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Wow. I don't think I was being rude OR confrontational. Just stating my view. I guess some ppl are just naturally defensive and inflammatory.

I can now see why there has been alot of talk about how this site has become very hostile and people leave. I had not seen it that way before. But I guess a few can ruin a good thing for all.

Have a good day to you as well.

Perhaps this topic should be taken up with Alex?

I agree, as I just reread the posts and she even stated that whichever surgeon someone chose, she wished them luck. She was very noncomittal and PC in her own posts. I hate to think a fellow sleever would not be welcomed here for support due to another posters misguided request for information.

But you are his coordinator! I saw all of your posts on the doctor Kelly thread you were working out dates with people....

"Hi everyone Yhis is Lora' date=' Dr. Kelly's new coordinator...Thanks for all the great feedback"[/quote']

Actually...I have to say, I never saw Lora push Dr. Kelly. She mentioned her surgeon. Nothing different from the rest of us. She addressed a forum that directly related to her employment. One in which I myself had voiced concerns about Kellys rotating staff. A new preop addressed Lora on the forum about scheduling.. She AND I suggested to the poster that personal scheduling should be addressed to her email address. Lora is a sleeve pt just like the rest of us. As long as she doesn't advertise openly, and directs misdirected questions to the email...I welcome her postop experiences. Jmho

Anyone going to Dr. Kelly at Oasis Hospital and Lucerna hotel... I`m having surgery there March 4th.

March 28...Ill be watching your story : )

Congrats! That's awesome!

I lived in Bristol/Abingdon Virginia for ten years! I love it there. Very beautiful

I live outside of Richmond. Lived in the state most of my life, but new to this area. I like it pretty well.

Lol..I hope I feel the same. Now that the money is there and flights booked, I find myself in moments of being excited, nervous, and the "OMG, Im going to mexico to be cut on?? WTH am I thinking"

Where can I find a cheap airplane tickets because sw airlines talking 661 for a round trip ticket

I booked 2 roundtrip tickets (for me and my mom)thru Insanely cheap flights for $916 from Va to San Diego. Including taxes and fees. I didnt think that was too bad for 2.

You look great! Keep up the great work : )

Lookin good!! Congrats on your progress!

Congrats Heidi. I booked my flights tonight too. No turning back now. Nonrefundable. Lol

Kayaking : )

Hi Lora

Does Dr. Kelly work with Drs. Cabrera (Garcia) and Louisana?

How does he compare to them and how much does he charge? is it the same cost?

I have some medical issues and Dr. Cabrera wants to find out more from the doctors reports before he decides to take on the surgery.. The Co Ordinator asked if Cabrera is out' date=' would I like her to contact Dr. Kelly because he may do it. Is that because he's 'better'? Or what is the difference between them and the package offered?[/quote']

You may try emailing Lora for personal scheduling questions. You may get a faster response. Info@wlsclinic.com Good luck : )

Best wishes and fast recovery!

Beautiful! Congrats!!

Wow!! Amazing. Keep up the great work!

I was under the impression that there was no need to exchange currency for TJ. As American dollars were accepted most everywhere there. But there was a recent post that said I needed to exchange for other expenses (tips, purchases, ect). Can anyone who has been there please advise?

Great to see you're well!! I look forward to your post. Until then, rest, walk, and congrats : )

Just wanted to add pictures (I hope they worked!) the white shirt pics are the day before surgery and the other two are 2 weeks post! Seems to me like more than ten pounds' date=' which is why I'm so encouraged so far![/quote']

Awedome progress!! U look great!

Hi im schedule for 3/27/13 also in Mexico' date=' please hide ur passport in a good place jus in case, try to buy pesos in a money exchange store..dont pay anything with dollars trust me! Sooo happy 4 u! Keep us posted [/quote']

Why? I was told that most places in TJ accept American dollars just fine because of its proximity to the border. I had not planned to exchange. Should I?

You both are not alone! It is so sad how many of us have been through this struggle. There is absolutely nothing easy about being fat...despite what anyone says. My story is pretti simalar. I am a single Mom of 5 adult children and grandma to 1 with another on the way. I have struggled most of my adult life. I've played the yoyo diet game and I think back in 2003 I got down to 145 pounds with phen-fen...which is why I had my first heart surgery in 2007 due to leaky valves...all I wanted was to be skinny and accepted. It's such a shame that I have been so judge based on the outside... Finally...after a pretty crappy long (9 years) relationship with a man who was so embarresed of my size that he refused to tell anyone about me...I sold everything I had to pay for the surgery...I was so worried that I wass making a mistake and putting my family at risk financialy. I still have a 17 year old at home and my oldest son and his 7 month pregnant wife (money is tight) All the way to Mexico I had so many fears and doubts...I didn't know if I was making the right choice. I boarded the plane in Atlanta' date=' doubts flooding my mind...Of course I wass seated between to younger men. I hate the "oh God, please don;t let the large lady sit by me look" that i was soon met with. I just sat and prayed, The question I kept asking myself was, am I making a mistake. When from behind me I heard "can you take up anymore room fat ass" at first I ignored it, but the pretty girl behind me wasn't abput to let me ignore her. She repeated herself. I slowly turned around and said "I am sorry that you are so unhappy with your life that you need to bully a complete stranger". Her responce? Whatever b***h. It was at that point I realized, that was my answer, what I had been praying for. I sat there determined not to cry and the burning I felt inside my soul made it possible for me to continue on by myself, without fear. When I stepped off the plane and met up with Dr. Kelly and his wife Cecy, I felt at home. I knew I was where I should be.

Now, almost a month after, I have had moments where I mourne the beautiful fat girl that I am...I feel like I have adapted my body to make others realize how beautiful I am, how beautiful I have always been...it's a shame that others are more concerned about my outsides than my insides. Needless to say...Here I am and I would make the same choice over and over again...I am so greatful to Dr. Kelly for showing me such love and compassion. When he offered me the job, it was a no brainer...I want to be able to help others create the life they want...I will be moving to Mexico in July, I am so excited that then I can meet all of you that I talk to in person and be there to love and support you through this HUGE change in life....[/quote']

Wow. Thanks for sharing Lora. Very moving and a story we can all sympathize with. Sorry I will miss the chance to meet u next month. But, Ill be in touch and best wishes on your own journey. : )

I've been struggling with my weight for years. The last 4 years has been the worst. I was always about 20 lbs "overweight" in everyone's opinion but after have three of my four kids back to back to back I couldn't drop the weight. I travel for work and we are in remote areas so we have to eat the food we are fed and none of the choices are ideal. We work long hours' date=' 12 -14 a day, 7 days a week when we are away and so often I'm too tired to work out after.

I had finally taken a few months off of work 2 years ago and I stuck to a 1200 calorie a day diet and spent 3 to 4 hours a day/5 -6 days a week doing intense workouts. The result, I lost almost 65 pounds in 3 months. I went back to work and over 6 months gained it all back. Since then I have had times of deep depression and lost all self worth. I have an amazing group of friends who I will often lie to in order to avoid seeing them. I don't feel like they will judge me but when I'm in that dark place in my head I will spend the whole night focused on how out of place I am around them and judge myself. When I do that my anxiety gets so high and so I don't even want to be around them and put myself in that position.

As all these feelings started piling up I began considering gastric sleeve surgery. It always came back to me feeling like I want to do this "on my own". I knew I could, I was on the path but yet I never finished the race. I started feeling like my only choice was to sacrifice myself, my health or to sacrifice my family's needs. I'm the breadwinner in my home, so I have no choice but to work, and work out of town. So what do I do? Look after myself and my pathetic emotional needs, or after the loves of my life? Besides, if I didn't do it on my own then I was a failure. That's what I told myself.

Then one friday night at one of our regular ladies' nights one of my absolute best friends got really drunk. Extremely drunk. I've never even seen her buzzed before. We were having a deep talk and she said there was something that she wanted to talk to me about but it wasn't the right time. I told her it was the perfect time thinking it was going to be more of her drunken nonsense. She still didn't want to tell me but I pressured her. She told me in no uncertain terms (and this was without me EVER discussing surgery with her) that she wanted me to go for gastric bypass. She said to me that my body was out of control. I sobbed. She was right. I knew it, she knew it, everyone knows it but she was the only one brave enough to not sugar coat it for me anymore. She told me that there was no way I was going to do it with the schedule I work and the traveling and that I couldn't keep prolonging it till I have time. I told her that I have always felt like it's been my choice, myself or my job. She said to me, if you don't do this for you, you won't be able to do anything for them. I cried more. I told her I felt like if I had surgery I was failing. She told me that surgery is not failing, it still involves a lot of work and life changes. I told her I feel like by saying I don't have time I've wondered if I was making excuses for myself. She told me she would have never been able to have that conversation with me if it wasn't absolutely necessary. I cried more. Secretly I always wanted someone to tell me that I had to fix things. I was sick of people pretending they didn't see what I see in the mirror. I was sick of people not loving me enough to be honest. And here she was, telling me the thing I had been researching just a month before but put off because I didn't want to be a failure.

A couple days later we went to lunch where she apologized profusely for telling me when and where she did but I thanked her. I told her that I wasn't going to do gastric bypass, but get the sleeve instead. She made me promise. I'm trying to hold true to it because I believe that everything happens for a reason and that her timing of telling me was a sign because I was so afraid to talk about it before.

So here I am, trying to book surgery for the end of this month. I JUST had my gall bladder removed the first week of Jan which was my first surgery ever and despite having to stay in the hospital for 4 days with the drain, it wasn't bad. It makes me feel less nervous about this surgery but there is still that little voice in the back of the head that makes me think I'm being a bit selfish and a bit weak by doing this.

I guess I'm just looking to see if anyone else felt this way?

My plan is to probably use Dr Ramirez in Puerto Vallarta or possible Dr Kelly or Dr Garcia in Tijuana. Has anyone else had their surgery done by Dr. Ramirez?

Lastly I just want to say that I have been trolling these boards for a few months and feel so proud of many of you even though I don't know you. You all inspire me so thank you.[/quote']

I'm a single parent. The only income in my home. I have a 13 yo son. Ive struggled w/ weight my whole life..up. down, up. Low self esteem..self hate. I kept saying "If I can do____, I will be happy." I put myself thru 3 yrs of school so I could hold my head up and support my toddler son without assistance. Great, did it. Decent career,but not happy. I said if I could buy a home for him, I would consider myself successful. I did, 22 months ago. Still didn't give me my self worth. Then, I realized, I can give my son a home, food, clothing..what he doesn't have is me. I've never been able to physically play with him, swim at the beach, enjoy our hikes without struggle. I tried to give him all. What I left out is me. I get self conscious in public. I had a ministroke Nov 2011 at the age of 37 due to high BP. So, my point here is that by taking the steps to better YOUR health and YOUR life...and YOUR happiness you are also giving to your children, your family and friends. Without it, you may not be here as long, or as engaged in life as you could be. Its not an easy decision. Its a surgery, and a life changing one...it requires you to change alot too. Its a tool, not a cure. So to me, wls is not a selfish decision, but in some cases, a selfless one. Case in point: my son asked a month ago "If you have surgery, can we go camping and hiking?" I told him I may not have it. He asked why and I said I had bills I needed to catch up instead. His response was "I don't need cable tv that bad." And angrily walked away. He wants his mom, even at his age. My surgery is in March.

I didn't realize you were the beholder of all medical knowledge about bands and sleeves. Obviously my surgeon did not realize this either and failed to consult with you. Thankfully I have my operative pictures and you can clearly see my inflamed spleen laying on my band. Seems like you might need to learn your anatomy a little better because as a nurse I can tell you it is absolutely possible for a spleen to get in the way especially when it swells. I'm so glad you gave me all your divine wisdom here so i guess that just erases everything I went through the past week because YOU have deemed it can't be possible. Are you kidding me??? I didn't post on here to get your approval or permission but obviously you feel the need to give your uneducated rediculous opinions. The fact the the sleeve was unexpected was because the surgeon told me he would not know what he could do until he got in there and if the stomach was to swollen he would only be able to remove the band. Again I must tell him to consult with you from now on because you have all the answers. Would you like to see my operative pictures' date=' reports, hospital records? I wouldn't want you to be misguided. This surgeon did me an enormous favor by handling this but that is what happens in the medical profession when you are a NICE and UPSTANDING person in the field. I'm grateful for this surgeon and he has wonderful bedside manner as well as great operative numbers. He has even called me at home each day to make sure that I feel okay. I didn't say I had an erosion or a slip. I said I had a prolapse so you might want to do your research before you run your negative mouth and make an attempt to call me a liar. The only thing not right here is YOU. Worry about your own journey and I will take care of mine. What would I have to gain to make up a story and post it on here especially when I have already lost my weight ( not 20 pounds). You might want to respond to the other members that have responded to me and have gone through the same thing and let them know that they are lieing as well and that this experience didn't really happen to them. Feel free to not comment to me because i don't waste my precious life on negative and ugly people.[/quote']

Sounds like you've been through quite an ordeal. most ppl here are helpful and very willing to give opinions, share experiences and/or give advice. Obviously as a medical person, u already know your docs input is #1, but it helps to have ppl to bounce things off of or fill in gaps. There are always a few in every public forum who are umm...wellmeaning (smile) but I've learned to weed through and gained amazing knowledge here. Good luck. Happy to help anyway I can.

I don't have any words of wisdom but I wanted to give u a virtual hug. I could feel your pain and frustration when I was reading your post and I sincerely hope everything works out smoothly for you.

And another {hug}…it is such a hard decision to make even with support. But it is YOUR decision. Maybe if they understand the surgery better they will come around. ??

Welcome : )