BeautyVGSJourney

9 days for me and I can't wait

We’re Giving Away a New iPod Touch!
To Celebrate the release of our Mobile apps, we’re giving away a brand-new Apple iPod Touch. It’s a drawing, but we want to reward our active posters, referrers, bloggers, members with completed profiles and new members. The more you participate in VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better chance you have of winning. Here’s how it works.
Eligibility and Chances of Winning
Forum members must make at least one post in any forum on VerticalSleeveTalk during the contest period of 30 days from today.
Members must have a completed patient profile.
You can increase your chances of winning by making more forum and blog posts, uploading more photos and referring members.

At the end of the contest period, one of the forum administrators will find all of the eligible forum members – remember, you have to make at least one post and have a completed Gastric Sleeve profile. We’ll make a big spreadsheet with the Username of each member who is eligible, and assign points based on your activities. The more points you have, the better your chances of getting the iPod!
Point Structure
1 point: each forum post and each uploaded photo
2 points: each forum post from our mobile apps and each blog post
5 points: join a group
10 Points: complete My Surgery, My Surgeon or My Gastric Sleeve Story; upload before and/or after photos
20 points for each successful member referral; and
40 points for a fully completed patient profile

Get Involved Again
If you’re an old-timer who hasn’t been around much, this contest is a great opportunity to bring you back to the boards. You have tons of experience and advice to share with newer gastric sleeve patients. If you’ve fallen off the wagon, don’t be shy. It’s never too late to get back on, and we’re here to give you the support and confidence you need for success in your lifestyle goals.

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tell your husband to do research in scientific literature. The complication rates are actually a lot higher for the lapband than they are for the sleeve. For example a friend of mine her mom and her aunt both had the band put on a couple of years ago, about a year later her aunt almost died because the band moved and was breaking the blood flow to her internal organs. Her mom is ok and has had no problems yet but that was very scary for them. The negative thing I can say about the sleeve is that because its still considered a new procedure, there is no real long term research on it, but that can also be said about the lapband since its also pretty new (literature wise). But in the past few years more and more research shows the complication rates are much higher for the band compared to the sleeve, I was going to do the band when I first started my journey but after much research I decided on the sleeve. I specially like the part that I don't have something inside me that can kill me and that I have to keep getting filled or unfilled. I encourage you both to do some research and also talk to the surgeon. Best of luck!

Call President Obama... it's an election year! Sorry, I don't mean to make light of your dilemma and I wish there was an easy answer for you. I just get frustrated because there are so many Americans out there who really need help - such as you - but can't get it because our government squanders so much money on the undeserving. I think probably the easiest way for you would be to apply for a credit card and use that. Qualifying standards change from one lender to another and, while you may not qualify for one, you may for another. I really wish you the best of luck!

I am definitely in! I cannot wait! less than two weeks to go!

A 10, I am wearing a size 10 jean today. Since my Nov VSG date I have gone from a size 20W to a size 10 jean!!! All I can say to those who are either anxiously waiting for their date and for those who have recently had the surgery is "THIS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU!" And it's wonderful to realize that you (I) won't ever get back into those 20s! (except for comparison purposes lol)

I am definitely in! I cannot wait! less than two weeks to go!

Thank you so much for your thoughts, opinions, and experiences everyone! I'm happy to say that I'm having surgery with Dr. Ponce DeLeon on May 10th, and will be meeting up with BeautyVGSJourney! Trish has been wonderful and so helpful and I can't wait to meet both her and BeautyVGSJourney. I can't believe it's happening so fast, but I'm so excited to finally be having this done after years of thinking, planning, and waiting. I can't wait to get on with the rest of my life!
Almost forgot! Cynthia, I'm not too far from you, just across the puddle on the Island Good luck with your surgery, are you self paying as well?
NJSharon, I believe Dr. Kelly has his patients stay at Hotel Lucerna? If so, we will likely be there around the same time. If you're up to it, I'd love to chat with another sleever!

OMG I totally get where you are coming from. Ive been asking myself the same questions! My surgery is May 21 in Mexico. In the end I am 99% sure this is a good choice for me. I am almost 6 feet tall and have a bmi of 40. Ive lost weight before only to gain it back and the some. It is scary but so is being obese with health issues and having to deal with kids.
I told my daughter that if anything is going to take me off this earth it will be from something I couldnt control, like getting hit by a bus. Not from something I could have done something about, with that said I quit smoking in February and am now focused on a healthy me.... yea surgery seems like a drastic step but research as much as you can and this forum is great for support and information. Only you can make the decision.

I dont tthink you will regret it. you can always wait around for the next best thing to come along or you can decide to make yourself happy now. you can wait 15 yrs unhappy on a weight roller coaster going up and down or you can be happy 6 months from now and not worry about 15 yrs from now, you could get hit by a bus tomorrow. seize the day. my husband is the same way and i just tell him he cant understand bc he is not me. not everyone's body and mind is capable of processing food the same way. i had to make my body make me eat better. almost 3 weeks out, no problems, no regets, 22 lbs gone since preop liquid diet.. much happier me, much happier husband bc i am happier. hope it helped a little :0)

tell your husband to do research in scientific literature. The complication rates are actually a lot higher for the lapband than they are for the sleeve. For example a friend of mine her mom and her aunt both had the band put on a couple of years ago, about a year later her aunt almost died because the band moved and was breaking the blood flow to her internal organs. Her mom is ok and has had no problems yet but that was very scary for them. The negative thing I can say about the sleeve is that because its still considered a new procedure, there is no real long term research on it, but that can also be said about the lapband since its also pretty new (literature wise). But in the past few years more and more research shows the complication rates are much higher for the band compared to the sleeve, I was going to do the band when I first started my journey but after much research I decided on the sleeve. I specially like the part that I don't have something inside me that can kill me and that I have to keep getting filled or unfilled. I encourage you both to do some research and also talk to the surgeon. Best of luck!

Be encouraged! You have lost 46 amazing lbs!! That is awesome, and you will continue to drop! You can do this!!

I went with Dr Ponce de leon and loved him,Trish was amazing too. She keeps in contact with you after as well.
I had a really amazing experience - the hospital staff and drs and nurses were amazing! I am a nurse in winnipeg and found the hospital really nice. Very clean , The nurses answered the call bell within 20 seconds!! isn't that insane? Usually faster . They came in to empty waste baskets several times a day. My sister loved the cafeteria and went out with trish for a couple meals as well . I took a ton of pictures and put them up on a photobucket account ... you can see them here... www.photobucket.com/wlstijuana. you can see the hospital and some of our shopping and the hotel you stay at in Tijuana ( across from the hospital for the last night ) The price includes pretty much everything except your flight.

Hi everyone after thinking the pro and cons with all three surgerys. I decided to do the sleeve it best for me all of this pain and knowing that I recent got news that I have type 2 diabetes. Its time to do what I have to a new lease one life is good for me and my family. So I have my first appt on March 19th for my doctor and get the other appts. So ill blog back on that day let you know how it goes.

Yes, everyone's perception is different. Since my surgery, I now look at how sad it is that so many people are so big. The pain that so many youngsters carry around with themselves is horrible. Whole families are totally over weight and knowing the pain a lot of people are in makes me sad. How did our society get this way? How can we stop it? I'm planning on opening a center to help people with their weight issues and other issues underlying the weight problem.

Im 5'2 and my goal is 135 I have surpassed it and I'm now 132.

I also find this a sad situation, yes as a western culture we are getting used to the 'larger' body... yet we are bombarded with skinny images of models etc. It gives out a very confused message to the general population!
As regards what others think... I agree with the above, it really doesn't matter (that much...lol)!
When others are used to seeing you/us a certain way, they get a little freaked out by change, now that doesn't allow them to be rude or imply ill health! It just scares them... and you've lost a lot of weight FAST - good n you by the way!
I've been told that I shouldn't lose any more weight - even though I am still classified as obese... I've been told that any more weight loss and I will look to old/too thin/ ill etc... but I don't listen and care about that... I DO care about my overall health and fitness though! So I will continue to fight the good fight and do what I can with this amazing tool.
I think you should just hold your head high, take it as a back handed compliment and try to let it wash over you.
Congratulate yourself on your amazing success and good health and enjoy the new 'slim' you!!
Well done on getting to goal... and good luck with maintance, not that you'll need it! =]

Went in today for my final weight check before the surgery next Tue, 70 pounds down Pre-op- its been a rough ride since January but that much closer to my goals. its been years since I have been this size, I know the best is yet to come. very happy

Just watched your "blot-clot" video, again, excellent. Especially the recommendations for travel care and the thumbs up/down on heparin and aspirin, respectively. I didn't realize that aspirin could be an issue that way, especially since they recommend it for heart patients.
I think you are probably going to be a great resource for folks here, but to protect yourself, it might be good to put a disclaimer at the beginning and end of the videos; ie: "I am not a doctor; please discuss this and any other medical information with your own doctor before engaging in any conduct on reliance on it." Something like that, I have never provided language to someone in this case. Probably I am paranoid b/c I am a lawyer, but just don't want you to get screwed because you are doing a good thing.

dr. Ponce de leon has been a surgeon for over 20 years in Tijuana Mexico. He does the re-sleeve surgery along with sleeve, bypass and other bariatric and other types of surgeries. He is a teacher also and has thought the sleeve to many Mexican surgeons as well as other surgeries. His coordinator is Trish you can contact her at 661-886-4617 her website is http://www.wls4bette....com/index.html

It's all just a matter of individual taste, what's good to one person tastes like barf to another. I really hated about 6 different brands I tried and settles on the Boost! shakes (available nearly everywhere in the USA). Their not the best as far as Protein content but SOME Protein that I could get down without a struggle is netter than none.
Just keep trying different brands till you find one you like.

Great, I passed that info to his coordinator. Its probably best if they do it since they have the most accurate information.
Thank you!

so!!!!
i just went out to my car and called my surgeons office. told them how i was 293 when i weighed in with them (did i mention i got to this weight from 315 taking phentermine?) i stopped taking them after meeting with the surgeon. and i gained some weight back, got to 309. not im at 303. and im afraid i wont have my surgery bc i didnt lose instead i gained pre-op. she assured me not to worry that i will have my surgery but if i dont lose on the Protein Shake diet ill be expecting a lecture from the surgeon (oops!). im feeling better now. she also said as long as i stick to the Protein shake diet...ill lose weight. =]
i feel better now.

Agreed! Dont go through all this work for them to tell you no after they go in! I lost 10 pounds already. The more you lose now, the less after! On that note, im getting back on the tread mill and show it whos boss! My goal is to fit in the brand new Michael Khors size small bikini I bought!!!

yes and know. They can measure the liver size but that only gives an extimate liver size. You should always be honest with your surgeon because your life depends on it (literally). Dieting before surgery is specially important if your BMI is over 40, because then your liver is already much larger. I would say do your best to follow the diet, but don't be too hard on yourself if you cheat sometimes. The cheating is specially important not to do right after surgery because of leak risks