AmyInOrlando

Thank you everyone for the input. I really greatly appreciate it.
Part of my waffling is that I've gained and lost and gained and lost and gained and lost repeatedly. With the same results as @Nicolanz - depression and loss of control. I'm afraid if I don't get VSG at starting weight 246 that I'll end up having to get it with starting weight of 346. I had made up my mind that I was going to have the surgery and then everyone kept saying, "you are doing well, maybe you won't have to have the surgery." I've convinced myself a hundred times over that this is the best thing for me, just need to convince my family and friends I guess.
Thanks again everyone. :wub: I really needed to hear a couple sides of this!

This is tough because, for me, I've lost a lot of weight several times on my own only to gain it all back! With my pattern, I'd still have the surgery. If you have been obese for a long time, statistics say I believe only 10% of people will lose weight and keep it off. Crazy right? Not saying you won't be successful, but something to think about. With every weight gain came depression and absolute loss of control.
Right now, I'm smaller than I've ever been as an adult! I had my surgery 5 1/2 months ago. I'm happier than I've ever been and have no fear of gaining the weight back! Good luck with whatever you choose and you are doing an amazing job!

I'm flying out July 31, and having surgery on Aug 1st. I'm so excited. I hope to find a "sleeve sister" here that will be having the procedure the same day, so we can support each other. I'm going myself, so it would be great to have a new friend.

I'm glad this post was helpful! . I had to do 21 days liquid diet. I really liked the Protein and instant Breakfast shakes. I kinda mixed them together with skim milk which was totally yummy I thought! Also I love Tomato Soup so I had a lot of that. Susan from Dr. Alvarez's office sent me a really good veggie Soup recipe which I believe saved me! She did admit I could have diet soda which helped. They are not thrilled with diet soda because you can't drink it post op because of the carbonation. I'm glad you made your decision! It is an exciting venture for you two!! Let me know if you have any questions! You are going to love them!!

We drove to Eagle Pass and the hotel was a Holiday Inn Express. It was nice, clean and comfortable. It was anything super fancy but I don't know if they have anything super fancy in Eagle Pass but it is a quick ride to his office and the hospital. We spent one night in Eagle Pass, Rosie picks you up pretty early the next morning. As far as the hospital you are there the day of your surgery, the entire next day and night and you get discharged the morning of the third day. The hospital was going through a major renovation when I was there which was May 10th. They had a couple of rooms finished and they looked to be nice. I was in an older room but it was fine. There was a pull out couch for the boyfriend to sleep. The hospital itself looked to be a little older than the new fancy hospitals in the states. But I felt entirely comfortable and very well taken care of. I would say with Dr. Alvarez's staff that is there for you 24 hours a day, I felt I got better one on one care than you get in the states. I would go back for surgery with him and his team in a heartbeat.

best of luck to everyone with surgery dates upcoming! If you have any questions about Dr Alvarez or the experience in Mexico feel free to drop me a line! I have zero regrets and Dr A and I keep in contact via Facebook.< /p>

I can send you the actual one Susan sent me if you want. I think the hardest part for me was the 2 weeks of liquids after the surgery before I got to the week of liquids that included Soup, juices are great for that phase. I know after I sent all my info and my deposit I gained weight before the rating but I don't know how much as I didn't weigh myself out of fear! I had my surgery on May 10th and I have lost 35 including the original pre surgery amount.
I get to start full solids next week and I'm nervous I won't lose as I might have hit a plateau now but not sure :/ . However, I'm thrilled with he whole experience!! You are going to love them!!!!!!

I did the liquid diet for 21 days too. It was definitely hard. I had a good amount of pop cycles and Tomato Soup. Susan wih Dr. Alverez sent me a veggie Soup recipe which really helped. It was basically the Weight Watchers veggie soup recipe. To me that was a god send. I lost 16 or 17 pounds before surgery and he said I did really good. Of course I wanted to lose more but I was happy he was pleased. I also liked Carnation Instant Breakfast. I don't seem to like it post surgery which is weird to me as I loved it so much before!!
I wish there was more I could help you with but you are doing great!! Hang in there, it is the hardest part.

I wouldn't trade my experience with Dr. Alvarez for the world. It's not just him either, all the docs, nurses, patient coordinators are amazing. They made my husband and I feel at home and went above and beyond to answer questions, make me comfortable and informed. I honestly was only in pain when they put the IV in (I have rolling veins) and never was uncomfortable with sickness; but they were ready to assist if I did.
They are world class and I am thankful that I found them. I feel like I have ALL the tools and support to suceed thanks to them.

You cannot go wrong with Dr . Alvarez! He and his entire staff are fantastic!!! I would recommend him to anyone and everyone!! I think he is the best choice!!

I am back in San Antonio and can say that my experience with Dr. Alvarez was fantastic. Everyone is so caring and eager to help you be successful. After I get home I will write up my story. I would recommend them 1000%.

I was there on march 2, 2013. Maybe we passed each other walking the halls. How is it going? I have lost 43 lbs and I couldn't be more excited.

You are going to do great!! It was such a positive experience. I loved him and his entire staff!!! Good luck and congratulations!! I'm excited for you!

I was sleeved last July by Dr. Alvarez, he and his staff are amazing!! Down 80 pounds with 20 to go! He will take care of u, follow the plan and u will succeed!

I am 16 days out of surgery with Dr. Alvarez. I loved him!! Fabulous experience!!

Hi! I'm 10 days post-op and can tell you Dr. Alvarez and his team are great. I've had no issues thus far:)

I've chosen Dr. Alvarez as my Surgeon.... hope it was a good decision. Surgery is scheduled for August 1, 2013.

So let me start by saying a few words as to why I'm writing this. I was recently sleeved by Dr. Garcia in Tijuana and I am very happy with my results -- so far. If you want to read moment by moment blows of someones happy surgery, this isn't the blog. I've read every blog here and a majority are dead on accurate. But there's a lot no one bothers to mention and I wish someone had. Also, I'm posting this from a made-up user ID.... I read the boards daily and respond frequently, but prefer to keep some elements of my issues private (as you'll read). Thanks!!
First, Waiting! I appreciate in the U.S. were go-go-go people who are comfortable with our busy, full schedules but in Mexico, there is NO scheduling at all! You sit and wait, and wait, and wait. The day of my surgery we were taken at 6:45 to the hospital, we waited until after 9am for the hospital staff to even arrive to check us in. Once in my room, more waiting; I didn't have my surgery until NIGHT! Despite numerous attempts to ask when (approx) my surgery would be - "soon" is the only answer I got. Want to go shopping after surgery, plan to wait. No one can tell you if or when or how long. I waited 2 whole days and then in a matter of minutes of a phone call, was expected to be ready.
Second - Coordinators. Good luck. I saw my coordinator ONCE on the very LAST day. Once I was taken back to the hotel, I had questions I needed answered and despite my attempts (for over an hour) and the hotels attempts, no one could reach them. And their voicemail boxes were full - wonderful. What if I had an emergency?
Third - Not Like U.S. Hospitals. Now I accepted this going in. BUT, if when waiting to be taken into ER I am awake and can see the person before me laying naked on the OR table - I'm sorry, I find that bothersome to several degrees. First, how many germs are flooding through those open doors? Second, if I was awake enough to see someone (who I actually knew from these boards and hotel), then who is seeing me? Not cool.
Fourth - The Yucky (yes, the yucky truth - feel free to skip) No one bothers to tell you that your pee after your final leak test will be BRIGHT green for days - not an issue, but a heads up would've been nice. And the diarrhea - oh my stomach aches just thinking about it. It smells horrendous - like sick tummy. Its lasts for, I don't even know how long, I still have it, and its explosive. So yes, you probably will shart yourself. Just speaking the truth here.
Again, I want to say I am HAPPY with my results ---- these were just things NO ONE bothered to mention and it would've been nice to prepare a bit better. So, bring a extra book, ask all your questions before you leave, ask to be drugged up before going to the OR and sit on a towel afterwards and you should be ALL set!

@amazon13 I'm not trying to pick a fight but I take offense to your comment. I followed every single guideline to a "t" and I still got a leak. I almost died because of it and you're saying we're just complainers that don't follow guidelines? I guess you didn't have any complications cos if you did you would think completely different. Yes complications are rare but they happen and after all the crap we go through we should be allowed to "complain" without being judged. I haven't had a life for months now, I haven't eaten anything for 3 months, I have a cough that won't go away, I have to carry around a bag that is feeding me tpn 16 hours a day (I started at 24 hours), I spent almost 6 weeks in the hospital, I have a jp drain on my back that pulls everytime I cough, my back is in do much pain because of all the coughing I do, I walk around with a cup because I'm constantly spitting up really nasty phlegm, and many other things and I have no idea when this is all gonna end. So next time you make such a bad generalizations think about people you may be hurting.

You also have to keep in mind that a lot of people find these forums BECAUSE of a complication. The members here represent a VERY small fraction of a percent of those who undergo this procedure and DON'T post on here and who have absolutely zero complications in their life changing journey. I would still say, the members here who have had major complications that required immediate medical care versus those who have had a relatively smooth transition is at least 1:10.

Yes there are risks with all surgeries. There are going to be a ton of people that have something occur....however there are also a ton more people that don't have any. I guess you got to ask yourself.... Are the benefits of the surgery able to outweigh the risks? I had my surgery...complication free, and was out of the house and playing at the park with my kids after four days. I still had regrets in the months to come while I had to adjust to my new way of life....a strong case of buyers remorse. However I am now closing in on two years later and I can say without a doubt this surgery was one of the best decisions I have ever made for my self and my family! I would do it all over again..and again and again if I had to! I am the happiest I have ever been in my adult life. Good luck! I hope you have a safe trip...and a fast recovery!

The information I got was 1 week of liquids pre-op. My plan is to use the HMR shakes. I don't anticipate it being too bad, since 10 years ago I did them for 6 months. Lost 100 pounds, but gained them back. Hopefully the surgery will be the tool to resolve my binge eating disorder and yo-yo dieting. This won't be my first rodeo... I've lost over 100 pounds 3 times with diet and exercise. They say when you lose it, you find it, so this time I'm getting rid of it !!!! My plan is to post my beginning stats the day I start my pre-op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for Aug. 1st.

So sorry you went through that.... but, you're explanation was hilarious. You chose your words well. You should write for comedians. In the words of "the cable guy"..... now that there is funny, I don't care what anyone says. NOT what happened, but the verbs you put in your sentences. Your husband must be an angel for being so supportive. I pray you never have to go through anything like that again. (((hug)))

So sorry you went through that.... but, you're explanation was hilarious. You chose your words well. You should write for comedians. In the words of "the cable guy"..... now that there is funny, I don't care what anyone says. NOT what happened, but the verbs you put in your sentences. Your husband must be an angel for being so supportive. I pray you never have to go through anything like that again. (((hug)))