Bree

Two reasons:
1) Because people judge / shame. You might be tough enough to stand up against that kind of judgement but many of us aren't and it can be tiresome and humiliating to deal with that.
2) And because of internal guilt. I am not proud that I've come to this, I know full well I should have not shoveled food in my face for the past 10 years, I could have done something when I was 20 pounds overweight, and I didn't.
I, for one, have told no one but my husband, and it'll stay that way. I'm not proud of it, I guess. But I'm doing what I need to before I end up diabetic or dead of a heart attack.

Why is it that keeping one's business to one's self equal being ashamed? I know we live in a world now that nothing is private anymore and everyone knows everyone's business but really, not everyone is like that. Maybe it's my age showing.
My husband and son know, that is the way I choose to keep for now. I am not ashamed of what I am doing. This is my decision and my health and I don't need to explain anything to anyone or justify it. Just because someone asks a question, does not mean an answer is required of me. I have always been a private person and this is no exception. Would you answer if someone asked you what your income was? Or how much your house cost? Or when did you last have sex? I most certainly would not. For me, that falls under the category "personal", as does my weight, weight loss and my health. People ask intrusive questions because they know most people will feel like they have to answer. I do not. It is really just that simple.
So for those of us who choose to keep our private life private is no way equals that we are "ashamed" or that we are not "proud" of making the decision to better our life through surgery.
I"m sorry if you don't understand that but please don't judge us and dump us into the ashamed category.

Such a relief, thank you for the reassurances. I was worried I'd be layed up in the hospital bed directing my husband how to use a tampon applicator... or some similarly horrible experience.
yeesh!

I have just figured out that my period will be starting a day before my surgery...
I am a bit wigged out about this. The hygenic issues of course... worried about having catheter down there.
The cramps I get are pretty bad, especially day 1 and 2, I have long heavy flows. How will I clean myself, even handle things like tampons or pads if i'm layed up in bed barely able to move with wires and drains and such?
I'm pretty freaked out here.
Any advice?

I'm self-pay and I didn't actually warm up to the idea of surgery in Mexico until recently. I have been packing away money knowing the cost of a US surgeon in my neck of the woods would be about $17-20K. I started saving all my money and came on here for support and just to check it out. I actually lurked here almost a year before registering! It was here that I discovered mexico self-pay, and how it was less than half the cost in the US. That meant that I could literally have the surgery NOW, I already have that much saved up. Seeing the affordability made me seriously consider it. The option of surgery in Cancun was really appealing to me, and I thought how cool it would be to wrap up the surgery and a vacation all in one... however, the doctor who perform's surgery in Cancun had, as far as I know, only one review here on the forums, very little anecdotal commentary and his ratings were not as high as Aceves. Aceves is more expensive, Calexico is a lot less sexy and wonderful than Cancun, but I want the best and when it comes to Mexico bariatrics, he seems like the guy.
TL;DR
This forum's anecdotal accounts of Aceves helped my decision. :-)

I'm self-pay and I didn't actually warm up to the idea of surgery in Mexico until recently. I have been packing away money knowing the cost of a US surgeon in my neck of the woods would be about $17-20K. I started saving all my money and came on here for support and just to check it out. I actually lurked here almost a year before registering! It was here that I discovered mexico self-pay, and how it was less than half the cost in the US. That meant that I could literally have the surgery NOW, I already have that much saved up. Seeing the affordability made me seriously consider it. The option of surgery in Cancun was really appealing to me, and I thought how cool it would be to wrap up the surgery and a vacation all in one... however, the doctor who perform's surgery in Cancun had, as far as I know, only one review here on the forums, very little anecdotal commentary and his ratings were not as high as Aceves. Aceves is more expensive, Calexico is a lot less sexy and wonderful than Cancun, but I want the best and when it comes to Mexico bariatrics, he seems like the guy.
TL;DR
This forum's anecdotal accounts of Aceves helped my decision. :-)

I'll post my entire Aceves experience and add to the wealth of existing experiences posted here. Like you I don't have much of a support system, only my husband knows and a lot of this will be on me to figure out. And hopefully I'll get some support here at the forums.
I'm not scared at all, I just keep thinking... in 2014 I'll be skinny! One year... a year blows by so fast. Before you know it you'll be buying things in sizes that have single digits!

Think about it this way. You put your life MORE at risk by getting into an automobile, than you do going onto the surgeon's table for this specific procedure. (really! my husband and I worked out the odds of both complications and death, compared to that of getting into a car and risking an accident).
This really helped ease both our minds about it.
Also, who's your doctor? I'm getting sleeved in Mexico on Mar14 by Dr. Aceves. Perhaps our paths will cross :-)
Stay strong, and don't chicken out. If your life is worth putting at risk by driving on the highway, then it's worth this risk to ensure weight loss, a longer lifespan, seeing grandchildren, not dying early of heart attack or diabetes, and reaping the great rewards that life offers to people with healthy bodies. If someone offered you all of those benefits by simply getting in your car and going for a drive just once, you'd do it, right? We all know there's potential for accidents, even fatal ones, yet we drive all the time. Performed by a credible surgeon, your sleeve surgery is even safer risk-wise.
It is SO WORTH IT. Don't be scared Lotti. (hug)

I'll post my entire Aceves experience and add to the wealth of existing experiences posted here. Like you I don't have much of a support system, only my husband knows and a lot of this will be on me to figure out. And hopefully I'll get some support here at the forums.
I'm not scared at all, I just keep thinking... in 2014 I'll be skinny! One year... a year blows by so fast. Before you know it you'll be buying things in sizes that have single digits!

I'll post my entire Aceves experience and add to the wealth of existing experiences posted here. Like you I don't have much of a support system, only my husband knows and a lot of this will be on me to figure out. And hopefully I'll get some support here at the forums.
I'm not scared at all, I just keep thinking... in 2014 I'll be skinny! One year... a year blows by so fast. Before you know it you'll be buying things in sizes that have single digits!

That's still a damn fine a--
I mean... I'd give that heiny a 90!
From what I hear anything that works your glutes is going to improve it but only just... after that you can consider fat transfers (taking fat out of one part of the body and injecting it into your booty, or the butt implants route though I hear that is one of the most painful of the surgeries.
OR you and your boo can fall in love with the new booty all over again. Because really... it's pretty nice

That's still a damn fine a--
I mean... I'd give that heiny a 90!
From what I hear anything that works your glutes is going to improve it but only just... after that you can consider fat transfers (taking fat out of one part of the body and injecting it into your booty, or the butt implants route though I hear that is one of the most painful of the surgeries.
OR you and your boo can fall in love with the new booty all over again. Because really... it's pretty nice

Mexico or bust, baby. Mine wouldn't cover it either.
I'm paying about $8750, all inclusive, for March Surgery in Mexicali. However there are good Mexico surgeons who will do it for as little as 4K-5K.

Finally had "the talk" about the surgery with my Husband. He didn't bat an eye and was instantly supportive. He said he wanted me to be happy. He is the only one I plan on telling. But it means the world to me that I got the thumbs up from my boo. I'm going to love this man forever.

While I expect a lot of it is hormone change, I sort of see it also as coming off of a lifetime addiction. Watching people I love battle drug and alcohol addiction, I know that extreme irritability, depression and mood swings are all part of the package when you try to detox or break an addiction.
Specifically on Atkins, I did induction for 2 weeks and I was such an emotional, irritable mess I couldn't handle it and I had to stop and revert back. Once I brought carbs and sugar back into my diet it was as though I was magically re-aligned again.

Two reasons:
1) Because people judge / shame. You might be tough enough to stand up against that kind of judgement but many of us aren't and it can be tiresome and humiliating to deal with that.
2) And because of internal guilt. I am not proud that I've come to this, I know full well I should have not shoveled food in my face for the past 10 years, I could have done something when I was 20 pounds overweight, and I didn't.
I, for one, have told no one but my husband, and it'll stay that way. I'm not proud of it, I guess. But I'm doing what I need to before I end up diabetic or dead of a heart attack.

While I expect a lot of it is hormone change, I sort of see it also as coming off of a lifetime addiction. Watching people I love battle drug and alcohol addiction, I know that extreme irritability, depression and mood swings are all part of the package when you try to detox or break an addiction.
Specifically on Atkins, I did induction for 2 weeks and I was such an emotional, irritable mess I couldn't handle it and I had to stop and revert back. Once I brought carbs and sugar back into my diet it was as though I was magically re-aligned again.

Two reasons:
1) Because people judge / shame. You might be tough enough to stand up against that kind of judgement but many of us aren't and it can be tiresome and humiliating to deal with that.
2) And because of internal guilt. I am not proud that I've come to this, I know full well I should have not shoveled food in my face for the past 10 years, I could have done something when I was 20 pounds overweight, and I didn't.
I, for one, have told no one but my husband, and it'll stay that way. I'm not proud of it, I guess. But I'm doing what I need to before I end up diabetic or dead of a heart attack.

Two reasons:
1) Because people judge / shame. You might be tough enough to stand up against that kind of judgement but many of us aren't and it can be tiresome and humiliating to deal with that.
2) And because of internal guilt. I am not proud that I've come to this, I know full well I should have not shoveled food in my face for the past 10 years, I could have done something when I was 20 pounds overweight, and I didn't.
I, for one, have told no one but my husband, and it'll stay that way. I'm not proud of it, I guess. But I'm doing what I need to before I end up diabetic or dead of a heart attack.

Two reasons:
1) Because people judge / shame. You might be tough enough to stand up against that kind of judgement but many of us aren't and it can be tiresome and humiliating to deal with that.
2) And because of internal guilt. I am not proud that I've come to this, I know full well I should have not shoveled food in my face for the past 10 years, I could have done something when I was 20 pounds overweight, and I didn't.
I, for one, have told no one but my husband, and it'll stay that way. I'm not proud of it, I guess. But I'm doing what I need to before I end up diabetic or dead of a heart attack.

Suannesh,
Not to sound cocky or devalue what you're saying, but yes, I did love being obese. I am 31 (very young), never had any co-morbidities, I am successful in my career, because I'm not 'attractive', I am in finance, and women trust me because I'm not a threat to their marriages, men trust me because they have no ulterior motives towards me, and my husband is also morbidly obese, and he loves me just the way I am and was. I chose to have this surgery though because I realized I am not invincible. I didn't want to end up like my father with his failing knees, enlarged heart, and high blood pressure, I didn't want to end up like my mom with her triple by-pass, and out of control cholesterol. I love food. I know what I have to do to be successful, and I can't and won't be able to ever eat the way I used to, I also have no desire to. I chose this surgery so I could choose life, so I could reclaim the future that I don't yet have, because I know I wouldn't have always been 'healthy' at more than 100 lbs over weight. For me, 30 was the magic 'invincibility' is now over, number. To anyone thinking about this surgery, even if you are happy and fat now, think about what your future holds. That's what I did, and I haven't looked back since! Congrats to your success, and congrats to both of us for taking this journey!!

Two reasons:
1) Because people judge / shame. You might be tough enough to stand up against that kind of judgement but many of us aren't and it can be tiresome and humiliating to deal with that.
2) And because of internal guilt. I am not proud that I've come to this, I know full well I should have not shoveled food in my face for the past 10 years, I could have done something when I was 20 pounds overweight, and I didn't.
I, for one, have told no one but my husband, and it'll stay that way. I'm not proud of it, I guess. But I'm doing what I need to before I end up diabetic or dead of a heart attack.

I'm a self pay headed to Mexico in March. My insurance excludes WLS too.
Amanda Rae

I have only told my hubby, son and a good friend. I havent told anyone in my family since they are totally against WLS, my mother's favorite thing to say is chew it and spit it out. My brother is a Dr. and my sister is a NUT for a large insurance co. and both say watch what you eat Sooooo I have basically gone underground so to speak lol and am going under renovation per say, more than just WLS. I will see them in 5-6 months and whether I tell them or not I havent decicded on as of yet or maybe I will let them read it in my memoirs. This is a very personal decision and I dont want any negative influence in my journey.

Two reasons:
1) Because people judge / shame. You might be tough enough to stand up against that kind of judgement but many of us aren't and it can be tiresome and humiliating to deal with that.
2) And because of internal guilt. I am not proud that I've come to this, I know full well I should have not shoveled food in my face for the past 10 years, I could have done something when I was 20 pounds overweight, and I didn't.
I, for one, have told no one but my husband, and it'll stay that way. I'm not proud of it, I guess. But I'm doing what I need to before I end up diabetic or dead of a heart attack.