VSGAnn2014

Nope. No judgment.

Staceyp, what you are proposing sounds magnificently appropriate. Very best wishes to you this coming week. And hoping I don't derail this thread, I will offer this from my last 24 hours. Right now, I'm voluntarily (pre-surgery) working to get healthier and stronger for my surgery (next month). Nothing drastic -- 1,000 to 1,500 calories (including 75 grams of Protein a day) and walking as much as I can. No biggie. Yesterday afternoon -- for the first time in 5 weeks -- I had a small ice cream cone. It made me RAVENOUS! And last night for dinner I had a takeout grilled chicken salad that My Fitness Pal says contained more sodium than an entire day's sodium allotment. And you know what else? Last night I felt significant anxiety and wanted more food to soothe that anxiety. I resisted and did not eat after dinner. But for an hour, I was mentally running through everything in the refrigerator that could soothe my anxiety. It was really an eye-opener. That sugar and sodium seemed to wipe out a good portion of my ability to feel in control. Does anyone know what the hell is going on, nutritionally / biochemically, to cause a reaction like that? Thanks in advance.

Bob, Clarification request ... are you saying you think there's something inappropriate about being in "the closet" about WLS?

I, too, was going to suggest the antibiotics + alcohol = no can do. If you do some online research, you will surely find some other drugs that prohibit alcohol use temporarily. It sounds to me like your social calendar needs to get "filled up" (air quotes) REAL fast -- perhaps out-of-town trips to see family on weekends, etc. I totally respect your desire / need NOT to tell your social circle about your decision to have WLS. You can figure out how to do this. Just don't feel like you OWE it to people you know (even those you know well) to share this with them. I'm not telling anybody! (Except my husband.) Good luck to you.

And this is why I'm not sharing my medical history with the world. BTW, "just telling a few close friends" is not the way to keep a secret. There's no way the few people you tell about your surgery, after watching your weight loss and finding it fascinating, won't tell other friends, family members and even strangers.

Gotta check those boxes off. And move on down the field. Done!

Uh ... reality shows are highly scripted to generate as much high / low drama as possible. Reality shows usually bear little resemblance to the (air quotes) stars' reality. P.S. You are watching a reality show.

You should follow a woman on Youtube (she's been video-blogging her entire sleeve experience) from 460 pounds on down to (last I looked) just over 200 pounds. (She's pretty tall.) Her youtube channel and her name are "Less of Sarah". I think her videos will make things pretty real for you. You can find her at: https://www.youtube.com/user/LessofSarah

I swear, it seems like the weight loss itself will be reward enough for me. I have enough clothes to fit me until I hit the last 20 pounds. At that point, I may go a little indulgent.

Once I felt educated enough to decide, the only thing that has held me back has been the huge backlog of patient applicants at my local (US) bariatric center of excellence. I could've / would've / liked to have been sleeved about three months ago. As it looks now, with luck I'll be sleeved in August. I first attended an introductory lecture by the surgeon (3 hours long) in July 2013. It's been a long, long road. I haven't required any pre-surgical interventions (other than dietary and exercise orientation). They really are just overwhelmed with applicants. This is a growth industry.

Gee. And a half. Thanks for sharing all that about your post-surgery life (so far). I am pre-surgery and expect my surgery will be done in August. I have passed the pretty rigorous psychiatric testing and evaluation. And then I immediately I put myself into counseling with a shrink. I expect to be in therapy for the next year and a half. Maybe longer. I'm older than you and have a more stable life. But I'm not someone who thinks "those things cannot happen to me." I'm aware I'm walking into the lion's den. I would like to be able to get of that joint as soon as possible--preferably by knowing someone who has a passkey. I hear you saying you're not quitting yet, by a long shot. It's that same desire to live a better life that sent you toward WLS. Me, too. I am pulling for you big-time. You seem like a regular-day hero to me. There are a lot of us around. Without us, the world might not work.

It seems a lovely day for people to post their wins. Congratulations. I'm looking forward to walking that far by myself. It will come, I know. Just one foot in front of the other -- literally and figuratively.

Look at that smile! You are gorgeous.

I'm glad you got all three of them. They are precious! Which store / shop is that? I love their designs.

I'm not a medical professional and certainly not an anesthesiologist and don't have any idea what anesthetics are used during bariatric surgery by Dr. Illan's practice. But one thing I've been wondering about on this thread is whether being anesthetized during surgery might impact a patient's judgment for some time afterward. There are many statements like this on medical sites: What are possible side effects of anesthesia? Impaired coordination or judgment can result due to the effect general anesthetics can have on the central nervous system. You may feel drowsy, weak or tired for several days and have blurred vision and fuzzy thinking. You should not drive, operate machinery, or perform other activities that could endanger yourself or others for 24 hours or longer.http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/howard_county_general_hospital/services/surgery/anesthesiology.html/anesthesia_options_risks_and_side_effects.html I don't know that everyone's judgment is affected after anesthesia or to what extent. But statements like those quoted above are just more logic as to why The Fabulous Omar and other predators (or "players") like him should not be allowed anywhere near surgical patients.

Bwhite said: VSGAnn2014 and Shellief, Thank you for your support. It was not easy reading all the posts. It was not easy trying to decide if I had been "played" or not. I did a lot of thinking and a lot of praying, and a lot of discussing it with my bff and with Omar. I had to come to the realization that I am a big girl and I am ultimately in control of my decisions. Just like every other adult on this site. We can blame Omar all we want. I really wanted to. I did. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I am just in it to have fun. Nothing more. So why not go back and forth to TJ to see him and take him nice things? I can afford it!! He said nice things to me. He paid extra attention to me. He didn't drug me or force me to do anything. Ladies, he is a full blown player. Either deal with it or don't play the freaking game. It is YOUR choice. Bwhite, Here's where we differ. You're a woman of the world -- a "big girl" to use your terms. Fair enough. In your case, no harm, no foul. You found the game worthwhile, and you played a player. Again, fair enough. But everyone who got played by The Fabulous Omar doesn't have the same emotional resources, background, and resilience that you do. Not everyone who's a bariatric patient is in an informed position to consider carefully their responses within 24 hours post-surgery to a "player" who comes onto them hard and strong. And that is why there are rules against players like Omar playing medical patients. In some countries (most countries?) there are actual laws against it. But in every situation, there are (in my opinion -- everyone obviously doesn't agree with me) moral rules against taking advantage of people to satisfy your own interests when they are IN YOUR CARE. And no one can say that during the medical experience one undergoes as a patient of Dr. Illan that they are not in the medical care of The Fabulous Omar. See, that's my beef about this. Who is it that does the calculation that Patient X will be damaged by Omar's seductions and Patient Y will not be damaged by Omar's seductions? Obviously, The Fabulous Omar isn't in a position to do that and doesn't even attempt it. He may be a player, to use your term. But in my book, being a player has a lot of manipulative, nasty aspects to the term. He's a lot of other things, too. He's a gigolo who seeks the most he can get (sexually and financially) for his services. And he's a nasty piece of work. So I fall on the side of those here who think Dr. Illan should fire The Fabulous Omar's ass. One of these ladies who fell prey to his charms and wasn't a player may wind up filing charges against Dr. Illan. If so, they'll probably be motivated by a range of emotions to do so. But they may very well have the law on their side, too. Dr. Illan, you're crazy if you keep Omar on your staff. If he's determined to make his living this way, let him work your patients from across the street.

Bwhite, Thanks for telling your story, and telling it well. Sounds like you are a person who knew what she was getting into and leapt in readily. It certainly adds to the portrait of The Fabulous Omar. He is one helluva snake charmer.

Great news, fish eyes.

Really underscores what a loooooooooooong game this is. Thanks, Alex.

I have the Flex, and I like it -- but I'm online via my laptop much of the day, so it's no problemo to find out what's going on. It does buzz at me when I pass my daily steps goal, so that's helpful. And by now I know generally the magnitude of steps along my various walking routes and gym cardio machines. Not arguing for it ... just sayin'.

Vaya con Dios, maestrita.

rhw ... I know you meant to delete that post draft above. But I'm glad it came through. I found it helpful in better understanding the Mexican bariatric surgery scene. I know you weren't describing everyone who goes to Mexico for bariatric surgery, but your draft post helped me understand better the viewpoints of those who defend The Fabulous Omar so vociferously. For the record, I never would have imagined anyone would treat weight loss surgery (or any kind of surgery) as a Club Med vacation. Live and learn.

And this is why old folks eat so much applesauce.

I see threads on that subject all the time. The times right after surgery are stressful. Plus, I've read, the surgery itself wreaks havoc on your hormonal system. I'd say, give yourself a break. Be kind to yourself. What you're experiencing now is certainly not a "new normal." It's just the phase you're in. Very best to you.

maestrita, Now that you've shared, in addition to being an educator from Washington, you're a good friend of Omar's and find him to be a kind and exceptional human being ... ... and regardless of where Dr. Illan's clinic is located ... ... and regardless of Omar's cultural heritage ... ... do the allegations made in this thread about Omar's character, his behavior, and his own inconsistent presentations about his professional and personal resumes give you any pause whatsoever? And if he were not already such a good friend of yours, would the allegations in this thread give you any pause whatsoever? Finally, does it seem rational to you that a potential VSG patient of Dr. Illan's who isn't already his patient and hasn't interacted with Omar already would want to explore seriously these allegations?