shedo82773

This topic can be very disheartening because so many people really want and or need this WLS, and some are not going to do it for the real reasons. Yes, I do believe we are food addicts that is why we needed WLS. But...each to their own right!! We can't change people. It is very sad when I hear someone say I just couldn't do without this or that after going under the knife and just kind of throwing away their perfect opportunity to get healthy and thin. When I see someone that wants to change and doesn't have the means to do it hurts. But, then someone that doesn't follow their Dr's guidelines and gets sick or in trouble with their choice it is sad!! Another, one that really gets my goat is this...I had problems with strictures and it was not by any means because I didn't follow everything my Dr and Nutritionist had told me..then someone comes on and says her problems are of her own doing!! I got that one more than once!! If you don't know what that person went thru then keep your mouth shut. Because it isn't always that person's fault because she ate wrong. BLAH BLAH sorry.

Exciting news that you are almost there!! As everyone has said, the mind is our worse enemy. Now if that darn WLS could just fix it too. Now I am 3 years out and I feel like I am one of the lucky ones, as I still have no physical hunger at all. But....with that being said MAN O MIGHTY do I deal with a ton of my mind telling me to EAT!!! I can and some days do forget to eat. I am a big coffee drinker so I add Protein to my coffee. WHAM 30 grams of protein. Most of the time I don't realize that I need to eat until I feel BAD and I mean BAD TO THE BONE!!! This is why I have GENEPRO unflavored Protein in my coffee. One of the things that help with my mi9nd hunger is Facebook Support groups like BARIATRICPAL. I color, crochet, read anything that keeps my hands busy. So happy that you are almost ready to take your WL journey. Good Luck and keep us posted about your progress.

Like PorkChopExpress said check out Mexico but...I would not suggest BeLiteWeight in Juarez, Mexico. I have heard great things about this site's Surgeon's so I would start here. My hubby went to Juarez in June and it wasn't like they told us it would be. The Surgeon was ok but the Hospital left quite a bit to be desired. When I complained to BELITEWEIGHT they told us that it was their culture and they had addressed it before but to no avail. The nurses didn't wash their hands or wear gloves. Only 1 nurse used hand sanitizer. They took out my husband's IV without gloves, really scary. They don't furnish wash cloths, we had to pack our own. We were told that we would have a nice suite with a fridge NOT Two beds, NOT I slept on a window seat and had to ask for sheets and blankets. The laundry wasn't picked up. They told me to just leaver it on the floor!! I have worked in Hospitals and we were told to never put the laundry on the floor. Just not a good experience at all. One I will not ever repeat.

I think the same Inner Surfer Girl. Years ago I was told by one of many of my weight loss coach's, that the reason you need to drink 64oz of Water at the least that your fat is like ash when you are losing weight and the water is what flushes it out. So I always have been a huge water drinker until I had my RNY and due to the smallness of our pouch I have a really hard time drinking enough water. It is so much better now that I am 3 years out. I can swig it like a champ. LOL

My drink of choice before....notice I said before my RNY was COORS LIGHT BEER!! Oh course I can't or won't have it now because of the carbonation. But...with that being said I am 3 years out and I just had some strawberry WINE in Sept. Now I don't drink much at all. It is very true that it hits you fast and seems to leave pretty darn fast also. I am very guarded about drinking to much because I have always had a addictive personality and with most things in my life I hbave been BALLS O THE WALL or NOTHING!!! I realize how I am so I choose not to drink often. That is just me. I would hate to trade one addiction for another. Now I am a clothes fiend now. I love to shop for stuff and if I can buy it on line the better!! LOL

I am 3 years out but...I still need to supplement my Protein to get enough. I use GENEPRO nonflavored protein, I add it to my coffee every day. It has 30grams of protein for 1 Tablespoon. But you need to put it in some warm Water and whip it a little before you add it to your hot stuff. It is the only one I have found that is not gross. MYOPLEX Rich Dark chocolate isn't bad either. I can't stand Premier Protein. I am Lactose intolerant and that is what the DR had me use for 2 weeks preop and 4 weeks postop. Needless, to say I suffered from the back door trots. That is NOT the way to lose your weight for sure!! Good Luck on your Quest.

I have heard many people do the reset diet. I guess it does work. They go back to Protein drinks lots of Water. Another thing that plays with your weight loss is how far out you are. Are you 3 years out?

Yes, what was said about your medications and keeping them with you. Also I had packed Protein drinks and bottled Water as he was on his preop and I had my RNY 3 years ago. But...they made us throw everything away. Coming back to Oregon they did put my water bottle thru the machine to check it out, but it took so long I finally just left it. At the border coming back to the U.S, they checked all of our medications. Just as a caution when we went thru the border into Juarez, Mexico their guards had guns!! Kind of scary. Good luck!!

Your post is amazing!! Even if just one person reads this and realizes that Tijuana, Mexico is the best option for them, would make the world of difference between getting or not getting WLS. My hubby just went thru BeLiteWeight and we went to Juarez, Mexico, and our experience was NOT at all like yours. His Surgeon was pretty good, but in was there early in the morning and didn't leave until 9:30 or 10:00pm. He was doing surgery's all day back to back. We had a very bad experience in 2013 when his Lap Band malfunctioned and had eroded into his liver so I was kind of on high alert while I was waiting for someone to come let me know how he was. His DR had told me to wait in his room and he would come let me know how he was...he didn't!! I was so upset, it seemed like it was going to be just like his failed revision in which he almost died. Just when I was ready to go and find out something they wheeled him back to his room. The hospital wasn't quite up to par. The staff didn't speak English much. That was a huge problem. Anyway, I so wish he would have used BARIATRICPAL!!!!! He had looked into this site but he thought that with the other outfit being higher in their price that he would have better care. NOT!! The old saying YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR didn't work for him. He wanted and needed the RNY but his right side was solid scar tissue from the BAND and the failed revision. Again so happy you both had such a great experience!! Take care

I'm having a couple pieces of Jarlesberg as a snack as we speak. My very favorite cheese. I LOVE LOVE I'm having a couple pieces of Jarlesberg as a snack as we speak. My very favorite cheese. I LOVE LOVE JARLESBERG CHEESE!!! We started buying it at costco a few months ago....Now they stopped carrying it!!! We were eating it hard!! I'm going to check at a few other stores here in town. Wish me luck. LOL

amf1025, Thank you. We are just trying and we will keep trying. Things will work out!! I'm sure. We need to keep a positive going. Again Thank you

That sounds like it is something that really needs to be addressed. I don't think your insurance would deny that. Because it is MEDICALLY NEEDED!!!

I don't eat at very many sit down restaurants due to the fact I really don't like leftovers and my hubby just had his Sleeve in June. He can still eat more than me but I don't want him to have my extra's. He doesn't need it either. I have a card that my DR gave me but I have never used it. Mostly because the kids menu isn't very healthy. Also, I don't feel like I need to get "SPECIAL" treatment because I had WLS. I would rather just get something to go and then just eat what I want and get rid of the rest. My daughter comes over regular and she eats our leftovers if we have any. LOL

I am so sorry you are going thru this. I can totally understand this!! I had my RNY on July 2, 2013. I started having trouble around the 4 to 6 weeks after my surgery. In Nov of 2013 I had my first ENDOSCOPE with a dilation. Again in DEC, Jan 2014 July 2014 with my last one on Jan 2015. I have had no problems since. My DR talked about moving my Stoma down to healthy tissue. But I haven't had a problem since!! It does suck for sure. But believe, me it was all worth it!! I lost 132#'s in 6 months. I did have an 8# gain. But I have maintained my 125#'s for 2 and 1/2 years. I know it is hard right now but hang in there it will and it will be all worth it. BTW they ended up using a size 18 balloon before it stopped the strictures. I know it is bad and you are wondering WHAT THE HELL did I do, but hang tight. and KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!

I am a RNYer all the way. I chose it for the main reason that I figured I had one shot at this but I was still afraid I would fail!! NOT!!! I also said I will go big or go home. LOL But really I figured the RNy had been around longer and they had a chance to work out more of the bugs. It was the GOLD STANDARD surgery also. It has worked for me. I have lost 124#'s and I did that in 6 months. So I have maintained my weight for 2 and 1/2 years. I did lose 132#'s but both my DR.'s got worried because they thought I was losing muscle, not just the fat. My lowest weight was 117#'s. I had many health problems like Diabetes and I was insulin resistant also. I took 100 units of insulin 2 times a day plus 500mg of Metformin 2 times daily. I took 12 different medications, now I am on four, three of which is less than 1/2 of my blood pressure pills. No more insulin or pills!! Plus my Vitamins. I have OSTEOARTHRITIS, FIBROMYALGIA, and the beginnings of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. I am now able to exercise, I walk 4 times a week and walk 4 miles er day. I owe all of my healthiness to my RNY. I did have problems with Strictures (kind of like scar tissue) and needed to have 5 endoscopes with 4 dilations. A pretty quick fix. If you were to ask me if I would do my RNY again, with everything in me my answer would be IN A HEARTBEAT!!!! Good Luck on your Journey!!

I have been very open with my surgery. Anyone that knows me knows I am pretty much an open book. LOL I feel like I might help someone make a decision to better their lives by example. But with that being said, it is like Each to their own. Share or not to share. So it is up to you, some peeps are pretty private while others are like me!! An open book. LOL

I commend you for taking the steps you are taking!! You are making changes now. Just remember everything you do now will make your preop go so much easier on yourself. Keep your eyes on the prize and Keep on keeping on!! BTW I did 2 weeks of Protein drinks preop and 4 weeks of Protein Drinks postop. You can do this!!

Hi, I really didn't get a goal weight goal from my surgeon, his PA said that by Dec I would weigh 150#'s. Now let me share my STATS: HW 249 (this time I was 285#'s and lost some and kept it off before my RNY) SW 232 LW 117 CW 125. I actually got to my lowest weight in 6 months. Both my Surgeon and PCP were worried about my weight loss. They felt like I was losing muscle instead of fat. So I did gain 8#'s which isn't half bad and I have maintained for 2 and 1/2 years. I believe that owe my success to being able to exercise now. I walk 3 to 4 days a week and walk 4 miles each time. I also have FIBROMYALGIA, OSTEOARTHRITIS and the beginning of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. I was insulin dependant and took 100 units of insulin 2 times a day. I took 500mg of METFORMIN 2 times a day. I was on 12 different medications. Now I am on 4 per day plus my Vitamins. This is a WIN WIN if you ask me. I am also on less than 1/2 of my blood pressure meds. I wanted to get off of them but I just can't seem to quit my stresses. If someone figures out how to let it go please let me know. I LOVE LOVE feeling so ALIVE!!! So Happy that I had my RNY.

Alex, as you know my hubby just had his Sleeve done in Juarez, Mexico. It wasn't the best experience for sure. He had looked into BARIATRICPAL but thought ifthe cost is higher maybe he is a better DR. Not sure why he figured that. I only wish he had went with you people. But when he got the phone call from BeLiteWeight, they mentioned this Dr. He was one they told him to stay away from. SCARY STUFF So glad he didn't go to him. The Suregon that did my RNY offered to do my skin surgery. Of course I didn't have him do it but he wasn't a PS. He has since then, hired a couple of PS in his office with him. In fact just because we had a problem with him I still went thru his office with one of his PS. Another kind of sad story. Maybe at another time.

I am just an obsessed person!! I admit I am a little OCD. If things are out of place, if my regular routine is messed up!! If I need to go somewhere it works best for me to make an early appointment so I don't get stressed before I go. I am obsessed about reading everything that is posted to my Facebook account!! I could go on and on! If it is my day to go for a walk, if something comes up and I can't do it I am TOTALLY STRESSED out. MAN O MIGHTY I need to "LET IT GO!" If someone figures out how to destress let me know!!

I totally agree that the system is broke!! But like it has been said many times: IT WILL TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS to get things fixed. A new President doesn't have any more say in most things than the past Presidents. They can only do so much and then Congress has to pass it. When I was raising our kids, we did not have insureance. My husband did bartering to pay our DR.. bills. Thank Goodness now that we are retirement age and far from being healthy we now have great medical coverage. Also when we were young, between jobs or moving for his jobs we had to apply for food Stamps. Do you know we couldn't get them or medical for our kids. Now because of our broken society people can work at the lumber mills and make $20 plus dollars an hour and still get food stamps AND medical also. I understand that it cost more now than back then but something needs to be worked out!!!! I don't want to piss anyone off but....Maybe this is why our Country is so broke. People that get handed insurance sometimes abuse it by waiting until after the DR's office is closed and then go to the ER. This also raises the cost. Not everyone does this and I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. I don't know how to get things fixed but I feel like everyone does deserve good medical services. Keep on keeping on!!

amf1025, Well, he had the lap band for 13 years. He did lose 100#. But his starting weight at the time was 515#s. The Surgeon said he wasn't strong enough for the RNY. Which wasn't true because at the time he was still driving log truck and long haul trucking. He was 50yo. So after the surgery, they kept having problems putting in the fill and finally ruptured the port. Back into a day surgery got that fixed. So in 2013 it malfunctioned and he couldn't hold anything down. The VA suggested that he see a Bariatric Surgeon which we did. they said he needed to have the band removed. And they would do the revision at that time to an RNY. When they got in there the band had eroded into his liver. They couldn't do the revision but removed his band and gallbladder (due to him having stones) they told him that in 3 months when he was healed they would do the RNY. He ended up getting abscesses and was deathly sick for 9 months and 3 months he doesn't even remember. So now he is healed up so we go back to the Surgeon, he tell us he won't do the WLS because he said, he was a "PROBLEM CHILD". But he did refer him to another surgeon in Portland Oregon. Now they would do his surgery when he lost 25#'s and got his A1C (he is diabetic) down to a 7 or 8. Which if he lost weight his blood sugars would go high and if his blood sugars were down he gained weight. He just couldn't get it done. So then we get the news that he has Cancer on his kidney. Which the VA didn't tell us for 3 years. Now he has to lose 150#'s before they can do anything about the kidney cancer. So then we get the money up and off to Mexico we went. On June 3, 2013 he has surgery and is supposed to get the RNY. When they got in there they found that his whole right side is solid scar tissue. They can't do the RNY so he gets the Sleeve. So here we are now he has lost 60#'s but just can't seem to get any more off. This could have all been avoided if the first surgeon would have done the RNY. When he was strong enough to go thru it. They gave him 4 years if they can't do anything about the Cancer. Maybe 2 good years but the last 2 would be HELL!!! It has been a year already. Now I just found the KETO diet so I'm going to try it. We are both going to do it. You can do it to lose or to maintain. I feel like if I can do it wth him it might make it a little easier on him. I feel almost desperate like time is running out for us. So this is how the Lap-Band has been for him. Plus we have heard that most Dr.'s don't do them hardly, but the do many revisions. Please think hard before making your mind up on which way to go. Good luck!!

I love Diet Snapple Tea, and for the broth if you haven't tried it go for "BETTER THAN BOUILLON". It is the very best broth, and you don't need to use to much at a time. It is more money than regular but oh so worth it.

WOW!!! I hope everything gets better for you!! It is really hard to fathom that when I was Fat I had my aches and pains but...this was far more than just a little inconvenience. But like I said the Gel shots did help for a time, and I really don't think my knee's hurt as bad even now. I didn't go back for more because they weren't lasting as long as when I first had it in my right knee. Good Luck tomorrow.

By no way are you a FAILURE!! Think back to how you used to be. Gain lose gain throw in the towel etc. You know you have gained but did you say NOPE I'M DONE? No, you did not, You are a winner!! You want to lose that regain!! You can and you will lose it. WHY, because you already know you can!!! Good luck