pnw218

TIFFANY!!!! Did you have to post that link? ugh. And once I started reading it, I couldn't stop! LOL However I have to say that it did make me nauseous! Could those all be real photos??? It just seems very unbelievable. I know our intestines are long ... but seriously! I have one more year before I need a colonoscopy so maybe I will wait and see what it shows. If the dr says he saw stuff stuck on the walls, I might think about flushing it out. I was eating a popcicle too lol

Stacey, Have you tried the Atkins shakes? Walmart has them in a few different flavors. I like the chocolate ones the best. They are low carb but taste sweet enough that it might help trick you brain into feeling better. Atkins also has several good Breakfast bars. Also, maybe try cutting back slower on the carbs rather than going straight to the lowest number. Any decrease is better than nothing. Maybe do 80 for a day, then 70, etc. It truly will be better if you can get past those 3-4 days. Do you have the weekend off? Maybe you can time it to hit 40 or less then when you can sleep it off or take a hot shower to relax. Hang in there! It will be worth it!

Hello NursyGirl! I also began thinking I wanted the lapband and then moved to the sleeve. I am so very happy with my decision. I started with a bmi of 33, 5'4" and 193. So similiar to you. I am getting close to 30 pounds lost! It has been very easy. Wish I would have known about this sooner! I have some of the same issues as you - sleep apnea, back problems .... This is an amazing tool ~ the mental has been the hardest for me. I still want the food. Hopefully it will slowly go away : ) I went to Mexico after reading alot about it and talking with a gal locally who had the surgery in Mx a year ago. She went from a size 22 to a 6/8 in a year! It would have cost 5x as much at a clinic or hospital here. My insurance would probably not have covered it and I didn't want to go thru their 1 year program first and then get a no. I could have found a local surgeon if I wanted to spend the $25k cash. It takes a little adjustment but overall is easy. Good luck!

Welcome Di! I initially thought band, mainly because it was supposedly reversible - and then the more I read about it, the more concerned I became. The fills, unfills and port just seemed like a hassle. The sleeve has been so easy - just an amazing tool. I was also up and around a few days after my hysterectomy, and was on vacation within 3 weeks! With the sleeve, I quit taking pain meds after day 3 and went back to work 4 days after my sleeve surgery. I was tired but didn't have any pain. The mental adjustment has been the hardest for me. I was much more addicted to food than I realized. However, when the scale moves, it is all very worth it. I would absolutely do it again! Good Luck with your research!!

I don't think you can mail order meds from Mexico. Seems I have read that packages are checked very closely. Some pharmacies will fill from your current bottle - especially if there are refills left. If it turned out that the meds were considerably less expensive, you might be able to go pharmacy hopping. Just depends on the med and the country on the quantity they will sell you. A pharmacy in Spain refilled a med for me, even tho there were no refills left - they would only give me about a month's worth tho. Now I am feeling like your dealer!!

Thanks for the personal experiences! I was also a little put off by the numerous sessions statement. If it doesn't come out the first time, maybe it was meant to be there! LOL It is kinda gross if there is stuff adhered to the sides. Maybe that wouldn't come out with laxatives? Dunno, but I certainly don't see it as a priority right now! I told my friend that I was gonna pass ... but would love to hear all about it if she did it first!

From reading the article, this procedure cleans all the way up whereas an enema is more limited or local. Supposedly the friend lost several pounds when she had it done?? Seems hard to believe! They run over 20 gallons of Water thru you! Just doesn't seem pleasant at all.

Good for you! This is a wonderful tool and is incredibly easy. The mental has been the hardest part for me. I know that I'm not hungry but I still want the food! Hope your surgery prep goes smoothly!

I finally tore myself away from the tv to watch your youtube videos! You are a brave person! I really dislike myself and voice on camera! LOL A few notes: - your dress looks good and comfortable! - I totally get that you want all of your stuff with you but seriously, don't over do it! LOL Since you are checking it, you will probably be fine, just make sure the suitcase you bring has wheels. You will not want to lift anything. - I brought one paperback book. And other than on the flights, only read once for about 5 minutes. I truly slept most of the time. I also brought a laptop and didn't use it. I did send a few emails and post briefly here from my Droid. Emailing was affordable; texting was ridiculous! Incoming messages were only 5 cents. Outgoing messages were .50! Damn crazy! You may need international service activated on your phone - depending on your provider. - I am thinking an extension cord might be good for the camera in surgery. I will bring one. Would resolve the battery issue and if the outlet is far away. I am very jealous of your Southern Belle tattoo! I have four and am ready for another. Mine are much smaller than yours tho! : ) I can't think of anything cool about the NW for a tattoo, nothing like Southern Belle. One of my favorite sayings is: People in the PNW don't tan, they rust. Kinda long for a tattoo tho! Enjoy your final week before surgery!

Hollow is a great word! I have had at least one 'hungry all day' day. I had stomach issues prior to surgery and have been taking prilosec for about 5 years. So, to me, the hungry wasn't like an acid feeling - if I am comparing it to the burn I have had previously. I do avoid spicy and citrus tho. And straight alcohol. Except for lemoncello : ) And I think I have only had one or two sips of LC in 7 weeks! : (

Nice post Swiftflow! You would have saved me a lot of reading back in January! LOL I also tried to read the medical findings, journals, etc even tho it was above my head. I liked the info describing the different surgeries found on local hospital or speciality clinic websites. They seemed to have very good procedural descriptions and pictures. I never read much of the posted patient testimonials. Figured they would only post the good ones and they would say their experience was great, yada yada. LOL I had no problem spending my own hard earned cash on the sleeve procedure. My insurance would not have approved me for any WLS; but even if they would have paid for it and only offered the band or bypass, I still would have paid myself for the sleeve.

Holy Cow! No pills for 6 weeks? I get that doctors all put a different spin on things but that seems next to impossible to me! LOL I can't imagine that all of my meds are available in a liquid form. I could see there being a few meds that truly must be taken in another form for awhile, but ALL pills seems excessive. I would be really interested to know the dr's reasoning behind that. If it is a personal preference for him/her or have they seen a large number of issues/complications as a result of pill swallowing. Interesting stuff!

when God closes one door, He opens another : ) It truly has become all about dollars and cents. Seniority and loyalty mean nothing anymore. You truly have to watch out for yourself because no one else is gonna. I gave up on the corporate world many years ago. I have been self employed since 1991. My husband lost his job due to city politics after 14 years of employment, promotions and obtaining a hard to get speciality license. He has been self employed, in the same field, since 1999. There have been some very difficult times due to the economy after 9/11 and the current downfall, but at least we are able to make our own decisions. We have been fortunate to currently have a great group of employees. They are thankful to have a decent job when so many are unemployed and we are grateful for their hard work and flexibility. We can't always keep them busy full time and haven't done raises in over a year, but we did add health insurance for them and their families, and try to do extras, like lunch, frequently. We have only had one out of seven take advantage of the situation, so not bad. Sounds like this could be a great time for you to find a job that is fun rather than dollar focused?? I actually love little specialty retail stores and would love to get back into that : ) Good luck with your transition! Turn it into a positive :thumbup:

uh, Stacey .... you will be obsessing about all of the new, cute, hot clothes you are buying!!! :thumbup:

Lee ~ a lift is a wonderful thing! LOL I remember a girfriend telling me many years ago when we were in our 20's, after having two kids, that she had reconsidered what was a realistic weight and shape. I think it was just her excuse for not losing weight. It is funny that I would remember that 25 years later when I was considering WLS. When I saw many people older than me having surgery, it certainly made me feel comfortable that it wasn't too late for me to make a big change. Fab ~ dang girl! I am gonna have to wait awhile before meeting you for lunch! I need to be in those tight fitting clothes too! LOL I did keep some of the shirts that I can belt later and show off the newer, improved curves! :thumbup:

Originally Posted by Can.sleeved FYI..pnw218 was my roomate in mx during our surgery, we get our info firsthand not by hearsay! Hearsay sure when I stand in front of people and they tell me stories of themselves and others it 's good enough for me. Wow don't look now but we even have somebody working for J/E posting. Buyer beware, lowest price is it always worth it? How about steel staples instead of titanium? The word is getting out and we are thankful... LMFAO !!!! **AGAIN** So your answer is no? You continue to post statements that you can't back up and refuse to answer questions. I have answered your questions. Talk about people being "insiders" !!!!!!!! You have changed your name, only have a handful of posts - and immediately come off as some "expert". Now you are holding conferences for all of those who have been treated poorly in Mx?? Just where exactly have these people "stood before you", how did you get in contact with them and how did you verify their "stories"? Your word not mine. LOL I have a few guesses .... the PD call them in as 220s. Buyer Beware?? How about "READER BEWARE" ??? Obviously you either have a connection you aren't willing to share or a huge chip on your shoulder. **again** THANKS for the wonderful comic relief each day! Really helps to take my mind off any real stress I might be having in my life:thumbup: I feel pretty confident that people will see thru the bs in your posts and feel free to make their own decisions without feeling manipulated by hearsay, falacies and your undisclosed agenda. I have never spoken poorly about any doctor, clinic, hospital or person for their selection. I have only posted my experience which was positive. I have never pushed my choice of surgeon on anyone, and have only answered questions based on my personal experience. wannalise - love your last post! Educationrulz - It seems the intention of the first paragraph was "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" :thumbup:. Your second paragraph is very true tho :smile1:. It is obvious that can.sleeved, or whatever name he is using today, is never going to come clean ... so I will take wannalise's advice and stop posting :wink0:.

Dee, Can I please borrow your old name?? I have been at 165.0 for days!!!!! That, or will you please wave your magic wand over me?? I really want to see 164.xx tomorrow morning!! thank you!

Congrats! I am so glad you had a good experience! You are off to a great start! Now you can start celebrating every time the scale displays a lower number! It is so exciting! Enjoy your new tummy!

Hello : ) I got the majority of surgery info from reading reviews of VSG from medical websites as far as pre-op, post-op, surgery procedure and complications. I also had met a gal about a month before I decided to do the surgery, and was able to talk to her in person about her experience. Keep an open mind when you are reading about individual experiences on the chat boards. Every doctor is different and every person is different. Your new tummy may or may not tolerate a food that someone else loves or hates. You may feel better or worse during recovery. Your weight loss can't be predicted as far as speed, but it seems to come off : ) For me, the entire experience has been easy with very little pain. The mental has definitely been harder than the physical. Once I was able to eat soft foods, I felt good. Mentally, I still miss certain foods or just the ability to eat the amount I want or with the speed I want. I am able to eat almost anything I want, in much smaller quantities. And overeating is NOT an option! You will do it once or twice and then never again! Or at least try not to! LOL Would I do it again? Absolutely! It is an amazing tool. Good Luck with your planning!

Are you ever going to man up and answer my questions? Or do you indeed have things to hide??

Congrats on your surgery! You will love it soon : ) With prior abdomimal surgeries, I would hold a pillow up against my stomach if I was going to sneeze or cough. That helps a little if it is painful. I was driving in less than a week after this surgery, and also kept a pillow or folded up blanket on my stomach. I wasn't taking any pain meds so it was ok for me to drive. Even if I was riding in the car and not driving tho, I still used the pillow. Helps give some cushion if you have to stop fast or something. You will feel better every day!

VV, you are very welcome! glad it helped!

Love the new name! Its good to take a positive approach : ) Out with the old, in with the new!