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Dee I applaud you for your bravery and high pain tolerance. For me it wasn't enough and it was excruciating. The pain was the worst, but going through withdrawls on top of it was no picnic! lol I'm absolutely not trying to sound like one of those women "my childbirth was harder than yours!" for the record, LOL this was just my experience XOXO Renee`

Nancy, YES! Make sure they know how medications react with you. INSIST on a one on one meeting about the medications you're on now and demand to know how your pain will be dealt with once you wake up. What medications do they use to control pain, etc. Seriously, it matters a great deal. I was by no means the only one in pain and vomiting during the night. Also, I was so out of it from the anesthesia that I couldn't communicate how much pain I was in. I also noticed when I got home that my paperwork said I weighed in at 250 when I got there. This isn't true. I was 287 on that day and I think 281 2 days later. How much more pain meds would I have received had they gotten my weight right? I don't know, I just know this is something I wish I'd known the truth about. When Lynn told Dr. Aceves "I thought Renee was going to have an epidural?" he looked at her like she was bonkers and said he doesn't know why she thought that because it's not something he routinely does. Well, she thought that because this is what we were told lol At any rate, ask those questions! Hope this helps you XOXO Renee`

You are amazing! I'm so happy for you and can't wait to be in your shoes. I hope your feet feel good enough to do a happy dance celebration this morning, you totally deserve it! xoxo Renee`

lmao @ Jewish mother! My kids tell me all the time I sound like one as well "did'ju wash yo hands? Take yo mittens with you so ya hands don't get cold!" (this was when we lived in Nebraska). For some reason they throw in a Jersey accent on top of it all. For the record, I DO say "OY!" a lot, but I'm swedish so I have no excuse lol I'm hoping you're resting comfortably today and happy to put all the fears behind you and can look forward to the new you. XOXO Renee`

On a lighter note, I was dubbed the "crash test dummy" LOL I crash tested the sleeve and even after a header off the bed the staple line held! WOOT! Renee`

My Dr told me to take the chewable or liquid form of dramamine to get past that nauseated feeling. It's worked remarkably well even though it's for "motion sickness". Also only a teaspoon of propel or gatorade g2 every 15 minutes to see how my tummy responds to it. He's not stressing about the Protein yet at all. hope this helps Renee`

Sarah, Dr. Aceves says to wait 3 months before swallowing whole pills. In the same email, it says that most patients are fine at 1 month out so the 3 month thing is a safety net so that people don't have problems. I'm crushing everything and ICK! nasty nasty! XOXO Renee`

I actually talked to my Dr. today, I think I'm like almost 5 days out now (I've lost count, it's a blur). I'm having a hard time with nausea and diarrhea. He told me to get the Propel Water or gatoraid G2 and take a couple of teaspoons full every 15 minutes. This will get you used to the amount to "sip". Proteins can be very hard on the tummy so I wouldn't worry too much about that right now, worry more about dehydration and get those fluids in. hope this helps Renee`

I did go home that day Sarah. I wanted to state here that Sarah was the mommy in our ward. She heard me dry heaving and she came toddling in with her I.V. pole trailing behind her, lifted my head and put my hair up in a ponytail for me. Now THAT is a friend for life type person! She is so caring and kind I just love her. Meggie, I did cut my ear when I fell out of the bed and they used butterfly bandages on it and said it would re-attach to my face. Just a small cut / tear near the lobe and my cheek. I don't remember this happening but I know it scared the begeezus out of Lynn and Logan. Logan was sobbing and calling his dad here in Vegas because he said I looked dead and wasn't responding to anything and the way I fell was a full on faceplant out of the bed. I'd been sitting up when they administered the pain meds and this may have, in retrospect, been a mistake lol No worries, my ears have never been on of my vanity points anyways xoxo Renee` p.s. Lynn will be posting her take on the experience. We've talked about it and I said from the very beginning I would be totally honest about everything, even the ugly side.

Hi everyone...thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. I went into this knowing it could get rough and boy did it. I have an extremely high tolerance to narcotics and they couldn't get me to a comfortable state. No one thought about the fact that I've been on stronger pain meds for over 2 years than what they give you there for pain. It was one of the most painful, horrible experiences I've ever had. This is NOT to scare anyone, this was my experience and due to an extremely high tolerance. Dr. Campos told us in his 8 years of practice he'd only seen one other person that had my tolerance for narcotics. The hotel, the hospital, everything is beautiful and clean and wonderful. The people are amazing but we did have a hard time understanding a few. So tired...thanks so much to all of you XOXO Renee`

We can do this Amy!

Most importantly, don't let fear paralyze you. Fear is natural. I had a total anxiety filled breakdown last night. Tonight I'm in Mexicali with my lab work done a day ahead of schedule. Tomorrow is my "eat anything you want!" day and total relaxation, maybe by the beautiful pool that I can look out my window and see!. Then Wednesday, surgery and the first day of the rest of my life...a longer, healthier life. I'm scared, yes, but I'm determined. Suzanne wasn't lying when she described it here. It's beautiful, it's clean, the people here are so gracious and kind and wonderful and I want to take them home with me when I leave. I had a few tears when I got my labs done, but I have a horrible phobia of needles. The girl that does them (Lucy was her name I think and she's a pretty little thing so if you're a guy you can maybe distract yourself lol) was soooooo gentle and fast about it. Also, not a huge glob of cotton on my hand where I had her take it out, just a little dot bandaid. There is a really pretty "wall water fountain" as you walk into the hotel and let me tell you, it's beautiful and serene and so clean you could walk around barefoot. Ok don't do that though because it's a really NICE hotel and that might be considered a little uncouth lol I'm relaxed after my bubble bath and book. The tub is large and is SO comfy for someone like me that loves to lay back and read / sleep in the tub. There is a wonderful cool breeze making the palm trees outside sway and I can hear the leaves rustle. I called my husband and told him all about it here and he was so happy! He, like a lot of Americans had heard horror stories of surgeries gone bad in Mexico. He also worried about our safety. To be honest it's a lot more dangerous where I live, in Vegas than it is here. I told my son and Lynn "This is picture perfect! I never want to leave!" and they're feeling the same way right now. To everyone that recommended Dr. Aceves, THANK YOU! I wasn't expecting the luxury at the hotel, but it is! Even the hospital is beautiful and clean. Renee`

I actually blogged about this just this morning because I'm like you, really really scared of when I wake up. No one except one that's been there knows what that first slam-you-on-the-ground flare is like. I was sick. Really sick. Vomiting, diarrhea, dizzy, in horrible pain that felt like someone poured acid in my body. So many things that just didn't make sense at all! No one knew what it was and it was terrifying to think to myself, and even tell the Doctors "you fools are going to let me die and a MEDICAL EXAMINER is going to diagnose me!" I cried so much that my kids started jokingly calling me "moaning myrtle" from harry potter. This went on for an agonizing 8 months and no one knew that I was suicidal. I'd made up my mind that if the next dr (I was sitting outside his office) didn't diagnose me, I was doing it on the way home. So yeah, I understand the emotional and physical sides of this. At my last rheumatologist appointment she said "Renee I'm sorry, we're out of options. We've done it all and this is as good as it's going to get" and to me, it just wasn't enough. It's not acceptable to me. SO...I made up my mind that even if it only made it easier to crawl to the bathroom on the bad days, I had to try. Some have the surgery for weight loss but to me it's secondary to maybe getting a part of me back. Even if I only get down to 150, if I'm a healthy 150 I couldn't care less! Mkay this was when I was a bit braver cause I was about a month away from surgery. Now, like you, I'm a few DAYS away from surgery and I'm not feeling so brave at all! LOL Will it be better in the long run? ABSOLUTELY! Will it suck more than most sleeves? PROBABLY! It's hard to tell someone to just do it and don't look back. Fibro hit me all over. Every muscle group but especially my sides and chest. Major muscle groups feel like someone poured acid into them. It burns horribly until I'm writhing and crying and incoherent with pain and nothing touches it. My sides? UGH! Those are more of a "charlie horse" / muscle spasm type pain. What's the first instinct? To throw yourself around like someone having a seizure, anything to stop that muscle from cramping and stretch it out. Try as I might, nothing helps. Those are the muscles that will be cut through during surgery and those are my most agonizing when they spasm. It takes my breath. Can I do this? yep. Will I do this? Yep. Because like I said before, THIS me is unacceptable and so I have to try. XOXO Renee`

Glad I'm not having surgery coming up real soon or anything.... Not like I wasn't scared before, but thanks ladies! LOL Did anyone NOT have any freakin gas pain?!

I personally would have my doubts that he is "world renowned". According tho whom? Also, I looked him up and I'm not sure I would use him, especially if he makes you sign something saying you will never sue him. http://www.yelp.com/biz/dr-paul-t-cirangle-san-francisco

Up the Protein and fats if you're craving things and lower the carbs. Also make sure you're getting all your Water in. I hate the idea of Protein shakes being filled with carbs, sugars and calories and won't drink them. I'm using New whey. 42 grams of protein, 0 sugars / carbs and 3.5 oz. Tastes like crap, I'm not going to lie to you but at least I can get it down fast and know I'm getting protein in. I'm upping my protein now before surgery to speed the healing / weight loss part. The faster I get the weight off, the faster I'll feel better. Renee`

I'm so excited I feel like I'm going to explode! LOL Ok, excited, scared, et al. Same things I was feeling X a million. This is normal and I'm prepared for it but dang, I'm scared! I have total faith in my surgeon but lack of faith in myself healing properly. I think it's a fibro / cfs thing because I've been worried about this since the day I decided to do it. Not scared of the surgery, scared of the waking up part. I guess I'll never know until I go through it so chin up and FORWARD! Good luck to you Erika, I know we're in the very best hands! XOXO Renee`

Heyas! Sorry, just saw this thread and yep, I'm going in on May25th. I have the same worries that you do. I'm not afraid so much of the surgery itself, but how I will feel when I wake up. Will I be in a flare? Will it last long? Will they be able to control my pain? I have severe fibro and chronic fatigue syndrome also, so I know what you mean about the worries about all the progress you've made so far (to me at least most days I don't feel like someone poured acid into my muscles) and ruining it. I have to ask myself though if this way of life is acceptable to me and it's not. Even if this surgery only helps me to crawl across the floor on the days I can barely walk, it will be worth it to me. This is such a hard subject because there just isn't any real scientific data and you'll hear good results and bad results but to me, it's worth a chance at having even a smidge of my life back. I want "me" back because I lost me years ago and life this way just isn't worth it so to me, what do I have to lose? Also about the blood pressure, it will go up when your body is in pain. I always had low bp all my life even when heavy until I was in horrible pain and the dr said that was the bodys normal response to pain. Feel free to click on my info and email me any time! I'm so there for you and will support you and tell you every step of the way. My fibro and cfs is severe like yours, so I totally understand your fears. Hope this helps! XOXO Renee`

This is SO COOL! Thank you to all that replied. As my own surgery draws nearer these are amazing reasons for staying motivated and reminding myself all the reasons why it's so important for me to stick to the plan. All the reasons stated above (except I don't have a mini-cooper lol) are all the same reasons I have. Thanks! XOXO Renee`

Just wondering if I'm the only one here. Renee`

Where did she have her surgery? Did her original surgeon do her follow up surgeries? This is HORRIBLE and I'm so sorry for your fiancee and for you, seeing your loved one in pain and being unable to do anything about it is so hard. Lots of prayers for both of you Renee`

Part of me would feel like who cares, but another part of me would feel very betrayed. Some people are absolutely private about their journey and I get that, I'm blogging all of my experiences, but there have been a few times I wish I wasn't. I think I would feel more betrayed and wonder about confiding in her ever again about anything and for that, I would feel sad. You know, as soon as you looked at her and she knew that YOU knew who told, she had to feel like a schmuck and she should! I'm glad you're doing better, every day is another day toward a more healthy you. Congrats! Renee`

You have every right to be angry and I feel so bad for you. This is one of my biggest fears. I hope everything starts going right for you ...lots of prayers coming your way. Renee`

Hi Vicky, I'm Renee and I'm also from Las Vegas, welcome to the forum! Renee`

Glad you talked to her and are feeling better tonight XOXO Renee`