Norma

Congrats for being pumped on your surgery day--How Exciting! I don't know when my day will come as I am trying to find the money. But, am so happy for you. Keep us posted on your progress.:001_tt2:

I have a id that allows you to keep medical information current online so that first responders have access to your info. I got it cuz I am diabetic and cuz I ride motorcycles. This little gem has come in handy because I don't have to fill out numerous questionnaires about medical history when I see new doctors--it's all accessible by my giving the person the website and my code and password. It is called RoadId.com if anyone is interested.

I am allergic to Protonix which I was given after having an abcess in my colon removed (diveriticulitious-sp?) which my doctor stated was from the Metaformin causing constipation and diarrhea. Anyway, my question is -why does Dr Aceves give you Nexium and if I have allergy to Protonix (severe hives and itching), will I be allergic to Nexium? Second ?-pain-I have a very high tolerance to pain, i.e., I had abcess the size of a baseball without knowing it till I literally passed out when I twisted to get out of at the car. I noticed passing out, went to doctor and mentioned that I thought I had pinched something in stomach-doctor touched stomach, found the outer wall to be hard and had me get a CAT scan or MRI-can't remember which. Lab calls doctor who calls me and says get thyself to ER ASAP and I am driving down highway arguing that "I'm sure I'll be fine; it doesn't really hurt-how can it be serious?". Long story to say-How do you know if you have complications if you don't feel pain? I mean, I am totally confident in Dr. Aceves and his team, hospital, etc. But, things do happen and I can not rely on pain to tell me that something is wrong.

Clothes are a big issue for me too. I love Lane Bryant and am glad that finally there are cute and fun clothes in my size, but I just dream of being able to go into a regular store and get clothes off the rack. I have hated the terms for large size clothing since I wore Chubbies in grade school! I will have to be careful not to become "addicted to clothes shopping" when I get to have the sleeve and experience real and lasting weight loss. But, it will be a healthier addiction!

Welcome, GreenBay Girl! You might try emailing the doctors you are interested in and asking for their complication rates, leak stats and staple line experience and ask for references from people they have sleeved. Those references can probably set up up with other message boards where you could find some good info.

And, if the receipt is not enough to get out of Mexico, rent a car and take a longer vacation!:biggrin0:

I also want to know all of the above. Why would a leak happen 2 weeks after surgery?:biggrin0:

Anyone from the Middle of the beltbuckle? I am in Olathe KS now but have lived in Springfield Mo, Hannibal Mo, Dearborn MO, and would love to meet some people locally to chat with.:001_wub:

Since the sleeve does not cause malabsorption, why do people experience hair loss? Can it be avoided by taking vitamins and do all experience this?

Do you think that your difficulty with sleep has anything to do with psychological anxiety you had before surgery about not coming out from the anesthesia? I am basing that on my experience of initally not being able to intiate sleep after getting diagnosis of sleep apnea because a psychological fear of not waking up/dying-treated it with one session of hypnosis.

I haven't tried a loan yet because I know my credit is not good. I might try that in another couple of months, but want to see what I can do with Medical Flex Spending account next term (Oct) and how much I can save since I moved in with friends and cut monthly expenses first. I haven't lived with anyone in 32 years (since high school) :blink:so I am getting adjusted to having housemates right now. So far it has been great (6 weeks now). I am positive that I will find a way to get this surgery. I can not afford not to.

Judy, I went to a local doctor Dr. Malley in KS for consult after attending his seminar for lapband. I told him that if I couldn't get financing that I would not afford to be able to have surgery as a self pay. He agreed that he would refund the money for the consult if he did not do the surgery. I was turned down for financing through the company that does his financing and started looking into Mexico doctors. He refunded the consult fee but he suggested some doctors and through that I have found Dr. Aceves. I am still looking for the $9500. I know the anger and disappointment, but it is your body and your life. Don't let some insurance company :cursing:convince you to do a procedure that you are not 100% comfortable with. I will keep you in my thought and send positive energy to you. We will both get our surgeries done. I know it! Ask your doc for a refund of the consult fee if you can't have the surgery done with him.

I like elliptical walking machine in gym or walking in the pool and swimming. I can not tolerate the heat/humidity so do all my exercise in the airconditioned gym with a fan blowing on me or in the pool.

you might want to try some benadryl cream on the site itself.

Welcome. I am new too. I haven't set my surgery date yet but will have the sleeve with Dr Aceves. I am happy for you that your wait is less than a week away! I totally relate to being overweight and obese forever - started for me at age 5 or 6 and then obese since high school --for past ten years or so I have been around 300lbs on a short 5'3" body. I think that food addiction is harder than nicotene or alcohol because we can't just quit eating food altogether. Please post about your surgery experience and about whether you get any vacationing in at the same time.:tongue_smilie:

Thanks, VegasAngel. I am feeling good about my decision to go with the sleeve rather than the band. I am sure that I will be having more questions later.

I was looking into lapband in Mexico by Dr Rodriquez when Renee from Dr Aceves called me to talk about the sleeve. After researching it and reading this forum, I am now convinced that this is the surgery for me. I refused the gastric bypass twice with United Healthcare and Cigna over the last 10 yrs. Glad I did, but now am with BCBS and they don't cover any WLS. So am selfpay and will have to find fianancing-have already been turned down by one company. I have cut expenses by moving in with friends and taking a second job. Am almost 50 now and BMI of 54 with diabetes, asthma, hypertension and sleep apnea. My ?s are: After finding financing, how long will it take to get on Dr Aceves' schedule? Is the passport card enough or do I need the passport book?, Do I need to have a person accompany me for surgery trip or is going alone safe and will I be able to handle luggage, etc after surgery by myself? Do AT&T cellphones and internet work in Mexico? Is there anything to do in Mexicalli for a vacation or should I just plan for sugery? I do not know any Spanish and have a hearing loss-will I be able to get by okay with just pointing to words on the Spanish-English phrase sheet that I saw on this forum somewhere? Any ideas of how to find financing when credit is not good? I am sure that I will have more questions later. I am Clinical Director of a 74 bed adolescent residential therapy center. Love my job and also enjoy travelling, dogs, cats, motorcycling, hot air ballooning, reading, writing, facebook and going to movies and plays. Thanks for giving such good information on this site so that I was able to make an informed decision. Norma:thumbup1: