Kindle

You're right, Short term complications are higher with the sleeve, but long term is much higher with the band. In fact, if you read the "fine print" the band was never meant to be a permanent thing. That being said, I was originally looking at getting the band. A good friend of mine has had one for 5 years so I went to her for advice. She immediately talked me out of it. She doesn't regret hers, but it has been a long road...took over 2 years (and MANY fills/unfills) to find the "sweet spot" and finally lose weight and keep it off....had emergency surgery to remove 1st band after it slipped....lives in fear of getting the flu since violent vomiting could result in another slip. Since I live in a pretty rural area, she advised that all the post op maintenance would be a major inconvenience for me, and a slip could be downright dangerous if I can't get to a surgeon ASAP.
I, too was freaked over having an irreversible procedure done, but the weight loss maintenance and lifestyle changes that go with this journey shouldn't be something you can just "reverse" when you want to, so why should the physical part be? And yes, the potential complications are very scary, but so is being fat for the rest of my life.
Keep up with your research and do what you think is best for you. (And if you hadn't guessed, you will get biased opinions on this sub forum...so make sure you post in the band forums, too)

Kinda ironic you are talking of before and after knickers. That was actually one of my turning points in deciding to have a VSG. I had bought a 3 pack of undies on vacation cause I forgot to pack em but didn't look at the size (come-on, I was on vacation) Turned out to be "granny panties". Months later, when I was very overdue to do the laundry I found myself having to wear them again... This time they fit like thongs! Holy s....t!!!!!

Greetings OCCers! My surgery is scheduled for Friday, dec 20 and would be flying home Monday, dec 23. However, with the flight schedule available, I would be leaving San Diego at 3:20, have a 1 hr 45 min layover in Salt Lake City and get to my final destination about 9:15pm. Then I have a 1 1/2 hour drive home. Is this going to be too much to handle 3 days post op? Plan B would be to stay an extra night in TJ and fly home Tuesday morning. I'd love to be home sooner than later, but I don't know if that's too much to expect.

Peanutz, you've been through a lot and I'm sure this decision is a hard one to make. You really have to look at all of the doctors and their credentials and do the homework. Money should be a factor but definitely not the main factor. Speak with some of the doctors if possible prior to making any deposits for some peace of mind. I went to Dr Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. It is not a hospital but a surgical center, which is where I would've had my surgery had I chosen to have it in the US. I have no health issues besides obesity, so it was never a huge issue not having my surgery in a hospital. On top of that, Im a nurse and there are so many germs in hospitals I'm glad I wasn't in that setting. The OR at the OCC was cleaner and less cluttered than any OR I've ever been in since they aren't doing so many different things in one place.
Like your post says, there are many variables that go into your decision and everyone is in a different situation. The other major thing I will mention is postop. It's not like the other people I've seen on this site who go to regular appointments and support groups which you don't have when you go to Mexico. I personally was happy for this because I don't need a bunch that support and would pull my hair out if I had to go to a support group. Some people need that though. That should factor into your decision as well. You may want to ask how each doctor handles patients postop or look around this site for people's postop experiences with the different docs

I am a food addict and I only ate in private!
I would eat very little around people.
I would wait until I was alone.... Then I would relax and sooth myself by stuffing food.

I have insurance (individual, not through work) but it doesn't cover WLS. I decided to have VSG last winter, and had previously been saving for a new truck. So I researched surgery in Mexico, nixed the new truck (a 1999 F150 isn't so bad ) and have continued to save up. I just scheduled a surgery date for Dec 20, which gives me 9 days off work over what would be my Christmas vacation to recover. So essentially I've gone through way more than a 3-6 month waiting period the insurance company would require....For those self-payers, where there's a will there's a way, and for those covered by insurance, be grateful and patient.

Dobeigh and 7 bites, you are my heros! I HATE keeping track, counting calories/carbs/whatever and I'm not a fan of exercise. I am active at work and like to do outdoor activities on weekends, just not "workout" type exercise. I don't even own a scale and plan to weigh myself at work when I remember to. I read so many posts of successful sleevers that go to the gym, track everything on myfitnesspal, etc. but I work 60-70 hours a week and don't want to spend my little free time monitoring my diet for the rest of my life. I realize the sleeve is a tool and won't do the work for me, but I really just want to live a normal life. Reading your posts gives me hope that that is possible.

I eat whatever I want and I'm only 8 months out. You'll be able to eat whatever you want here pretty soon. I don't eat healthy though or exercise. I'm still losing weight because my portions are small. I don't exercise but I'm a nurse and I also work a lot of over time so I do walk a lot. My weight loss is slowing down so maybe I would lose more weight if I ate better but I'm pretty happy at the weight I am now. I passed my original weight loss goal (220 pounds). I also drink diet pop and I do drink with my meals. I eat like any normal person does except a lot less. That's it. I probably eat between 1200-1500 calories per day.

I wont have this problem because I have no friends...lol but seriously they aren't friends if they act like that and you don't need that in your new life!

LOL. Every party has a pooper. That's why we invited you.

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

LOL. Every party has a pooper. That's why we invited you.

LOL. Every party has a pooper. That's why we invited you.

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

LOL. Every party has a pooper. That's why we invited you.

Franc's lyrics, not mine!

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

I find a lot of names on here interesting and I'm sure there are good stories behind how everyone chose them. Anyone like to share? For me, Kindle is my horse's name and she was the "straw that broke the camel's back" in my decision to have VSG. I feel bad for her, having to lug my fat ass around the mountains and would love to be able to hop on her without having to find a rock or log to climb up on. (there's a dozen other reasons behind my decision, but my profile name is my tribute to her and how much more fun we will have next summer!)

He doesn't go through any 3rd party "service companies" you would be dealing directly with his clinic. Check out www.obesitycontrolcenter.com

He doesn't go through any 3rd party "service companies" you would be dealing directly with his clinic. Check out www.obesitycontrolcenter.com