newat52

It's totally normal to be nervous... I was having doubts right up until they put the IV in my arm and wheeled me off, but I can honestly say that I have no regrets whatsoever! Good luck, and welcome to the loser's bench!

Ok ladies I'm off to get my pedi to help relax me and to help pass the time.

I really agree with this. I haven't shouted from the rooftops about my surgery, but I also haven't lied about it to anyone. I told a few people that I was having surgery (mostly business contacts whom I needed to let know I would be out--although I was answering business emails from my iphone within a few hours of surgery)--and not one person was rude enough to ask what kind of surgery. If anyone asks at any point how I am losing weight (I'll be so psyched when I lose enough for it to be noticeable--LOL), I will likely say either 1) I decided to make myself a priority; or 2) small portions, low carb, and exercise--all of which will be true.
I think it's fine if people want to share the personal details of their life with others, but I wasn't raised that way. I don't judge people who like to do it, but it's just my personal preference not to do it. When I had an office job, on the rare occasions that I was out sick, I would send a note to my staff saying I would be out of the office that day. I didn't need to come back and tell everyone the status of my GI virus or whatever. Yuck. And I have been known to take vacation time and not tell anyone at work where I was going. That's just me though. It doesn't mean I am living a fake life.
I really don't think there are many times when anyone I don't know well has talked to me and said "TMI"--and I'm good with that.
Again, if it is your preference to be open and share as much as you can about your life with others--I say go with your own comfort level. I won't judge you for it, and I ask that you please not judge me for my choices either. We are all going thru this together and there isn't a one-size-fits-all prescription. I love that we can learn about and respect each others' differences.

That was my point, it is a personal decision on anything to share with others or not. Weather you do or don't does not equal one is "ashamed" or "going around lying". It just means it's personal to you. If you are a "share it all" then do it with a smile! Not judging it.
Just seems like a lot of the folks who fall in the "share it all" like to put the ashamed and lying stigma on it. It's just a wrong assessment for most of those people. Just say..

Sorry but choosing to keep personal things to one's self is not in any way, shape or form "going around lying" Doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, overweight or what have you. A person does have a right to to keep things personal. A lot of mature people do that and I can assure you we are not living a "fake life".
Tell anyone and everyone as much or as little as you want. I don't judge that. But just because not everyone sees it like you do doesn't mean it's a lie.

My husband obviously knows, and a few very select co-workers. As far as most people know, I'm going out for hernia surgery, which is partially true. I'm having a hernia fixed at the same time. My body, my weight and my eating habits are mine and mine alone. I don't need commentary at lunchtime and I don't want to be the defendant in the court of public opinion. I don't care what my co-worker who has had the sleeve is eating. I'm tired of hearing about what she eats and her workouts because it is ALL she talks about now. I won't subject my co-workers to that coming out of my mouth. So, yes I choose to stay on the down-low for now. I know that it will come out eventually.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Congrats! Hope mine goes as well. Keep sipping and walking!

Me too... I answer them. I like getting to know people through pms and helping them.

For the past few years I've wanted to get banded. I go to Church with a woman who was very successful and she inspired me. My insurance doesn't cover any procedures so after I was done having kiddos my husband added me to his insurance policy. I officially became covered January 1st, so on Jan 3rd I had a consultation with two surgeons, Dr. Nicholson at the Nicholson clinic and then I had an appointment at True Results, Dallas.
During my first appt Dr. Nicholson suggested I consider the sleeve procedure and for a few seconds I considered it...until I walked in to True Results and they told me how dangerous it was, how it hadn't been on the market long enough, etc. etc. I guess since I'd wanted the band for so long they told me everything I wanted to hear.
I continued going to True Results for two more months, but in the back of my mind I kept going back to what Dr. Nicholson had said. He told me about problems with the band that were just developing and told me that since I lived so far away from a bariatric facility (I have a 3 hr drive, one way) that the band was more than likely not the route I would want to go. He always maintained that if I wanted it he would gladly give me one, but that he just didn't think it was the perfect fit.
I continued to have thoughts that the band probably wasn't the best thing for me, but once i started visiting True Results I felt "stuck" in the sense that I didn't want to waste all of the time I'd already invested. I asked True Results if they offered the sleeve and they said they did, but that their surgeon didn't do as many of them because the band was "better".
About a month ago I started really researching the band vs the sleeve and kept coming across numerous people who had the band, then had problems and revised to the sleeve. I didn't want to be one of those people. I want whatever I choose to work for life and i want to be happy with my decision forever. I also didn't want the surgeon that performed my surgery to do them every once in awhile, I wanted my surgeon to be the best of the best.
I prayed about my decision and asked God to lead me in the right direction, whatever that direction was. The same day I was searching a forum who specifically pointed out True Results and the surgeon that I would have had and said if you're considering him/that clinic to run as fast away as possible. She wasn't speaking to me, but I felt as though she was if that makes sense.
I then decided to contact Dr. Nicholson's clinic and see if they would even take me back. I'd only gone to one appointment and then had "chosen" another doctor, so for all I knew they would tell me tough nuggets. Nope. They said that they loved it when patients researched other doctors and that they were happy that I had "shopped around" and then returned to them.
Lastly, I had been upset that the 2 months worth of nutritional appointments would be wasted in a sense, but had decided that in the long run, what was 2 months of my life, if it meant my life and happieness? Just for the heck of it I thought I would ask the Nicholson clinic if there was any way they would give me credit for the nutrition appointments and sure enough they will!
Everything is falling in to place and I really couldn't be happier and more excited about getting the sleeve. I'm ready to change my life for the better and looking forward to this journey!
Now if I can just jump through the flaming hoops for insurance and get my surgery scheduled

Glad it's going well. Keep up the walking and sipping. Hope mine goes as well. Next Wednesday is my big day!

You are an inspiration - great job!!!

I think I'm having an out of body experience. I know this must be true because this body looks and acts nothing like the one I've lived in for sooo many years. The back and knees I knew were so painful I couldn't walk or stand for more than 2-3 minutes. My old head sat directly on my shoulders without a neck. Now I have a real, if not swan like neck. I never had collar bones. rib bones, hip bones or those cute little shoulder bone, all of which are emerging.. My old face had no real features like chin bones ccheekbones and contours. all of which had disappeared into fat. Now Bones and contours are making an appearance. And oh, by the way, has anyone seen my cleavage. It used to sit just under my chin and now I can barely find it! Lets not forget about the tail bone. I'm not crazy about that one cause it hurts when I sit down. I have lost 20 inches from my wast and 6 inches from my neck. I still want/need to lose between 50 - 60 pounds, but compared to the 163 pounds I've already lost, this is not daunti.g or discouraging. This wasn't all easy, but neither was "my so called life" before therapy and surgery. Every tough moment fades away compared to the poitives I am experiencing. Long post, but my point is it was so worth it. I'm so happy that I did this. I have to pinch my self to be sure I'm not dreaming. Folks on this site will never know how much they helped me through the rough spots and the joy and hope I have recieved and continue to recieve through this site. Thank you all.

Big congrats to you! That is fantastic! I hope you know that seeing your change is such an inspiration to us!
Happiness to you!
Oh, your hair is fantastic! I would be thrilled to have half of it! My hair is thin and I worry about the possible Hair loss but am doing everything I can to make my chances better for no loss.

I know, it was a failed attempt at humor...
Most docs do say when ever you feel comfortable... I've never heard the six week thing unless your into acrobatics.

There is no right or wrong answer here. One thing I am quite sure of though, is that no one here is making decisions lightly. This is a very important decision and whichever one you make is surely the right one based on your circumstances and financial situation. If you are lucky enough to have it covered by insurance, I high five you! For most of the rank and file whose policies have the exclusion, everyone has to make the tough decisions.
I am lucky to live in the Dallas area, lots of great Dr.s to choose from and not anywhere near the 20k that some folks have to shell out for this. So for me, I will stay local because it's the best decision for ME.
As for others who are traveling, you are not crazy for having it done elsewhere, you are making the decision that is best for YOU! You don't need to defend your decision. And quite frankly, I find some of the negative comments rather rude. We are here to support one another, not undermine one another. Can't we all just get along?
Our journeys don't always include the same path...just sayin....

I agree, your Dr. is being a major poop! (only name calling I will ever do in this forum) But he is!
From what I have read in here, most folks who choose to go to Mexico can usually follow up with their family Dr. for labs and such. In the rare event there is a complication, I have no doubt you can find a Dr. that is willing and happy to treat you. I call major BS on this Dr!
I'm sure you have considered all your options and are making the decision that is best for you. It really pisses me off when someone tries to undermine the decisions of others for their own gain! Grrr...

Today is the big day!
wowwwww, everyone has said it all!!!
happy day
good luck
speedy recovery

Thank you guys/gals! prayers are greatly appreciated! catch you on the flip side!

Yep. What TheGamer said! Keep up the liquids as much as you can handle will help.
Will send good vibes your way!