Luanne

It took me a year & a half to lose 90 lbs with a doctor-assisted plan as 6 mos was required to get pre-approved. My biggest regret was not having surgery to lose the other 40 lbs. I ended up slowly gaining 20 and then in 3 mos gained 45 ~ That's when I said I AM DOING IT, AND NOW. I went to Mexico. I feel it is and will be a wonderful lifetime tool. I was a "guzzler & shoveler" so now it's chew chew chew, sip sip sip.

$8500 Dr Aceves Mexicalli, Mexico

The doctors teased me that I "looked like a gal that didn't have surgery" and made myself pull myself back from doing too much too soon. I had some baby food (mostly meat Protein type) on hand and with salt & pepper were not too bad. I ate alot of broths and cream Soups (blended) and banana Protein shakes plus lots of SF popsicles. Just remember to chew chew chew, sip sip sip.

I have my doctor-ordered upper GI next week but am afraid my insurance will not cover it as I did have it in Mexico. I am also wondering if one is not having any side-effects if it's necessary?

GLAD to hear from you all! ~ I'm 56 & 11 weeks out...I have lost 34 pounds and feel great! I lost over 90 on a dr's program in 2008-2009 and put 65 back on, over 45 in 3 months. Out-Of-Control sooo I went to Mexico in December and very grateful of the decision! I feel I'm losing slow enough so I don't have "the wrinkles" and "bags" as I didn't last time. I have my 3 month Upper GI & bloodwork coming up and am worried that my insurance won't cover the GI expense. I was told to call my insurance & find out b-u-t that might put a red flag on it--am thinking I should take my chances? I was 270+ at my top, 185 at my lowest, started the sleever at 245 and now 209 = Can't wait for my 160 lb goal!

Up until I was 10 weeks out, I opened a Omeprazole capsule in a small amount of Water. Just recently I missed a day and was very uncomfortable with acid reflux. From what I understand a PPI is needed for quite awhile as to the stomach making a normal amount of acid for a much smaller stomach and helps with the healing. Good luck.

Where are the 50's??? -- all I see is a topic about wrinkles! How has the surgery changed your life?

ANYBODY???

Dr Aceves, Mexicalli, Mexico, repaired my hernia at the same time he did my VSG...no extra cost.

I had my VSG 12-9-10 and have lost about 35 pounds which I think is good due to the fact of my older 56 yr old metabolism and all the yo-yoing I have did in the past 3 years. Your body is probably trying to catch up so keep doing what you're doing! Think positive!

Here's to a new life beginning! ~ Congrats!

I had my self-pay VSG done in Mexico Dec 9, 2009. My doctor has wrote the orders for my 3 month followup Baruium GI and blood work ~ should I get preapproval from my insurance company (Signa) or hope it will slide thru? What have others did?

Search "3 week stall" = It's talked about alot. I also had it.

I had babyfood, mainly the poultry & meats for Protein, on hand & ate it several times with salt & pepper.

I LOVE how I can make several meals out of leftovers, whether out to eat or home = LESS COOKING!

How are the December sleevers doing??? Mine was 12-9-10 and have lost about 34 pounds = getting to a healthier me for sure! I pretty much can eat anything but the sleeve is a reminder that I can not "Guzzle or Shovel."

I just thought I would start a December 2010 page! I am having my sleeve on December 20, 2010 in Houston, TX with Dr. Nowzaradan. My surgery is a revision from lapband to the sleeve. Please share your date so we can support each other as our special day approaches. Thanks!

I'm only 10 weeks out (12-9-10) and have not felt deprived. I'm a "Guzzler 'n Shoveler" and the sleeve has just been a tool to remind me to sip and chew chew chew. When I'm done, I'm done. For me, it's been a freedom that is allowing me to lose weight (34 pounds) and get healthy. Again, it's only a tool. Good luck!

Hi, everyone and happy Friday!

Like many on here I imagine, I have an unhealthy love affair with food. I'm working on getting control and getting healthier before I decide to have surgery, but I wonder how my feelings will change towards food post-sleeve.

Since the amount one can eat is so reduced, has it been your experience that you feel deprived? For example, if you have a piece of delicious pizza, but can only eat a few bites, do you sit there craving the rest of it and wishing you could eat it or do you feel full and satisfied?

I know my eating will change forever after the sleeve and I'm wondering how feelings of satiety and satisfaction come into play. I hate feeling deprived of everything I like and would love to just eat healthy, small portions but still feel like I can enjoy food. I hope this makes sense and I would greatly appreciate your insights!

Tiffy, I've been on liquid Prozac since my VS surgery 12-9-10 and want to go back to Pristique but it is time released. Should I ask the doc for a less mg or what would you suggest?

My surgeons instructions allow meds immediately post op as long as they are not controlled release or extended release, and the pills are no larger than the size of a regular M&M candy.< /span>

Dr Aceves did mine 12-9-10. It was rather the pass-it-on theory: 1 friend took another, then another took another, & then that friend took me down to Mexicalli!

Why aren't dr. Aceves patients signing in? I know that over half this board has gone to him but I'd like to be able to have more than an estimate.

please post if you had your surgery done by him.

I am 2 months out from VS surgery. I changed to a liquid prozac after surgery and am wondering when I can go back to Pristique 50 mg and since it is time-released, should I go with a smaller mg? When is the best time to take pills?

You just never know if you would be covered or not...I would definitely go to an opthamoligist & have him look at you if you have insurance. He used a local & it was an office call. My eyelids was sore a few days, that's it.

Hello Luanne!

Thanks for the reply.

My eyelids aren't altering my vision..at least not yet so insurance wont pay for it but I am still interested in getting them fixed after goal weight...

Did they put you to sleep for the procedure? Was it painful? Do you have any before and after photos that you wouldn't mind sharing with me?

Thanks

Mine were hereditary but interefered with my peripheal vision so my insurance paid for it. They did tests & pictures to preapprove it. My opthalmologist did it in-office & I had black & blue eyes for about 2 weeks. I had it done over 5 yrs ago and very glad to have did it. Here's to being "hoodless!"

Hi everyone!

This may seem like a weird question but I really wanna know....Have anyone here had problems with hooded eyelids while they were over weight? If so, did the "hood" even out after becoming slimmer?

I ask because when I was younger/slimmer, I was able to apply eye make-up with no problems but once I became overweight, I developed this loose skin drooping over my eyelid which obviously interferes with the make-up application.

I hope I don't come off as vain...It makes me kinda sad to have this...I hope that it goes away!!!

Anyway, if you have the same problem, had sucess with the problem or have a solution for me please let me know.

Thanks!!

Angel

My sleeve was done 12-9-10 in Mexicalli by Dr. Aceves. I was up walking after 2 hours out of recovery. They kept teasing me that I looked like a girl that never had surgery. I don't remember any pain, just slight discomfort getting up. I had it done on Thurs and out Sat afternoon. Keep praying for a safe surgery and quick recovery! Mine are with you!

I thought I read that someone just had moved to Spring Creek, Nevada but now I can not find her. If anyone is...please contact me!

I'm like sooo many of us: Losing and gaining weight for years, trying every diet imaginable, every diet pill available, you name it--I've did it. In 2008 I had hit my all time "top" of 270+ lbs. At 5'5" my size 22-24 was becoming tight. My BP, cholesterol, and everything else was sky high and then I started having heart problems. I was sitting in my recliner thinking here I am sober, clean, and quit smoking 8 years ago and I'm going to DIE OF OBESITY ?!!!

I started jumping through the surgery insurance hoops and entered a doctor-supervised wellness program that I was to do for 6 months. In June 2008, I started exercising, eating healthy and keeping a journal of both. I kept with this program for a year & a half and lost 90 pounds!

I pretty much kept it down but 20 came back gradually due to helping my Dad (94 yrs young) pass in March and then I shut down. I had even quit excercising and making good food choices due to grieving. In May, I had to put my dog down; 3 aunts passed; and then a young friend committed suicide. My compulsive eating took over with a vengeance! And BAM 45 pounds in 3 months (Sept/Oct/Nov 2010)!

So at this juncture, I was back up to 240+ and decided enough was enough. A friend (whom had the band done last year) took me to Dr. Aceves in Mexicalli on December 9th, 2010. I was done jumping through insurance hoops and paid the price out of pocket. I drove 800 miles to her home in Arizona and another 200 to Mexicalli. Not once was I nervous and I never had second thoughts ~ I just knew this was the right decision for me.

I don't ever remember being in pain and I was up walking about 2 hours after I got out of recovery. I went in Thursday and left Saturday afternoon. I'm very new to this and I am now in the mushy stage. I was a guzzler so that is really hard to remember to only sip. I believe this is my tool for a lifetime of help and I'm ready for it. I am 55 and have struggled all my life and today I SURRENDER!!! There's HOPE for us all! xxx