Tracy46545

Oh yes V.A. ...I'm starting the Airborne on Monday. I get it in little packets that can be added to bottled Water and it will be my beverage of choice for the week prior to surgery. (sure hope there's nothing in there that will affect surgery...don't think so). I've been to Mexicalli twice now and never have seen the mall...sure hope I get a chance to this time. I've allowed a day of flexibility at the end of my trip to Mexicalli just in case of complications. If I get discharged from the hospital on time, I'll have a whole day to kill....if I get bored I might go to the mall, walk around and pass gas for them! (I'm sure they'll be thrilled that Medical Tourism has come to their part of the country). Vitamins......um....er.....I'm not taking any. Seriously now, should I start now? I never can remember the dang things...I know I'll need them after...but will it really have time to help boost my system if I start now? Water I already drink alot of...so I'm safe there. Tracy

I'd be far less concerned about your success rate with the pre-op diet and be way more concerned that your surgeon has only done 16 of these surgeries! The liver can be firmed up and "de-fatted" in as little as a week of pre-op hard core dieting with high protien and low carb foods. The body could take years and years to recover from an inexperienced surgeon. Tracy

common cold without a fever .... surgery usually ok Fever of any kind......NOPE! I've been resting alot, avoiding crowds, and washing my hands like an OCD person. When I get to Mexico I will have no christmas shopping done, have chapped hands and will be wide awake! Tracy

oh yes...that was it!... TMI but my ex used to say he wished I had a boob on my back for when we did "it" doggy style. I did mention that he's my ex....right??? ha!

ohhhhh I remember some weird movie ...was it a Mel Gibson gig??? Some alien woman had three....hmmmmm I've worked too many hours to remember anything factual.

Everytime I see this post title....I want to go all smartass and say..... "YES....I HAVE TWO!" It's a curse....I'm trying to overcome it. tracy

If your band was placed by Dr Aceves originally your price for revision to sleeve is $10,500. If you are going there for revision after lapband surgery elsewhere it's $12,500. VSG as a "first" bariatric surgery is, I believe, $9500. Tracy

I think Tiffykins is the one that posted about "the world according to EggFace"'s site.....now I check it often and this morning I found her link to her pureed foods section. The thought of eating pureed foods has almost made me change my mind several times about this surgery. However...the food ideas in this site gave me the confidence to proceed.... enjoy!!! http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.htm Tracy

Fantastic ideas on pureed foods....process them a bit less and they'd be just mushies! theworldaccordingtoeggface: Pureed Foods Tracy

Me too.....Dr. Aceves in Mexicali! Tracy

OregonDaisy, I love thrift shops...and often find great things there...WHEN I have time to actually shop. I'm afraid my "shirt purchase" yesterday was one of those rush things. I literally walked into two stores...checked the clearance racks for my size and grabbed and went. I probably spent less than 10 minutes per store. I'm working 60 hours this week to try to lessen the shock to my budget because of being off work for 10 days. I only had a total of two hours yesterday to run all my errands and shop for clothing for the trip. (thankfully dog show wear isn't terribly uber-fashionista). We have a rather ritzy wealthy area the next burb over...it's great to go to their Goodwill store....lots of great brand clothing. (However, not alot in plus sizes). Oh well, six months from now I'll be shopping the thrift stores again and fitting into alot more of the stuff! tracy

Just put the scale away in a closet! sheesh...how can you not lose weight? I mean, with the portions you can have post-sleeve......unless you're just drinking pure carbs and fats you simply have to lose weight. Eat right..and forget the scale. Tracy

Tiffykins and Chancie.... Just in case you were brought up not to say "I'm proud of myself" .....I will say it for you! I'M PROUD THAT TIFFYKINS and CHANCIE ARE SUCH BIG LOSERS!!!!!! For everyone acheiveing that very special place in life, of dropping to a new level on the BMI chart that has caused us all so much embarrassment, pain, shame and disappointment, I salute you...and can't wait to join you! Tracy

Belts and I have never gotten along....but with weight loss...who knows???? lol Tracy

With the largest smile I can muster I will say.....we'll have to agree to disagree on this. Unless you've walked in the shoes of someone who is suffering from extreme anxiety and depression, I don't think you can decide what is being a "worrywart" and what is based in that mental and emotional distress. Lan2K is clearly aware of her issues and is seeking professional help for it. Being called names in a place she has come for support and answers is not helpful. Lan2K's responses have been beyond gracious. I could learn alot from her I'm sure,....AS COULD MANY OTHERS! Any further responses from me on this matter will be in private message only as it would only bring a negative energy that is totally unneeded. Tracy

Tiffykins, Do you think your amount of weight loss in such a short time is "normal" with the sleeve or do you think your rather extreme complications accelerated your loss? I think we all tend to think ahead, plan ahead..perhaps "wish" ahead...and wonder what our own weight loss will be....will it compare to TIFFYKINS???? lol Tracy

Is it possible to keep the harshness to a minimum and be aware that this forum is about SUPPORT, not name-calling?

ValleyFree, I'm not sleeved yet....still have the non-functional lapband. I'm self-pay so not having to jump through insurance "hoops". (although...I sure wish I had done the sleeve first instead of wasting $6500 on the band first!). Oh well, this is my time to invest in myself. I promised myself that since I was taking on major credit card debt to do this, that I would return to college to make my future financial life better and be able to get a job with health insurance. I hope to start Jan 17th but if I don't feel quite prepared that soon then I'll do it the next session. Tracy

Vegas Angel, I have raised and exhibited AKC Bichon Frise for the last 28 years. I'm attending the Eukanuba Classic in Long Beach where four of my dogs will be competing. One is from Texas, one from New York, and two from California. (Color me proud!). Mishawaka is a great place to live...five minutes from everything but still has a small town feel to it. My neighborhood is very dog tolerant and nearly every house has at least one. Stoongal, I won't have a choice..the clothes are going with me for surgery because I'm leaving directly from my "vacation" portion of my trip to Mexicali. I know the clothes won't go to waste because I can get away with wearing "looser" clothes at work without any problems. It's mostly a regret at having to spend the money on them right when I'm still trying to raise my funds for surgery...(self pay). Tracy

uh sweetie....I'm pretty sure that with the appropriate weight loss and exercise you can eventually fit into an even smaller size than a 14! I'm currently in a 22/24, I have a pair of size 18 jeans in my closet that I was nearly into about 18 months ago....my goal is to be in those by May (surgery date Dec 14). So I'm confident that those 14's will be sliding over your bod in no time! Be patient, follow the eating plans, exercise and prepare to be amazed. Tracy

from what I understand VSG is most like the old gastric stapling only a different part of the stomach is used (the less elastic side) so there is more success with it. Please don't quote me...I'm often wrong :thumbup1: Tracy

so, fruit with pits would be ok to add? .... darn ...the peach season is over this year Tracy

great ideas there Chandra! Tracy

Wow Sarita...I didn't even realize you're having your's on the same day.. we'll be sleeve-sisters! Best of luck on everything! Tracy

Joy, If you've got help with the 2 yr old, then go whenever you can get great airfares to San Diego. I'm going back to work 7 days after surgery and I've talked to many people that do the same. The biggest problem is that your body feels the need to nap (because of the huge decrease in calories). Spring break is very doable if there are no complications. If there are complications then summer break would be the best. If you can be at work and maintain your Fluid and Protein intakes.....then go for the surgery whenever it's the most cost effective! Dr. Aceves is a great surgeon..I'm heading down there for surgery on Dec 14. Tracy