BrandNewBrandy

The cat was out of the bag pretty early in our relationship (2 months?) as I was hospitalized and my weight was written on a dry erase board in my hospital room

I would get a second opinion about that for sure. Best wishes for you that the leak starts healing for you.

I've been trying different Protein powders but I'm excited I found a tiny crockpot today to cook things in. I'm thinking of finding a nice pair of jeans in my goal size as motivation.

What's your favorite thing?

I'm scheduled 4/4 with Dr Illan in Tijuana Mexico

I've been an emotional mess since I booked my surgery and flight for 4/4. Deep breaths...

I officially booked for the 4th with Dr. Illan in TJ, Mexico! OMG 6 weeks til surgery!!! I still need to make my flight arrangements. I will be staying at the Florence Hospital and the Lucerna hotel.

I just confirmed my date of surgery for April 4th with Dr. Illan.

I think now that you have it narrowed down you need to speak to each doctor. You have to be accepted by the doctor and some may not be comfortable with your child being a teen and not accept you because of that. All you listed in my opinion are very good surgeons. Keep in mind Dr Ortiz doesn't allow the support person to stay in the hospital with the patient. That was a deal breaker for my husband when considering him. I noticed a lot of complications with Kelly.

I have heard of others having to take their prilosec twice a day for awhile they were then able to eat more things and their hunger went away as well are you taking an antacid?

I haven't picked a date yet. I am thinking after easter but not sure.

You are doing so awesome. I hope to follow in your footsteps soon!

For me 1st class for 1 ticket is more than the cost of getting both tickets in economy. I'll be uncomfortable to save $1100 lol

I'm undecided yet if I'm going in April or the first week in may. My doctor will be Dr. Illan. I had anxiety this week when I was thinking on scheduling in march so I am giving myself a few days to pick my surgery date.

I was thinking about ideas of things I could do for my kids on the days I am away. I have set up skype and taught my 8 yo daughter how to call me on it with her tablet so they will have video calls to me but I was wondering if anyone left little daily gifts for their kids and how their kids handled you being away for 5 days?

My kids ages are 17, 8 and 4.

Tiff, have you chosen a date yet? I may go in March for a Friday Surgery.

I am not 100% sure of about coverage for life threatening complications because of the health care act. I am not sure even all the insurance companies are up to speed with the rules and regulations of pre existing conditions. For me with my surgeon and my health history, I am comfortable with the risks of that I will be okay. I have recovered from a bankruptcy before so if it would come to that it would.

As far as medical history, I was required to list any surgeries and the hospitals that the surgeries took place at. In this day and age getting that information should they require it is a matter of a phone call and a fax. Maybe I will fill out a HIPAA form allowing any facility to release any information to my surgeon just to be sure. They also do standard preop testing for surgery prior to surgery so they have a better picture of your health that day then what your health was 15 years ago.

All that being said, my mother is absolutely against me having this done in Mexico. I have decided that it is my body and my health and I need to make the decision for myself, not for her because she will not have to live with the risks of me being obese or living with complications from the surgery. Most of their worry is because they have not done the research and will need to see you are okay with their own eyes.

Cici, if you contact them for more information Omar will answer any question. I just contacted them this week and the rate was $4550 for a BMI under 50

I am thinking of scheduling the first week in April

Prayers, good thoughts and healing vibes for you. It's so incredibly hard to lose someone unexpected. I'm so sorry!

Is it cheaper to book directly or through someplace like Priceline/Expedia/Orbitz?

Ok, my biggest anxiety about all of this is not about the surgery but about flying since I have never flown and I am scared of heights.

Help a girl out here...

What airline is the most comfortable? I will be traveling about 7 hours from the looks of things.

Which seat is easiest for a plus size person to fit into? (I am a size 24 if that helps) I will be traveling with my husband who wouldn't mind me pressing up against him but what about arm rests?

Seat belt extenders? Is there a way to know ahead of time that you need one?

Any tips I need to know?

I have had numerous surgeries in my life and one time I developed a clot that was quickly dissolved with taking aspirin. The clot happened because I was basically immobile due to a tumor in my hip which caused my hip to break for 3 weeks in the hospital and I was on birth control. I had 2 operations, one to take a biopsy and another to place a rod and screws in my hip during that 3 weeks.

I am not too concerned with clots this time around because I am not on birth control and I will be able to move really quickly post surgery. Even moving your feet and flexing your calves helps your circulation on the plane ride home. The symptoms I had was my calf was slightly red, warm and tender to the touch.

I haven't yet spoken to my PCP about all of this. I hope he is supportive.

You have to be sort of a detective if you want to find this out without asking the doctor directly. If I read of a Mexican Dr having a complication, I would write it down as I researched. Mostly I would search the doctors name and read any post that was related to that surgeon. I also Googled the Dr. name to see what popped up. A lot of people do not list the Surgeon on their profile directly like the above poster so you have to search other posts of theirs to see if it is mentioned anywhere.

I got a short list of about 3 that I would be comfortable with and went from there. I still haven't made up my mind 100% but I am very close. I have been researching about 40 hours a week for 2 months but I tend to over think things at times as well. The problem isn't that there aren't good doctors in Mexico, it's that it's tough to decide between 5 that are equally qualified so you have to go with what's important to you.

I feel the quality of my life decline every year. Each year I am less active than before and now I have degenerative disc disease and arthritis in both knees. I had a hip replacement 8 years ago (bone tumor/benign) and vowed to take the weight off then to prolong another surgery on my hip as long as I can. I haven't been able to do it on my own in the past 8 yrs so its time for me to get some help so I don't develop other health issues.

I have thought about how to handle this. I wonder if I should try to detox from those foods in the weeks before surgery to kick those habits before the surgery takes place. If maybe that will help with the head hunger and cravings after surgery? I would hate to deal with the detox of the carbs and recovery at the same time but I'm not sure if my addict self will detach from those things before hand. I have a few months at least before I need to make a decision but it is something that is floating around up there in my head these days.