all around!

Hello. I'm in Boise and plan to have the surgery done in Mexico in December, though I haven't decided 100% on a surgeon yet. Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover wls. If any Idaho people have had surgery in Mexico I'd love to hear about your experience!

supbanana, thanks. I just purchased the workbook and will give it a try. I'm open to anything at this point. While on Amazon, I also found a book titled, "50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food" which seems like it might be helpful. I'm also going to try journaling. Thanks

Go to the doctor! It may be your appendix. If it ruptures, you could be in real danger. Better safe than sorry!

Hello! I'm 27 and having VSG in December in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz. I am new to my city and don't really have any close friends to confide in and my family is waaaaay too judgmental to talk to (I'm not even going to tell them until it's over and the weight loss makes it impossible to conceal), so the only one who knows is my husband. He tries to be supportive, but he's pretty bad at it. lol I guess I just feel like I need some people to talk to who have been through this or are going to be going through this in the near future. There's a lot to be nervous about and big changes coming. I'd rather not feel like I'm completely alone in this. The only in-person support groups in my area are specific to the hospital surgeons, so I can't join those. What do you all do for emotional support? Any advice would be great. Thanks!

I can send something, too. I know what it's like to be in that place where $50 seems like it might as well be a million for how broke you are. Let me know your address and I'll send something Monday!