amykins

Thank you so much for sharing. It really helps. :-)

Umm yes it it. I was thinking it would be very difficult to put it back in. I had emergency gall bladder surgery and I wasn't able to put it back in right away and I had to get repierced afterward. I don't want a burn, especially "down there" so I will put the spacer in and hope for the best,

I like this! I'm a pretty G-rated person, but sometimes when I'm questioning my decision to do this, I tell myself "It's F'ing food!" Somehow that puts it back in perspective.

I've been taking them for years, and some days honestly I'm not sure I could get out of bed in the winter without them. II know I'm pre-op but it seems like now might not be the time to quit them. Your body is at an all-time low right now as it recovers from the shock of surgery. I'm glad you're going to keep taking them for a while while your body and mind heal. I never thought much of counselors either, felt like I wasted way too much time and $. However I did find a great therapist in the counseling program at the local college. She was a student doing her clinical hours, and was supervised. She was fantastic and I can guarantee I will go back to the program if I think I need it again. The price was cheap ($25 and hour) and she was still fresh, not jaded, and it really made a difference.

Thank you so much for sharing your post-op story. I am really nervous about the first 24 hours post op and reading your story helped a lot. Hope you get to go home tonight. Please continue to update.

Congrats and excited for you and the other Monday sleevers. Hope all goes well and is uneventful :-)

That sounds a lot like my gallbladder pain except I was nauseous too. Worst pain I can remember. I felt like my stomach was so bloated I couldn't breathe. When I went to the urgent care they did a few tests and I was told it was anxiety or indigestion, I ended up in the ER by ambulance with infected gallstones and immediate surgery.

Thanks. I was afraid of that. I think there's a plastic spacer-type ring I can use so it doesn't close before I can put it back.

I honestly don't know the answer to this one. I have a body piercing and I don't know if I will have to remove it before surgery. I know I can go through airports but I don't know about ORs. Thanks

Glad you're doing so well. I wish I had been brave enough to do this years ago. You're one of my heroes now! Take care of yourself and don't try to do too much too soon.

I'm not going to Cancun, but I want to say hi and congrats on having a date. I'm going alone too. We can do it!

*Raising Hand* Please add me to the August list, I'm scheduled for August 31 with Dr Aceves.

Forgot to suggest you check the Mexico sleever section if you haven't already.

I agree with echowits. I don't like the plication idea, which Ortiz specializes in. Dr Kelly and Dr Garcia have an excellent reputation. I believe Dr Alvarez is on the Texas/Mexico border and he has an excellent rep as well. I'm from Nevada so it's faster and cheaper for me to fly to the east side of Mexico. I went with Dr Aceves, but I have no doubt they would all do an excellent job. In my case, it was just "going with the gut instinct". *Edited to correctly spell echowits' name

I have only told one close friend who supports me completely even though she is naturally thin. But she has seen me struggle over ther the past 12-14 years. My closet is full of clothes from size 10-16. I really need 18 pants but I refuse to go there. I don't plan to tell anyone before and probably for a while after. My parents are severely overweight and smoke and have health issues but I can guarantee that they would have a fit about it, much less that I'm going to Mexico to have it done. I am stressing enough enough about this 180 degree life change. I don't need negative feedback from anyone.

Woo hoo! Wishing you a safe and uneventful recovery

LTL Sara, it's been mine too. I've been using it for 10+ years. I just add whatever city I live in, Las Vegas now. Ladybugs make me smile I had seriously thought about Dr Kelly and while I can't explain it, I am just drawn to Dr Aceves. I know Dr Kelly is excellent, and the $ difference would buy ALOT of smaller size clothes. But the little voice inside wants me to fo to Dr Aceves. I'm just gonna have to follow my gut on this one. Nice to have a sister sleever!

Frza, I will be with you on 8/31 :-) We have a similar BMI, mine is 37.5. I arrive on 8/30.

Frza, when are you scheduled with Dr Aceves? I just scheduled my surgery today for August 31.

Thank you cookeeez for the reminder. Personally, I am slightly scared of people noticing me as I lose weight. Looking back, it seems I have done well until people start complimenting me on the loss. And then I mentally freak out that people are paying attention to me and I jump back into my fat shield. I have been working with a counselor for a couple months now and plan to continue doing so for as long as it takes. And I hate to cook. I would so much rather do take-out than cook a meal just for myself. It's boring. But I'm working on that one too.

So many things. From simple things like trying on clothes without crying to feeling like I have the right to look a hot guy in the eye without feeling like he's like "why are you looking at me?" I know, no one can make me feel that way but me, but right now I feel like a hot guy would not even look twice at me. Heck, some days I barely want to look twice at me I want to feel comfortable naked in my own skin, but I would LOVE to be comfortable naked in front of a lover. I want to be healthy, and have a physical lifestyle. I want to get toned. Sex-wise, I want to be comfortable on top without feeling self-conscious about my stomach.

I am trying for 8/31 too. I'm waiting to hear back from Omar. ATLSara, when do you leave tJ?

Thank you so much for answering. I'd like to go over the Labor Day weekend if possible. I'm emailing Omar now to see if it is.

Thank you so much for that info. I'm not a druggie but I'm a bit of a wimp and allergic to pain :-) I will say after my gall bladder surgery I was fine with motrin on day 2. I hate to jack the post, but can you tell me how long I will be there? Say I go Thursday, have it Friday. Can I go home Monday or Tues?

Hi Carolyn, 70 sure sounds better than 105 here. May I ask who your surgeon is? I am still researching and trying to choose.