Jesser

Be happy . Your going to be in great hands down there. Just be ready follow your diet plan before going.
Everything else will be smooth. Mi-hospital is an awesome place.
My doctor was Fernando Garcia
Contacts were Rosie and Melissa (melly)
They are awesome.
The hospital is a hospital it's 3floors high it's very clean you get your own room with a full bathroom/shower tv ect

Thanks everyone! I don't know what I would do without this forum. I don't have one single person in my life that is supportive. I feel alone often. But this definitely helps in so many ways!!

Thanks everyone! I don't know what I would do without this forum. I don't have one single person in my life that is supportive. I feel alone often. But this definitely helps in so many ways!!

So, I was just mentioning to my Mom how hard the pre-op diet is going to be, just drinking Protein Shakes and having a salad. She looks at me and says, "Well,if you can do that then why can't you go on a diet?" Really?! I don't know how many times I have to keep repeating myself. It actually gets me irate now because I'm tired of trying to get them to see my point of view. She's overweight too! Why can't she just be skinny?? Probably for the same reason why I can't be. Also, the guy that I've been dating keeps trying to tell me that I'm just wasting my money, that I'm a hard headed person and I can do this on my own blah blah blah. And guess what? He's overweight too! If it's soooo easy then why are they still overweight? I hate that they look at me like I'm just running off trying to get a "quick fix" when I'm not doing that at all. I KNOW that if I don't get this surgery, I will NOT lose weight. Even if I go on a diet, I know myself and I will give up because food has that much power over me. I'm such a strong person, but this is too much for me to overcome without some kind of help. I wouldn't run off to another country, risk the complications, spend all the money on it just for a quick fix. I'm going because I have faith that this is the answer that I've been looking for! I know it's not going to be easy, but having it as a tool that I can utilize will help me so much. I just wish others in my life, my "support system" could actually see that too.

just remember WHO you are doing this for ......

I totally get it. I'm in the same boat, my mom tells me that i'm going to be sorry that I got this surgery. I don't know how major surgery to remove 85% of someone's stomach and being on a liquid/soft food diet for 2-3 months is taking the easy way out. I did the 6 month diet, and guess what...I'm gaining again because this is how it always is whenever I diet, I lose some weight, I stall, I wobble, and then I start creeping up again. In the 4 month wait for a surgery date after the diet I've gained 10-12lbs of the 35 I lost.
This is why we need the surgery. I dont think you're prepared to give up and this surgery is not giving up. It's making the choice to get better. None of us are choosing this surgery because it's easy or going to solve every problem we have. It is something that may turn the tables from having no control to being in control of the food. I'm counting on that chance to help me get better and get past my own food/weight issues.
We are going to be fine and when our families see how much better we are, I'm totally going to rub it in.....yeah...i really am and it's going to be fabulous!

I know... I'm worrying about this!

I have been on this site for a while now reading, commenting, and chatting; but I never really told my story. So here goes.....

I have ALWAYS been heavy. I can remember going to weight watchers when I was 8 years old. Eating cottage cheese and liver and onions! (what every eight year old wants to eat) I was on and off diets my whole childhood. When I was 13 I went into a Children's Hospital weight study. I lost over 155 lbs! I was down to 135!!! The smallest I have EVER been. It was a Protein diet I ate 17 grams of protein a day and that is IT!! No carbs, no dairy, no fat, only green veggies. After being on that diet for over a year my kidneys started shutting down and I was breaking bones left and right. I had to get off that program and I started a weight watchers style program thru Children's Hospital and gained all the weight back plus more by the time I graduated high school. In college I yoyo dieted losing 20- 65lbs. Getting to the highest I have ever weighed 411lbs. Then I was introduces to the Adkins diet. My mom and I both went on it I lost over 100lbs I met my husband who just so happened to be on the Adkins diet also. We dated for 3 years going on and off the Adkins diet losing and gaining weight... After we were married I discovered my passion for cooking and baking welllll...... 11 years later my husband is at his max weight of 309lbs and I was slowly climbing back to my max weight. I have wanted to have the surgery but my insurance company will not cover it and honestly my husband was not a big fan of me getting it done. So after the insurance company said no and we found out the cash price I just let it sit on the back burner. Then my husband went to the doctors with me and heard the doctor tell me I am going to die if I keep up this weight (390) with my family history. It was light a light bulb went off in my husband’s head. Then my husband started having chest pains and trouble walking because of the weight he gained. So I talked my husband into going to a local doctor’s seminar on the sleeve and we did and he was SOLD!!! Not only did he want me to have surgery now he wants it also!!! We thought about how we were going to pay for it even thought about taking out a second mortgage, but I had a friend tell me about Mexico. So I started researching, while I was researching Mexico my husband business partner is from the country of Jordan and his brother and brother in law are doctors so he offered to find out how much it would cost to get it done in Jordan. My husband came home and told me about Jordan so I started researching it also. We looked into airfare it was very pricey and a VERY VERY VERY long flight and we were not sure if we would be able to fly back after surgery in the given time we had off of work. So I told my husband about Mexico. I emailed alighterme.com and by the end of the end of the day Ronda called me and emailed me everything I needed. In October we made or deposits and bought our plane tickets. We started drinking Protein shakes twice a day and eating a low carb dinner. We stayed on this until Christmas. Christmas we did eat but I have to tell you it was a fraction of what we would have eaten last year. I weighed myself the day before Christmas and I was down to 366 my husband 287. Today we decided to take our before pictures and OMG!!! I usually dress very well for my weight but for my before picture I put on a tight tank top with a pair of leggings so NOTHING can hide!! I looked at that picture and asked my husband am I really this big? I never take full body photos, I know I am fat but I will be honest I did not realize I was this large! We started our pre op diet today again and I am hoping to be less than 350 before my surgery February 8th with Dr. Lopez! I cannot wait to start my journey to the NEW me!!

I'm a huge Dr. Pepper addict, and I know it's going to be torture never having this again... Is anyone else struggling with giving this up for good?

Very exciting! As I await my Passport card for my February 4 surgery, I can't help feeling like I did shortly before I graduated from high school. Not really sure what the future holds, but I have a feeling it will be cool beyond anything I could imagine!
This is OUR YEAR!

I was the same with Sun-Drop (local drink that is similar to Mountain Dew, only better). I missed it during pre-op and for a couple of months after my surgery. Then I tried a couple of sips of one and I could no longer stand it....it was awful! Way too sweet and the carbonation hurt my stomach. I've not missed it since. I'm not saying to go and try a Dr. Pepper to rid you of the longing, I'm just saying that often our tastes change post-op and that there is a lot of truth to the reasons to avoid carbonated drinks. Hopefully your craving for it will disappear, or at least subside.

I believe the majority of the posts are with Dr. Fernando Garcia who can be booked through Ready4Achange. I don't know if he's still booking through alighterme or not.

My passport took 2.5 weeks. They tell me that if it's not just before summer when folks go on vacation that they are slower and it doesn't take as long. So you should get it. Good luck!

I believe the majority of the posts are with Dr. Fernando Garcia who can be booked through Ready4Achange. I don't know if he's still booking through alighterme or not.

So....First round of March Madness is Thurs March 21-24, so naturally I scheduled my surgery on the 19th so I can watch all 48 first round games while I adjust/recuperate! Yeah buddy!
I figured the Man Room would be the place to post this beca use only a man would be crazy enough to schedule sleeve around sports!

My name is Jessica I live in a small town in Texas- near Houston.
Surgery date- March 8th- flying in to Dan Diego on the 7th and leaving the 12th.
Surgeon- Dr. Alejandro Lopez
Booked through- alighterme coordinator: Janese
I have no clue what I weigh right now because I've been avoiding the scale like the plague, but if I had to guess roughly 250ish. And I'm 5'7
I have no desire to be skinny skinny, it wouldn't even bother me to still have a little bit of weight on me. Just gotta get below 200!!!
I plan on starting my pre op diet 2 weeks prior to my surgery... I'm scared to death and hope that I'm making the right decision.

My name is Jessica I live in a small town in Texas- near Houston.
Surgery date- March 8th- flying in to Dan Diego on the 7th and leaving the 12th.
Surgeon- Dr. Alejandro Lopez
Booked through- alighterme coordinator: Janese
I have no clue what I weigh right now because I've been avoiding the scale like the plague, but if I had to guess roughly 250ish. And I'm 5'7
I have no desire to be skinny skinny, it wouldn't even bother me to still have a little bit of weight on me. Just gotta get below 200!!!
I plan on starting my pre op diet 2 weeks prior to my surgery... I'm scared to death and hope that I'm making the right decision.

I believe the majority of the posts are with Dr. Fernando Garcia who can be booked through Ready4Achange. I don't know if he's still booking through alighterme or not.

Yes, thank you for all the little details! It makes me feel more comfortable

Yes, thank you for all the little details! It makes me feel more comfortable

Hi all,
I was sleeved on Jan 17th 2012 by Dr. Garcia. I followed the post op exactly and healed perfect with zero complications. I just had an endoscopy in Dec and my Gastro here said my stomach line looked perfect. He is very skilled.
My #1 Advice: Go immediately, if not sooner, and purchase the GAS-X dissolvable strips. Do not try an off brand and do not try chewables. These were an absolute lifesaver that another VSG'er told me about. Matter of fact, buy 2 boxes as you will need them the first couple of weeks. I could only find them at Walgreens.
Your tummy will rumble like crazy after a sip of anything. Don't panic...it is just your tummy telling you its working hard.
The nurses do not wash their hands. It's a cultural thing. Don't stress about it, just ask them to wash them and they will do it. It is not rude and they totally understand. It's just not something they normally don't do.
Tip for the ladies (I may get in trouble for this): The really nice replica handbags are in the back of the purse stores right around the corner from the hospital. The ones they display on the street are the cheap immitations- and they look it. The replica Gucci's, Channel's and Louis are in the back rooms under cover. Just ask the pushy salesmen for the "good bags". Walk away at least twice and dont pay more than $60 bucks. They will act like you are robbing them...LOL be firm in your price point. I purchased a very nice replica Louis for $55 and he started at $120. I went shopping day three and loaded up. They all know you are there for surgery, just tell them if they won't barter that you are tired and will maybe come back. The price starts to drop dramatically. I also picked up some beautiful handmade tiles with birds on them. They are my weight loss birds and I love them.
Congrats and Good Luck everyone. Your in good hands.

Just think of all the money you will save in food over a year! I know I probably spend as much as what the surgery is going to cost eating out at restaurants and stuff associated with food.

I told them several months ago about this surgery, and the majority of the time they never say anything about it. I think that they hope I will just change my mind. I'd like to just have someone to talk about it with, share my concerns, my excitement with. Sure, on here I can do that, but I want to be able to do that with my family. It's always been that way though and I have always felt alone.... Not feeling sorry for myself, but I can only hope surgery goes well, and none of them will say "I told you so!" Lol