sleevedup

I had so many people help me along this journey, I'd like to pay it forward. If anyone pre-op would like to talk over the phone, please p.m. me and we can set something up:) Love to chat with you. I know it really helped me!

That's so nice of you! Really, I love reading this. If I didn't already have a sleeve, I'd definitely be taking advantage of your generous offer:)

Are you out there? Recovery Alcoholic is so very optional (added this mainly because i found I am actually quite compulsive with food) but really looking to make a friend here who can meet up and hang on occasion:) You don't even have to have a low bmi'er at all...just don't want to be judged for doing it at what some deem a lower weight. I live in Hollywood area:D

Same exact boat. I have only lost 8 pounds..low BMI'er but still, I know that frustration. There are countless threads on this sister:) We can do this! Stall are meant to be broken. Just keep on keeping on, don't worry about it too much. Just remember this as a 12-18 month long journey. Right now our bodies are in repair mode and we can sweat it too much. Hahaha..I just gave myself a pep talk too:) Thanks for posting!

Yay!!! You have what it takes:) Your gonna love it!!! So excited for you. 6 days post-op here, feeling good, dealing with the emotional lose of food as expected but it's still better on this side!!! Congrats!!!You are gonna love it:)

Just 6 days post-op low bmi...if you like to have a chat, pm and I would be happy to pay it forward (like so many here did) and speak with you about my experience:)

I went to Dr. Guillermo Alvarez in Piedra Negras, Mexico. He is really, truly, amazing. First, I did not chose Dr. Alvarez based solely on price. I actually had 4 consultations (one from a high profile doc in Los Angeles; another higher profile doc in SF; one in Texas since I wanted a single incision-and another in Mexico who also does single incision). Now, I am no Paris Hilton, but this is my health and I had the funds if necessary. One of the docs wanted 25,000 and frankly (this is the L.A. one) was kinda of rude to me at the consultation making a disparaging comment on my BMI..not cool. I researched the hell out of doctors, talked to several ppl in our community, and really dug deep. I finally came to a firm decision of the doc in SF, who is extremely reputable. His cost was 17,000..I was ready to cash pay, and just like that he himself had some kind of accident and was no longer performing surgery. I like this doc so much, I waited 6 months, be to no avail. He had another doc doing surgery for him as he supervised. That didn't jive. I strongly considered a doc in Texas who is also very reputable, but I kept on researching reading and reading. I was reluctant to go to Mexico even though I know healthcare in other part of our world are also very solid. The more I read, the more I opened my mind, the more I saw that Dr. Alvarez was the best choice for me. He has done over 9,000 sleeves, only does sleeves, and has his technique DOWN down pat. He even did a VSG live, explaining the whole process with a cam internally placed. Honestly, out of all the surgeons I researched, he (and that doc in SF, who unfortunately is no longer available) were the best docs. I paid 8500...that did not include my flight but did include 2 hotel nights and the full cost of everything else hospital wise. Susan, his coordinator is AMAZING and ON IT. He is amazing, the staff is great, and everything was coordinated perfectly to a t. His Skype session is free (I paid 250 for a consult in L.A. only to feel rushed and like I was apart of an obesity mill). The part of Mexico you are in is exceptionally clean and safe, very low key. I am 6 days post op and feel good:) If you wanna talk over the phone, hit me up on a pm, I am more than happy to pay it forward as so many ppl have for me on this board. I spoke to so many people who were so kind and informative, let me know if I can be of service to you. Your journey will be brilliant:D

Thank you so much for responding! It's so nice to get support from all of you..really..so heartwarming.

Wow, I have to hand it to so many of you. Since I was low BMI I was not required to do a pre-op diet really..I ate better, but I ate. And now at day three, I am seriously frustrated. I don't even know how to put it to words, I am actually upset with myself seeing how much I dependent I am on food for comfort, love, and a sense of peace in a strange way. I am use to stuffing myself every single day, I loved feeling stuffed...well, that's not entirely true. There is shame, hopelessness, and frustration in that act as well. But food was my choice of drugs. I am also a recovering alcoholic, so I know all about addiction. And I know, food was a drug to me. I've been co-dependent on people, places, things (men, for certain) and here I am without my normal coping strategies. I can't stuff my face; there is not a man in sight, and it's too demoralizing to think of some of my options; and I ain't gonna drink or use any mind altering substance, wow that feels like...wow, a hit in the head. I just been so dependent on men, food, or some mind altering substance to feel okay and cope with life, this is hard. I took a walk and tried to get my head straight. Reached out to a few friends but can't completely share since I have told virtually no one of my surgery. I feel like I am being a huge infant about it, but I just knew I had to talk about this with someone and tag..you are all it (God bless you). I need to get this off my chest. I am a little physically hungry, but more than that, I just wanna stuff my face. Order a huge pizza, Pasta, garlic bread, large pepsi..watch the debate tonight..gosh darn it, change isn't for the light-hearted. Tell me it gets better, this big old baby needs to be burped.

Thank you all so much for the feedback everyone!!! It really helps:)

So I have decided to keep this my sleeve a secret. I just do not want to be talked about, identified as, be made the poster girl for, have people I don't even know-know my business through the grapevine of gossip, or finally think I cheated and "did it the easy way." I don't want to be open about getting the sleeve, I feel strongly about this and do not want to be the subject of talk. However, I feel bad now. I was talking to one of my good friends I've known for years who has been struggling with her weight for so so long. She would really benefit from wls and I am feeling like a bad friend for not coming clean and telling her that I am about to have the procedure in just 5 days (so excited about that!). God willing, this surgery works and it kills me not to be able to say to tell her. But the reality is, she can't keep a secret really, and I don't want my life to be spread around like that. I did talk to her about gastric sleeve, saying a colleague of mine had it done and how happy she is with her results. Through the use of this make-believe colleague of mine, I was able to talk to her quite openly about the benefits and the ignorance that surrounding wls. She seemed moved but ended with "well, if you do any research on it, you'll have to let me know." I wanted to say, "hell, I am not just doing research, I am about to get sleeved myself in 5 days," but I did not feel comfortable doing that and I've learned the hard way that my first loyalties lie to myself. Instead I said, "it's really a personal choice, no one person can do the research for you..it's ultimately up to you." That's about as much honesty that as I could muster. But I feel bad about it. I know telling her would light a spark under her arse and could potential get her on the path back to sanity. She still kinda stuck on having a "natural wholistic approach," and even though I have discussed the biological, physiological, and hormonal changes the disease of obesity causes (not to mention the incredibly low success rates for keeping the weight off), she still sold on the story of "get yourself on a treadmill and eat less, fat butt" type mentality. Apart of me feels obligated to tell her specifically, she is my only truly overweight friend and we are really on the same boat. But another part of me feels, "hell, this is public information, she can come to it on her own, I did...why should I have to compromise my level of confidence?" Clearly, I am feeling like a bad friend. Honestly everyone, am I being a selfish and bad friend? Open to hear your real thoughts.

I am getting sleeved! I am so excited:) I have been researching this since June 2014 and finally I am official booked with Dr. Alvarez in Mexico:) Dec 15 is the big day and I want to say thank you to everyone on this board. This is a great community and you have all helped so much. Some of you were even generous enough to send photos of you post-op scars, talk to me over the phone, and answer random question...thank you! Lots of love and I will keep you all posted.

Thanks Dub, that really helped give me some assurance.

Anyone?

Hi There, Anyone get single incision VSG and can comment on what restriction is like 1 year or more post-op? I am schedule to have SILS VSG with Dr. Sherman Yu in Houston, but have heard mixed things in terms of restriction. Freaking out lol. Can anyone please shed some light? Thank you