ohh_that_girl

I'm going with Dr. Guillermo Alvarez with Endobariatrics and going to Mexico is definitely cheaper than stateside. You do have to keep in mind you will be keeping yourself accountable, whereas many stateside doctors have follow ups and resources to help keep you on track. I went to a seminar at Florida hospital in Tampa near USF for Dr. Dietrich and his self pay option was about $15,000 but that includes access to a nutritionist etc. Dr. Alvarez is about $8500 which includes the hotel prior to hospital stay, two full days in the hospital, and another night in a hotel by the air port. He's definitely not the cheapest in Mexico but he has many many positive reviews and a lot of experience (over 6,000 surgeries). He has even published a book on vsg. You have to figure out what's important to you and what you're comfortable with. At first I was very skeptical about going to Mexico but it's what has allowed me to afford the surgery and not put it off any longer.

I read somewhere you choose to be in love. In some sense I believe that, you have to be willing and open to love, feel you are deserving of love. With that being said, I'm a cautious person and would say you cannot know someone in two weeks to truly "love" them, but that's not to say it won't develop into a long term loving relationship. I would say enjoy it while it is exhilarating!

I'm not a big drinker so it doesn't bother me too much to be missing out on alcohol for a bit but I do plan on drinking occasionally after my procedure. I will say I'm going to test my limits at home before going out to drink, as I've read alcohol can have a totally different effect on you post op and I will be mindful of how often i drink because transfer addiction is a real thing. So I would say have fun, sober or tipsy. Be mindful that you don't transfer your food addiction (if you have one) to alcohol.

I'm not a big drinker so it doesn't bother me too much to be missing out on alcohol for a bit but I do plan on drinking occasionally after my procedure. I will say I'm going to test my limits at home before going out to drink, as I've read alcohol can have a totally different effect on you post op and I will be mindful of how often i drink because transfer addiction is a real thing. So I would say have fun, sober or tipsy. Be mindful that you don't transfer your food addiction (if you have one) to alcohol.

Yeah I think mash potatoes are what is called a slider food so they slide easily through your sleeve which is great for right after you had surgery and are struggling to get in enough calories to function but once you move on to solids you should leave those type foods behind....

Yeah I think mash potatoes are what is called a slider food so they slide easily through your sleeve which is great for right after you had surgery and are struggling to get in enough calories to function but once you move on to solids you should leave those type foods behind....

I ate like complete crap the couple of weeks heading into my preop liquid diet. And I've been great on it. Has it been challenging? Absolutely, but there is something about knowing it's about a safer surgery that keeps me motivated. I'm sure you will be fine!

I'll be having it done March 14th as well
I'm editing this because I wasn't paying attention when I replied, I will be having vsg not bypass but I wish everyone the best ????

I'm also 27 and having the sleeve done in 3 weeks. I have held off telling everyone because I do not care to hear any opinions before the surgery but I have told quite a few people. Nearly everyone is ecstatic for me. After the surgery I'm going to be open and honest and we will see. I've been fat my whole life, if I could do this on my own I would have done it in my teenage years or kept off what I lost before college. I know this sounds horrible but I'm glad I'm kind of a bitch I think it will deter people from making their negative comments. I'm all about educating people though and will share the (surgery) gospel with whoever is interested.
I think the thing you really have to keep in mind is people will always have something to say. There will always be people that are negative and don't support you but you have to focus on what's right for you and those who support you. People fail with wls, so if you succeed that was your doing. Like people always say it's a tool, how well it works is up to the person using it.

Hey, I have the sme date as you!!

I'm also 27 and having the sleeve done in 3 weeks. I have held off telling everyone because I do not care to hear any opinions before the surgery but I have told quite a few people. Nearly everyone is ecstatic for me. After the surgery I'm going to be open and honest and we will see. I've been fat my whole life, if I could do this on my own I would have done it in my teenage years or kept off what I lost before college. I know this sounds horrible but I'm glad I'm kind of a bitch I think it will deter people from making their negative comments. I'm all about educating people though and will share the (surgery) gospel with whoever is interested.
I think the thing you really have to keep in mind is people will always have something to say. There will always be people that are negative and don't support you but you have to focus on what's right for you and those who support you. People fail with wls, so if you succeed that was your doing. Like people always say it's a tool, how well it works is up to the person using it.

I'll be having it done March 14th as well
I'm editing this because I wasn't paying attention when I replied, I will be having vsg not bypass but I wish everyone the best ????

The fat acceptance movement is a lot like the feminism movement in that a lot of people have utter misconceptions about what the movement is actually about and why it exists. Much like the crazy people who call themselves feminists while attacking men, saying we should just kill off all the men, saying the men are inferior, etc are not ACTUALLY feminists, people who truly believe that being fat is healthy and that all doctors are just being hateful and discriminatory are not actually fat activists.
The point of the fat acceptance movement is the same point as the broader body positivity movement: it doesn't matter if you weigh 800 pounds and literally can't move off your bed, it doesn't matter if you have made yourself unhealthy with poor choices or if you are making no move whatsoever to lose weight. Every person deserves to be treated like a human being, with dignity and respect, end of story. Fat acceptance is all about treating fat people like they are humans instead of the often appalling way we are often treated, ways that are still socially acceptable and that need to change, NOW. The point is, no one has a right to judge you or treat you poorly because of your body because it's your body, not theirs, and no one gets a say unless you want them to. These misguided people who stubbornly tell themselves that fat acceptance is about pretending to be healthy and thinking fat is better are just that, misguided. I can't really blame them, in some ways. Being treated like less of a person because of how you look is just absolutely wrong and ridiculous, and doesn't serve to actually help people.
No true body positivist would ever ignore medical advise just because they are hurt and offended by the truth, just like no actual feminist would say that men are inferior. There are idiot radicals in every movement, but what's important to take away from it is the core message.

I'll be having it done March 14th as well
I'm editing this because I wasn't paying attention when I replied, I will be having vsg not bypass but I wish everyone the best ????

Just got my date - March 14!

I'm going with Dr. Guillermo Alvarez with Endobariatrics and going to Mexico is definitely cheaper than stateside. You do have to keep in mind you will be keeping yourself accountable, whereas many stateside doctors have follow ups and resources to help keep you on track. I went to a seminar at Florida hospital in Tampa near USF for Dr. Dietrich and his self pay option was about $15,000 but that includes access to a nutritionist etc. Dr. Alvarez is about $8500 which includes the hotel prior to hospital stay, two full days in the hospital, and another night in a hotel by the air port. He's definitely not the cheapest in Mexico but he has many many positive reviews and a lot of experience (over 6,000 surgeries). He has even published a book on vsg. You have to figure out what's important to you and what you're comfortable with. At first I was very skeptical about going to Mexico but it's what has allowed me to afford the surgery and not put it off any longer.

I'm going with Dr. Guillermo Alvarez with Endobariatrics and going to Mexico is definitely cheaper than stateside. You do have to keep in mind you will be keeping yourself accountable, whereas many stateside doctors have follow ups and resources to help keep you on track. I went to a seminar at Florida hospital in Tampa near USF for Dr. Dietrich and his self pay option was about $15,000 but that includes access to a nutritionist etc. Dr. Alvarez is about $8500 which includes the hotel prior to hospital stay, two full days in the hospital, and another night in a hotel by the air port. He's definitely not the cheapest in Mexico but he has many many positive reviews and a lot of experience (over 6,000 surgeries). He has even published a book on vsg. You have to figure out what's important to you and what you're comfortable with. At first I was very skeptical about going to Mexico but it's what has allowed me to afford the surgery and not put it off any longer.

Woo! Tampa! I live South of Tampa, still considered Tampa Bay Area. I am scheduled for March 14th but unfortunately my health insurance has a bariatric exclusion which has led me to have surgery in Mexico.
Are you going to the Florida Hospital in Tampa? I went to a seminar there to see what the self pay option looked like stateside, and he seemed like an experienced and knowledgeable doctor. In any case, good luck on your journey!

Hello! My name is Liz I'm 27 years old, I have a degree in Marketing and Management. I work as an analyst for an Agricultural company. I'm single (it's essentially a perpetual state). I help to take care of my 10 year old nephew because his parents are incapable. I like to travel when I can but my weight is something that keeps me from fully enjoying it and keeps me from doing it more often. I've been to Chicago, New York, D.C., Philly, St Augustine (FL), Chattanooga (TN), New Orleans, Biloxi, Germany, London and Paris. Paris was my favorite, I went several years ago for New Years. I can be kind of nerdy (I think it comes with the territory of being fat my entire life and growing up with an older nerdy brother) - I like some video games, typically Mario Brothers (pretty competitive at Mario Kart ). I can be a bit of a netflix addict at times. I have a 70 lb dog that is ridiculous - and I love him. I did a first time home buyers program that required me to work on my own home providing "sweat equity" - I spent my weekends painting and caulking and cleaning my home during the construction process. I enjoy surprising people who think I can't or won't work hard. I put in 8 - 10 hours days on my home and was one of the only people who they were confident would pass come inspection time. I'm at a comfortable place in my life, well everything but my weight. At 27 my knees are mad at me, I lose my breathe way too easily. I want to be able to be active and I can't wait to have a tool to help me get there

I read somewhere you choose to be in love. In some sense I believe that, you have to be willing and open to love, feel you are deserving of love. With that being said, I'm a cautious person and would say you cannot know someone in two weeks to truly "love" them, but that's not to say it won't develop into a long term loving relationship. I would say enjoy it while it is exhilarating!

I read somewhere you choose to be in love. In some sense I believe that, you have to be willing and open to love, feel you are deserving of love. With that being said, I'm a cautious person and would say you cannot know someone in two weeks to truly "love" them, but that's not to say it won't develop into a long term loving relationship. I would say enjoy it while it is exhilarating!

I've been fat pretty much all 27 years I've been on this earth. I've been considering this surgery for almost 5 years and I'm lucky the people I have told are supportive. Now that I'm making decisions on the surgery and moving forward I've decided to tell a handful of people but post surgery I will not lie to anyone that asks. In general I'm a private person but also I'm also the kind of person people don't openly share negative opinions to. I don't expect someone to tell me they disapprove but if they do I honestly don't care. This is about me and my health - I asked the people that really matter in my life and their support is overwhelming. For those of you who have people who are negative about your decision I think you're right not have the conversation with them. This is a decision that should be exciting and it will be difficult enough without others' negativity.

Hello! My name is Liz I'm 27 years old, I have a degree in Marketing and Management. I work as an analyst for an Agricultural company. I'm single (it's essentially a perpetual state). I help to take care of my 10 year old nephew because his parents are incapable. I like to travel when I can but my weight is something that keeps me from fully enjoying it and keeps me from doing it more often. I've been to Chicago, New York, D.C., Philly, St Augustine (FL), Chattanooga (TN), New Orleans, Biloxi, Germany, London and Paris. Paris was my favorite, I went several years ago for New Years. I can be kind of nerdy (I think it comes with the territory of being fat my entire life and growing up with an older nerdy brother) - I like some video games, typically Mario Brothers (pretty competitive at Mario Kart ). I can be a bit of a netflix addict at times. I have a 70 lb dog that is ridiculous - and I love him. I did a first time home buyers program that required me to work on my own home providing "sweat equity" - I spent my weekends painting and caulking and cleaning my home during the construction process. I enjoy surprising people who think I can't or won't work hard. I put in 8 - 10 hours days on my home and was one of the only people who they were confident would pass come inspection time. I'm at a comfortable place in my life, well everything but my weight. At 27 my knees are mad at me, I lose my breathe way too easily. I want to be able to be active and I can't wait to have a tool to help me get there

Hello! My name is Liz I'm 27 years old, I have a degree in Marketing and Management. I work as an analyst for an Agricultural company. I'm single (it's essentially a perpetual state). I help to take care of my 10 year old nephew because his parents are incapable. I like to travel when I can but my weight is something that keeps me from fully enjoying it and keeps me from doing it more often. I've been to Chicago, New York, D.C., Philly, St Augustine (FL), Chattanooga (TN), New Orleans, Biloxi, Germany, London and Paris. Paris was my favorite, I went several years ago for New Years. I can be kind of nerdy (I think it comes with the territory of being fat my entire life and growing up with an older nerdy brother) - I like some video games, typically Mario Brothers (pretty competitive at Mario Kart ). I can be a bit of a netflix addict at times. I have a 70 lb dog that is ridiculous - and I love him. I did a first time home buyers program that required me to work on my own home providing "sweat equity" - I spent my weekends painting and caulking and cleaning my home during the construction process. I enjoy surprising people who think I can't or won't work hard. I put in 8 - 10 hours days on my home and was one of the only people who they were confident would pass come inspection time. I'm at a comfortable place in my life, well everything but my weight. At 27 my knees are mad at me, I lose my breathe way too easily. I want to be able to be active and I can't wait to have a tool to help me get there

I've been fat pretty much all 27 years I've been on this earth. I've been considering this surgery for almost 5 years and I'm lucky the people I have told are supportive. Now that I'm making decisions on the surgery and moving forward I've decided to tell a handful of people but post surgery I will not lie to anyone that asks. In general I'm a private person but also I'm also the kind of person people don't openly share negative opinions to. I don't expect someone to tell me they disapprove but if they do I honestly don't care. This is about me and my health - I asked the people that really matter in my life and their support is overwhelming. For those of you who have people who are negative about your decision I think you're right not have the conversation with them. This is a decision that should be exciting and it will be difficult enough without others' negativity.