Garyb_58

Once again thanks to everyone for you kind words. Gary B

If you want to send me a PM and I will give you my work phone number so he can talk to me and my co-workers to show that I'm not fake. I went to Dr. Aceves and I am very pleased with him and his staff. Gary B.

Sam302004, Dr. Aceves does this on all surgeries unless the person refuses to have it done. They do it while you are on the table prior to surgery but after they have started putting you under. I remember them asking me to turn over on my side but don't remember much after that. Good luck, Dr. Aceves and his staff are great. Gary

Hey great to hear you Dad's coming home. Do me a favor and tell him thanks. Gary

Well, Just a little update, as of today I have lost 100.6 pounds and it feels great. I am getting my life back, doing things I have not done in years and looking forward to doing a lot more. I am getting my Open Water Diver's Cert. renewed next month and plan to spend a lot of time underwater this summer. This is something that I loved to do 15 years ago and lost it to over eating. Friends and family are seeing me crawl under vehicles to do the work myself instead of having to ask my son or nephew to do it. Heck I can even get off the ground without having to grab ahold of something to pull myself up. I'm riding my motorcycle more, life is just great. The vertical sleeve is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Even if I didn't get any help from my insurance company. But you know I feel the best thing coming from this is I feel I will be on this Earth a little longer and get to spend more time with my wonderful kids and grandchild. Once again thanks to all the people on this site for your posts, prayers and friendship. A special thanks to my sleevebuddy Keys Pirate and her husband Rich for their friendship. I hope everyone has a great week and good luck on your weight loss journey. Gary

I used Aceves and it was $8750.00 in Jan of this year. You need to research to find what Dr. would be best for you, but I was very pleased with the service I received.

I was sleeved on 1-25-10

It will happen, I too hit a period where I only had a 4 oz weight loss over a two week period and then last Thursday it kicked in again and I have lost 6.6 pounds since. Just keep eating right and it will work.

Citygal, Great to hear you are doing good. I wish you all the luck in the world on your journey. Have a great day.

After my surgery I contacted Dr. Aceves's Office and asked about taking anti-inflamitory meds that I need for gout. They approved for me to take it as long as I made sure I had Nexium or something like it in my stomach to coat it. Like Tiff said you should be fine as long as you have something in your stomach when you take the meds.

Hey Carol, Girl you look great, you are working that sleeve and riding that bike to get the weight off. You sure are doing great. Yeah I remember that picture before we went to the Hospital to have surgery. I don't never plan on being that big again. Have you heard from Sam, just wondering how she is doing? Way to go Carol. The family says hello. Talk to you later.

Yeah I still like the black shirts, but at least they have gone down from 4X and 5X to 2X. I know you will do great too. Good Luck on your journey.

Thanks again for everyones wonderful comments, you guys are too kind.:crying:

BJean, I'm not as cool as Ole Bill is, I don't play the Sax, I do play the drums however. Yeah he was born here in Hope but was actually raised in Hot Springs about 75 miles away from Hope. But, I will say him making it to the White House did help bring some money into our small town. Thanks,

Thanks to everyone for your comments. Hey Carol, WOW 58 pounds that is great. Tell Rich it is his turn, LOL. Man, it just seems like yesterday we were talking about going to Mexico and now here it is three months later. It was so nice to meet you guys while we were there. If this weight loss keeps up I'll be calling you guys about that diving trip. Although I will need to take a refresher course before I come since it has been so long since I have done any diving. You and Rich will keep the sharks away, right? You know I have never done any ocean diving just freshwater, don't have to worry about fish eating you in our lakes, LOL. Please do post some pictures and tell Rich we said hello. Take care,

tdriver, Keep up the good work. I know what you mean about the hurting when you eat to much or to fast, I just started making sure I quit eating before I get to that point. Good Luck on your journey.

Well just another update. As of last Monday it has been three months since my VSG surgery and I have lost 82.8 pounds as of today. I have been lucky not to suffer any problems. I am including a photo taken on 1-23-10 and one taken last night to show the difference. People that I have not seen since Jan 10 are telling me that I am starting to look like a different person. Oh well I still have over sixty more pounds to get rid of before I get to my goal weight. Oh yeah I don't want to hear any laughing out there at my pictures, I told you guys before that I am just an old gray headed guy from Arkansas. Thanks again to the everyone on this site for your thoughts, prayers and post. Again I read alot more than I post and I really enjoy the information on this site. Of course I just pass over all the drama, not interested in that part.

You might try Powerade Zero also, in comes in several different flavors and my Surgeon recommended it for us to drink for the electrolytes and some Vitamins without carbs or calories. I mix my Protein powder in it and it helps me get the liquids and protein down. Just a thought. Good luck on you journey. Gary

I know you are excited, I remember that feeling very well. You will be in great hands. My prayers will be with you and keep us posted on how everything goes. You'll be on the losers bench soon. Gary

The only thing I can with help is the work. I had surgery on a Monday and returned back to full days the next Monday. I too work at a desk and mostly use the phone and computer. I would just make sure and continue taking breaks and walking instead sitting for an extended period of time. Good luck with you journey. I too traveled to MX to have surgery and I'm very happy with the results. Gary

Hey wannalise, Glad to hear you made it home okay and are feeling better. After about 4 weeks my drinking got back to normal. Congrats and welcome to the losers bench. Gary

Change, VegasAngel and the others have said everything that can be said. My Brother went with ne and spent a lot of time on his laptop via their WIFI connection. He did meet some of the other relatives and they would go to eat together or to the Mall together. We felt very safe during the trip and I was very pleased with the care I received there. Good luck on your journey. Gary

Thanks kkandrod, So I guess the key here again is doctor ordered. Oh well just my luck.

As far as claiming the surgery on your taxes I saw a Tax Professional on one of the morning news shows saying that you can claim the surgery as long as it was by doctors orders. He said people are claiming it when they have elected to have it done and that cannot be claimed on your taxes. If anyone knows more about this please respond. I just sharing what I heard which if that is the cases it leaves me out since I did not wait to get doctors orders to have it done. Also what about those of us who went out of the Country to have surgery? Gary [Edit] [Reply] [!!]

As far as claiming the surgery on your taxes I saw a Tax Professional on one of the morning news shows saying that you can claim the surgery as long as it was by doctors orders. He said people are claiming it when they have elected to have it done and that cannot be claimed on your taxes. If anyone knows more about this please respond. I just sharing what I heard which if that is the cases it leaves me out since I did not wait to get doctors orders to have it done. Gary