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Kindle, I remember your travel woes! So glad you got there! Your sister was super nice. Enjoy the Marriott, if you have a travel companion tell them to order off the menu if they go to the hotel restaurant, the food off the menu is better than the buffet.

I spent 10 years raising 2 girls on my own, moved from the east coast to the west coast, then joined plenty of fish. I met my husband 8 months after I moved here. We've been married 2 years and very happy! He is a wonderful man. I was 270-ish when we met.

I did not have a plication, I had a sleeve on December 16, 2013. You are in very capable hands! The team at OCC is second to none. I received better care in MX than I do here in the states and I say that without reservation. The follow up care has been good - I've never waited for than a few hours for an e-mail response when I have a question. After I requested my records I received them very timely. Good luck with your procedure!

If I had to say I had any let down from my surgery, I would say that this is it. I was HOPING my drive would improve but it has not It has pretty much remained the same.

I had surgery in Mexico this past December. I had GERD pre-surgery but never had heartburn to tip me off that I had it. What I DID have for many years was a chronic cough that woke me up in the middle of the night but no heartburn. The GERD was discovered in a second procedure in Mexico (the day after my sleeve) because I had a build up of scar tissue from years of acid, scar tissue that if left untreated could have become cancerous. I'm almost 5 months out and If I don't take my prilosec, I have heartburn. The chronic cough is gone though I have an appt. with a GI doc here in Seattle at the end of the month.

I'm in Everett, I'd love to participate.

I realized this week that my 16W were falling off me to the point that I just can't wear them anymore. The big (first world) problem I have is finding the time to shop, between working 11 hour days and my commitment to exercise 5 hours a week. There just isn't time to shop! (I know - tough problem). Size 18 is hard to find. Old Navy carries that size in the store. The Rockstar Jean is great and affordable. If you have a Macy's, Style & Co. and the Inc. brand both have size 18 in the misses section.

Hi Brookie, I have difficulties in the evening too. On the nghts I'm home, it is a struggle. About 3 nights a week I go to a Zumba class which helps. I have to stop eating 3 hours before bed or I get bad reflux in the middle of the night. I am actually physically hungry after a Zumba class (I eat dinner at 6:00, then go to class from 7:15 to 8:15) but can't eat anything because of acid it would cause. Then I wake up the next morning starving! I agree, on the non Zumba nights it is nothing but head hunger.

Cottage cheese or plain greek yogurt with sugar free jam is pretty tasty.

SO with you on this! I went to Mexico out of financial necessity. I simply couldn't put my family into the kind of debt a US surgery would have burdened us with. I am almost 5 months out from surgery and knock on wood, so far so good! I actually received better care in Mexico than I do in the US. I do have acid (had it before surgery too but didn't know - it was discovered during surgery when they found thick scar tissue from the years of acid) and am seeing a GI doc next month at the recommendation of Dr. So (in Ariel Ortiz office). I will address it on the front side rather than let it go on and find trouble later.

You look fantastic! I had my surgery in December and we have very similar stats. I can finally shop in the misses section, felt like a kid in a candy store at Macy's last week! Congrats on your loss!

I don't chew gum and didn't before surgery, I was told it was a no no post surgery. Cottage cheese with sugar free raspberry jam or plain greek yogurt with dry sugar free cheesecake pudding mixed in helps the sweet craving. As for Water, I'm 4 months out and can drink 3 or 4 gulps at once. I only had trouble drinking in the very early stages, it eases up considerably within a few months. Good luck with your surgery and enjoy the journey as it is life changing!

I'm an Ariel Ortiz fan, had a great experience.

Iced coffee no sweetener with a little bit of room, I add my own non fat milk and occasionally a splenda packet. I just ordered Chike on Amazon, looking forward to trying it but boy is it expensive!

The plain Fage with sugar free pudding (cheesecake) added is wonderful, just a few teaspoons. I bet the torani sugar free syrup would work too. I also like cottage cheese with sugar free raspberry jam too!

I had a similar experience. I went to Mexico and honestly had better care there than I do in the states. My surgeon in Mexico informed me I have GERD and have had it for many years given the scar tissue he found. I had complained to my doctor about a constant cough for years, he said it was allergies. It turns out it was acid, I just didn't have the typical heartburn. Needless to say I'm looking for a new doctor.

I had much nausea the first 5 days post-op (also had hernia repair and scar tissue removed in 2 procedures), mine turned out to be acid. I couldn't keep anything down, not even Water. Doc gave me ryopan, a liquid antacid. As soon as i took it I was keeping down fluids within hours after 5 days of not. Galviscon over the counter might work the same way. Dehydration can cause nausea I've heard. Although I never had to do it, my local walk in clinic told me they could do IV fluids so I wouldn't have an expensive ER visit. Might be worth a phone call.

For the neck waddle I'm using a combination of Philosophy When Hope is not Enough Serum and the Hope in a Jar moisturizer. Seems to be helping - or it is just getting smaller naturally. I'm not sure which.

Great question Amy, I'm a Zumba addict too Not sure if I'll pursue plastics but I have noticed that the extra skin slows me down in class a bit. I stop moving but my inner thighs don't! Makes me feel like I lag behind just a tad. Good compression pants help a little bit.

First pureed for me was split pea soup (from the box, not Campbells with potatoes in it)run through a blender for good measure. Was perfect!

Kindle is spot on. Add some variety in the form of different seasoning options. Miso soup is a nice break from the sweet shakes. It comes in instant powder in the asian section of your grocery store, also served in teriyaki/sushi places.

I knew working out was going to be the hardest part for me because let's face it - the gym is BORING! Or it was for me, it was a task on my to do list. I bought a 10 package class at a dance studio for Zumba classes and never looked back. Now I LOVE going! Look around on groupon/amazon and try some new things - maybe cross fit, barre classes or even golf? Change directions and see where it takes you.

Reviewer, I was in the same place you were, pre-diabetic with a 5.9 A1c. My surgery was in December. My doc did not run my A1c last week but my fasting sugar was 72. I intentionally had surgery before I became diabetic. I understand the whole genetics thing and not being able to control that part, both of my siblings and my mom are on insulin and have been for years. I will just keep my fingers crossed but with my genetics I know that there is no guarantee for me, but here's hoping!

I had it so bad for 5 days post surgery that I couldn't keep a single thing down, including my crushed PPI (antacid) pill. Turns out that was the problem - acid was the primary cause of my nausea. I'm sure a bit of dehydration contributed as well. As soon as I took a liquid antacid (Ryopan which was a scrip but Galviscon or liquid Rolaids might work), wouldn't you know, problem solved! I started keeping down fluids within hours of coating my stomach with that stuff. I struggled with it again when I ran out of the liquid and crushed pills were still making me barf, after a few weeks of no liquid antacid and nearly unbearable nausea I worked up the courage to swallow an over the counter Prilosec (with my surgeon's approval of course at about 3 weeks out), then the nausea went away yet again. I wish you luck, I know how miserable that is!

I am in that place too, of being in the smallest plus sizes but not quite fitting into misses' sizes. WHY is there such a huge difference between a 16W and a 16? I am so patiently waiting to get out of the big girl stores, I feel like it will never happen! Workout clothes seem to be my new obsession. Since I do exercise, this makes sense but I didn't think I would like work out clothes so much. Interesting how working out is much easier in slimmer fitting clothes made of moisture wicking fabric and not baggy sweats and men's 4X tees like I was wearing. I am ALMOST in an XL normal sizes. Kohls (by the way) has great plus size work out wear online. There are a few stores that carry size 18, Old Navy being one, that i like to shop in so I can get out of Lane Bryant for a change