Disney

The Dr. told my mother (who has the dreaded lap band) not to drink from a straw, at least in the beginning due to the fact that it brings extra air into the pouch. She does it all the time now, and never really had a problem even early on. I think it is just a personal thing. It may bother you, and it may not. So some Dr's just say not to, just in case.

I'm not sure how low they will go in the States, but Nina with Dr. Aceve's office told me he will perform surgery on anyone with a BMI of 30 or above. Oh, how I wish I had known about the sleeve several years ago when I WAS a 30 BMI...

WOW! You look fantastic! Great job

Thanks for sharing, Doug! Love, love, love details!!! One thing I have never understood, they actually expect that you will be coherent enough to use that morphine pump immediately after surgery?!? and they SPECIFICALLY say that family members cannot push it for you. FORGET that, my mother and my sister were pushing it for me when I was so out of it, but so OBVIOUSLY in pain that my knuckles were white from grabbing the railing on the bed after I had my hysterectomy. Really a silly rule to let you get to the point of hurting so much that you can barely ease the pain again. I mean, I was pretty much out of it for just about 24 hours after surgery( I get really nauseas and have to take tons of Phenergan, so therefore sleepy time), there is NO way I could have pushed that button. In fact, my sister was watching me, and she would say, it's been long enough, it's ok to push it now, and I would try but I was pressing the side of the thingy, not the button on top.

That is so great! Congratulations!! I can't wait to join you there

The thing is, whether you tell them you are having surgery (hernia or otherwise), or tell them you're going on vacation, they will figure out you had something done if you start losing weight after your time off. Especially since you will probably be down several pounds after the two weeks. People are just so nosy aren't they? Actually, there will probably be a little jealously involved when you come back with your fabulous self!

Does anyone know if it is ok to eat celery that has been put through the food processor? I never have liked eating celery as it is, but I like the flavor. I have always processed it and chopped the chicken, added mayo and had a nice chicken salad. I just wonder if the processed celery would cause the same problem?

It's almost here!! I know you will do great!

My insurance (Tricare) does not cover VSG so I had no choice, but I could wait for them to, I guess. But I'm like you, I am ready NOW, so I am going to self-pay. I have a feeling i'm not gonna mind that monthly payment very much when this weight starts falling off.

I guess none of us have any way of really knowing, but according to the OH listing of bariatric surgeons, Ramos-Kelly has the most VSG's performed, followed by Aceves and then Rodriguez. I have not had surgery yet, but I chose Aceves based on reviews here on the sight. To the OP, Dr. Alvarez has done many, many VSG's also. I have no idea about his sucess rate, though.

No, they don't think that, they just go through your application for surgery with a fine-toothed comb to find ANYTHING they can to deny you. It is just WRONG, but it's what they do.

Thanks for posting these beautiful pictures Tiff. They are truly an inspiration to me. I completely agree that you were still beautiful even in the before pics, but even more so now. You have a very nice looking family, too. Thanks again for the pics and thanks for all the well-researched advice you give to all of us, especially the newbies like me. I can't wait to join you on the "other side"

To each his own....I think he's good looking. Then again, I have always had a weakness for 'bad boys'. Here's a pic for those who asked...

Ohhh, Coops! I love Robbie, too!!! Since I will probably never get across the pond to see him, please tell him hello for me, ok? Really, isn't he just a living doll?!? I know you will look fab when you go to the concert! As far as after I lose the weight, I will just enjoy getting down in the floor playing with my daughter and running after her without completely giving out of breath! Just the simple things, you know?

Hey y'all, the bariatric surgeon in my city accepts Tricare Prime. He does the big three, bypass, band and vsg. He knows I'm holding out for VSG and tricare prime to cover it, but he also knows I am saving $ as fast as I can to be a self pay. So,,, whichever comes first. I wish it would be tricare approving, but I am like Tiff, I am NOT holding my breath! If I do have to self pay, I won't be using him as a surgeon because his price is $4000 more than Dr. Aceves and I am MORE than confindent with using Dr. Aceves so it is a no-brainer. I only worry about any complications afterwards and not being near my surgeon.

I really feel bad for you that you feel you have to 'hide' your weight loss from him. It should be such a happy thing and he is making you feel like you can't even enjoy it because you are dreading seeing him ever so often. I understand you didn't tell him initially because he would have been negative about it, but he really is being negative anyway and he doesn't even know what happened. So in my opinion, you might as well tell him. He might blow up one big time, but that would probably be it ( I mean, you can't exactly go back in time and change what you did. Nor would you want to.) and at least then you won't have to dread visits with him.

Yay! Congrats! BTW, love your ID.

She said she told her husband and girflfriends, not her dad, and she also explained that she has mentioned it to her family in the past and they were negative about it. I can understand her wanting to stay away from negativity. Who needs it?

Thank you for such a detailed account of your experience. Since I am self-pay, I have decided on Dr. Aceves and this is exactly what I wanted to hear! DH is somewhat worried about going to Mexico with all the cartel violence, etc. I explained to him that Mexicali is not in the same area as some of the cities having so much trouble. He is still iffy about it, but will go with me anyway, he knows I want this more than anything at this point. I am sure he will change his mind once we arrive. (However far away that might be) So glad you had a good experience and I hope you have a continued successful recovery and weight loss.

Hey that is great! I can't wait till I can make a post like yours! Will be very interested to hear your story afterwards. I know I will cry when I leave my 3 year old girl, too!!! Guess what, tomorrow may be your lucky day in more ways than one. Tomorrow is 1-11-11

Yeah, hubbies have to say stuff like that, but it's true, you look absolutely great and you did before as well. The one with you and DH hugging, you look so pretty. Congrats on your weight loss and keep up the great work!!

Actually, I have a relative that went in to have lapband surgery and did NOT follow the pre-op diet and they DID close her back up. You can imagine her surprise when she woke up. Her DR was extremely pissed that she did not follow the diet and told her she would have to wait a few more months and exhibit weight loss so that he would know for sure her liver had shrunk. He said it makes the surgery much harder to maneuver around in there, not to mention dangerous for the patient when the liver is so large. She did follow the rules the next time and had a successful surgery. So, yeah, a competent surgeon will close you back up if your liver is still large.

I have not had VSG surgery (YET!!!) but have had several surgeries and also as a nurse, I can tell you this: pain will elevate your BP as well as stress (both mental and physical) from surgery. I would keep a close eye on it now that you will be starting a new BP med, because if it WAS related to surgery/pain, and regulates itself, you don't want the meds to bottom your BP out! Your PSP will advise you best, but I think this too shall pass!!

Thanks for the reply butterfly! I have indeed called MANY mtf's and none would take me from so far away. There are none near me. Soooo..............

It was the head nurse and she told me the surgeon is the one that decided that they wouldn't accept people from too far away. Maybe I said it wrong earlier, she said they wouldn't see anyone from more than 2.5 hours away. Which, that is out of state for a lot of people cause Texas is BIG..lol...Ok that was San Antonio. Then I called West Point, they said they wouldn't either. She kept saying, you are out of our area, over and over. I told her I was willing to travel and even stay there several weeks after surgery and definitley come back for follow ups, but she say N-O. The one in San Antonio said I had to be available for at least 3 months after surgery and then asked if I had any relatives or friends in the area I could stay with, so they dont really require you to live there, they just want you close by afterwards. But, sadly I do not know anyone around there. I wonder if NMCP would take me? Did you get all your bloodwork, tests, etc done there or at home?