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Thank you all for the encouragement. I truly appreciate it!

Ok so I am starting my pre-op diet and like other posters have said before me, it is hell! Even in the past when I only do one or two shakes a day to try and cut down on my eating-- I am hungry. Starting tomorrow, I'm limited to 4 protein shakes a day and a few servings of SF jello and the like. I don't want to cheat. I have a couple of appetite suppressant bottles from other failed diet attempts. They do work to suppress my appetite (hoodia extract). Would it hurt to take a few to get through the first 3-5 days? I've heard that most people say the first several days are the worst and I want to be successful.

A lot of successful sleevers got to WLS for the same reason as you describe. You may though want to do a search on "slider" foods. Slider foods sound a lot like what you are eating now, highly processed convienence foods. Many sleevers have no problem eating slider foods several months after surgery. Slider foods are called that since they do not cause the same restriction as healthy food choices. Overall. I'm a volume eater who at times also sometimes makes bad food choices. That's why I choose the sleeve, it will in the beginning limit my ability to do either and hopefully help me learn new lifestyle habits. There are healthy no cook or low cook choices like precooked chicken breasts, etc and in the end that's what our success comes down to, our choices. Best of luck in you journey.

**aggressive**

I think sometimes the passive aggressie behaviors like this are really their way of expressing their fears/concerns for us. My guy is not onboard with my surgery and so I could totally see him doing something like that. I know he's doing it out of fear and concern but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with! Make your plans without him. Hire a sitter to come over, find friends the kids can bunk with, whatever. As another poster said, do what you gotta do. Eventually when you are a lighter version of yourself he will either turn out to be your newest cheerleader or maybe he'll show he's not the one for you.

Just deciding to have surgery is a hard decision, let alone all the other factors we must weight: location, cost, reputation, etc. For me, I cannot put a price on my health. I simply had to take it out of the equation. I have been blessed to have my insurance approve me however I had been in contact with a Mexico surgeon that I felt was one of the best and who happens to be one of the most expensive. I believe this surgery will improve my quality of life and when I lose weight and have more energy, I figured I could always earn more money.

Pain in my feet upon standing up Taking out small items on furniture with my hips when I walk by People giving me a wide birth Shrinking into airplane seats Not living

39 and never shopped for a single digit sized clothing. Never driven a motorcycle. Never been thin, not had my thights rub like I'm starting a forest fire, or had a hanging belly (pannus).

Was initially referred to dr. Waldrep who is apparently a great surgeon but had never performed VSG. As a result he made some arrogant/ignorant statements when I asked him about VSG at his orientation seminar. Ultimately, I think I need to change surgeons. I will not be simeone's test case. Dr. Eslami is now who I am considering but so far I can't find any posts here on him and on Obesity Help all the posts about him are for RnY. He has perfprmed VSG but I haven't found much info on him. His orientation isn't for another week. Anyone know either doctor or have any advice?

That's wonderful to hear you are doing so well! Way to work your sleeve. I'm about two weeks away from my big day and I hope everything goes as smoothly for me. One question, do you know if Dr. Eslami glues or sews the staple line? Congratulations and wishing you a continued smooth recovery!

I have read the horrors other have had with their insurance. I am lucky, my insurance doesn't require a six month diet or anything else. In fact, you just have to have a two year weight history and a BMI of over 40. Great right?! No because my stupid medical group, Mercy medical has created their own made up rules!! I've been to two different nutritionists four separate times and I have more visits to go. One nutritionist assigned by my PCP, one required by my surgeon. In addition, I was required to attend a dietician class last night. I have to have a "family" visit appointment with my surgeon's office still. Literally, they require my family to attend- I'm single and own my own home but apparently need my parent's approval!! I've explained that they live in another state and the surgeon started talking like I need to fly them out. Uh, no! We agreed that they can attend by phone. Same with the guy I'm with, he lives two hours away and he needs to be on the phone too. WTF? I'm 40 not 14! I've had 3 months of physical testing, really dumb stuff like how many sit up can you do in two minutes, how fast can you walk a mile kind of tests. The psych. eval is ok- sounds like everyone has to do that. Same with the EKG and chest xray. Everyone has to do that and I've completed mine. My surgeon requires an endoscopy. So I called my PCP and they ordered an upper GI. After a couple of weeks delay over that confusion, they ordered the endoscopy but now I must first have a consult with the gastroenterologist before I can get the EGD. So this intermediary step creates another delay. My surgeon's office is ready to schedule me in Feb and the earliest I can even got the consult for the EGD is mid-January and they don't know how soon they can book the EGD after the consult, that's up to the dr! I am So Annoyed!! Now I know why people hop on a plane to Mexico!! If this drags out past February without a surgery date, Adios Mercy medical group (middle fingers up) and Hola Dr. Aceves!!!!

Not really. While both procedures reduce the size of the stomach, they are different. Bypass creates a small pouch near the top of the stomach. While the sleeve is a long narrow tube that runs the length of the stomach. From what I've read, the bypass pouch can stretch more readily than the sleeve. Again, it has to do with what part of the stomach is removed. For the sleeve mostly the muscular portion of the stomach remains. This part is very difficult to stretch. However with both bypass and sleeve you may have a perception of stretching over the first year as you fully heal, you will be able to eat more.

It's tough! I almost always ask for either the first appointment of the day or the last appointment as to not miss much office time. I also travel for my job, so I book when I know I will either be headed in or out and incorporate it into my out of office time. I also have had my Drs write me notes to excuse me from work when my other options didn't work. It has been a crazy juggling act. LOL.

I should mention I have an H.M.O so that keeps my costs down in comparison. We have a PPO option at my work and it is 80/20 also. I hope the finances work out for you. Vent whenever you need too!

My out of pocket max is $2,000. I'm pre-op but my MD says to expect to be in the hospital for two days. If that is the case, then I will only pay $1,000 as I have a $500/day hospital stay copayment. Trying to find the silverlining: Having heard from most self-payers that the cost of surgery starts at about $5,000 and up. I figure I'm lucky.

My jaw literally hung open on your after pictures. Wow! Best wishes on your continued journey.

I got my VitaMix on craigslist. Totally love it. Made the best green smoothie ever this weekend.

Thank you! I've been noticing that to (especially about plastics!). So glad it's not just me. I think it's LAME.

Highest weight (2002) 263 size 3x, 24W Current weight 239 size in between 1x and 2x, tight 18W or loose 20W Dr's goal 160-170 Personal goal 140-150 Height 5'4"

I agree with Iggy here. It is anyone's guess as to how complication statistics in MX are reported and what accuracy they have. Even in the US, hospital reporting is inaccurate. I know someone who died from complications due to a gastric bypass but that was not the listed cause of death. However, there are hundreds of MX sleevers who are very happy with their outcomes.

Hi there. I'm in a similar situtation. My family has moved out of state and I live in my current city due to a promotion so not a lot of friends here. At least none I would expect to take vacation time from their job for me. I did my EGD by myself-- you are supposed to be put under for it but I didn't have anyone to drive me home so I was awake. Obviously that can't happen with surgery! LOL. My plan had been to look into hiring a nurse or other care person if needed. However my parents are retired and are going to fly out to stay with me the first 5 days. I am hoping that I will be able to get up and down from a seated position as well as in and out of bed before they have to leave. Doing it alone has been a little more difficult. Getting the EGD done awake took some negotiating with the doctor. My surgeon insists on a 'family visit' pre-op, I got him to agree to do a conference call. That said, you probably do need help the first few days. If you have a family member that can pick you up from the hospital and stay with you after surgery, get them here. If not you can hire someone. You won't be able to drive home or to the pharmacy and you will need someone to help you get up and walking every few hours. Since our surgery is laproscopic, after a couple of days, you should be ok on your own. Don't stress, it will all come together.

I'm single and don't have any family nearby so I had no one to take me to the hosptial and back. They couldn't put me under since you aren't supposed to drive for at least 12 hours and given that it is an outpatient procedure I couldn't be admitted.

My date is Feb 20. Pre-op diet starts Feb 8.

I switched Dr.s at one point as well. It's a small bump in the road but shouldn't cause much delay. In my case, I had my insurance company send me a list of their Dr.s, then I called each one and asked that procedures they have performed. Based on that I called my PCP and she issued the referral to the new Dr.