Disney

I know what you mean! It felt good to send that deposit though. Made it feel so real. I can't wait to meet up with y'all at the hospital. I hope we feel like it!!

I think it is so great that you are doing this together! A little friendly competition will keep you both on your toes I am going to San Diego then to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, and I have to say, you are braver than I am to drive there and back to Arkansas. I would think that I would not be up to driving that far a few days after surgery. Good luck to you both!!

That's so great to hear! Glad you are feeling so well! Can't wait to join you, won't be long now

Hi! I cannot speak to whether Dr. Aceves does epidurals or not, but he does still use a spinal block for pain along with the general anesthesia. There are several on this site who had one with their surgery and Nina, my coordinator from Dr. Aceves' office told me I will have one as well. I say, the less pain the better! Unfortunately they only last about 2 hours. The difference in an epidural and spinal block is just that the spinal is a one time deal whereas the epidural can be "refilled" with pain meds so to speak.

Hi PYT, there is a March Roll Call thread and there are some patients scheduled for March 16, but not sure if any are with Dr. Ramos Kelly. There is one on the 15th of March with him though, so you will probably run into her. Click this link: March Roll Call

I also have a 30 pound 3 year old and I had to lift her after my hysterectomy last July sooner than I should have, but I'm like you, after a week, I was on my own and there was no other option. I am hoping to have more help this time around, but you just never know how things will work out. I will try my best not to lift her, but it is so hard sometimes.

Congrats! I love your posts! Always so inspiring. Keep up the good work

WOW! that would be more than I am paying for my surgery and I am self-pay...insurance doesn't cover the sleeve for me. I hope they do come down on the price for you. If all else fails, come join a bunch of us who have gone/ are going to Mexico for surgery. Like I have said before, I would go to Dr Aceves even if I had insurance, just because of his vast experience and history of no complications. Good luck to you!

I just love hearing updates like this from those who have been sleeved for a while. It is so great to have things like this to look forward to. I am most excited to hear the part about your skin rebounding and tightening up! That is awesome!! Congrats

Haha..^that made me laugh out loud! I am glad I am not to the mumu stage just yet, but am headed that way if it weren't for this surgery! To the OP...My BMI is 40 also and I am ready, but not everyone thinks it's a great idea. They don't live in my body though and I know it is right for me right now. Good luck to you and congrats on your approval.

I can't answer a whole lot of "post op" questions, as I haven't had my surgery yet, but from my research and reading these boards, the risk of leaks is only for a couple weaks but can happen a bit later. And some leaks can go undetected even for months and so then there you are 3 months later and think you just had a leak when it was actually there way earlier. I believe the stomach tissue grows over the staple line and makes it that much stronger. I am going to Mexico with Dr. Aceves and his required hospital stay is 3 days. There are usually much shorter stays (some go home the next day!) in the states for various reasons. His 3 day stay is included in the price. I am thankful for the longer stay. There is a whole section on here for band to sleeve revision. I know Tiffykins had one and she has a great wealth of knowledge on the subject. Good luck to you! I am getting sleeved March 9th, so we will be starting out together!

Yes, we can compare notes!! Mariah, are you coming alone or bringing someone? How about you Lara? I will be bringing my mother along. She is an RN and well, she's my mother, lol, so I know I will get extra attention and TLC... My DH was happy to come, but I knew he might be watching tv while I needed attending to...soooo....

YAY! We can all learn from each other! See you there

Me too. I hope I don't forget anything, not sure I would feel like going shopping when I get home!!!

Yes, they have internet access, and I hope I feel up to making progress reports. Good luck to you, also!!

Good luck on your weight loss efforts! I will be about 3 weeks behind you and so I will be keeping up with your progress. You are a very handsome man even with the weight on. You are gonna rock this, I just know it!

Haha! I don't think anyone will know you didn't fly in!! I will be arriving in San Diego on the 8th and having my preop stuff done that day also. Will you be coming that day or the 9th? Either way, I know we will see each other eventually! I will be at the hospital till the morning of the 12th, then I will be spending the night in San Diego so that I don't have such a long travel day on the 12th, then will fly home the 13th.

I have heard great things about Nick Nicholson in the Dallas area.

Wow! When you wrote this on Feb 16th, you were 19 days out from surgery and had lost 23 pounds! That blows my mind

I don't know, but if you are still losing any hair at all, I would think twice about extensions just yet. You don't want some hair to fall out and lose some of those expensive extensions right along with it.

Hi Mariah,,I think I read that you were going to Dr Aceves also. I guess we will run into each other there! Can't wait

You look GREAT! Thanks for posting. There is nothing more inspiring than before/after photos!!

Hi! My surgery is scheduled for March 9th, so we will be on this journey right along beside each other! Hope everything goes well!

I'm going to Mexico with Dr. Aceves and he only requires bloodwork, EKG, and a few other things the day before surgery. He does not require a psych eval. Besides, those are WAY too easy to get around. So what's the point? I guess the point is the paycheck for the Psychologist. I mean, what is more important, having your "head" right, or getting this weight off so you don't stroke out or have a heart attack from all the weight? I know you have to work with the head hunger afterwards, but we all go through that whether or not we answered some questions correctly on a psych eval. And you can always go to support groups after the surgery. And really, what is the point of making someone wait 6 months ( or sometimes much more) to "prove" that you have tried a structured diet? I have tried diets all my life. Clearly if they worked, I wouldn't be here. I think a lot of it is just to make money, but that's just my opinion.

Yes, I have tried that and while not NEARLY as bad as aspartame, still the same after taste, to me at least. I think I will just have to take my chances with the cravings and eat regular Jello and popsicles. And may just try to eat more broth to get my fluids in. Thanks very much for the suggestion, though!