pantala

March 28, Mi Doctor, Tijuana, Dr. Garcia I get exited just typing this!

For those of you using Ready 4 A Change, how quickly did you find R4AC/Alma responded to email or phone messages? Last night Alma said she had emailed my medical questionaire and information to me but I still have not received it (and I checked my spam folder). I used the email "contact@readyforachange.com" (from the website) to let her know and still have not heard back...is this normal? Everyone has raved about how quickly they get responses...BTW, I cannot call during most business hours, we have an "open office" environment so everyone can hear my conversations, yuk!

Thanks everyone! I'll try the emails you suggest. I didn't get her after hours phone # or proper email address from her when we talked.

I just posted an introductory message on the main forum but I expect to be spending most of my time here.....I doubt I would be having VSG at all if it weren't for the information and thoughts you have all shared and I can't say how much I appreciate it. Because I am just under 40 BMI with no co-morbidities, I will have to be self-pay. With the support of my PCP, I started looking into WLS last fall but was so put off by the attitude of the programs in this area (Des Moines), I felt no way were these people getting up to $30K of my money (yep, that's what we were quoted at the informational seminar). I was very discouraged because I had no information about procedures in Mexico and just felt it wasn't an option. Plus my husband and sister threw hissy fits when I brought it up. My sister is slender with no weight issues in her whole life except keeping enough weight ON and truly thinks I can do this "on my own". My husband has seen my struggles close up and is totally supportive about the surgery in general but VERY skeptical about going to Mexico. Thanks in part to you all, he has come around and will be going with me. After much dithering, I have decided on going to Dr. Garcia in TJ using r4ac. Don't have a date set yet, but shooting for late March, early April. My schedule at work won't let me get away much before that and I can get better airfares then too. Now I'm starting to get excited....! Kathryn

I'm shooting for March 28th, so I should see you all as well! Parker, we will all be there for each other. My husband is coming with me but he will adopt you all I'm sure He has a weakness for damsels in distress.

Amanda, I this is a Splendid Idea! I vote for PV..........

Thanks Amber! BTW, in my book you are now the gold standard for reporting your experience.

For real!

Cindysc, I spoke with alma tonight and I am also going for the 28th or 29th; gotta confirm other arrangements to be sure (like who's watching the cat?)

First, I want to thank everyone who posts their stories, questions, concerns, and information. It helps tremendously for a person trying to get the real story on WLS generally and VSG specifically. I started looking at WLS last fall when I realized I had tapped out all other options for losing - and keeping - weight off. Like many others I've read about here, I was pretty good at losing weight but it was impossible for me to keep it off. For years I have noticed that I don't experience hunger and fullness the way most "normal" weight people do: no matter what kind of food, or how little, or how much, I eat I am famished in about 2 hours (or less!). I generally eat healthy (high Protein, low carb) and generally eat recommended portions, but I have to eat so OFTEN! And when I say I'm hungry, I mean getting-a-headache, feel-like-passing-out, hungry. I had gestational diabetes with my last two pregnancies and my father has diabetes after a lifetime of hypoglycemia. My PCP totally supports my having this surgery though I am under 40 BMI and have no co-morbidities - yet. In addition, I have had limited mobility for the past two years due to needed foot surgeries (hereditary stuff). I used to rely on an active life style to help keep my weight in check but that has not been an option for a while. It has taken me over 6 months to pull the trigger on setting a date for surgery. I attended an informational seminar given by the surgical group associated with my PCP; the surgeon presenting seemed ok; not big on bedside manner but that is not as important to me as someone who will answer questions and not be condescending. It was the staff that really put me off. Except for a couple of younger nurses (?), the staff and dietician/nutritionist treated us like cattle or misbehaving children. Screw that, pardon my french. Plus my experiences with the surgery centers here (foot surgeries) were not very good. To top it all off is that I will have to be self-pay due to low BMI and I started researching surgeons in Mexico. Thanks to the Mexico/Self Pay Forum, I'm comfortable with that choice now. I'm starting to get exited and look forward to contributing to the forums and start paying it forward! Kathryn

Thanks for the welcome everyone! Yes, SCSleever, do tell all about your experience!