Becca R.

@@StephanieJ713 - YES!!!! I love, love, love your post. Because that is exactly what I want. To be able to just do things that thinner people take for granted every single day. I went hiking with my 8 year old for his birthday and my knees hurt so badly that I could hardly move for a day. That is NOT the life that I want. That is NOT the mom that I want to be. I just want to look in the mirror and see a reflection that is closer to how I feel on the inside. @@smb0187 - 175 is an *awesome* goal. Can you even imagine?! I was talking to my regular doctor this morning and she said that this surgery is so much more successful for people who are doing it for a better reason than just losing weight. You and I have the best reasons in the world!! In my mind, I have this image of me playing with my kids and them having to try and keep up with *me*. We're on our way! @ - You and me can be goal twins! It sounds like we'll be working along together. (It's so nice to have surgery buddies. Seriously.) Pre-op appointment with my regular GP today. She gave me a prescription for meltaway Zofran and liquid Lortab for post-surgery. I'm reading and doing my worksheets in "Emotional First+Aid Kit for Bariatric Patients" and "Ultimate Gastric Sleeve Success." Do you guys have any books and websites that you're finding to be really helpful? -Becca

@@pgerik@@StephanieJ713--Welcome guys!! So glad to have more November Mexico sleevers. Right now we have @ - November 3 @@Revgirl - November 7 @@smb0187 - November 8 Becca R. - November 14 @@StephanieJ713 - November 21 @@pgerik - November 22 @ - November 24 Did I miss anyone? Talk about a crummy Thanksgiving this year, but hopefully NEXT year will be A-mazing!

@krisrpaz @smb0187@Susie MN@@Revgirl How's everyone doing today?? I'd love to hear, from each of you, what your Dream Goal is for this surgery. I think we all have this surgery for different reasons, and have some different hopes and expectations. So--in your wildest dreams--what would you get out of this surgery? For me: I currently weigh 249. I am so happy and healthy at 160, but my DREAM?? 145. I would love to weigh 145 pounds and be able to zip up my wedding dress one more time. Your turn!!

@ my surgeon is Dr. Ramos-Kelly. He does surgeries at Hospital Nova and Angeles. I had chosen Nova (which is more like a big surgical center than a hospital) but now I'm debating. Which hospital are you going to? Tijuana? I love that your husband is a paramedic. Which I could convince my brother-in-law that's an anesthesiologist to come with me as my support person. It's all starting to feel real to me today. I went to World Market and bought espresso cups to be my new drink mugs and tiny bowls and plates to be my dinnerware. I'm hoping that by having dishes I can fill, I will also be able to recognize the "all full!" signals. Also working on some visuals to put on my fridge for pre and post-op diets. Ugh. I'm getting to the nervous point and just need this to be behind me!! How do people react when you guys tell them that you're going to Mexico for this?

Hi guys! I'm planning to take Gas-X strips (I had a laparoscopic surgery about 10 years ago and they definitely helped, even though my GI tract wasn't involved at all), and thinking maybe a compression wrap? Like the kind they recommend for c-section patients? Two friends that had their surgery in Mexico recommended taking your own liquid Maalox, and they also said that they took their own Lortab and crushed it up for pain control. When I wrote to my surgeon and asked about that, he said "We don't give out narcotics like candy here like they do in America." So, um, yeah. I'll be taking my own Lortab. Who are you guys taking to Mexico with you? Becca

Hi Rocky1--thanks for those thoughts. I am still feeling a little on the fence about Nova vs Angeles. My doctor has surgical privileges at both, and his office is actually at Angeles (I know that it's where I'll go to do my leak test), but you gave me some more good things to think about. Thanks!!

I have the option of Hospital Nova or Hospital Angeles. I'm going with Nova because it's $1,000 less, but I guess it's the difference between a big shiny medical center and a smaller rural hospital. I'm taking my husband with me, who speaks Spanish, and I'm so grateful because I just know I'll be nervous and overwhelmed the day-of. I mean, it's hard enough to understand medical jargon in full English-speaking hospitals, let alone in Mexico! I'd love to follow you on You Tube--do you want to send me the link? (There's a message thing on here, right?) We should both make lists of why we're doing this and hang them on our fridges!

@ Susie MN--I discovered pretty quickly that my body really doesn't like whey Protein, so I've been using PlantFusion and Vega One shakes. I love that they're really healthy, packed with nutrients, and the protein seems to absorb really well. Just wish Vega One didn't cost so much!! I need to order some unflavored and chicken broth flavored unjury soon, too. @krisrpaz--Amen, sister! I wish it would hurry up and get here. That's awesome that Dr. Lopez has you hooked up with a dietician. You're getting so close! Anything in particular that you're finding works well for you? What is your pre-op diet like?

Yes, yes, and yes! I am having my sleeve done in Mexico with Dr. Ramos-Kelly in November, and even though I feel great about my surgeon, I *so* feel the lack if the support system available to sleevers who are able to go local and get pre-op visits, meetings with nutritionists, psychologists, etc. It's hard to do it on your own! I'm glad you have a doctor who will work with you after, just in case. I just keep listing all the reasons that I am doing this: to save my life, to be a fun and active mom, to be happy... It will all work out.

Hi guys! Thanks for replying! @--congratulations!! What helped you make the decision? @Revgirl--I, too, am soooooo glad that there is an option for those of us whose insurance said "no." There's no way I could afford it otherwise. Tell me what you guys are doing to get ready. So far, I have been kind of doing a pre-pre-op diet with two Protein shakes a day and taking a lot of Vitamins. I'm still trying to find a doctor or nutritionist who will work with me. Most hear the word "Mexico" and won't have anything to do with it. I need to really get going on my workouts and taking small bites and tiny sips. I think one of the hardest things for me will be slowing down and chewing everything 25 times. Maybe when you're taking far fewer bites, it's easier. Happy to hear from you, even if there are only 3 of us! *grin* --Becca

I'm getting my sleeve the same day--November 14th! I think it officially hit me today that I'm one month out. Getting nervous. (But it's like having a baby. You just want to get past the hard part so you can get to the good part. )

Morning everyone, I just joined a week or so ago as I'm preparing for Gastric Sleeve in November.My question is about getting this surgery after having a baby. I had my fifth (and last!) baby in April. I asked my surgeon if there was a good amount of time to wait before I had the surgery, and he just shrugged. I just wondered if anyone here had their sleeve after having kids and how long you waited. For me, the hardest part is the wait for the surgery. I just want it to be over with NOW. Thanks! Becca