BosseNueva32

My surgeon is Dr. Alvarez of Endobariatric. He has successfully operated on over 10,500 people including teenagers (and his own mom!). He's twice as expensive as other Mexican surgeons but worth every dollar. Every patient loves him and he knows what he's doing. His complication rate is less than half a percent over 10,000 patients. That's unheard of! The only way I'm not totally losing my cool about my impending surgery is because I trust him 100%. He and his staff have been extremely transparent throughout the entire process leading up to my surgery and provided me with every resource including names and emails of post-op patients in my state willing to talk to me about their surgery and post-op lifestyle. Hearing firsthand from people that they have literally nothing but great things to say about Dr. A makes me confident I picked the best surgeon. Best of luck to you as you help your daughter make a decision!

I'd say great, but it's clear that I am in the beginning stages of a cold (dry cough, sniffles, general fatigue) - and all on my first day back in Japan too! But I'm down almost 30 pounds since starting my pre-op diet on Jan 16th, although most of that was pre-surgery (only 5 pounds down since surgery). I can definitely see it in my face, and my hands and feet oddly enough, but not really anywhere else so far. I just realised that I lost in 1 month what took 3 years to gain. I feel like I'm travelling back in time - "the last time I was this weight was in _____." If anything, that will help me figure out what clothes to go fishing for as I lose weight.
I wonder how noticeable it will be when I go back to work and/or when people will feel the need to say something to me about it.

I don't know, but I tell EVERYONE about my surgery. I told family. Friends. Coworkers. I tell literal strangers on the street about my surgery, if weight loss or exercise comes up in conversation. I obviously am not ashamed of it, or my need for it, and I think it's really important to tell people about it so it's something heard about in regular conversation -- so that it becomes normalized, and not stigmatized.

I'm still pre-op, but I've only told a handful of people closest to me. I haven't decided yet whether I'll be open about it or keep it a secret.
I don't feel having surgery is shameful, but I am ashamed of myself reaching the point where surgery is necessary. Does that make sense? I'm ashamed that I didn't have the will power to stop myself from reaching this weight.
Now, I know I need to look to the future and do what is best for me (and by extension, my family) and that means surgery. I believe it is the only way to get my weight under control.

I had a dream that I ate Cookies the morning of my surgery. When I realized what I had done I was so upset and couldn't believe I had done that to myself. It was scary. Just over a week to go for me!

Date twins!! So excited! It's coming so fast!

Wow, great info! Thanks for sharing!
I've also heard that strength training helps.
Can't wait to make my own jello!

I have zero personal experience, as I'm still pre-op, but I am also worried about this, so I did some homework.
Here's some tips I found:
1. Drink lots of Water to keep skin hydrated. Dry skin wrinkles and stays loose rather than elastic.
2. Consume Gelatin. Pure Gelatin (like the Great Lakes brand available on Amazon) is not only a good source of Protein, but will also keep hair from falling out and skin from being loose (it also helps with elasticity). (Note: I plan on making my own Jello with the Great Lakes gelatin by adding drink mix powder for flavor.)
3. Dry brushing. Google this. It supposedly helps prevent cellulite but people also swear it helped them have tight skin after 100+lb weight loss.
4. Be cautious what lotions and potions you use on your skin. Some have chemicals and additives that will damage skin at the cellular level which prevents it from being healthy and elastic. Natural products are obviously better (and usually not so much more expensive...at least not as expensive as plastic skin removal surgery!).
Hope these tips help!
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Heading to the hospital in 30 minutes. I'm in Mexico and have Dr Ortiz as my surgeon. Wish me luck. ??

I thought I would want to lose weight as fast as possible. But a few weeks after surgery I started working out, a little at first. Then I had to adjust my post op diet because I stalled and only lost 2 lbs a week. And because I'm building muscle, I have to consume even more Protein and fluids, because muscles need fluids to tone up. So I'm losing weight slower. But the great news is my body is shrinking. My skin is elastic. I 'dry brush' the areas where I need to lose fat, or where have cellulite. I also put Vitamin E on those areas. And it's working! No loose skin anywhere. And I'm watching my carb intake, keeping it low. So soon I'll start losing more again, while my body keeps up with the weight loss.

There are a few people I have run across on BariatricPal and other pages on FB who did not have loose skin. So I know it's possible.


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Just found this site, my surgery is scheduled for Feb 22.

Hi well surgery is the 17th three more days did pre-op sat in the parking lot and asked myself is this really what you want. And the answer is Yes! I am going in with my eye's wide open I know and except it will be hard. I just want to end the torturous roller coaster of yo yo ing for thirty years. I dream of being healthy and strong!

Im so happy! I just spoke with my doctor, and my surgery is back on track for next Tuesday 21st! It was a few days of uncertainty and stress with the possibility of having to reschedule due to my previous weight gain, but I proved to myself and the doctors how committed I am. I have lost 8 pounds during the first week of liquid diet thanks for your support, and good luck to everyone on your journeys!!

Hi all!
I just downloaded app and am happy to find you all!
I am on day 2 of liquids and have surgery on the 22nd. I hope you all have a smooth surgery and fast recovery )

Quinn

Thank you! It is the kind of support I need! Just having someone to help me understand at least. I've been through all kind of appointments since August 2016, and my last meeting with the nutritionist was 2 weeks ago, and nobody mentioned anything about the weight gain. I'm on day 6 of the liquid diet, which only allows me 3 Protein shakes a day, broth, tea, and some green veggies with no oil or dressings. And I've done it perfectly!! I'm very proud of myself because it has not been easy at all, but I'm so excited and committed to this. I asked to meet with the surgeon tomorrow, but they seemed pretty sure about their decision. I'm going to try anyway. It's very unprofessional and heartbreaking for me to hear that I've made it this far to not know now of a date. Thank you again for your support. It feels good to let the frustration out. At least I know now that I can use this forum groups for support instead of using food and alcohol when things go the wrong way and I'm filled with anxiety

That's so frustrating! I can't believe they postponed it after you'd already started your pre-op diet!!! The only reason I could see to do that is if you had told them you had cheated quite badly -- then it's a safety issue because your liver won't be healthy enough to move out of the way for the operation. Otherwise, if you're sticking to the pre-op diet -- which frankly is more difficult than healthy eating post-op -- they should be able to see you have the discipline and mindset it takes to be successful after surgery! Rhetorical question: What hoops have you had to jump through to get to this point? They obviously thought you were ready because they gave you a surgery date. As I was reading your post, I couldn't help but think the surgeon had a competing appointment (professional or personal) come up on his calendar for that day and he didn't want to tell you, so he made it all about you instead. There is no way some weight re-gain is the reason for postponing (and not canceling) your surgery. Surgeons understand that obese people have problems with their weight yo-yoing and that's exactly why we get this surgery in the first place! I am outraged with and for you, and while that may not be the type of support and comfort you need, please know I am here for you if you want to bitch and moan. Hopefully they will reschedule your surgery for sometime within a week of your original date if you are still on the liquid diet...and if you've already eaten solid food, I hope they schedule it really soon! Again, I'm so sorry this happened to you!

Starting pre-op diet today for surgery on the 22nd in Mexico. Prepped all my food last night. Had some vivid food dreams that freaked me out and made me believe I had cheated before I even began the diet! It's going to be a long 10 days of that keeps happening!

My surgeon is Dr. Alvarez of Endobariatric. He has successfully operated on over 10,500 people including teenagers (and his own mom!). He's twice as expensive as other Mexican surgeons but worth every dollar. Every patient loves him and he knows what he's doing. His complication rate is less than half a percent over 10,000 patients. That's unheard of! The only way I'm not totally losing my cool about my impending surgery is because I trust him 100%. He and his staff have been extremely transparent throughout the entire process leading up to my surgery and provided me with every resource including names and emails of post-op patients in my state willing to talk to me about their surgery and post-op lifestyle. Hearing firsthand from people that they have literally nothing but great things to say about Dr. A makes me confident I picked the best surgeon. Best of luck to you as you help your daughter make a decision!

GUYS GUYS GUYS! I'm officially part of the February sleevers club because I got my date today!! February 22nd, I'm coming for you!!
This is a big month, as I'm also starting my new job on Monday. 2017 is my year, and I'm so, so excited!
If you'd like to follow me on Instagram or have a Fitbit, you can find me at recreatingcate on Insta, and the same username @gmail.com on Fitbit. Who's excited to sit on the loser's bench?!

Woo hoo I had my sleeve today and doing great [emoji2][emoji2][emoji2] been up walking the nurses station non stop. There was excruciating gas pain for the first few hours after surgery but now it's like a dull pain in my chest, neck and shoulder, been burping too which they said helps with the pain(seems too) no actual gas from the other end!!!!

I wanted to join that group when I saw it, but I don't want my Facebook acquaintances to know I was doing it. Glad I found this forum!
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Does anyone know who created the FB page? I see it's a closed group. But I can still see who is a member so it's not private. I'd just like clarification since I am keeping my surgery a secret.
Thank you.

I have zero personal experience, as I'm still pre-op, but I am also worried about this, so I did some homework.
Here's some tips I found:
1. Drink lots of Water to keep skin hydrated. Dry skin wrinkles and stays loose rather than elastic.
2. Consume Gelatin. Pure Gelatin (like the Great Lakes brand available on Amazon) is not only a good source of Protein, but will also keep hair from falling out and skin from being loose (it also helps with elasticity). (Note: I plan on making my own Jello with the Great Lakes gelatin by adding drink mix powder for flavor.)
3. Dry brushing. Google this. It supposedly helps prevent cellulite but people also swear it helped them have tight skin after 100+lb weight loss.
4. Be cautious what lotions and potions you use on your skin. Some have chemicals and additives that will damage skin at the cellular level which prevents it from being healthy and elastic. Natural products are obviously better (and usually not so much more expensive...at least not as expensive as plastic skin removal surgery!).
Hope these tips help!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The last time I checked, I didn't store my personality in my thighs...lol! As someone who's been a healthy weight and then morbidly obese all within the span of 10 years, I can tell my personality didn't change but I did become more anxious about not wanting to leave the house at the large weight I've become. If anything, I would think losing weight would make you more outgoing...how could that be bad? I suggest you attend a bariatric support group and talk to a wide range of people from different age groups and different walks of life who've gone through the process. They'll be able to give you feedback regarding their experience rather than just gaining the info from 1 friend.
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I think your friend has ulterior motives - it may not be conscious, but in his comments I read between the lines "I wasn't successful, but if you have WLS and are successful, then I look even worse."
There will be people in your life who don't want you to change even if it's for the better because they like you as you are and they like how they feel around your current self. They don't want you to be "better" than them (not that you would be, but I'm talking insecurities here), thinner than them, more confident than them, better looking than them, happier than them.
Pay attention to facts only. Ignore the opinions of those who might have personal agendas for wanting you to stay as you are. Go with your gut and what YOU want for yourself and your life.
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