circa

keep us up to date on your progress! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

That is awesome. I'm the baker of the family, birthday cakes, holiday events, etc. I don't really eat much of any of it, but to avoid eating the stuff I DO like, I'm putting nuts in everything I would normally eat - I'm allergic to nuts haha.

Manis and pedis, massages, new hair, new clothes, spa day, all sorts of goals. Shoes are always on the list - shoes are a necessity hahah Can't wait to wear those heels again!

no, she doesn't have a point. What she has is a bad attitude. Perhaps her poor attitude has contributed to other attempts not working for you. Perhaps she should look in the mirror and find out what she's doing to help you. My husband was not supportive at first and I let him know that not being supportive was going to cause me to resent him later. You can't just be there for the good - you have to be there for the bad. She doesn't have to LIKE the decision, but unless she wants you to resent her, she should probably do a little research herself and GET ON BOARD. You didn't just try a diet for a day and give up and say "ok cut out my stomach, I'm bored with this" It doesn't work that way.

I bet you make a believer out of him!

If you read the post, be sure to read all the comments that follow. I don't know how much of the situation I even believe. This person was ill prepared and ill advised about their own surgery.

I had surgery in a hospital here in the states and I had my credit card and ID stolen out of my wallet that was locked away - should I not recommend ever having surgery in that hospital because of a thief? No. I would recommend having someone hold on to your wallet though.

Is there substandard medical care in Mexico. Yes. In some cases, there is. Is there substandard medical care in the United States? Yes. In some cases, there is. The WLS centers in Mexico are specialized places that have been licensed, tested and proven by thousands of successful patients. You take risks with any medical procedure. I feel safer not being in a hospital, personally. Surgical centers don't bother me in the least. Many of these surgeries are now being performed on an outpatient basis here in the US so recovering at a hotel or recovery house is actually a step up to going home from the hospital for me. Infection ratees in surgical centers are substantially lower than those of ORs in hospitals. I think everyone needs to do research on not only the person performing the surgery, but also the place where the surgery is performed. Back home, I would rather have surgery in a gas station bathroom than one of the hospital OR's because of infection rates being so high. Every place is different. Just do your research and make the best decision you can for yourself.

I'm headed to Mexico at the end of January. I cannot wait. I'm having Dr. Almanza do my surgery as well. I know this is a great decision for me. I have fought and fought with insurance companies and i'm tired of things being out of my control. I've heard nothing but good things about Dr. Almanza and a lot of other doctors in Mexico.

Its your body. Its your choice who you tell. Its none of anyone's business if you don't want it to be. I won't be telling people. My husband knows and my sister knows. That is IT. If I choose to tell other people, then that's my business. I won't be telling others in my family because they seem to have their own opinions on just about everything. For example: Why I don't have children. Well, gee. That hole in my uterus and the fact that my medical treatments for that genetic disorder has rendered me unable to carry a child - not to mention, I don't necessarily want children. The response: "oh - you'll want them someday and you'll be sorry you didn't have them now". *blink*blink* nevermind the fact that its physically IMPOSSIBLE for me to have children. So yeah - there's not going to be much talk about any medical decisions I make in my family. Yes, that's right. People in my family admonish me for not having children when I'm physically unable to. The shallow end of the gene pool is full, folks!

It took me a while to muster up the courage to ask my doctor. See - my doctor has pictures of herself all over her office and exam rooms of her running the Boston Marathon and other healthy fun stuff like that. At first it made me kindof ashamed for the condition I'm in. I used to be a runner. I used to be in great shape. I always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. I left, tail between my legs. I got home and was bummed for quite a few days. Then I realized, well damn. i'm never going to be able to do that unless I rip off this band-aid. So I made another appointment and I said "well, I'm considering weight loss surgery" She had a smile on her face that would rival anything you've ever seen and said "I was hoping you'd say that!" She filled out the form and faxed it to the surgeon's office while I waited. She came back in and told me that its not a light decision so she doesn't just spit it out to patients -she wants the to come to that decision. It means they've actually put thought into it and have become their own patient advocate. I don't lie to my doctor - I'm honest with her. I didn't want to keep that from her. I went to her, prepared with every reason she should refer me to the surgeon's office for the surgery and didn't need any of it. I hope you have a similar experience! I think its normal to not want people to know that you're thinking about this decision - but the reality is, as a healthcare professional - they know that you are. Just rip off the bandaid. Its a great sense of relief when you do.

Hell no. For some people, low carb or low cal or special diets work - its their hammer to the nail. Well for other people, because of body chemistry or other issues, trying a low calorie diet is like trying to hammer a nail with a flip flop. It just doesn't work. Its about finding the right tool for the job. Over my life I have fought with my weight. I did very well with a low carb lifestyle. Until I got sick. Well, that tool no longer works for me. I have tried every other tool in the toolbox. I finally opened a new toolbox. This surgery is a tool. its what we have decided to use to make life work. Everyone gets the same set of tools. But not everyone can use them as efficiently and effectively. That's why for some people, surgery doesn't work. its not easy to agonize over this decision. Its not easy to go see a doctor and ask them to remove part of your body. Its not easy to go under anesthesia. Its not easy. There's nothing easy about it. I think sometimes it may feel easy to people because when you're finally properly equipped, any job can feel "easy" That means it was the right decision in my mind.

I think anyone that goes into a decision like this as if they were getting a pedicure is insane. You SHOULD have concerns. You SHOULD maybe have some apprehensions. Its a big decision! Anesthesia for any surgery should not be taken lightly. If you're anything like me, you've watched the videos of the surgeries, you've read 550,353 posts from people who have had, are having, or are thinking about having the same surgery. You've tried every type of weight loss option that you can. You've agonized over the decision. You've looked at the other surgeries and used logic to whittle down your decision to have this surgery. You then decided not to do it. Then you started over and did everything you did the time before and made the decision to have the surgery. As the date approaches, you start to second guess your decision because others may have opinions. You think "I can do this, I don't need this - its the easy way out" Then you remind yourself that you need a break. You need that extra tool to make everything you KNOW work. You're not dumb. You're an intelligent human being. You know how all of this works and you're trying very hard to not let preconceived notions that others, or even you yourself have outweigh the logic that has led you to your decision. Its not the easy way out. Anesthesia for anything is a daunting thing. Whether you're having this done, having plastics done or having your appendix removed, or any other surgery - especially being overweight. Anesthesia is calculated by weight. The more you weigh, the more you get. So even though you may be a "healthy" obese person, there are effects that extra weight have on the body that compound as you age. There's a reason that once you reach a certain weight, you're not called overweight, but a clinical term of "obese" - its an ugly word - and its meant to be. Bottom line, one way or another - getting away from that word in the best way you can is important. Either through conventional methods, or via a surgical method if conventional methods aren't working. I'm not going to say you should have the surgery. I'm going to say that you have to do what's right for you now, and for your future. If you don't feel that you're at a point in your life where you have exhausted your other options and that you can keep your health in check, then you have to make that decision. I just know where I am and that maybe you've had some of the same thoughts I have.

I'm looking forward to having the "loose skin problem" cuz its one hell of a lot better than the extra fat-can't-do-anything problem I have now. I know I'll have loose skin - I had it before I gained all this weight. I've always had flabby arms - I broke my forearms and had no upper body strength. I am willing and WILL have plastic surgery. I don't mind scars - I see them as reminders from a lesson learned. I don't want to wear a bikini, I want to be healthy again and feel good about myself. If I have a scar to remind me of all the hell I've been through, then so be it. It'll match all the other ones. The one on my right breast reminds me to do my self exams. They're my battle scars - I've survived a lot and I'm going to survive this. I have about 200 lbs to lose to be at my "ideal weight" but ideal is relative. I'll be happy with losing about 160-180 lbs. You're not alone here. We've all got a number we're fighting against. I think I'm going to stop fighting the number and start searching for the feeling. The feeling of being healthy. It doesn't have to equal a number.

2500 calories isn't the end of the world. You can't stretch your sleeve with one day of "extra eating". Just like what we're all supposed to do - when you eat more than you should, increase your activity to compensate. Start tomorrow a brand new day. Don't give up - its not all or nothing - every day is a new day. You're doing GREAT! You gave yourself a moment to indulge and I don't see anything wrong with that. You haven't formed a habit, you haven't returned to your "old ways". What matters is what you do tomorrow. Do you give up, or do you work the sleeve like you know you can and create a day of being on track and following your plan? If you can do that - then the day of indulgence was just that - a day of indulgence - which means you AREN'T returning to your old ways - you're living life how its MEANT to be lived!

I wonder how many of you have had your thyroid checked with this weight loss. Changes in the body can affect your thyroid. Being overweight can be a cause of, or can cause hypothyroidism. Conversely, losing weight can cause the thyroid to kick into gear - your thyroid could be now functioning at either a normal rate, OR to high. Please be sure to have your thyroid checked! Your thyroid controls much more in your body than most people understand. Make sure that you're not just having a TSH test, but also have your Free T3 and Free T4 as well as antibodies tested. Studies have found a direct correlation between higher Ghrelin and Hypothyroidism. http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/ghrelin_elevated_in_hypothyroid_problems/

I have no experience with this Dr, but I do have experience with the Baylor hospitals and they don't mess around. If he's the head of the department, there's a reason for it. I have never seen such a well run medical organization as Baylor. They just. don't. mess. around. Some people write bad reviews because they get rejected by a surgeon or because they don't like hearing the truth. If there were no details about the "maltreatment", you can pretty much guarantee that the patient didn't like what they were told.

Please try to change your perspective. I know its hard, but we're all either there with you now, or have been there. Looking forward is the only option. Bring into your mind the visions of when that friend is there, holding those millions of sexy outfits for YOU to try on. It WILL happen! Use those feelings to propel yourself into success. You're already on the right track - You dictate your success. You've found a tool to work with, and now you're using it. You dictate how you react to people and this guy is obviously beneath you - and you not dignifying him with a response is the right way to deal with it! Hang in there! We're here. We're rooting for you!

January 27th with Dr. Almanza! I'm so excited! My birthday is the 25th, which was when I was originally going to have the surgery, but I wanted my husband to be able to come with me so I changed it to the 27th I'm so excited I can't sit still! n2dvn - maybe we'll pass in the halls - me on my way in, you on your way out! - oh and kicking myself for not keeping up on that 4 years of Spanish in high school - at least half of what i can remember will be useful - I can order a beer and ask for the bathroom

I hope I have the same luck you do! i know some people do!

My husband was apprehensive about it at first and I just told him "Look, if you can't support me in my decision, don't think I won't remember that when the outcome is stellar. I've done enough research to probably do the damned surgery myself and this is what I NEED. I don't need your support, but I do want it. You don't have to like it, but if you want to reap any benefits and have a healthy relationship with me AFTER I'm well, then you better get on board" I had to explain to him that I didn't want to resent him and his attention after I was well. Go on the journey with me and be encouraging in my choice, and my recovery and we can share in the splendid outcome together. I'm not doing this for him.

awesome glad everything went fine! I've never had a UTI or a bladder infection so I definitely don't want to start that! Did you have a catheter? Is that what caused it?

I'm loving this thread. I can't sit still waiting for my surgery and getting to post here with my success. You ALL are inspirational! Way to go!

Surgery is scheduled for January 27th Had to schedule a little over a month out in order to have time to get my new passport What's really great is that my husband can also go with me now

about a year ago, I had a tumor removed from my breast and I put myself on the operating table and I didn't feel like I was going to fall off or anything - it didn't seem overly skinny and when my surgery was done, I got to move myself again - but I was awake for my surgery. I don't like anesthesia at all - although I know i"ll have to have it for this surgery. It tends to make me nauseous and well....angry haha.