Suzannesh

Hi, That is good news, just remember I am out here if you need anything or have any questions. Hugs and keep up the great work! Suzanne

Hi, You are so very welcome. Life is good, and I want to get rid of the fear about how long can you maintain this weight loss. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, If you are sitting out there with a lot of questions like I was 4 years ago, I want to tell you that I was 63 when I had my surgery in Mexicali, with Dr. Aceves—I believe he is the very best you can find to do your surgery. I lost 105 pounds and YES I have kept it off for 3 years now. It took me 14 months to lose 105 pounds. My ONLY regret is that I didn’t have it done sooner. It is unquestionably the very greatest thing I have ever done for myself! I will be honest and tell you that the 1st month after surgery will be the hardest month you will ever have to do. During the 1st month you will be making lifestyle changes, letting your body heal, and start to retrain your “OLD” thinking brain to the new ways in life—this is a struggle because you “Old” thinking brain has been used to ALL the food you have been eating all your life. But, it is only 30 days and you can do this! It is NOT a miracle cure, it is a tool to allow you to lose the weight and maintain it for the rest of your life. What is a typical day in my life like now? I want you first to know that I do not ever really feel hunger anymore—again your old brain will try to tell you that you are hungry—we call this “Head Hunger” because it really isn’t real. Now I just know that I need to eat small amounts of healthy food during the day. I have now changed how I cook and I now crave healthy things—I know it is hard to imagine that you will do this, but it is true. Yes, I do have desert –but I have learned how to bake in a healthy way. I have a great Low Carb Cookbook that allows me to eat a lot of things I loved in my past life and they are healthy now. So this is what my day is like: · I get up about 7:00 am put on my walking clothes and shoes and go for a nice brisk walk for 2 to 3 miles with my husband. Believe me I didn’t start out walking brisk or this far. Do the best you can, but do SOMETHING for exercise. Sometimes in the evening we will walk 2 more miles. · I return home take a shower and for Breakfast I have a Premier Protein Drink. I still to this day have a Protein Drink for breakfast and that is all I need. · I do all the normal things anyone else does during the day, like clean the house, grocery shop, laundry, and plan the meals, work in my yard. I am also own my own business where I am an Instructor in 1st Aid, CPR and AED to people in my community. · lunch usually is some kind of a salad or I have some protein—usually chicken, with some fresh veggies, some fresh fruit. · I have an afternoon snack, maybe something that I baked from my Low Carb Cookbook. There are some great products that are healthy to have too. There are all kinds of things you can snack on that are OK · dinner is always about 2 oz of some kind of protein. I eat, chicken, fish, or Pork. I eat very little red meat—and I always loved red meat in the past, but I found out that my tastes have changed a lot after I had surgery. I always have some kind of fresh veggie, maybe in a form of salad and then fresh fruit. I eat about 1,000 calories a day sometimes a little more depending on how much exercise I do. I NEVER feel deprived. Part of keeping the weight off is finding ways to cook that make it taste good. You can learn to convert some of your old recipes to being healthy too. I do have desert, but not every day. Sometimes just the taste of something will satisfy your need for it. Food NO longer controls me I now control the food and the amount. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I just want you to know that you can be this successful too. I have written a lot of things over the past 4 years, and I have information for those who are thinking about having surgery if you want any of it. You can be successful too. I remember thinking what if I am the ONE person this will not work for, because I failed at everything else. So you are not alone, because many of us have thought all the same things that you have. I think the best things that you can do, is ask all kinds of questions. Check on who is doing your surgery. Like anything there are good and bad doctors out there, and I want you to be safe and have the very best you can have. Hugs, Suzanne Sleeve 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds Dr. Aceves- Suregon

Hi Everyone, Fear is awful and I know it isn't always easy. I just want you to know that YOU can overcome it and do the right things for yourself. :wub: I am always here every step of the way for you. I have talked on the phone for many hours talking to people and answering all their questions. I have been in your shoes and know what it feels like. I always promised myself that if I could help other people I was going to do it. If you don't want to ask me questions on here send me a private E-mail. You can send it to Suzannesh@aol.com Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Cogratulations to you for making the choice to save your own life. You will never have a regret. Hold on to your hat, you entire world is going to change and all for the better. I am always out here as you start the process and need support and have questions. Just send me a note any time you need. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, Fear can stop us from doing so many things in our life. For many it just paralyzes them, and they can’t move forward. Are you like this? Every day that you allow fear to control you, it just steals another day of your life. It is time to take back your power. How many of you have been on the Roller Coaster of weight loss????—lose the weight to only go right back to eating how you used to eat before you lost the weight and then regain it all back plus more? I did that more times that I can count in my life, and I would beat myself up over it every time I did it. You are sitting there right now shaking your head “yes” because you have done the same thing too! I thought long and hard before I had weight loss surgery. I spent 6 months asking questions from people on these boards, reading everything I could find to read about the different kinds of weight loss surgeries and the doctors who did it. I was going to be a self-pay because my insurance was NOT going to pay for it. My greatest fear was not going to Mexicali, Mexico, once I made up my mind to who I wanted to do my surgery. My greatest fear like so many of you was what if I spend all this money for WLS and end right back on the Roller Coaster of lose the weight only to regain it back??? I am here to tell you I am living proof that having Weight Loss Surgery was the VERY best thing I have ever done for myself. I had a VGS aka “sleeve” surgery in Oct 2008; 4 years ago and lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. Weight Loss Surgery is NOT a miracle cure, I had to work at it and I also exercise too. But, it is my tool to allow me to be successful and to maintain my weight forever. You too can do the very same thing I have done by having WLS. You have to make a lifestyle change when it comes to eating. I never consider myself on a diet. I also NEVER feel deprived when it comes to eating. I have just changed by eat small amounts of food and making good food choices. I eat healthy food, but I also eat yummy foods. Do I have desert? Sure I do, but not every day, and when I do, I eat a very small amount of it. I have also learned to cook differently, and to convert some of my favorite foods into Low Carb and healthy recipes. NEVER give up on your dream of becoming the person you want to be! Anything is possible if you want it bad enough. Stop slowly killing yourself with that fork and do something about your weight. Make today the day that you promise yourself that things are going to change. I am always out here if you have any questions or need help. You can also send me an E-mail to: Suzannesh@aol.com I did go to Dr. Aceves for my surgery, and he was my choice because I felt he was the very best doctor I could have do my surgery, after all my research. I highly recommend him. During my research, his name was the name that ALWAYS kept coming back as the best doctor there was for me. I know how very clean the hospital is and the entire staff are fabulous. They are they to make sure that everything is great and they want you to have a wonderful experience. You will think WOW, I never received care like this in the USA. Hugs and do not allow this fear to control you! Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Hi, I am glad you liked what I had to say. Don't wait until you quite working. You really only need about 10 days off and you can go right back to work. NEVER give another day of your life away waiting for the right time. It is worth the effort it takes. I am always here if you have any questions or just want to talk about what it is like. I will always be honest and tell you the good and the bad side of thigs. I have NO regrets at all and I know it can change your entire life, it sure did mine! Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, I know precisely how you feel. I think it was June 2008 when I started to realize that having weight loss surgery was going to be my ONLY way to be successful. I had a friend who had weight loss surgery and I must have asked her a thousand questions about why she had WLS. She was very patient and kind and answered ALL my questions. She is a Nurse Practitioner and I really did trust her judgment. I also was not sure about going to Mexico—now I know it was the best place I could have gone because I was a self-pay patient. Mexicali is a very safe plae to go. Their hospital has less infection rate than any USA hospital has. My insurance said NO way would they pay for WLS. My friend also encouraged me to do my own research, and also to ask other people questions—I did all those things. I was so sick and tired of being fat and riding the roller coaster in my life of lose the weight to only gain in back over time. I felt like such a failure—what was wrong with me? You are sitting there right now thinking “oh my gosh that is where I am too!” I am writing this to let you know that I had VGS aka the sleeve almost 4 years ago and lost 105 pounds. I have kept it off. So, this was my answer to never getting back on the roller coaster of lose it gain it back. I feel so great now! The sleeve is not a magical cure, it does require you to make some lifestyle changes and it is ONLY a tool to allow you to reach your goal. You can maintain that weight loss. I never feel deprived when it comes to eating. I eat small amounts of food. YES, by all means I have a small amount of desert; I just don’t do it every day. I also learned sometimes just having a small bite of something satisfies my need to have it. It is amazing how we can change our lifestyle given the right tools. I eat and cook so different than I did as a “fat person.” Yes, I use the word fat because I was fat. I never want to go back to being fat. You have to have your head in the right place too if you want to be successful at this. You can NEVER go back to eating like you are doing now! It doesn’t just melt off you—sure it does the first couple of months, but it does require you to make good food choices and some exercise really does help. I walk everyday—well at least 6 days a week. I am very prejudice because I went to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, and I feel I got the very best care I could have ever received. He is an amazing man along with being a highly skilled surgeon. So I would have to say I highly recommend him. He has an extremely skilled staff of people that work with him. They are doctors and nurses who or very professional, but they also care about you as a person. They are all easy to talk to and will answer all your questions. They are great at always making sure you are comfortable too. They want you to be successful, and you receive all your care in a hospital—they never send you someplace else to recover. I have never received this kind of care in the USA. They have 2 doctors who came to see me at least 2 times a day, every day I was in the hospital! When was the last time you had this kind of care from doctors in a hospital? If you are sitting out there trying to take that BIG step forward, please don’t give another day of your life away being obese and unhealthy. Be your own hero and take that BIG step forward and start making some plans to have weight loss surgery. You have a disease that is called obesity. If you had any other kind of disease you would do something about it right away. There is NO shame in having weight loss surgery. It is going to save your life. If you have any questions that you want to ask me please feel free to contact me. If you don’t want to ask on the board my personal E-mail is: Suzannesh@aol.com I am more than happy to answer any and all your questions. You can be very successful at this, NEVER give up on your dreams of being healthy and at a healthy weight. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Thanks for starting this page. I had surgery 4 years ago with Dr. Aceves and so I have been down this road ahead of all of you. I am always around to help and answer any questions that some of you may have. I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. Congratulations to all of you. Hugs,Suzanne

Hi, I don't know, exactly, but in the next few weeks I assume. They will be coming to Mexacali to veiw his surgeries for 3 days. Thanks for asking, Suzanne

Thank you so very much. You did get my point exactly! I appreciate that you did see and hear my excitement. I do not have the power that some people my think I have. In the end, every one of us who has had WLS had to educate ourselves and make the best choice that worked best for us. Isn't it great that we have choices. I know myself better than anyone else, so I know what I require and what worked for me. I just want people to be safe. I have and know ofa few disasters that have happened by poor doctors. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Thank you so much. That was my intention, I always want people to have choice, but I want them to be safe and ask ALL kinds of questions. Thanks for your comments, I appreciate it so much. I try to make a differece, Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Thanks for all your comments and I always appreciate other peoples point of view. I did a little revisions on my statement, because the facts that I had were incorrect--and I do want to present the correct facts. You will find that most of the time I always say there are other good doctors out there too besides Dr. Aceves. I want people to educate themself--just like you did. And you asked all the right questions--congratulations to you for doing that. I also like you took about 6 months to do my research and talked to 100's of people about who they went to and listened and made my choice for a doctor. I do understand the cost issue for many people and all I want for them, is to be safe. There are good and bad options when it comes to having weight loss surgery. There is one thing that you do not know or have not checked up on is that I give SUPPORT all the time to people who have already had surgery, and I could care less who their doctor is or was. I am ALWAYS happy to answer any questions they have. So YES we are here to support each other. I was excited about the information that I learned about Dr. Aceves and I wanted to share it. He recently was on the cover of Newsweek Magazine too in May. I see nothing wrong with anything I have said about him. I'm sure if someone asked you about who your doctor was, you would share ALL the information you knew about him and would recommend him highly also. Isn't that great that we are able to say how we feel! Take care and I wish you nothing but great success in your WLS journey. Suzanne

Hey Everyone, I have very exciting news about Dr. Aceves. He has been asked by Johnson & Johnson—and it is the Latin America Division of Johnson & Johnson that we all know about to teach other Bariatric Surgeons from various locations his techniques and they will be watching him for 3 days to see how he does his VGS surgery. They will watch his VGS surgeries for these 3 days learning his techniques and skills. This is very exciting because Johnson & Johnson are the makers of the quality staples that are used when they do “VGS aka The Sleeve” surgery by many doctors. NOT all doctors use these quality staples. Some are getting the cheaper staples from other countries like China and that is how they can afford to do surgery for less. Some of these staples are low quality. Please make sure they are the approved Staples if you are having surgery with another doctor-—this is part of educating yourself. Dr. Aceves uses the very best staples along with keeping you for 4 days in his state of the art hospital to make sure that everything is going to be OK before you go home--which includes 3 leak tests. Please be careful when picking your doctor. I always say you honestly get what you pay for. This is very exciting news because of all the Doctors that they could have chosen to demonstrate how to do the VGS aka “The Sleeve” he was the one that they asked to teach these Doctors from various locations who are attending this demonstration by Dr. Aceves. This just affirms what I have been saying for the last 4 years about the quality Doctor that Dr. Aceves is and his team of Doctors who assist and help him. For most of us when we think of Johnson & Johnson, we just think of Band-Aids. They make so many more products other than Band-Aids and house hold products. Johnson & Johnson have a Pharmaceutical Division and they are located in different areas of the world. The Latin America Division of Johnson & Johnson picked Dr. Aceves to demonstrate his skills to the Doctors from various locations. Dr. Aceves's was selected because of his reputation and how highly skilled he is along with all his experience Dr. Aceves has. I am so very proud to be able to say that Dr. Aceves was the surgeon who did my "VGS aka Sleeve" weight loss surgery. I feel I had the most highly qualified Doctor there is. :wub: If you are trying to make up your mind as to where to have your WLS, this bit of information might help. I wish you great success in your life changing journey. This surgery will change your entire life, for the better and it is something that will last a lifetime. There are other good Doctors out there. Please educate yourself and be careful. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, No, I never had any weight gain like you. I do want to say, honestly you think your are hungry and it is what we call "head hunger." You actually couldn't eat the food if they gave it to you, because right now your stomach will only hold about as much food as the size of your thumb because your stomach is swollen. Head Hunger is this biggest challenge we ALL had to face. It is more like you want to eat not that you need to eat. You will lose that extra weight pretty fast. It is a big step and most of us have had the feeling that you are having. They will go awat once you start losing the weight. If you could have lost the weight on your own honestly you would have by now. The problem is for most of us we would regain it back after losing it. You have to make a lifestyle change--not think about being on a diet. A lifestyle change is something that you can do for the rest of your life. I never feel deprived. I eat small amount of food, and for the most part I make them healthy food choices. Yes, I have a small amount of desert now and then, but only a sliver of what I used to eat. And I do not eat it everyday. Just now and then. I have learned to bake some things that I can have that are not loaded with sugar and carbs. There are some great low carb cookbooks out there. The 1st month is the hardest month you will ever have to do. After that it gets a lot easier. These boards are a great place to come and say what is going on and how your are feeling I am out here if you have any questions or issues. I live in Eugene, and I went to Mexicali to Dr. Aceves 4 years ago and had Sleeve Surgery. Take care, Suzanne

Hi Everyone out there, What prompted me to write this was a wonderful lady named “Kathy”. She spurred some thoughts that I have going around in my head. First of all a big thank you to Kathy for what she said and the very nice compliment about my writing style and the things I have to say. She said they have helped her go forward to make some appointments to check out having WLS. For most of us we didn’t overeat because we were hungry. We ate for a thousand different reasons, and they were mostly emotional reasons. We have so many issues or problems in our life and have turned to food for comfort. The range is so wide, self-esteem, addictions, to food, drugs, alcohol. Our hearts and souls have deep emotional scares for various reason, we cared more for the food than we cared about ourselves. Food was or is our comfort and it was easy to hide behind being fat. For some they have been sexually or emotionally abused and the food was the one thing that we could control and NO one could stop us. Kathy said something that really stood out in my mind; and that was we were slowing killing ourselves with a “fork”. That is so true. So what will it take to motivate you to love and care for yourself enough to STOP this cycle? We do have a disease also called obesity. If we had any other disease we wouldn’t think twice about having surgery for it, we would do it because a doctor would tell us it will save your life. For some it will take some therapy, to heal enough to turn their life around. What you look like on the outside is usually not who you are on the inside where it really matters. There are so many people who love and care about you. I want you to take your power back and take the steps to move forward past the pain you feel. I never said it was easy, but you are worth all the efforts it will take. You are unique, and special. There is ONLY one of you, and you are here on earth for a purpose, and a reason. Take that giant leap forward and consider having the WLS to change your entire life forever. You have earned the right to be everything you could ever want to be. Shed the fat and let that inter person inside of you out. Look at all the possibilities and pick the right one for you. I will be the first one who will tell you, it will require work and effort on your part. WLS is your tool to use to achieve your healthy weight. Be proud of yourself for doing it. Only you can make this choice to change your life. The first time someone calls you “skinny” you will think are they talking about me? Yes, they are. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I had Weight Loss Surgery almost 4 years ago and Dr. Aceves in Mexicali was my doctor. I happen to think he is the very best doctor you could ever have for WLS. As a matter of fact Dr. Compos who is his partner has had VGS and so he knows all the things you have to go through to be healthy again. They are a terrific team, and when you have them, you have the BEST. Hugs, Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Hi Everyone, What is holding you back? We all have thought about having weight loss surgery over and over I am sure. I thought about it for 6 months before I actually said the words to anyone. I did so much research and wanted to learn all I could about it. I was a self-pay because my insurance was never going to pay for it. I knew that I had tried many different things over the years. Only to ride the roller coaster of lose it and gain it back over and over. I had a disease and it is called obesity—just like so many of us have. I was not weak, I could follow the diet. What I have learned is that I am NO longer on a diet. I have made a lifestyle change for the rest of my life. I had my head in the right place and I was ready to have Weight Loss Surgery or as some of us refer to it as WLS. I am sure you have been down this same road that I have been down. I am here to tell you that the VGS aka “sleeve” will work for you too. I also thought what if I am the “one” person that this will not work on? I bet you have had all these thoughts too. I am here to tell you it WILL work for you. You can NOT go back to your old style of eating habits—or you will fail. You can eat yummy and good foods. You will eat small amounts of them. You will crave & want healthy foods. Yes, I have small amount of desert now and then, but not every day and when I have some it is a sliver of what I used to eat. Sometimes just the taste of something is all you need to satisfy your need for it. If you have any questions and have been sitting out there and want to know more, ask question please. There are so many of us on these boards who are more than happy to share our experience and answer all you questions. I had sleeve WLS 4 years ago, lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. It does require work on your part and some exercise is very helpful. I walk for exercise, and that is something that does not require a membership. Just a great pair of walking shoes and away you go. At first you really can’t walk that far, but as the weight starts dropping of you, it because much easier. :wub: Honestly WLS is your answer to your disease that we called obesity. I happen to think that Dr. Aceves is the very best Doctor you can find to do your surgery. He is amazing, kind, caring, an excellent surgeon; he will be there for you every step of the way. He has gathered together an incredible staff that is there for you too. Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Hi, I can only speak from my experience, and what Dr. Aceves wanted me to do. I did not have more than 800 calories per day and watch the carbs--NO more than 20 to 25 carbs per day. Read ALL labels, you might be surprise of the things that have carbs in them--like Milk. I hope that will help, but check with the doctor that did your surgery. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, I have posted this before, but this is why I went to Dr. Aceves. I have been thinking about some of the things that many of us have talked about on this board. We have talked about price shopping and I have said “this is not the time to price shop” This is about your health and what is best for you. I had a lovely lady write and tell me that $5,000 was about all she could scrap together to have the surgery and she was going to take her “chances” and go to one of the doctors who charges less. She was single, had children, and was sick and tired of her back hurting and just didn’t want to spend another day being fat. Believe me I heard everything she said and honestly knew right where she was. I had a time in my life where I was a single parent and was trying to make it on my own, I do know how hard money was to come by. I have been there working 3 jobs at one time and had very little time for me and had to do what I could only afford. This is what I can say about my choice to go to Dr. Aceves. When I made my choice, I was 63 years old; I didn’t have any serious medical problems –only high blood pressure. I wanted to become healthy so that I could enjoy the rest of my life. My back hurt most of the time, and I had an awful pain in my leg. I had already experienced one bad experience in the USA hospital and that was when I went in for one procedure and came home and a 3 days later had to return to the hospital because I had a serve infection that I got at the hospital—they told me that when you go to the hospital you run the risk of an infection--the was the US hospital that was telling me this. Well, I was one who got the infection from the hospital. So when I was doing my research I learned that many people do get infections while having surgery in a US hospital. Infections were one of the things I was looking at when I was making my choice. Almater Hospital utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. They have less of an infection rate than any US hospital. Well, that caught my attention. I can tell you while I was there they were cleaning everything in this hospital including the sidewalk out in front of the hospital 24-7. They cleaned my bathroom 3 times a day. My rooms 3 times a day, the halls and anything people were touching in the hospital. Almater Hospital has state of the art equipment and technology -Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Complete X ray Unit capable of performing CAT Scans, Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy, and other X-ray tests. Almater Hospital strives to keep updated with equipment of latest generation available. They have Hemodynamic surgical room -where they perform open heart surgery and catheterizations surgical suites (with recovery room). So many of the doctors who charge less just do not have all these things. They are using a clinic to do the surgery, they are not fully staffed and I am worried about where they send you to recover. This is how they can afford to charge less for their surgery. I also wanted a HIGHLY qualified doctor who had an enormous amount of knowledge when it came to “sleeve surgery.” I checked on the number of surgeries that Dr. Aceves had done, and he was rated as a highly qualified doctor who had only one patient who had developed a leak. I also understand that the “one” patient who did develop the leak was because she did NOT follow the directions given to her about what she should be eating the first month. There are many qualified doctors who do “sleeve surgery.” And I can’t speak about any experience other than what I had. I wanted more than just a qualified doctor. I wanted a HIGHLY qualified doctor who had a team of highly qualified doctors and nurses on his staff who would be taking care of me. That is just what I found in Dr. Aceves and Almater Hospital. I also know that I had the highest quality of staples and surgical materials used in my surgery along with have a staff of nurses 24-7 there during my recovery. I know that many doctors are charging less for “sleeve surgery” and if you only have a certain amount of money to work with that is why you are looking at these other doctors. Give this some thought; you can get loans for the balance of the money. You know we never stop and think twice about making a car payment when we need a new car. Well, how about making a new “body payment?” You are worth it. This is ALL about you and no one else. I have sat here on these boards for 4 years watching and listening to all of this. I can only say what was best for me. I know that there are other doctors who do this surgery and they are OK. I wanted more than just OK. I want you to be very successful at your WLS and your journey to a new and better life along with great health. I wish you all the success in the world. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to ask away. Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Hi, Not everyone that is going to Dr. Aceves are on some of these boards. Some of them, do not have any idea of the different number of boards there are. When I went in 2008 I found a few people who went before me, so I met them when I got there. I also met a lot 4 other people who were in the Van and we all talked on the way to Mexicali and got to know each other. We also all went to dinner the night before the surgery at the Hotel. So do not panic if they are not responding to your post. Make sure you ALL take a group picture the day of the surgery! It is always nice to look back on a year later. Get their e-mail address's and keep in contact with each other. You all have a lot of things in common and it is nice to have each other for support. I am always out here if you have any questions or just want to talk. You are in GREAT hands and are going to do great. I know this is a BIG step to take, but you will never have any regrets. I think Dr. Aceves is the BEST doctor you could have picked. He is going to give you the tools to change your entire life. Hugs, Suzanne

It is on Facebook if you are on Facebook. Suzanne

Hi Everyone, I am glad to see that there are some of us who enjoy walking. I hear what you are saying when you say it is hard to walk on the treadmill at the gym. It bores me to death, and I love walking outside. I have learned to reverse my walking route each day. I walk in my local neighborhood and I have seen some beautiful yards and actually see what the yards and home look like now that I am walking all over the place. Keep up the good work everyone! Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, Recently I have heard of a couple of people who have backed out from having Weight Loss Surgery with Dr. Aceves. I think to myself what a shame. For the most part they backed out because their “own” families had been giving them such a bad time about doing this. I consider these family members “Adult Bully’s” they are the worst kind of bully. Your very own family should be there to support and encourage you to make your life better and most of all healthy. You are going to DIE so much faster from being fat. You have an illness or disease and it is called Obesity. If a Doctor told your family that if you did not have your appendix out you were going to die—they would say go ahead and take it out. If you do not have Weight Loss Surgery, you are going to be in poor health and it could result in your death Please think about what I am saying. You are an adult and you DO NOT owe them any explanation of what you are doing. Stand up for yourself and your health and be a hero and save your own life. I know it is hard for you to stand up for you—if you can’t then I will stand up for you. You do not need their permission to have weight loss surgery. You have earned the right to make these kinds of choices for yourself—you are an adult. Most of us have experienced a little of this negative kind of remarks and comments from someone before we have weight loss surgery, but we learned we had to do what is best for us. STOP giving away your power to make good and healthy choice for YOU. This is NOT about them, this is ALL about you. Take back your power and control—YOU can do this. If you need someone to talk to them and educate them, I am more than happy to talk with them. I find that most of the time people who are these “Adult Bully’s” when it comes to weight loss surgery are misinformed, scared, have all the wrong medical information, and just need a little education. Some are also scared they will lose you if you become skinny and they remain fat. They are being selfish and that is really sad. I want you to take back your power and put yourself first. It has been years since you have done this. There are so many of us out here who support you and will be there every step of the way with you. So if you are sitting out there and reading these posts and someone has bullied you, this message is directed to you. They want to keep you under their power and control—that is so wrong!! You NO longer need to fear what they think. I am here to help you in any way I can. You can be very successful and healthy and take back your life. Again this is ALL ABOUT YOU AND NO ONE ELSE. This is my private E-mail—please send me a note and we will start talking. I will call you also if you would like. Suzannesh@AOL.com Together we will get you through this. Hugs, Suzanne Lost 105 pounds

Hi, I am one of the people who went to Dr. Aceves by myself also. You do not need an advocate all all with you. You will always be able to speak for yourself and get what you need or want. Dr. Aceves and Dr. Compos are the most caring kind and wonderful doctors you will ever meet. They visit you 2 or 3 time a day while you are there--that is unheard of in the good old USA. You are in excellent hands. There are No problems at all traveling by yourself. A driver will walk down to the baggage area for the airlines that you arrive on with a piece of paper with your name on it and take you out to the very nice Van that they pick you up in and load your suit case in the back. It is about 1.5 hour drive to the hospital. There will be other people going for the very same reason your are. Everyone starts talking and you will make some really wonderful NEW friends who are there just for what you are there for. There are NO problems at all crossing the boarder. The hospital is so very clean and well taken care of. The have less of an infection rate than ANY US hospital has. You are in excellent hands. What you are fearing in the fear of the unknown. All the feeling and emotions you are have are very NORMAL. Most all of us had the very same feeling and emotions that you are feeling right now. So this makes you very normal. I can assure you forever that things are going to be OK, but until you experience it you still do not know what to expect. I am here for you every step of the way. Just send me an E-mail. My personal E-mail is Suzannesh@aol.com By the way please Tell Dr. Aceves that Suzanne said a BIG Hi, he will also tell you I am a good resource for any question you might have when you get home too. As far as your PCP, I would get rid of him if he can not be supportive. You pay him--you want someone who will be there for you an NOT look down his nose at you like he is Superior. I dislike doctors like this. We are doing some right and want to improve our health--who gives him the right to treat you like this???? Ask around and see if other people in your area have a doctor that they like. I was very lucky that my PCP was very much in favor of me having sleeve surgery. All you will need once you get home from a PCP is for them to run a full blood panel at maybe 30 days or 6 weeks from your surgery date and then occational along the way continue to run the full blood panels. Lots of time they start taking you off a lot of your meds that you are taking now because you no longer need them. Pack light, I have a list of things I suggest to take when you go there if you would like for me to send it to you. Hugs, and you are doing something GREAT to save and change your entire life forever. Suzanne Lost 105 pounds and have kept it off!

Hi, I loved your comment. That one word says it ALL!!! Hugs, Suzanne