TheBearguy8

I take Ambien for 7 years literally to LIVE, and sleep. I am very nervous about taking it after and sleeping. I am a CHRONIC INSOMNIA diagnosis with a racing mind syndrome at night. I have another post about this waiting for answer from anyone post op taking Ambien

Scroll down to see my reply, I put it in the wrong place because I replied to a reply instead of to you, AND this app doesn't allow cut and paste on an iPad 4. Ugh. My email is italbare4now@gmail.com

Yes yes!, same day! Tiajuana! I'm so nervous going alone! Dr Almanza, flying to San Diego May 10... I am new to this site....how can we communicate? This community forum seems soooooo confusing to use, I can't skip to groups I like (men's and LGBT), and I can't tell if posts and replies are new or 5 years old. Please reply! Let's get through this together!

I am also sad to report suspicions about ALM denials here...I was offered contact to speak with a male since I'm finding men's experiences seem to be quite different with BGS. I got an invalid email address repeatedly, was told I would be contacted to discuss ALM as an option for my upcoming surgery. I gave my number, waiting to be called or email a week ago, and nothing. I will be sticking with Almanza for my next week May 11 surgery.

Hernia (hiatal or umbilical cord). It covers a multitude of logical potential side effects, post op situations, scars, -and even some weight loss

I'm really scared. I'm 10 days until surgery, and I've already made so many important dietary changes over the past 6 years, I'm not intimidated by the discipline it will take with food....pretty much a nightmare for my entire life. I am very ready for this. I am scared that I cannot sleep without Ambien, it saved my life, and a regular sleep and workout schedule helped me lose 30 pounds...BUT, I am one of those people with an occasional case of night time unaware sleep eating, which is why I'm excited for the surgery on one hand...but petrified I could hurt myself with a night eating incident. The frequency seems to be increasing as surgery day gets closer, it's gone from once a month to twice a week.definitely stress and anxiety related. Is there ANYONE with insomnia who takes Ambien out there? I woke up this morning to find an entire sleeve of Crackers I ate during the night. Very worried.

How about really being helpful, not being vaguely frightening and actually state: 1. What's the name of the hospital in Juarez? 2. what's the name of the surgeon? Names of any of this list of people who don't wash their hands? 3. What are your issues with your own hospital in Roseburg? That might be helpful for us to know what your standards are. You are really just fear mongering otherwise. Inciting fright, while not allowing anyone to really solve anything because all we know is "Juarez".

Thank you for writing! Big help - I cannot find "realSelf"..where is that?

I'm so desperate to find the hidden gay men in this forum . . .and this thread . . come on guys! Speak up!

I think the idea that providers are blurring the facts is so dangerous. I have been paying attention to weight loss surgeries since 1992 when my mother had an early very invasive rearranging of internal organs version. Yes, she lost weight, but now at 77, she is in a nursing home suffering from terrible malabsorption and osteoporosis. I can only afford to go to Mexico since I'm not "fat enough" to be deemed medically necessary, and being gay, there's another issue I'm not comfortable disclosing on the day I join. There are so many more people saying positive things about specific places and surgeons, but I'm from South Florida and becoming terrified some comments about Dr. Mario Almanza, but I am a person who studies hard not to be sucked into an "Alternative Facts" universe. Finally I have hope, but now I'm seeing some real horror stories - but we don't know details, some reports do seem very shady. My head is spinning trying to decide now what to do. I have friends who swear by Medical Tourism, and have success stories from Mexico, and have gone back for more surgeries and are thrilled. This board now seems like an arguing place between providers and shakes a newbies confidence about the posts.

I am scheduled and finding myself in a panic over an issue that men here must have an opinion about. Anal sex after the sleeve recovery period. Long term changes to the entire way your digestive system works. I had lost 35 pounds through exercise and discipline, but hit a wall while still at a BMI of 38, stuck for 4 years. I'm not morbidly obese anymore, but definitely eligible with a 45 inch belly to prove it. Also had an umbilical cord hernia mesh fix when I was 22 and a dancer, now in my 50's. There's a vanity aspect to this because my doctor thinks I'm down to a safer range of numbers - and I've been HIV positive for 32 years and never ill - a real miracle. Being overweight really did mean confirming I was healthy as friends died around me. Now it's really a last chance to live a long life, and not die of obesity related illnesses like my entire family has. Might I have diarreah or uncontrollable gas or other lower intestinal problems that could affect my sex life?

I'm confused - I think this is the LGBT group and I'm desperate for information to calm me down about fears that just aren't easy to bring up. I am a GAY MAN, I am versatile, but being on the bottom, well it's very important, and I can't get answers about the issues regarding anal sex after surgery. It's not just the obvious, it's fears of elimination patterns being so inconsistent (ahem) and gassy, there have to be gay men reading this who can comment. I'm a guy who added significant fiber to his diet on a regular basis so as to be having healthy and well formed bowel movements. I think you get it and I'll stop TMI right now - but this is my only real fear going in 3 weeks for surgery. I'm 38 BMI, very active lifestyle, I even like my body generally speaking - except for the belly where I look about 6 months pregnant all the time. It's all right there. I just want to communicate with gay men in this "position" .....ahem....us "situation".