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Congrats and the best of luck MrsLittle. We wish you all the best tomorrow. Keep us updated as soon as you can, and may you have a speedy recovery!!

Oh I am so glad you commented Forensikchic. I have been wondering how your sister has done since her surgery, I just hadn't taken the time to look you up and go through your post to see if you had posted about it.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery with Dr. Alvarez. Maybe I will have the pleasure of meeting you. I will be sleeved by Dr. Alvarez on August 6th. Another friend of Mine Sweetsusie will be having hers done July 7th. Susie and I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Dr. A. in person in Houston for a seminar he held back in May. It was a great and wonderful experience. I know you will be happy with him. There are quite a few people here on the forums who used Dr. Alvarez. If you do a search on him, you can find past topics about their experiences.

I've heard several people mention these drinks on the forum before. What are they? I'm guessing this is something bigger cities have. But they sound yummy.

This post was amazing. I loved your truthfulness and honesty. I am glad you are on the road to recovery and feeling a little better.

Congrats. Wish you all the best and hope for a fast speedy recovery. Keep us updated!!

Congrats to the both of you, and I hope you both have a very speedy and safe recovery. Keep us updated. Good Luck to both.

Susie, you are a great person and I am fortunate enough to have met you in person, and thankful for the bond that we will soon share together. I appreciate you always being there for me as you are my leader since your surgery will be before mine, but I am always here whenever you need to vent, chat, laugh, cry or just be silent and breath on the phone with the peace of knowing that someone else is there. lol. Keep head held high, this too shall pass.

Colleen, I got mine from www.tickerfactory.com They have tons to choose from. Just select what kind of ticker you want ( weight loss, event, etc.) follow the steps, and you will be given a code at the end of creating. Once you have that code you can put it in your profile as your signature.

Yes I would like to watch. I have watched tons of surgery videos and every one is unique in their own ways. I like preparing myself for surgery.

I have not had surgery yet, but from what I read here on the boards that stalls happen. Especially stalls around the 3-4 week time frame. I'm not sure who said it, Maybe it was Lissa. But whoever it was stated to not worry so much about not losing. If you were to take and keep track of your body measurements that you would see your body is changing even though your weight is not. Another person referenced your body to cleaning house. You have lost so much weight that your body must now clean house and de-clutter and down size the rooms. Emotions well I hear those run high at times. Also learned from this forum that hormones are stored in our body fat and as we lose weight those hormones are released which can cause an array of emotions. I am sure I will be experiencing these very same things when my time comes. As far as the bloating maybe someone who has already had surgery and been through this will be more help. Have faith and keep up all the hard work. If this is a stall, it too shall pass.

That's great news!!. I was worried about my pre-op diet that I will be starting next month. Hubby and I were scheduled to be in Florida for a convention, and then my surgery was scheduled for right after the convention, but I cancelled my convention plans. I just didn't think I could handle being there while on a liquid diet and watching everyone else eat; wasn't sure if I could beat a murder wrap in Florida if they started eating in front of me. You are truly an inspiration knowing that it "can be done" if you set your mind to it. I hope your surgery goes very well for you Monday and that you will be on a fast road of healing. Best of luck. Keep us updated.

Joyv, here is some information I am gonna type you out of the book "Successful Weight Loss With The Gastric Sleeve" by Dr. Guillermo Alvarez (my doctor). Vertical Banded Gastroplasty: The vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is a restrictive procedure rarely done nowadays because of very poor weight loss and high percentage of long-term complications compared to other weight loss procedures. It consists of creating a gastric pouch based on the lesser curvature of the stomach created by a stapler device. The outlet of this pouch is restricted with a prosthetic band or mesh. The VBG is a purely restrictive procedure. This procedure used to be very popular because it is a simple operation and has a low risk of early surgical complications. Although short-term results looked promising, long-term results were not favorable and were associated with complications. http://www.docshop.com/education/bariatrics/gastric-banding/vbg I am unable to post a picture as Im not sure how.. That link will take you to a picture of the procedure.

I like to think I am an open book, but I ran into a major wall known as negativity as soon as I let my MOM in on my plans. Boy she did not take that the way i thought she would. I expected her to be understanding and supportive. Instead I was given a lot of grief first about having surgery and then second about choosing to do it in Mexico. My Father turned out to be more supportive and is just carrying the normal worries a father would have over their daughter. He says he backs me 100%, just wants me to make it back home ( I'm assuming this is a normal fear for family members when one is taking the Mexico route) I told my Aunt about my plans. She was the very first to actually know other than my Husband and kids and she was very supportive; mainly cause we talk very regularly and she knows my daily routines, and struggles with my trying and wanting to lose weight, Over all, my husband and kids are my most supportive people backing me. However despite the positive and supportive members that I do have, I have chosen to not tell anyone else until after the fact. The simple reason for this is the negativity can really eat at a person. I need to have the least amount of stress to be able to accomplish my goals. If I let those negative people in, or continue with the negative comments then it will eventually eat at me to the point of possible destruction. This is my life, my body, and I have to live in it and with it. No one can know what its like living as "You" but yourself.

Congrats "Suchaprettyface" That is a great start to the new you. Keep up all the excellent hard work.

I am dancing with you. Your excitement just makes me what to do the shuffle. People tend to hate Mondays but I can just tell you can't wait for that day to get here. I wish you all the best, Keep us updated. Congrats. BTW your pics are wonderful. And wtg on your pre-op diet loss. Thats impressive.

Hi AllNewMe, Sorry I am just now noticing your post. Meeting Dr. Alvarez was really a great experience. Too bad you and I won't be able to meet in person, but You will be resting comfortably in your own bed by the time I get there. I wish you all the best. Keep in touch.

Not real sure if there is actual spell check button to click but what i find is if you have a word underlined in red indicating its misspelled, then right click on that word and a list of options (Word substitutes) come up. Hope this helps.

[quote name='futureskinnypants' timestamp='1340394574' post='382875' PS, what is YOUR pre op diet? Mine is 2 weeks Protein shakes....and i believe sugar free Jello. my friend is having it and said her doc said she can eat whatever but has to drink protein shakes too (that doesnt make sense to me . ) Another friend on here had it for 3 days (protein shakes) and another person had shakes but could eat chicken and steak as well. His diet was basically the atkins induction phase. I don't have exact specifics yet as to what is and isn't allowed but I was informed that I will be on a 14 day pre-op liquid diet. I am choosing to extend my diet for a few more days to be on the safe side.

I too hit a brick wall with this. My husband and kids (ages 15 & 11) are my biggest supporters. My mom freaked out. First over the surgery itself and now over Mexico. My dad on the other hand says he backs me 100% but asked me to promise that I would come back home through the tears in his eyes. My best friend was almost like my mom. Of course she is a nice size 12, and gave me the honey your not that fat. You don't need surgery. I seriously hate that "your not that big/fat" statement. Live a week in my body and then tell me that. Because of all the negativity I have received I have decided to not tell anyone else until after the fact. I am strong willed and my windshield wipers are still good but I don't need anymore mudd slung my way.

Sorry to hear surgery took longer but glad to see u doing so well. It's nice to hear your pain is tolerable, it keeps me hopeful. Wish u a speedy recovery and congrats on making it to the losers bench.

Sending many hugs and tons on prayers your way. I'm sure this will all work out.

Glad to hear you doing so well littlebits. I hope things continue to move smooth for you. Congrats on making it to the losers bench. Save a big seat for me.

When I first started researching it was on a particular doctor. A friend of mine has the lap band and used Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. Actually her whole family used him. She was telling me all about him, how he was featured on Oprah and all the magazine, and his practice is a center of excellence. I was almost positive I was going to use him. However my search was still continuing. Thats when I came across Dr. Guillermo Alvarez in Piedras negras. I started talking to people who have used him, as I was wanting to have the gastric sleeve and not lap band. After researching and reading many of forums, comments, reviews and articles I was positive that is who I wanted for my doctor. Last month I was able to meet him in person at a seminar he held in Houston, Texas. He was very thorough, answered all questions from the audience. After the seminar was over I met him personally and he even answered some one on one questions. that really meant a lot for him to take time out and make sure I had the answers I needed. I could not have chosen a better Dr. for myself. I am currently scheduled to have vsg surgery with on August 6th. He has tons of videos on youtube that will answer all sorts of questions a person may have. What I have observed is you are not just a patient, you become a friend, your not just discarded after surgery for he follows up with you through email, phone calls. If you have a problem you just shoot him an email or call the office and he will respond very quickly. He also has patient reunions every year where all his patients get together and celebrate.

Hi August friends. I too will be sleeved August 6th with Dr. Alvarez in Mexico. Someone asked me how I chose my doctor. Well originally I was going with Dr. Ortiz cause thats who my friend used for her lap band and she said he was great. Actually her whole family used him so I started searching about him. Amongst my searching is when I came across Dr. Alvarez. I liked what I read, saw and was interested. I ordered his book and read it within hours. I knew then he was my pick. Can't explain but such calm feeling came over me. So there I chose Dr. Alvarez and people were like you;ve never met him. Well Folks I had the opportunity to meet him In May at a seminar in Houston. Meeting and talking to him in person, having him answer my questions on a one on one basis just made the feeling stronger that he was the right doctor for me. My husband really was impressed and supports my choice of doctor. Now I am just tapping my toes on the floor waiting for the dates to fly by so that I can begin the new journey of ME. I am required to do a 14 day liquid diet before hand, but I am choosing to do it for a few more extra days. I just don't want to be one of the ones they open up and send back home for an enlarged liver. I am 6'2 and currently weighing 323. I really don't know what my goal weight is right now. 17 years ago I married at the weight of 147, but when we get this heavy, or let ourselves go, we are happy with any healthy weight thats naturally lower than were we are. So I am going to let my doctor set the goal weight for me.