*Rosana*

Warning this is a "coach style" pep talk! I need you to get in there and suck-it-up! You didn't come this far to turn around! Now give that sleeve HELL! (slap on the butt). God bless you and you will be great.

You've always been beautiful; you look great. Continued success and best wishes.

All I have to say is CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

I'm definitely buying and wearing one, I work in a building material/lumber yard so I know my binder will come in handy for support and a bit of compression. I then researched full bodyshapers, I even bought one with 3/4 sleeves and pants which are Capri length. I think it will help as I lose weight, keep me in place and not just flabby and hanging out all over. Couldn't hurt, right?

Thank you for the reply. I've been looking at some binder on Amazon.com I will bring a binder the day of my surgery, I do not know if my doctor or nurse staff provided one for me. Again thank you.

Question ladies... I know you can stop wearing your binder whenever but, when do you start wearing it? Right after surgery or, a few days later?

The doctor's firm should specify and in my case a cashiers check from my bank. This is not a problem just speak to your coordinator or doctor's firm they will assist you. Best wishes and good luck.

My husband calls me his pitbull too! Yup, I'm his alpha. lmbo.

Absolutely need a passport; those good old days are over.

Gia, Great topic. I have experienced the same feelings from my wonderful husband too. However I liked what Will said... My husband is just afraid I think of being left behind in a sense and they are afraid of the unknown. I do know we will be just fine and I reassure him all the time. I tell my husband I'll always be his lil 'fat girl lol lol lol

Good for you Chasity, happy for you. I wish you the best. Keep me informed; hope you pick your date soon.

Teri, I forgot to wish you best wishes and God bless you. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Here is the link http://www.muhealth.org/documents/bariatric/bariatric%20booklet%20vsg.pdf Missouri Bariatrics Services is one of the leading if not the best in anything to do with braiatrics WLS. Hope this helps you as it di for me.

Thank you so much for your great advise. Please do send me that link for the "VSG/WLS Bible" I would greatly appreciate it. I have done lots of home work since I am self-pay I have to take full responsibility to educate mysel. I did find from the University of Missouri Health System, The Missouri Bariatric Services,"Guidelines Before & After Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy" I found this booklet extremely informative and helpful. Thank you again for the great advise and sharing your experience with me; please send me that link.

Thank you ladies! That's what I needed to hear. My PCP is on vacation till 7/29 but I will be making an appointment and dropping the bomb on her. I hope she is understanding & respect my decision and helps me with my follow-up needs; I would really love her support while on this journey, if not I have no problem switching PCP however, there are not a lot doctors here in Northern North Dakota to choose from. Thank you for all the good information ladies; I really appreciate all of your input. Keep the good info coming.

Thanks for all your replies guys but maybe I wasn't clear (i know I wasn't clear). I booked my flight and my doctor (Dr. Illan Fraijo) and I am doing the VSG on November 5th of 2013. Do I tell my primary doctor? I know I have to but then what do I do? Is my doctor going to send me to a nutritionist here in the states etc... Or is this something I Completely do on my own with out my primary full support? Have any of you ladies gone to your primary care doctor here in the states and what steps have you taken after? Nutritionist, psychologist etc... When it's a self-pay VSG?

Hello Everyone, Need some help, opinions, and advise here. I decided to do my surgery in Mexico, why? Because I did not want to wait, (bottom-line). I do have insurance, good insurance BSBC however it is a PPO which means I would have to pay 20% out of pocket for every bill I would accrue through-out this VSG process: doctor visits monthly and weekly, nutritionist, surgery blah blahblah. In the long run I believe I still would of paid more out of pocket doing the surgery in the states. Oh, and I live in North Dakota where doctors here are VSG what's that. I truly feel more comfortable having surgery in Mexico where I know my doctor specializes in VSG and only VSG. Here is what I am having trouble with... Do I consult with my primary care doctor I'm going to Mexico to have the VSG done? I know I have too. What do state doctors say when their patient tells them this? Will my primary doctor still run blood work on me after the fact? What happens next? What have been some of your experience with your doctors? Thank you my VSG friends? Let me know. Rosana

Hi Michelle, Hi Chasity! Michelle don't kill me but I was in Minot today. Didn't know I was going either till I was headed out there. I had my phone but it had a dead battery all day (I'm really bad with phone charging). I thought about you all afternoon. Chasity! So your from Dickinson; I love Dickinson also, Medora. I have good friends there. So what's your story? VSG soon? Whoa! That's make 3 in North Dakota!!!!!!!

Thank you Susan. I know I am. : )

Wow, wow, wow! Congratulation! You look great and so happy. Keeps us informed.

North Chicky, Thank you for your sharing your experience with us. Congratulations and God bless you I wish you the best and a speedy recovery. I myself just booked my flight and my sleeve surgery with Dr. lllan not even an hour ago. What a good sign & good feeling for me to have seen this post. Thank you again for sharing your great experience with us. Please keep me informed on how you are doing. So happy for you, Rosana

Yes I do live in North Dakota currently.

This is a main concern of mine as well; may I ask what insurance you have? I have Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. I do not know if mine insurance and or all insurance do not cover complications as well. My thought process however as dumb as this may sounds is... I'm going to have the surgery regardless because I deserve to have a health, happy and long life and no one or anything is going to stop me. I'm debating having my gallbladder removed as well "just in case there is a future complication" and lots of prayers, LOTS OF PRAYERS. Some factors I have considered to think this way: I have a healthy history besides being fat, family history (good), my age (35) still young, amount of weight I have to or want to lose ("ONLY" 100 - 125 pounds) lol lol lol. I just read what I wrote UNAWAYNE! What a crock of crap! Am I crazy or just trying to think positive? Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Yup still doing it! VSG here I come!

LMBO! I forgot the doctor fills you up with air to make more room and be able to maneuver. I'm crying over here, I'm laughing so hard. I thought you were about to launch into space or something. I hope you feel better soon, I'm so sorry for the stupid question.

I have a stupid question...? When post-op folks talk about "GAS" what kind is it burps, farts or both?