snogueda

Hello All,
I had a realization the other day, I am in denial about my size.
I do not see myself the same way the world sees me.
I saw a picture of myself and it was shocking, I am huge.
In my head I don't look that bad.
I have always been a big guy.
In college I was big and muscular and that is how I still see myself.
However, now I am big and soft and obese but I don't see myself that way.
I have to get honest with myself.
I am 420 pounds, I am wearing a 6XLT shirt, waist size 54 pants.
I am 200 pounds heavier than I was at 21 years old.
I have my appointment with the weight loss surgeon in less than a week.
I have received some encouraging responses on this forum, so I thank all of you for that.

It's amazing!!! First 2 days suck but after that, food is really a second thought. It's like a food detox!!
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Well, 3 months + 1 week
I can feel the beginning of carb/sweets cravings. I've gotta get this in check asap.
So I decided to cut and paste my "before" and "now" pics side by side. I may need to tape this to my fridge. Unlike many, I've felt hunger, real hunger from very early on. I seemed to heal quickly and have had absolutely zero intolerances. I'm quickly finding out that I like sweet stuff way too much. Thought I had more control than this. No regrets, but no illusions either, this is going to be work for the rest of my life, sigh.
For now I'll take solace in each little victory. I've been telling my husband I don't think I look all that different, but the side by side pics are an eye opener and good for continued motivation.
3 months progress

Congrats to you ????
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Bring a heating pad for shoulder gas pain. And walk as soon as you get back to the room. I was sleeved 12/26 and had zero complications and am feeling great!
Good luck!
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@@chels_bellz I'm in SJ too I was trying the Kaiser program but I couldn't meet goal weight and u have 6 months to do it or try again for another 6 months so now I'm getting my sleeve in MX March 1st. Good luck to you. If you have any questions I can try and help you to the best of my ability
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This past Sunday I completed another goal I set for myself. I completed the 2017 Disneyland Star Wars Half Marathon. While I wasn't fast I finished in 2:51:33.

Despite the look on my face I was actually very happy (almost in tears #revokemancard). This event will hold a special place in my heart.

I have completed many 5 and 10k events. My first being in a 5K in November of 2015. Now here I am coming up on my 2 year anniversary in March and completed my first half. Before having this surgery I would have never entertained the idea of running a half let alone anything else.

@Bree1984
I'm doing pretty good. Took me about 3 weeks to get there. Random fatigue was an issue but doc said that is normal. I'm going really slow introducing new foods. Not of fan of the pain that comes with eating too fast, or not chewed up, or w/e reason I have an episode. I can see myself drinking Protein shakes for a long, long time.

Hi all! I am in San Jose and just started the process. I have much to learn and go through but am hopeful for the Kaiser program
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So excited for you!

Good luck on your upcoming surgery and check back with us when you are on the other side and let us know of your experiences.

These two people have very different lives, the one on the left hated Mondays because he had to go to work and didn't feel well because he only had 3 hours of sleep due to the fact his sleep apnea tried to kill him every night. The one on the right cannot wait to wake up after a great night sleep, to get to the gym and sculpt his guns.

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Cali here Bay Area I'm looking to get surgery in MX. How about you guys?
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While it's possible, because there are serious complications and higher risk because of obesity, here's my experience.
In my circle of friends, a person died several years after having some unspecified WLS. (No one really knew WHAT our friend had done, but the person who was with her at the facility was NOT impressed with the surgeon/facility.) She never followed through on the post-op diet plan, and had a number of health issues. She hated that she'd had the surgery, and said she had issues with food intolerance and other problems every since. However, she lost very little weight and like I said had lots of issues. While I haven't seen her medical records, as a nurse I can tell you that it's incredibly unlikely that she died as a result of the surgery, or even its complications.
Another friend of mine lost his sister several years after a gastric bypass. He insists that her health was compromised by the surgery and she never really recovered from it. Again, I don't have access to her records, and didn't socialize with her so I don't even know the extent of her post-op issues, but it's very unlikely that the surgery caused the death that many years out.
I personally know two people who almost died after lap band due to severe infections. I know three people (including one of the ones with the infections) who ate around their bands and were actually worse off from having it.
So I had some friends who had deep concerns about my safety for the surgery. But the sleeve is not the bypass or the band. The bypass can result in some issues with nutrient absorption that can cause long-term health problems if not properly managed, and the lap bands are particularly prone to infection because it leaves a foreign body in the person. The sleeve has a very good safety record. There can be some long-lasting complications, like reflux, but severe complications are not common, and are usually manageable. Also, over time all of the WLS's have become safer because the surgeons learn more about what works and what doesn't. Once I educated them about the difference between the surgeries and the safety record of the sleeve, they quit trying to scare me out of it, and have been very supportive.
My sister had the sleeve several years ago, and then had some complications with the skin surgeries. She also tends to go on and on at length about things with everyone who will listen, so everyone in the family has been subject to her monologues about food and diet and the surgery. So my parents had concerns about the complications, not realizing that her complications were actually from the skin surgeries. And they were worried that I would become "no fun" to have dinner with anymore. Once I cleared up the confusion about her surgical complications, and assured them that I have no reason to lecture anyone about what I'm eating or why or to police their eating, they dropped it.
My dad also didn't understand why I couldn't just quit eating stuff that's bad for me, and exercise. He was able to drop his excess weight (about 50#) that way and keep it off, because he's a very disciplined sort. Once I showed him the new science about set point and the pressures and drives the hormone system does to keep the weight on, and the evidence that the surgery re-sets the set point and blocks many of the hormone drives, he understood why I was doing it.
Bottom line, you are doing this for YOU, and for your health. If you and your team are good with the plan, ultimately that's all that matters. You can try to educate people, because many times their concerns or objections are based in things they've heard that aren't quite right. But don't let them get you off track or convince you not to do what you and your medical team have decided is in your best interests.

Hello, how did you get info on Dr. Illan ?
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Hello, I've been waiting for a call and nothing, I sent the questionare already. I would like a skype apt. Thank you
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I am day 5 post op today and I began smoking on the ride home from the hospital. Couple hits here and there. A blood vessel in my stomach ruptured during the stapling part of the surgery. Well if your stomach pools with blood you become violently ill. Your body's reactions to rid this is to vomit. I awoke vomiting and it was the worst. I was only released last night. Those couple of hits were like hazy pepto bismo fast acting. Better than the 6 anti nausea meds they pumped in me every 2 hrs. I was unable to even finish a 16oz bottle of Water in the hospital and today my first complete day home I drank 72oz Water and made my 63gm Protein goal. And I was still feeling half dead yesterday afternoon. Marijuana is a medical herb. Oh and I'm not on any other pain meds or Tylenol.
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I think I waited two weeks, and probably should have waited a little longer. I say that due to the incisions. When you cough that &@$! hurts!!!! lol it's been 8 weeks now and I do it all the time. It does give you the munchies, but I make better choices than before. So far so good!
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Dr Jorge huaco
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The Nichlson Clinic TX
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Dr Drake Bellanger in Baton Rouge, LA.
Best experience with a doctor
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Dr. Yatco Northwell minimally invasive surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital New York, NY. Wonderful doctor.
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Dr. Alvarez in Mexico. He is highly qualified and answers all of your questions. Susan is great. Looking forward to more positive experiences as well!

Dr. Holover in New York. He's the top in the state and has a super friendly easy to talk to staff.
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Dr. Joshua Long, Parker Colorado.
I chose him initially because his office staff was polite, caring, and didn't mind answering all my questions. Before my first appointment they had to reschedule because he was going to be out of the office that day. I explained I was on a schedule with my insurance (ran out at end of year) and I was worried that pushing my appointment back further would result in not being able to have it at all. She got me in the very next day. Even earlier than my first appointment was supposed to be! Once I was seen there I was hooked. I met with the surgeon, the nutritionist, and the therapist all on the first visit. Each one took their time to talk to me, let me ask questions, made sure I really understood everything. I felt completely at ease there.

Before calling his office I had called two other places. First one was super rude when I asked if they took medicaid. They did not and it was apparent that they looked down on those who had it. Second one took medicaid but didn't want to answer my questions at all, tried rushing me off the phone, and said I wouldn't even meet the surgeon until I had completed 6 months of diet with my PCP first. I knew I didn't want to go into surgery with someone I'd never met so that, combined with the attitude they gave me, cinched it for me. I didn't want to go there.