My choice--it is never too late to have sleeve surgery

[Suzannesh 376]

Hi,

I just wanted to share my story about my 105 weight loss. It was a life changing event for me!! :rolleyes:

It is never too late in life to consider having WLS (Weight Loss Surgery). I was 63 years old when I had the surgery. I never had a weight problem until after having two children. And then I seemed to struggle with being overweight for years. I now know all the reason why, I became less active, and ate more than I should have. I have tried most of the diets that you have tried, some with success and most no success. But, I would always manage to gain the weight back because I NEVER changed my lifestyle. My top weight was 235 lbs and I am 5’3” tall. My body hurt, my back ached and I had a pain in my leg that felt like I had a hot poker burning me most of the time. So I must have had a high tolerance for pain. Because I remained fat for many years.

I worked with a friend and noticed that she had lost weight, so I started asking her questions. Then she told me about going to Dr. Aceves, MD in Mexicali during the summer. She is a nurse and I really trusted what she was telling me. She directed me to his Web Site and then to the Yahoo Support Group site. I researched WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) for about 6 months before I made a choice. I sat and watched the people on the Yahoo Support Group and never said much for quite sometime. I read all their postings and was getting a lot of information. Now I have learned that is pretty normal for newbie’s to sit and watch for awhile. Then I was sure I wanted to have WLS and my choice was VGS –referred to as the “Sleeve.” So that is the start of my Weight loss journey.

I just didn’t wake up one morning and say “oh in October 2008 I am going to have WLS.” I went through a process of getting here. I believe you have to have your “head” in the right place for this to be successful. I felt awful, I hated my body, and I wanted to be healthy again. If I walked very long my back and leg would hurt. I knew my head was in the right place, when I put myself ahead of everyone else. So many of us are care takers of everyone else and we come so far down on the list of taking care of ourselves. Be prepared for the opposition that you may face from your own family and friends when you tell them that you want to go to Mexico and have weight loss surgery. I believe that we really need to educate them so that they know exactly what we are doing and how safe it is. But this is about YOU and NO one else. You have to be willing to stand up for yourself; you have earned the right to do this. Believe in yourself enough and want this enough to be successful. You also can go and not tell them what you are doing. This is entirely up to you. You can bring a family member or a friend with you too if you feel you want someone to come along with you. Your room will be big enough for them to stay in it. They have some nice sofa’s that your family member or friend can sleep on. I went alone and was just fine. I also went back in April 2009 with a friend of mine who had Weight Loss Surgery after seeing how I was doing. She is at her goal now too, and is just as happy and thrilled as I am with the results.

About 5 years ago I met and fell in love with the most wonderful man. I had been single for 18 years. He is an amazing man and loved me for just who I was—overweight. It didn’t matter to him that I was fat. He has been very supportive and encouraging every step of they way. I can’t begin to tell you all the beautiful and wonderful comments that he gave me then and NOW. I had the surgery because I wanted to become healthy and wanted the opportunity to spend the rest of my life with Bob. Bob could have cared less if I had this surgery, it was my choice. Bob and I were married May 29, 2010 in Cannon Beach, Oregon on the beach.

My weight loss journey has been incredible, and I have learned so many things about myself. food is no longer my driving force. I eat to live not live to eat! When I eat, I actually think about putting good and healthy foods into my (new) 65 yr old body! What a thought. When I am eating I now look for the Protein first because I try to make sure I get 70 grams of Protein per day and then my veggies and some fruit each day. I started keeping track on line what I was actually putting in my body so I would have some idea of the number of calories I was eating each day. I started an exercise program which was just walking and to this day I do some kind of exercise at least 5 days a week. It is mostly walking. I was the person who HATED to exercise and now I actually look forward to getting up early and go walking with some of my friends. Bob and I are very active people so we are always doing all kinds of walking.

I never imagined what life would be like almost 2 years later. And the new clothes that I have purchased since I am a size 8 or 10 depending on who makes the clothing. I see people who haven’t seen me in sometime almost walk right past me because they don’t recognize me. Then they figure out it is me and want to know how I lost all this weight. I have had them ask me if I have been ill and I always give them a big NO! I am more than happy to educate them about the “Sleeve” weight loss surgery. I am very proud of taking control of my life. There is NO shame in making the choice to have weight loss surgery; it takes more courage to have the surgery than to keep failing at all the diets you have tried. This is not a miracle cure where the weight just melts off you. It takes effort on your part to take this new tool you have been given (a new small stomach that only holds 6 to 8 oz) and eat healthy and exercise, but it is going to work and you will be able to maintain your weight loss because you have changed your lifestyle. I never consider myself on a diet, but that I have made a lifestyle change that is going to add years to my life. I am healthy now for the first time in many years. I am not afraid anymore that I will regain this weight. I know that it will never happen because of my restriction I have with a smaller stomach and my lifestyle change that is so easy to do day in and day out. I NEVER feel deprived when it comes to food. I listen to my head when it “says no more food I am full.” I know that I need to stop eating and it is OK to not clean your plate and it is OK to toss the food out.

There are so many things to be thankful for. The first thing I am so thankful for is Dr. Aceves; there aren’t not enough adjectives to describe this wonderful gifted doctor. Dr. Aceves genuinely cares about each patient he takes care of. Dr. Aceves will answer all your questions until you are comfortable with what he is telling you. Dr. Aceves is such a talented surgeon, and if I lived closer he would be my Primary Care Physician. Dr. Aceves is down to earth, very kind, intelligent, and honest with you. You will receive the most wonderful care from Dr. Aceves and his team of doctors and nurses. Dr. Aceves comes into your room several times a day and checks on you after your surgery—where in the US will a doctor do this? Most of the staff speaks excellent English. Almater Hospital is the cleanest hospital I have ever been in. They are cleaning 24-7. The hospitals in the US could take some lessons from this private hospital in Mexicali. I would go back to Dr. Aceves in a heartbeat for anything!

I still am shocked when someone calls me skinny—I thought who me skinny—no way? But, it was me they were calling skinny. This is something that you have to learn to get used to hearing. People treat you differently when you are thin. This is so unfair. We are just like everyone else when we are fat and the skinny people just don’t get it.

I am so thankful for my great healthy. I only take about ¼ of the medication I used to take when I was fat. That is because I have become so healthy and I make the choice to eat healthy. Now I won’t tell you that I haven’t had and cake, Cookies or ice cream since I had Weight Loss Surgery. I have, but in small tiny amounts and not all the time. My body now craves good healthy protein; fresh veggies fixed how you want them, and a small amount of fruit. You need to watch the types of carbs that you are going to eat and keep track of what you are eating when you first start your journey in weight loss. There are quite a few places on the Internet that you can write down and track what you are eating to make sure you are keeping your calories at about 800 per day. The best part of about this weight loss surgery is that I NEVER feel hungry. Your mind tries to play tricks on you. So you have to stop and have a talk with yourself. Do I really need to eat or do I just want to eat because that is part of my old bad habits? In the past I really ate large amounts of food all in one meal. We also are given large plates of food when we go out to eat. NONE of us need to eat this much food and that is why we got fat and stayed fat. Now I eat small amounts of food, and I am satisfied and feel great. When we go out to dinner now Bob and I share one meal. We as a society also eat too fast—I feel like I used to inhale my food and really not enjoy it. I took large amounts of food and shoveled it in my mouth and inhaled it. Now I take small tiny bites and chew it a lot.

Weight Loss Surgery really has changed my entire life and it is all for the better. Weight Loss Surgery is a life changing event. Hold on to your hats because this is going to be the ride of your life. You will NEVER have one regret. You will only wish you would have done this years before. I think it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I am extremely impressed with the entire experience. Dr. Aceves’s patient coordinator Nina has always been very prompt, informative, and courteous with her replies. She is there for any question that you may have. I think this lady works 24 hours a day, because I always received an answer back right away. Nina is awesome and gives you so much support and help before you go and after your surgery too. DO NOT have any fears about going to Mexico, It is VERY safe in Mexicali and they ALL take such great care of you along your Weight Loss journey. I think we all have the wrong idea of what Health Care is like in Mexico, until we go there an experience it ourselves. It is far superior over anything that they have in the United States.

I feel so much better and I would like to say I feel 20 years younger. Life is fabulous, and I did this for ME and NO one else. I know I will never be fat again in my life. I thanked Dr. Aceves for what he did for me and he said “I only gave you the tool to achieve your Weight Loss, give yourself the credit for making it work.” I still want to say Dr. Aceves you are the BEST!

Suzanne B

Eugene, OR

Sleeved 10/21/2008

225 120 125

Starting Now Goal Weight

Weight

[tryinagain 1]

I am so proud for you Suzanne! I was 63 also when I had my surgery. I'm doing good although it seems a little slow right now. At least I am no longer as big as I was and I feel great!!!

Jeri

[Suzannesh 376]

Hi Jeri,

Well, thanks we all lose weight in different rates. You will get there, NEVER give up on it. One day at a time. I am proud of you too. Life is great and I enjoy each and everyday.

Hugs,

I am so proud for you Suzanne! I was 63 also when I had my surgery. I'm doing good although it seems a little slow right now. At least I am no longer as big as I was and I feel great!!!

Jeri

[mina 27]

thank you so much for posting this. i am having the surgery done in june with dr aceves. i've never had surgery before and i've dieted so many times before (lost and gain) so i want to make sure this is for the long term. so reading your post gave me a lot of encouragement.

[wishes 125]

Wow, congratulations! Your story is so amazing. I can't tell you how much I appreciate reading stories like this truly inspires me to do better and work at having this surgery becoming my reality.

[Suzannesh 376]

thank you so much for posting this. i am having the surgery done in June with Dr Aceves. I've never had surgery before and I've dieted so many times before (lost and gain) so i want to make sure this is for the long term. so reading your post gave me a lot of encouragement.

I can't begin to tell you what a fabulous choice you have made. You will the the best care you could ever find. This is going to be a life changing event for you--all good. I was so scared and heard a lot of things about going to Mexico for surgery--they were all wrong trust me. Then I did my research, and found out Dr. Aceves was listed in the top 5 doctors around the world who did this surgery. He is not only a skilled surgeon, but the most caring, kind, thoughtful and a great sense of humor I have ever encountered.

When you see him make sure you tell him that Suzanne said to say Hi. We have become good friends. I am always excited when I know someone is going to him, because I know what a great experience you are going to have.

I am here every step of the way with you to answer your question, help you deal with any emotional up's and downs you may have. You will second guess yourself and ask yourself if you are doing the right thing, you will be excited and scared all in the same breath. You will think I am the one person this is not going to work on--that is so wrong. This is the last thing you will ever have to do. It is your tool to allow you to achieve your goal of getting that awful fat off you and becoming healthy and happy and really liking who your are.

So hang in there keep me posted OK.

Hugs

[Suzannesh 376]

Wow, congratulations! Your story is so amazing. I can't tell you how much I appreciate reading stories like this truly inspires me to do better and work at having this surgery becoming my reality.

I am always glad when what I say helps just one person. That was exactly what I wanted. I wanted to let you know that you are going to have all kinds of feelings and emotions about going ahead with this surgery. This was the best and nicest thing I have ever done for myself. I want you to understand that this had NOTHING to do with anyone in your life. For the first time in your life is should be ALL about you. You have earned and deserve to have what is going to make you healthy and happy and SKINNY! I just love that word. The first time someone called me skinny I looked around and thought are they really talking to me? Yes they were, what a nice feeling. And you will be able to maintain it too because you will make lifestyle changes. You will no longer be on a diet, but you will make the lifestyle changes of eating small amounts of good and 95% of the time they will be healthy. Every now and then you can have something if you want it. I always wanted a cheeseburger :D , and found out that just about 1/4 one was just what I needed, so that is how I eat something, I get what I want just not the whole thing. I share a lot of food with my husband and he has lost weight too.

Hang in there and know that I am here for anything you may need or want to talk about.

Take care

[Lila21 36]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I hope you inspire lots of people to take the plunge and try the sleeve (especially for those of us who aren't twenty-somethings :-)). Very inspirational, indeed!!!

[Suzannesh 376]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I hope you inspire lots of people to take the plunge and try the sleeve (especially for those of us who aren't twenty-somethings :-)). Very inspirational, indeed!!!

Thanks, so much. I just don't want people to give up on life. There is always a way to find your way. I had failed at so many other diets, that I wasn't sure if I wouldn't be "the one that the sleeve wouldn't work on." Boy, I wonder how many of us have said this. We also let our families and friends keep us fat, it is a comfortable world around them and they accept us.

It takes more courage to have the WLS than to just stay fat. I hope that if there is someone sitting out there on the fence and they aren't sure what to do that they will see they too can be successful no matter what your age is. It is always about having good health.

Hugs :D

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Nice to see you posting again Suzannesh! Maybe I'll run into you again

in costco since that seems to be the only place I go when I come to Eugene.

I may just be going back to Mexicali pretty soon for some face work. I can't wait .I loved it there.

[Suzannesh 376]

Nice to see you posting again Suzannesh! Maybe I'll run into you again

in costco since that seems to be the only place I go when I come to Eugene.

I may just be going back to Mexicali pretty soon for some face work. I can't wait .I loved it there.

Hi

I

I have always been posting on Dr. Aceves Yahoo site, but thought I could help others by posting here. I have a little experience with the sleeve and would like to be able answering others questions. You know pay it forward, because I had such great help and support from so many others. I hope you are doing well with your sleeve. I was at costco today--went to get my Premier Protein--I still drink it every morning.

Stay in touch.