Who Are You?

[mariadt 27]

Hi there, my name is Maria. I am from Venezuela, 53 years old mother of two boys (well, men really) and I am photographer. Several years with almost 30 kg to lose, I have tried a lot of diets but it seems impossible to lose my weight. I am suffering from elevated blood pressure, high sugar levels, Fybromialgia, I feel tired all the time and when I have to send more than 10 hours at a wedding taking photos, the next day I can barely move with the pain all over my back and my feet like watermelons. I am doing all the previos stages to have a vertical sleeve surgery with feeling better in mind but I am also very scared. So I am here to share with all of you and learn from you. Excuse my mistakes in english please!!

<a href='http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com'><img src='http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/tickers/59479-mariadt/bodyweight.png?ts=1369355865' /></a>

I will have my psychologist evaluation next monday, also will see the internist doctor to evaluate my blood and physical exams, and the same day wit the nutritionist. I hope the date will be decided soon. July or August probably. Yesterday I bought the kindle edition of the BIG book on the Gastric Sleeve and saw there that the autor recommend Mexico and Venezuela as options for those of you that need to self pay for the surgery. If anyone needs help coming to Venezuela, I will be glad to help.

[SHORTDOG 27]

Hello guys,

My name is Robert and i am on here from the Inland Empire part of So. Cal. I am happily married and the father of 3 children and 3 grandchildren. I am looking to get sleeved very soon (will get my surgery date this Friday) and start my journey to a more active and healthier life. I joined here to stay in fellowship with fellow "Sleevers" and to hopefully share my success story as well. I look forward to spending time on here with you all.

Take care and God bless all of you!

Robert

[awifeinmichigan 233]

I am more than my decision to have a VSG. I am 33 years old and have been large all my life. I come from a family with a history of Breast Cancer, Conjestive Heart Failure, Diabetes, and Morbid Obesity. I plan to be different. I am a wife of 1 husband and an adoptive mother to 2 awesome boys ages 3 and 11. My background is in Professional Development and Recruiting. My DH and I have been trying to have children of our own for 9 years!! We have been and are more that ready to conceive children. I have been told over and over you are just too fat to conceive babies and every time I hear it it breaks me down. Thus my decision to have VSG Surgery. At first I was one of the skeptic about WLS. I would say "Why mess with you blueprint?" Until I realized I was one of the one that could not lose weight on my own. I have Yo-yo dieted, tried vegetarianism, and restricting what I ate. I have failed miserable with all of these things. After meeting with Dr. Jamokay Taylor he educated me on the benefits of WLS and how with a lifestyle change I could finally succeed in conceiving my babies.

I am overly excited about my decision and can not wait until September 23rd when I am on that table changing my life. Thank you all for the positive support I receive daily.

Looking forward to a new me! Here is a before VSG picture of me and I am looking forward to my after picture.

[Brenda0928 145]

Hi my name is Brenda.I am a single mom of a soon-to-be 15 year old boy' date=' the light of my life! He has always been and still is very athletic, a healthy eater, and very active.

I have had weight problems on and off in my younger years and steadily for the last 10 years...I used to be very athletic and active myself, and was able to run and play with him, roller blade, run, ride horses.....but somewhere between working full time, raising my son by myself, putting him first in everything I do, and getting my bachelors and masters degrees......I lost focus on ME and forgot to take care of myself. I was hit with Rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroid, metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea ALL at the same time in 2008.....since then I have battled pain, swelling, flareups, asthma attacks, on and off steroids constantly, very little physical exercising, and lots of pity eating and party eating........and have gained an additional 10 pounds a year since then on average......

Here I am turning 50 in September, 5'8", and 328 pounds! That is a bmi of 50. :-( I have a mental picture of the thinner, healthier, active me in my mind and I know I am still buried in this body somewhere....I just need to find me again.

I am mentally prepared and very excited about this surgery!! I don't have a date yet but have been through all of the required appointments, and am just waiting for the insurance approval/authorization...I am hoping to have it by mid May, hopefully.

Nice to meet all of you!!! [/url]

I JUST GOT APPROVED TODAY!!!! Next step is to set up the date!!! Can't wait!!

[awifeinmichigan 233]

I JUST GOT APPROVED TODAY!!!! Next step is to set up the date!!! Can't wait!!

Congrats bscott!!

[Brenda0928 145]

Congrats bscott!!

Thank you!!!

[MsJones83 27]

After all this time, meetings, & appointments I have finished all requirements!!! Called my insurance provider & they're waiting on my surgeon to send the authorization & my surgeon is waiting on the final report from my nutritionist... smh! I'm so ready to move on to the next step!!! But I've gotta be patient. It's needed in EVERYTHING we do/go through in life... Lord help me be patient. Lol that's a continuous prayer of mine smh I'm just so excited & ready. Idk, just had to throw that in guys..

Also, congratulations to every one who's been sleeved since my last post!! I'm excited for you all & welcome to all the new groupies <3

[Yerk 7]

Hey Everyone! My name is Ashley and I am new to this site! Im 24 years old . I am from the Erie, PA area. On June 3rd with be my third diet documentation! then 3 more months to go, til I can send it into my insurance company and get that approcal. Ive never really done anything like this before, so Im not really sure what to say, but this can be a start!

[awifeinmichigan 233]

Welcome Ashley. Good luck to you!

[Yerk 7]

Thank you ! Its so exciting! .... I just keep waiting for the months to fly by! Im so ready for this!

[Brenda0928 145]

Hello! I am a 33 year old single mom to a beautiful 9 year old little girl. I have struggled with my weight since I was in 6th grade. I work as an accountant in Dallas, TX, where I have lived for almost 3 years. I lost my dad unexpectedly in 2010 and have put on about 50lbs since. I chose the sleeve because I am tired of being tired, tired of the failed diets and tired of being the fat one in the family that ruins all the pictures. I have to be at the hospital at noon tomorrow and I am terrified!! My daughter has cried every night for the past week, afraid her.mommy is going to die in surgery. I cant wait for this to be over and start living my new, healthy life!! Good luck everyone!

How did it go??

[wrightgirl1965 4]

I am a 47 year old mother and grandmother. I have struggled with my weight all my life. over the last three years I have developed DM type 2, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. My weight peaked at 248. BMI 41. I didn't want to go down that road. I had a VSG on 5/13/13. I went to Reynosa MX for the surgery. Doctor Felipe J Cantu is my doctor. I cant say enough about him and his staff. They are great. The hospital is newly built and awesome. The patient coordinator, Lupita Lopez, was invaluable to me. She was there for me every step of the way. Everything about the surgery went perfect! My pre-op weight was 233 and I am 5'6.5'' tall. About a week after surgery I got sick with a viral illness. This was unrelated to the surgery; but I was a sick lady for a few days. I went to the ER and got rehydrated and checked out completely. I am doing a lot better now. I am currently 2 weeks out and down to 221lbs. It was the best decision I have made concerning my health. If anyone is considering the sleeve, and Mexico is one of your options, feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.

[Sheddie 22]

Like many others I have struggled with my weight since childhood. Then as a teenager it was discovered that I had a brain tumor. I underwent surgery and the tumor was removed, it was benign (thank you Jesus). However my pituitary gland was destroyed/removed with the tumor. As you can imagine since the pituitary controls everything, I encountered all new hormonal, medication, and weight issues. As well I have an inoperable aneurysm (that is monitored yearly and I do not need excess weight with this health concern). I have tried every diet and experienced some success and a lot of no success with my weight. So at the age of 39 I have decided that I need to do something about my other illness (obesity). TOMORROW ( can't believe I just typed that) I will have VSG surgery and begin my journey of a better, healthier, and motivated new me!!! I look forward to sharing my journey and experiences with anyone that wants to read about them. Thank you for allowing me to tell a little about myself, and any prayers for tomorrow are appreciated.

[mariadt 27]

Yesterday I got my surgery date!!!! Jun 12. I am very excited and woke up this morning at 5 am out of nothing, just thinking in the new life ahead! I am a little scared too.

[awifeinmichigan 233]

Yesterday I got my surgery date!!!! Jun 12. I am very excited and woke up this morning at 5 am out of nothing' date=' just thinking in the new life ahead! I am a little scared too. [/quote']

I am the same way. Overexcited and my thoughts are obsessive. I wish my date was sooner than September.