leslie1958

Italiancurves - thanks and I definitely understand you turning off your phone to avoid roaming. FYI - if you have Skype app on your phone you should be able to make wifi calls just fine. I have my iPhone on prepaid page plus for $29.95 a month so roaming can't do too much damage to me as it can't go any higher than my plan but what bugs me is you cannot get a straight answer from these companies - so I guess I'll just find out when I get there (but hey there's always email)

I am so curious to know how you all came to the decision for surgery. I want to know, was it a single day ? a light bulb clicked on over your head ? a careless comment ? a photo ? or like me, the end of a long long journey. I'm going to be brutally honest with you. I always felt that wls was for everyone else, definitely not for me because I could lose weight on my own and to get surgery to lose weight was absolutely NUTS and truly it NEVER entered my head. So with this mindset the last 20 years have been an endless stream of different diets. pills, potions, contraptions, books, videos - well you get the idea. And the grand result is, I am almost back to my heaviest weight ever and the only thing I lost was money and hope. But throughout all of this I still always firmly believed that the next new thing was really going to work. I am by nature an optimist, I usually choose to see the glass half full and so I absolutely astonished myself one morning as I got out of bed, stiff sore and fed up. My mind immediately saying "I really need to lose this damn weight so what do we try now" and as I went to answer my own question, I realized I was done - I was FINALLY dieted out , the well was dry, the tank was empty. I could not have started another diet if Dr Oz himself had ran in and held a gun to my head (I know he wouldn't do that) And there you have it - that morning I sat down at my laptop and started researching surgery. I had never heard of the sleeve and immediately knew that was my choice. I found all you fabulous people on the amazing forum (thank you Susan) and realized this wasn't a crazy choice, it was a valid, sane decision, I just had to get to it in my own time. I truly do know that the sleeve is a tool, it is your friend, it is on your side, it has your back. My day is coming up - October 5th (I found some sleeve buddies too yay) So please share with me and everyone your story

fantastic - I'll be there october 5th and thank you because you just answered a question I was going to ask about wireless signals. Couple of questions - who is your doctor? and what hotel are you in ? I'll be thinking of you - please keep us updated !!

Many years ago I lived in Australia and was madly trying to get a flight to England last minute for Christmas. This was pre-internet days - only flight I could get went via the States. I had a few days in LA so I booked myself on a shopping day trip to TJ So there I was in TJ in a department store buying one of my favorite perfumes. The sales girl spoke no English and to my shame I spoke no Spanish. As she wrapped my perfume she proceeded to speak a few sentences to me that seemed to end in a question with the word "Dynasty" - well I was clueless so I nodded and smiled. She turned around and walked away, then came back with this huge box containing a large dinner set !! - for some inexplicable reason, the store was giving away large dinner sets with certain perfumes. I couldn't hurt her feelings so I took it !! - can you imagine the looks on the faces of my fellow day tour travelers as I lumbered back to the coach with my perfume and dinner set !! I actually took that dinner set with me to England the next day - my mother thought I had lost my marbles but I ended up using it for several years !! I'm back in TJ October 5th for surgery, and no, I will not be bringing a "Dynasty" home with me !

I discovered mashed cauliflower last year and omg it is absolutely delicious. Thanks for the recipe will definitely try it.

On the 5th october ? - I will be seeing you there then - are you coming alone ? - I have found two other sleeve buddies for the same dates so there's four of us now. Message me and keep in touch !!

Dr Illan - florence Hospital (at least I think it's Florence - he used to practice at Mi Doctor too I guess) what about you ?

Down 80 pounds in 3 months !! you look amazing congratulations ~!

That is astonishing - I LOVE your before and after photos - I know I sound like a scratched record because I'm sure I say this a lot - but seriously you look like two different people. Have you had people not recognize you ?

Fantastic !!! congratulations

Kathy ! LOVE LOVE LOVE that !!! thank you !!

It can get a whole lot stranger than that. I see in the future parents having the choice of pre-birth fetal nip and tucks to ensure nice skinny babies and kids.

Phillygal64 - you get first prize for a correct answer and thank you so much. I went to uscis yesterday and that is exactly what they told me. They said my ceremony wouldn't be till November so I was good to go on UK passport till then. HUGE relief ! Thank you to everyone who posted ideas and advice - much appreciated

Hey everyone Well good grief I seem to go from one drama to the next. I don't know if anyone has any ideas and advice but I'm all ears right now. I have been going through the citizenship process (I am a Brit by the way) and yesterday had my final test and interview and was approved to become a citizen and am now just waiting for my ceremony etc. BUT what I didn't realize was they told me yesterday that I could not leave the country without a US passport. At the time it didn't even sink in, but the penny just dropped that I am leaving the country in 2 weeks and five days !! for surgery in Mexico October 5th So I am wondering if a passport card is easier to get ? - I don't know what I need as far as paperwork because I don't have anything that says I'm a citizen yet (not sure if I legally become a citizen at the ceremony) I know this is all terribly convoluted but please if you have any insight into this then let me know !! I will be calling around tomorrow but would love to hear anything useful tonight !! Cheers

That is a GREAT point and one that I went over in my mind. I plan to ask this question tomorrow as I am meeting with an immigration officer to see if they will let me do that. As for dual citizenship, yes I basically do have that so I'm hoping they will make an allowance for me as it would be infinitely easier to just use my nice current British passport for a little five night trip to Mexico. Fingers crossed ! and thanks a million for the ideas !!

Thank you so much - excellent advice. I will definitely do that. I have an appointment tomorrow with immigration to see if they can either expedite my citizenship certificate or just let me use my British passport for this one trip. I've calmed down a lot today when i realized hey, I can always re-schedule. Yes I'll pay fees to the airline etc but I'm not gonna grow an ulcer over it. Thanks a bunch for the great advice - much appreciated - cheers !

What you say TOTALLY makes sense. You sound so much like me. I inched toward a decision too by reading posts and before and afters etc and gradually each day I started to feel more and more comfortable with the idea.

When I get out of bed in the morning I look like the evolution picture - I start off hunched over and gradually get upright halfway down the hall. I'm starting to do the fat girl waddle - not cool. what is my motivation ? all of the above that everyone else said and let me add that it would be nice to not automatically decline an invitation out because I hate how I look, I have no nice clothes to wear and I usually feel like "pooh" most of the time. I'm only 54, I'm not ancient so yes, I'd also like to be "hot" again !!

Who is your doctor ? Mine is the lovely Dr Illan

Bet they do !! ME !

Yep, that's right, me the big worrier, the chicken has just booked her flights !! - no going back now !! Also, finally got up the gumption to go see my PSP and tell him about my upcoming trip to Mexico for surgery and received an awesome response, he was totally on board, in fact he had also traveled to Mexico recently to research surgery for his own heart condition so he was extremely receptive. Surprisingly, considering my abject terror at times, I felt great booking the flights and maybe I'm turning a corner here and getting more comfortable with this choice after all - hope so ...

All the best ! Will be thinking of you ! I got your message okay thank you ! You'll do wonderfully. Keep in touch

Still haven't found Sleeve buddy. My date is October 5th with Dr Illan Tijuana. I didn't think it would bother me going alone but as time is drawing nearer I'm really feeling shaky. Still back and forth from excitement to real fear. If I'm honest there are moments I could cancel this at any moment but then something stops me.

Fantastic and keep us updated will you ! France makes better sense you're only hours away from home. Really looking forward to hearing how you get in and your progress. Would be Interesting to compare notes between France and Mexico . Best of luck to you - it will go wonderfully and I'll be thinking of you - please message me and keep me updated !!

Thank you Sherry !! So glad I have your support and this amazing forum !! You know I'm going to be messaging you all about it xx