MCM13

You look fantastic!!

Where & from whom do you purchase complication insurance? How expensive is it?

We are having surgery with Dr Alvarez on September. I'm curious to know about the drinking water situation. Do they give you bottled water? Ice chips made from purified water? I don't want to get sick from contaminated water. I know Mexico has been one of the places they tell travelers not to drink the water.

Ask for a scopolamine patch when you talk to the anesthesiologist. Get it on early so it has time to start working and they will also probably give you zofran as well. They have a good "cocktail" of meds that seem to work well for the nausea/vomiting patients I've had.

Congrats on the big changes! Look how defined your waist is now. You look great. I can't wait to get my sleeve.

Hello, my name is Melanie. I'm originally from Columbus, Ohio now living in PA. I've been a nurse for 13 years; all but 2 of those in the OR. I worked postpartum/high risk antepartum also. I'm currently working in the OR & decided to go to Mexico for surgery because I don't want to deal with the comments from the petty/gossiping people I work with. I'm getting sleeved on September 30 by Dr Alvarez & I'm taking 4 weeks off work. I wanted to get this surgery done before the end of the year because I'm applying to grad school and hoping to start in January term. I'll be working towards my degree for Women's Health NP. It's nice to have the support of so many nurses. I look forward to following your journeys.

You look awesome and you don't even notice loose skin in your picture. Thanks for posting. It really is inspirational.

Good luck to you Mojaleski. I too am a September sleeved & can't wait.

You look fantastic. Thanks for sharing your journey.

I wish there was a "double like" button. This is so funny. I'm a nurse in the OR & was inspired to get this done by a nurse I work with--she's doing amazing! I told a handful of people at work that I was going to get it done. Wish I had not. However, my fiancé and I have decided to go to Mexico to have it done as his insurance doesn't cover bariatrics; mine does. I was worried about coworkers seeing me naked, getting a catheter and having people talk about me behind my back. This is the most caddy place I've ever worked. I'm willing to self-pay to avoid these issues. I'm taking a month off of work so some might remember that I mentioned the surgery months ago & put 2&2 together, but nothing I can do about that. There's always been surgeons who comment on how fat a patient is, but one evening I went to a room to get another nurse out to go home, and mentioned that the RN who had the sleeve hadn't eaten dinner yet. The surgeon made fun of her and said "well she can only eat a teeny tiny bit" in his snide voice. I snapped back at him and said "at least she's doing something about it". He tried to back pedal. Too late ass!!! Glad I'm going to Mexico.

I received an email from Susan that said the hotel shuttle will pick us up and take us to the La Quinta Inn by the airport (we are coming in a day earlier than required because flights were cheaper). The next day Rosie will pick us up and take us to the Holiday Inn at Eagles Pass. Just relax all Sunday (I think it's about a two hour ride from one hotel to the other). Then Monday morning Rosie will pick us up at the HI and take us over the border to the hospital for pre-testing & have surgery after that on Monday.

Hello Dr Alvarez patients, I wanted to find out which hotel you were taken to when you arrived in San Antonio. My mother is going with us and we want to get her a room of her own & we're going a day early so we need to book an extra day for ourselves as well. Do we go to Holiday Inn Express in Eagles Pass upon arrival? After discharge, do we go to La Quinta by the San Antonio airport?

I'm in Altoona-Johnstown area and getting sleeved 9/30/13.

Thanks Amanda

We are getting sleeved on Sept 30...have 3 months to wait. Ugh!! I emailed Susan tonight so I'll see what she says. Good luck to you. Do you have to do a pre-op diet? I have to do 2 weeks liquid diet and my fiance has to do 30 days; I'll end up doing the 30 days with him. At least that will give me a head start on losing.

My fiance and I are being sleeved on Sept 30. I like the idea of us being at the same stage together. I think it will be a huge support for each of us. Congrats to all the couples. I look forward to following your progress.

Who will be doing your surgery?

My fiancé and I are scheduled Sept 30 with Dr Alvarez. Can't wait!!

I certainly can relate to most of the items on the lists. I have a long list too. I can't wait: 1. To not have to look around to see if I'm the fattest person in the room 2. To cross my legs 3. To buy a bra with only one or two rows of hooks 4. To kayak without my butt being "wall-to-wall" in the kayak---so uncomfortable 5. To fly somewhere/anywhere without worrying about the seat size or being able to use the seatbelt 6. To ride my bike again & actually go on a long planned ride 7. To ride the motorcycle with my fiancé without people staring because we are so big 8. To wear a cute or sexy bathing suit 9. To shop in any store for clothes--can't even imagine the shopaholic I will become. It's been almost 25 years since I've shopped in a "regular" store. 10. To run a 5k 11. To not get winded doing regular daily activities 12. To paint my own toenails 13. To advance my career because I'm no longer filled with self-doubt 14. To wear knee high boots 15. To dance in public without being self conscious My fiancé & I are going through this process together and I can't wait for us to get healthy, get married, & start our new life together.