mmh498

First pic-lost 11 pounds before I thought about a picture, 2nd pic was taken May 17th, 2008.

I had my surgery done by Dr. Alvarez on March 25 of this year and have NOTHING but good things to say about him and his staff. They went overboard on making sure I was comfortable and treated me with the utmost respect. I highly recommend him. Best wishes with your surgery.

Hi-I am in some serious need of help at the moment. If all else fails, I will go to the hospital, but am trying to avoid that because of finances. I got my first fill Thursday of 2 cc in a 4 cc band. I cannot even swallow my own spit. I thought maybe it was because of my port being swollen, which the administrator said could happen, but now I am beyond that and just know I am in serious health trouble. I cannot find an emergency number for the weight loss surgical center where I had this done, it was in Overland Park, Ks. If someone has it, please please email it to me right away. I haven't even drank enough to go pee in the last 2 days. Thank you.

Hi, We were lucky in St. Joe and missed the brunt of the storms-hope everyone is ok and that they don't have to add major time finding new routes to work, etc. Have a good weekend.

Hello-I too would try the anti-perspirant-has always worked like a charm for me. And if it does work for you, don't wait until you get a rash next time, go ahead and start using it in your problem areas every day. Best wishes.

Big Boned, I was banded on March 25th by Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about him and his staff. My total cost for the surgery was $7500. Of course, that does not include airfare, but you can take a friend with you for no extra cost. Nice hotel room and the hospital was small but nice. Has computers in the room, internet, and a telephone, where you can call back to the states for NO cost. The doctor checked on me 3 times the day of the surgery, was very very personable, just everything I could have asked for or expected. Cosmos, you might as well put me on ignore because I will not write anything you want to read. I am not a coyote, I don't work for any medical facility, I am not getting any kind of compensation for my compliments to these people. I was treated with total respect in every aspect and would do it again in a heartbeat, but it won't be necessary, because they did an absolutely perfect job. I feel you could very well be a "fake", saying bad things about Mexican doctors to sway people's opinion that might be considering going to Mexico. I think you are a total ass and a liar, and had to laugh at your pointing out others' misspellings-take a look back at your posts and see if you can find the typos and the punctuation errors and then make fun of someone else.

Hoping it works this time, thought I had it right and then the pics disappeared.

Thanks everyone for your help-saved me a lot of irritation, lol. Marcie

Hopefully it works-I am tired and brain is not functioning all that great. Bear with me please.

I have been banded for only 3 weeks, but knew in late December that I was going to do it and started eating smarter and healthier. For me, this was a wonderful decision and I am very glad I did it. However, I am much older than you and even now am still way more overweight than you are. On one hand, if I had been able to have this surgery when I was your age, it would have been a Godsend and saved me an extreme amount of hard times, emotional, physically, etc. On the other hand, if you are not totally commited to using this band as a tool, and to making wise choices and exercising, a total change in your life, then I would not spend the money now. Maybe in a few years, you will be at a better place in your life, career wise, and emotionally. It is the total package you need to look at-financial and emotional and physical-if you are not totally commited to doing this, it will not work for you. Maybe it is just not your time-I had to be 46 and weigh well over 300 pounds before it was the right time for me in all aspects. I wish you well in your life, and whatever decision you make-take your time and make it for you and for you only, not to make someone else happy.

I agree with the post stating that bandsters, especially newbies, are asking for permission to go against their doctor's orders. I was self-pay and damn sure am following my doctor's instructions to the letter. I intend to get my money's worth, lol! I was on the liquid diet 2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post-op and am just now suppose to start adding "real food" to my new way of eating-I don't much like using the word "diet" for me, because this is a "rest of my life" way of eating, and now, because I got my head out of my ass, and my fat ass off the couch and moving, I should have a decent amount of "the rest of my life." It took each of us a long time to get obese, so 2 weeks, a month, whatever time your doctor orders you to be on the liquid diet, it is a small fraction of the time you spent getting fat and it is well worth it. No, it is not easy--I haven't had my first fill yet and sometimes I think I could start eating a table leg (think of the fiber!), but when I am about to have a fit from head hunger, I get up and go clean something, or better yet, go through my closets and dresser drawers and find clothes that are now too big for me and give them away--that is motivation! Then later, I eat a smart meal, protein first, portion controlled and feel good about myself and my control. Be strong for yourself and if it gets too hard, go to the before/after pics for motivation, or go for a walk, clean something, but get away from the food! I wish you all well, I don't like saying "Good luck" because there is nothing about this that involves luck, it is flat out hard work.

Hello, I was banded on March 25th by Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and I could not have been treated better by him or his staff-they truly did their best to make me and my friend feel at ease. Dr. Alvarez took time to talk with me and make sure I was at ease with everything-showed me around the hospital-everything that could be done to make me feel good was done. I have had NO pain whatsoever from the band and his coordinators have been in contact with me since the surgery, asking how I am feeling, how I am doing, etc. Of course there are going to be people who have had a bad experience with Mexican doctors, just as there are people who have had bad experiences with every freaking doctor in every freaking country-but I have found, as a general rule, when you expect bad things to happen, they generally will-please don't let the paranoia of some people ruin what could be a wonderfully monumental experience for you. Some people are so unhappy with their life that the only pleasure they can get is to try to make someone else miserable. My doctor was great, I am losing weight and feeling good and I will keep on doing so, not going around making derogatory remarks about others and worrying about someone doing me in-geez, I almost feel sorry for the twit. But not quite.

Hi, Not sure when you say you can't walk if you mean that you can't walk at all or you can't walk for exercise, so bear with me please. If you are able to use your legs some, I would suggest water exercise-it is a low impact form of exercise and you can use almost every muscle in your body by doing this. If you have a YWCA in your area, check them out-they are usually very reasonable for costs and have several programs that you can choose from. Good luck in your journey.

I am sorry the guys did that to you, but totally agree with the others that it was not really meant as a diss to you, but people bet on weird things. I don't think it was a "retarded" thing to do, as I have worked with special needs people for 28 years and have NEVER once known any of them to bet on anything or on purpose be rude to someone. It was not a nice thing to do, but maybe we should not throw out labels to degrade people, Lord knows we have had it done to us for years and we don't like it. That being said, I think turning the tables on the fellas like was suggested is a grand idea, one I will remember.

I was beginning to get depressed about my weight loss slowing down so much, but now I am just fine with it, lol. I started this journey wearing size 34 jeans, not waist size, mind you, but as in humongously fat, disgusting size 34 jeans. I tried on a pair of jeans this morning that are size 20-and MY GOD THEY FIT!!!!!!!! They are tight, but they fit and that is so awesome. Started doing a bit more exercise, but seriously finding time to do this is getting harder and harder and it is not an excuse-I need some time to myself and I don't want to get up even earlier than 5 a.m. or go to bed between 10 and 11 at night like I am doing now. I am feeling quite happy, in e3 months to go down that many sizes, patting myself on the back.

I was beginning to get depressed about my weight loss slowing down so much, but now I am just fine with it, lol. I started this journey wearing size 34 jeans, not waist size, mind you, but as in humongously fat, disgusting size 34 jeans. I tried on a pair of jeans this morning that are size 20-and MY GOD THEY FIT!!!!!!!! They are tight, but they fit and that is so awesome. Started doing a bit more exercise, but seriously finding time to do this is getting harder and harder and it is not an excuse-I need some time to myself and I don't want to get up even earlier than 5 a.m. or go to bed between 10 and 11 at night like I am doing now. I am feeling quite happy, in e3 months to go down that many sizes, patting myself on the back.

Ok, tomorrow is the last day of this liquid diet-thank goodness! I am so sick of diet jello and broth. Not quite 2 weeks post-op and I am down 66 pounds, so that is a good feeling. I have had absolutely no pain that I would associate with the surgery, lots of gas, but that was expected. Am wanting to get back into exercising, and swimming more, need to tighten up some of this skin.

Ok, tomorrow is the last day of this liquid diet-thank goodness! I am so sick of diet jello and broth. Not quite 2 weeks post-op and I am down 66 pounds, so that is a good feeling. I have had absolutely no pain that I would associate with the surgery, lots of gas, but that was expected. Am wanting to get back into exercising, and swimming more, need to tighten up some of this skin.

Greg-My long lost computer friend!! Please please email me-I have went crazy trying to figure out why you quit talking to me--I am glad to know you are ok. Marcie-on Yahoo messenger-galpoolplayer_40_mo and same email addy at yahoo-I miss ya lots.

Shannon, I know this is a longshot, but I used to be good chatfriends with a woman from Southern Cal named Shannon-so just wondering, if by chance, you were the same lady? I am Marcie. I was just banded on March 25th and everything is going well.

Hi, I was just banded by Dr. Alvarez on March 25th and I have nothing but good things to say about him and his staff. He went out of his way to make me feel comfortable, did not rush me out of the office before the surgery, showed me around the hospital, took time to answer all questions-I mean the man acted like he cared about me! He came to see me 2 or 3 times after the surgery and again the next day before I was released. His staff was also very friendly and made sure I was comfortable with everything. Also, his staff has been in touch with me since the surgery. I have complete confidence in this crew and would highly recommend them to anyone.

Hi, I just got banded on March 25th and have another week to go of the liquid diet. What worked for me was the protein shakes, low sodium broth-the warmth of it made me feel good, and a lot of diet jello-you can eat a whole lot of that for very little calories and has some protein. If you find you are ready to eat a table leg or something, get up and do something-cleaning, etc., gets your mind off your stomach for a bit. Good luck!

Thanks, but I am not having any solid foods-that is why I am confused about this "stuck" feeling. When I am sliming up protein water, something is wrong.