MGM

Oh my husband needs this surgery..

Half way to goal. it's amazing what you can see in pictures. If you aren't taking pictures, you should! Your progress is much more visible in pics than it is in the mirror.

I still have a ways to go but I'm really happy with my progress!!! Seem the stall broke this week. I've lost 4 pounds this week. This was the absolute best decision of my life. I wish I had been able to do it sooner. I prayed God would release me from the bondage of obesity and he did!! God is good!

I'm only 45 lbs down, and I totally agree! It was one of my mini goals. So is grooming and being able to see, but I'm not there yet! Congrats!

I'm only 45 lbs down, and I totally agree! It was one of my mini goals. So is grooming and being able to see, but I'm not there yet! Congrats!

I was just so glad to be able to wipe with out being a contortionist. Lol

I woke up in ONEderland today. First time in 4 years. I'm so excited. I was sleeved on August 6 in San Diego with Dr. Meuller. Great experience, no complications. I have PCOS so my weight loss has been a little slower than some but a steady 2-3 lbs a week with one 3.5 week stall.

I went to dr kelly 8/22/12. I was going alone, but my 18 year old son was able to come at the last minute. We felt perfectly safe. The nicer hotels, people can only go up in the elevator if they have a key. I stayed with the people I was with, and didnt venture alone at any time. People say things because they don't know. I don't even go to New Orleans and I live 10 miles away!

I went to dr kelly 8/22/12. I was going alone, but my 18 year old son was able to come at the last minute. We felt perfectly safe. The nicer hotels, people can only go up in the elevator if they have a key. I stayed with the people I was with, and didnt venture alone at any time. People say things because they don't know. I don't even go to New Orleans and I live 10 miles away!

Hi, my name is Lauri and this is my first day on this board and I am still trying to figure everything out. I am just a little over 3 weeks post-op and doing fairly well other than I still get nauseated every time after I eat. It kind of takes the joy out of eating altogether, but I guess that can be a positive thing too since it will keep me from eating too much and too often. I started my research back in July after we got a windfall of money and I started looking for a surgeon that I could afford. I was lucky enough to find Ready 4 a Change and talked to alma there. She is a wonderful lady and my first of many great experiences with their company. I originally was looking at having a gastric bypass and they said that a gastric sleeve might be a better option. Hey, it was less money and less invasive so I was all for it!! I have been morbidly obese my entire life and even though I was attending Weight Watchers (and still am) I felt this was the chance of a lifetime to help me finally lose weight and get down to a more normal size and feel what it is like to be a more normal person. I still don't plan on being a runway model or anything like that, but if I get down to around 180, I will be a happy camper! I was disgusted with myself after reaching an all-time high earlier the year before of 422. I never imagined being over 400 pounds and trying to find clothes was becoming a real chore. This was heart-breaking to me because I am a real clothes horse.
I had done some yo-yo'ing weightwise, and had gained weight back after taking a break from WW, but when I made a committed effort to start back, I was at 390 pounds. This is the weight I started at when I started working with Ready 4 a Change. I set things up and we set a surgery date for October 4, 2012. Because of my high BMI, Alma suggested I do the pre-op diet for 3 weeks prior to surgery. This consisted of 2 Protein shakes a day and a salad for dinner with some kind of Protein on it. I managed to lose 13.2 pounds prior to going to Tijuana. I took this as a good sign and was proud of my progress. I was at 376.8 pounds going into surgery.
We had nightmare after nightmare getting ready for the trip. We had problems getting our passports and had to drive to Seattle from Portland the week before we left to get them and then they lost them. We had flight delays and problems with my mom's power wheelchair, but we made it to Tijuana! Everything seemed to be golden once we were there. The staff at Ready 4 A Change was so accommodating and helpful, I can't begin to say enough about them. Samuel, the driver from San Diego to Tijuana is a real sweetheart as well as his father, Samuel. Melissa or Meli, the coordinator along with Rosie was there to answer questions and get us settled into the hotel. The Tijuana Mariott is beautiful! They made sure we were set up for pick-up the next morning at 6:45am.
Surgery date arrived and I was excited! The staff and doctors went over the whole procedure with me and told my mom and myself what would be happening every step of the way. They made sure my mom was taken care of and had food to eat and a bed in my room to sleep in for the 2 nights I was in the hospital. Surgery was quick and easy and I was back in my room in no time flat. I was sleepy, but they reminded me that I needed to be up walking 20 minutes every 2 hours to dispel the gas that was used to fill the abdomen for surgery. I was a stubborn patient--I wanted to sleep, not walk! I begrudgingly did it as little as possible and I paid the price for it by being in more pain. It was nice to have my mom by my side to baby me and take care of little things when I didn't feel like calling a nurse. The staff was wonderful, although the language barrier got in the way from time to time. The doctors spoke pretty good English, but the nurses didn't speak as much. At the end of the day though, we figured it out. My biggest complaint came the morning after surgery when they wanted me to get up and take a shower. I was so weak and didn't know if I could make it, but I did and then they came in and changed my bandages. We repeated this again day 2. Dr. Garcia came in to see me and said that I had done very well with my pre-surgery diet and had the liver of a much smaller person. This made his job much easier. He said my surgery went well and I was free to go back to the hotel for another 2 nights.
We made friends with some of the other patients and arranged to go shopping and tour Tijuana. Things kind of fell apart, but my mom and I took a 3 hour taxi tour of Tijuana and went shopping on Revalution Street and brought home some souveniers. I ate some chicken broth finally and drank some Water and ate a popscicle. Eating was, and still is, a chore. Since surgery, I've gone back to Weight Watchers and the first week back I actually gained weight! I was up 2 pounds, but we figured it was all the fluids and everything they gave me in the hospital. The second week back, I was down 18.4 pounds and last week I was down 3.8 pounds. Altogether, I've lost 20.2 since surgery, but overall I am down over 40 pounds and it feels great! I am hoping for a little more loss this week and I'm going to try to start exercising more. Other than my discomfort with eating, I am thrilled with my surgery. My doctor in Mexico thought I could lose 100 pounds in 3 months, but I am thinking more like 60-75 pounds. I am just going to follow the diet and let my body do what it feels is right. As long as I'm not gaining, I will be happy. Thank you for reading my story and I look forward to being a member here.

so, here's the deal. I work with kids in my church and have for years. I started at 5'6" and 373 pounds. So far I've dropped 142 pounds and am down to 231. Today, after service there was a boy around 7 years old that I've known for most of his life. He was just staring at me, so I went over to talk to him. He got this great big smile and said "Dude, you used to be REALLY FAT, but now you're just a little bit fat"..... I don't know what was funnier. His completely honest heartfelt compliment, or the look of absolute mortification on the face of his older sister as she tried to correct his 'tact'. But, that totally made my whole day. Anybody else have a good, fun/awkward compliment story to share?

July 14/October 4/October 20

Not sure if you can tell a huge difference between the 2 October pics. Starting weight preop 213, surgery 9/4, weight 10/19 184.1. I'm 5 ft 2 in case anyone was wondering. And....today I bought a pair of size 32 (13) pants!!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

Thanks everyone! I feel sexy in the new do....I noticed my eyes look 2xs as big too! Now if I could find a pair of pants that made my behind look 20 # thinner I would be set!!!LOL

Maybe not a major NSV ..but it's been a long while since I was able to wear my hair short because of my fat face ....now I can again!
Here's the am ..my old do

And here I am in the pm!

Siren, I was so glad to read your post! I'm the same way... just over 4 months out and I'm doing really well. I am about 15 lbs from goal! Finally feeling "normal" and loving it.
I went to a party last night and saw people I haven't seen in 15 years - and it was GREAT to be the THIN one for a change!!! And listen to comments from people who remembered the "fat" me. It's a great feeling to be comfortable in your own skin!!!

I haven't had problems and any concerns, I will talk to my pcp next week. There were no instructions by him. I saw him once before surgery, once the day after surgery, then once the day of the leak test. I emailed him my concerns regarding how I was treated while there to his personal email, with no response. Omar is the only one that checks on me from time to time. I am losing very slow. About 10lbs a month, but that's because of my non related health issue.

Hi all. My name's Melissa. I'm 41. Been married for 20 years. Have two sons, 18 and 16, as well as a 11 year old pug dog daughter! (lol). I like to read, travel, go to amusement and Water parks, donate blood, bake, bike ride, love doing practically anything. I do a lot of things alone.
My previous weight growing up was always normal. I am 5'4", and as a teenager weighed about 115 and looked anorexic because I have large bones. I was built to be tall, but I'm not!!
Anyway, first pregnancy was uneventful, and was only 10 lbs from prepregnancy weight when I got pregnant with son #2. Though taking care of a 2 yr old and walking daily kept me busy, I gained about 65 lbs with 2nd! Only got down to 165ish before getting a toxic goiter and hyperthyroid. I'm weird and react different than most people. I gained weight! Goiter and thyroid removed with radioactive iodine. Now I'm lifetime hypothyroid. Sooo hard to lose now!
I'm at my heaviest right now...just under 265. I have zero self esteem. No support from husband. Kids are great, but typical teenagers! Glad I have my pug Molly. She's the only one that loves me unconditionally.
Anyway, I am going to Mexico for surgery toward the end of August. I will be going alone. My husband doesn't support this physically, emotionally, verbally or financially. I barely have enough money to do this. Only been at my job 6 years, and cleaned out my 401k to pay for the surgery.
That's my story, and I am getting anxious (in a really good way) to see where my new life will take me. I may be married, but may not be by next year. I can't take his lack of support and selfishness much longer...just sayin. Once I get some of ME back, I'm hoping to have the umph to do what I gotta do for ME! Tired of existing for people who do not appreciate me and continue to suck the life out of me!
Oops, I vented (again)

I have officially reached the century club! I plan on posting pictures at my 6 month surgery anniversary which will be October 3rd. If anyone is contemplating surgery or getting ready to have this surgery, I would say do it. Yes, it is hard. Yes, you must commit to the whole process. Yes, there are always setbacks, but isn't that what life is about? It is these experiences that make us stronger as individuals. Did I have complications ? Yes while my team felt it was minor ( a small hematoma), it hurt like hell for 2 months, but I prevailed. What has change for me? I no longer have prediabetes or high blood pressure. Alas, I have high cholesterol still, but mine is a genetic condition having 2 of 3 genetic markers for heart disease. As an aside note, the Boston Heart Lab checks for this if you are interested in your own makeup. So as for the cholesterol, well..some cards you are dealt you can't change, but you can manage them more easily with this surgery...exercise, diet, and medication. The nice part is that I have freedom. I can do things now without thinking. For example, table or booth? Who cares, I fit in both! Daughter has a function at school in the auditorium? No problem...sit where you like...you'll fit. Amusement park you say? Sure...I love to ride! Oh no...can I fit? You betcha I can! Plane ride? I have myself covered...no extra fees or seat belt extender for me! Anyway...I am on my way. My journey is only at my half way point. I still have a long road ahead, but I will only go forward, one foot in front of the other until I reach my destination. Until then, I have you all as company. Thank you for your support. You all will never know how much it is greatly appreciated and definitely part if my continued success! Each and every one of the people who respond to my posts, I thank you...positive or negative..I know that I have a band of sleeve family out there to support or give me a dose of reality...see it really is like a family..good and bad. I feel like a caterpillar in my cocoon not ready to emerge yet, just still transforming into a butterfly. One day, I will emerge and be as beautiful on the outside as I feel on the inside!

Butterthebean - love that woman! She respects you enough that she didn't want to put temptation in front of you

Thank you all for your support and advise. It is nice to come onto a forum where you can discuss the 'real' issues and not be judged and or talk with others going through the same things.

I haven't lost any friends yet, but I do see some jealousy and competition. Now a lot of my friends are on fad diets and exercising in an attempt to "keep up" or maintain their status as smaller than me. Maybe I should be flattered that I motivated them to make some changes, but it really makes me feel awkward because of what I think their motives are.

as a taxpayer, this is the kind of thing that angers me...not that medicaid covers WLS but that people like me--who work in State government--have insurance plans that do NOT cover WLS...so I am working for the government and don't have coverage...but my taxes that I pay as a worker are being used to cover WLS for those who aren't contributing taxes...unfair to the max

Damn! It's too bad US insurance companies won't cover for surgery in Mexico! They'd save a ton of money too.