pantala

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

Oh my gosh, you must be happy dancing! (I would be). Congrats!

Happy healthy thoughts coming your way! Can't wait to hear your report!

I can't believe the time is so near. It is incredible how quickly the time has passed. I started looking into WLS 3 months ago and it's already here. Monday is the day. I'm anxious but mostly so excited. I just want to congratulate everyone that has already gotten their sleeves and wish everyone luck who is going to be getting it. LETS DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!! (: (: (:

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.

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

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

... there was a way to have a Surgiversary getaway next year for our fellow Mexi-Sleevers? Say in, Puerta Vallarta or Cancun? Or a cruise? Idk... Just thinking out loud.
Amanda Rae

Pantala I too am planning surgery at end of march and first of April with Dr Garcia. Maybe we will be there at same time. This site is the bomb. It has helped me so much and I am addicted. It's wonderful hearing people's story's.

We're so happy to have you join our group! I'll be having surgery on Thursday with Dr. Garcia, and will do my best to post about my experiences.

sitting here waiting to board my flight home. All is well, feel really good. Alma and Ready4Achange arw great. Dr. Garcia, is a very skilled amd caring surgeon, Dr. Luna is awesome, Melissa is awesome, Dr. Paola, Dr. Zavalza, and Samuel the driver down the nursing staff and the great staff at,the Marriott....everybody is entitled to their opinion, but If I had to do anything different, I wouldnt. I was 100% safe at all times and treated like a star! My pain level is zero right now! I was cared for to the max. I would only want to stay at Marriott after passing by the other hotels, like lucerna and others ive seen on the blog....you have a nurse at all times, you hit that button and they are there within 30 seconds, they stay on top of pain management. the first leak test is horrendous, but I passed and kindly asked the tech for the trash can to throw up, the only time I ever did..the methylene blue was far less horrible as the first leak tesy,, which I passed too. my advice would be to rest, rest rest and drink gatorade when allowed for the electrolytes.. I honestly did not feel up to shopping, I wanted to take advantage of rest...besides the beds at marriott feel like melted butter loaded with extra fluffy pillows! The bath gels are yummy! There are some HBO channels and others in English and a whole lot of CSI, also watched Scandel in English, first batch of chicken broth wasnt good, but those there after was yummy to my new tummy!. I NOT hungry at,all even passing by all,these delectable food spots....I,am not in pain, just a little soreness but even that has subsided. and by the way, I crossed back over with the birth certificate and id...no problems......

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

Btw, you're in the right place. I think I would have driven myself crazy without the support from this forum.
Amanda Rae

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