does not matter

You know what, you are absolutely right. That is a very low percentage... and I bet you Canadians get killed at other destinations as well... but maybe don't hit the papers. it's just hard when you have an old fashion family who believes everything they see on tv. Thank you

Where did you find this?

Awesome thank you, I will take a look at that!

The week I went without diet coke I think it was hellish for 4 days and got better after that. Was there anything you did that eased the headaches? I know extra strength Advil didn't touch them at all or did you just have to ride it out and wait for it to go away on its own ? I was on a boat in the middle of the ocean lol so I didn't have much I could try! Right now am like you before, hoping I can stop, but really don't see it happening without having zero choice at the time of surgery.

I will keep my eye out for the new Crystal Light line! Although we don't get everything in Canada so I may have to take a little trip to the states to stock up on some Vitamins and other options! I am addicted to diet coke and thus aspartame so I don't know if I get headaches from aspartame... but I do know I get them if I don't have it. This will NOT be fun cutting the addiction... I've started cutting down though... I have 3 months to stop the diet coke completely... I think I need a 12 step program lol

Oh awesome, thanks for the responses! I have read a few things debunking the cancer causing agent etc etc, but then you read something that says it causes all of these things so I often flip flop back and forth wondering which is the one I should be believing? I guess it's similar to the margarine vs butter argument? Every time I read a new article I flip flop in my mind of which I should be using! That's interesting, I didn't know that. Why do they say no aspartame if you have arthritis? How does it affect it?

It seems that every surgeon has slightly different recommendations but I happened to come across this... it has everything layed out really nicely and it's super easy to read. books in general for post op sleevers? I have come across a few when I was looking a few months ago, but I'm hoping to get some reviews from people who might have them? Where they useful or not to much?

I honestly feel like we are living the same life right now. I've been an emotional disaster for the past 2 weeks since researching and booking my surgery. My mom is no longer talking to me and my brother told me to write him in my will. It's a complete disaster. I sat in the parking lot of the bank and cried for half an hour and had to re-read posts on this site before I could go in to do my wire transfer. Right now I am living and breathing this website and getting my support from here. Everyone keeps saying family will come around, and I'm trying to believe them since everyone else has been there and says it works out in the end... so I'm holding onto that hope. We just have to remember that we are doing this for ourselves to have healthier, happier lives. It is very difficult when the people closest to you are the ones you really want and thought you could always count on. I think they're just worried about you.. hopefully they will come around on the day of surgery to be there to support you on the most important day. Stay positive and stay strong.

Wow, that's a lot of weight in such a short time! You both look great!

Has anyone encountered criticism about using sugar substitutes post surgery? With the whole "aspartame causes cancer.." etc etc argument? A friend sent me a website a few weeks ago and posted this on her facebook, which basically summed up the article "Drink diet soda? Artificial sweeteners? Anything containing aspartame? I would stop now. It used to be on the biochemical warfare list, took decades to be FDA approved, it's an excitotoxin that causes brain cell and receptor site death which causes neurological disease. When exposed to temps over 85 degrees it is converted into formaldehyde. Your body temp is 98.5 degrees. And to top it all off it is a leading cause of obesity due to increasing the body's insulin resistance and deteriorating healthy tissue to form sugars to give the nutritional component that aspartame lacks. No joke. How do you feel about diet soda now? I'll stick to the real stuff with real sugar thanks!" She's in school in Toronto for health medicine type courses and they covered this topic I get flack everyday for diet coke or crystal lite etc. Do any of you get the same? Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

but thank you for your support

You are entitled to your opinion, as am I. You do not live here and are unaware of what is happening here to begin with (drug issues which leads to theft). I have worked on a fly in reserve for 2 years. Don't presume you know me or my city, or make assumptions about my opinions or beliefs. I work with murderers everyday... I see it all.

That's awesome, thanks for your support I have been to cozumel Mexico on a scuba diving trip (but I was with about 20 people) we ventured off our resort and felt safe. And I also wondered around the Bahamas off our live-a-board diving boat by myself or with a friend and felt semi-safe there too... there were security guards everywhere stopping to see if we were okay literally every 5 minutes. I guess maybe just reading about some of those stories about the hospitals just kind of gave me the hee-bee-gee-bees

Did I say they were caused solely by people on reserves? No...

Good point! Thunder Bay isn't much better with the amount of reserves in our proximity... A convenience store is robbed just about every night.. This is good, you guys are all helping me with this... thanks

"dr. Almanza makes it as safe as possible because this is how he makes his living. he can't have patients being robbed and killed... bad for business!" very good point! Hoping Dr Joya feels the same lol ugh I hate my family right now... my grandparents still don't know and I'm avoiding that one like the plague right now... I can't take anymore especially with my mom being the icing on the cake..

I know, it's hard when I have zero support. My brother told me to include him in my will... seriously this isn't what I need right now. I have a few friends who are trying to support me but wish I had someone going with me... I would but everyone is working when I can go.

My surgery is booked for March 4th in Puerto Vallarta... my brother just found out what I'm doing and my mom hasn't talked to me since I told her I was going to do this 2 weeks ago. I have no support from my family, and my brother told me to include him in my will :| Here is the website... http://www.mexicovacationawareness.com/mexicostory.html Comments anyone? Please god let someone have some positive comments!!!! I'm thinking I'm going to wake up with no organs left... or that they're not actually going to do the surgery.. lol someone help me please!

Is anyone else going to Dr Joya around this time? Looking for other sleeve sisters/brothers!

I'm on 5k runner... I'm on week 5 day 1 or 2? There were a few hard days in there for me but I just repeated them until I was more confident... My surgery isn't until March but I'm hoping to not have to take too long a break from the app once I have surgery... I'm addicted and do it 4 times a week. After 5k... I'm going for 10! Keep up the good work!

I have seen a few good reviews but not many... this was one of the first few pages I saw and just stopped researching him after I saw this... http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/mexico/4554433/Dr-Hector-Perez-Corzo-in-Cancun/ I decided on Dr Joya

Deposit made... Still in tears...

I'm sitting in the car I the bank parking lot... I'm scared... Nervous... I have no idea what my problem is...

Me too! I hope we can do it on the same day! My mom hasn't really been talking to me beside a few emails corresponding about the surgery. I think she was just teling me what I wanted to hear but still doesn't support me because since I booked the flight she hasn't talked to me... she hasnt even phoned in over a week. I am literally by myself in everything I do. So in making this decision for myself I have essentially lost my only parent because of this decision... having someone there going through the same thing at the same time would make it easier. I now have to find someone who can take care of my tiny puppy since she won't anymore. My fingers are crossed for you!!!!!!

It will be Monday the 4th, just have to get to the bank tomorrow to do the deposit but Gerald has my flight info and has confirmed the date:)