Ruthi

I didnt lose as much weight as you since I only had my band for 6 months but I am like you in that I know I will gain back the 40 lbs I lost if I dont do something now. I have to wait 3 month with only 5 weeks left to wait to have another surgery but I totally understand why you want the sleeve. Best of luck, we are all with you Ruthi

We wont hold that against you; we are still grateful for your advice and input

It is so wonderful to have such knowledgable people like Elizabeth and Wassa to answer questions like that, thanks to both of you

We are going to do just fine, 5 weeks left..........lets celebrate!!!

Yes, you are correct, these companies have high interest rates and feed on our desperation. Some of us that are self pay have even borrowed against our 401K's to get this done. I figure why not, I wont live to use my 401K if I dont do something about my weight. Good luck to you no matter what you choose. Ruthi

Honorary Sleeve BROTHER Hey hey hey we are not a forum, we are a family

Hi again Those are the soft signs I was told about when I got banded. It is a nerve response to tell you that you are full. I think it is located at the top of the stomach near the esophogus. I had them with the band. The hiccup thing is suppose to be some reaction to the diaphram being irritated when the stomach is full. This is what my band surgeon told me. Ruthi

I second that motion! Welcome sleeve brother!

Hi everyone, I just posted a before picture of myself. I am no long just a pretty name and script. I am still excited about 6/12 and praying that Vegas Angel gets her financing approved Ruthi

Hi all, Elizabeth, Wassa and Susan are correct. I too, had the one in 500,000 patient complication(the stats the surgeons gave me) I did everything right, I got sick without any warning. Potential patients should keep in mind that they make the band with a one size fits all sizing and I never saw any band that looked like a moo moo. Everyone is different and anything can occur even the strange and rare occurences. Not everyone on the site is as educated/informed as perhaps they should be when rendering an opinion and then again, sometimes they dont think. Just my 2 cents worth. Ruthi

Hi Everyone, Just so happy this site exists. I love having all of this information and support. Thank you all from the bottom of my latest suture line. Ruthi

Rosey, I can totally relate to your quandry. Just the mention of Mexico (I didnt tell them it was actually scheduled) got my family all sorts of upset. Wassa and Elizabeth and the others here are right. You have to make your own INFORMED decision and they are much much less informed than you or your husband. I know how difficult it is to go against family and yours like mine are very manipulating when it comes to talking against something. I would do what I wanted and not say anymore to them about it. What they dont know, wont hurt them. I am getting the surgery with Dr Aceves and I definitely do not work for him. I am a nurse however and an engineer and do alot of research on the web, pro and con. Go with your gut girl. Ruthi

Vangel, that is great, I know how you feel about being excited and scared, thats me. I actually tried to talk to my sister about the surgery today and the minute I mentioned Mexico, she didnt want to hear anymore. If it werent for you and the others on the forum, I would be so alone in this. I am looking forward to the phone call. I will have my lap top with me at the hospital and 2 different cell phones, I figure I will have something to do. Six weeks seems like a long time, I hope it flies by for us Ruthi

Great and better yet, I told Renee about you and she penciled you in for the 12th even though you arent financed yet, she said they can always move your date. You should give her a call ...602-670-3498... she is totally in favor of us going through this together. She has some pull with the finance people too I think. Ruthi

wabbutt, You are right and although we both went through alot with our bands, everything happens for a reason. I wish I knew then what I know now. I would have gone to a sleeve in the first place. I am soooo looking forward to the 12th of June. Right now I am trying to maintain the weight loss I had from the band. I have to keep that up for 6 weeks through 3 birthday parties and a graduation. I am going to need some major will power. As far as cost, at least I didnt have to pay for the emergency surgery when the band was removed. The VA Hospital did that one for free. Ruthi Ruthi

Sure I can wait, the 12th is the scheduled date and would probably be better for me all together. Is financing being a problem for you also? I ended up being a self pay AGAIN. This is truly my last chance to be at a healthy weight. I will be totally in debt but I am worth it. I paid for my stupid lap band at the cost of 19K and now this at 12500. Geez, this has got to stop!

angel You can get an expedited passport but it costs more. To explain. On March 13th (Friday) of course, I had to have emergency surgery to remove my lap band, there was some sort of stomach spasm and swelling that cut off circulation to part of my stomach and it became necrotic and had to be removed, thus a partial gastrectomy. Just another complication with the lap band that happens with about 1 in 500 thousand patients. Anyway, Dr Aceves said I had to wait 12 weeks because it wouldnt be safe until then. I am thinking of changing the date to the 5th of June as that is actually 12 weeks after my last surgery. I dont know if Renee is new but she is in Arizona and one of his nurse coordinators. Since I was alone on this trip I was going to let the driver take me to Mexicali since I dont know the city. I have been to Calexico a few times but no into Mexico. As far as the process, just have to fill out the paperwork and Nina sends you all the information you need. Have you filled out the paperwork on his website already. If you have questions, just call Nina, she will take the time to explain everything or call and ask for Renee's number, she is wonderful. I tried the financing too but got turned down and not sure why, I have good credit but bought a house about 8 months ago, that may have had some effect on my credit, who knows. A threesome huh,??? sounds like we will be great friends and WE WILL KEEP IN TOUCH thanks to both you and wabbutt Ruthi

hi vangel Yes, I am going by myself. No one knows I am doing this, I put my family and friends through so much when I had the emergency surgery, I just couldnt have them worrying about me again or take more time from their jobs or school. I dont doubt they would be in favor of me having any more surgery either...so what they dont know wont hurt them. Let me know if everything gets lined up. Renee is my coordinator but she and Nina talk frequently. Nina takes care of my reservations. I was going to stay in SD overnight on Wed and meet the driver at the airport the next morning and go to Mexicali. Hope everything works out. It would be great to have a friend along. Ruthi

sorry, that note was for vegas angel not rosey but rosey, you can go with me too

Hey Rosie Go with me, I am scheduled for June 12th. I have to get a passport for the trip since its after June 1st. If you would like to share the trip, let me know. I am planning to drive also. Ruthi

Sorry Daisy, I am going to miss seeing you down there, they had to postpone my surgery until June 12th. Some misunderstanding about how long it was since my emergency partial gastrectomy so all was postponed at the last minute I WAS SO UPSET!!!! Anyway, it should happen in 6 weeks. Good luck Daisy! Ruthi

I hope to see you there, I will be arriving Thursday morning, I will look for you

Hello everyone, I am excited, nervous and in a way, down right scared, but my sleeve is being done on Friday the 1st with Dr Aceves. I cant believe its really going to happen, I had to pay for a revision and it really tapped my resources but I really believe that I am worth it. Thank God for this site and for all of you. I am loving life because of you. Ruthi

Hi Everyone, Well, its going to happen, I am getting the sleeve on 5/1 by Dr Aceves. I had the partial gastrectomy/sleeve last month and 6 weeks later I am going for something more permanent. I even think I will go for spinal anethesia just so I dont have to go to sleep. I am sort of scared still. My big mistake was telling my daughter (BIG MISTAKE) I think I scared her really bad when I got so sick with the band removal and emergency surgery. I guess I cant blame her for that and should have kept it to myself. Oh well, this time next week I will be on my way to Mexico. Thanks everyone especially Was a Bubble Butt for all of your words of encouragement. Renee at Dr Aceves is really great also. Wish Me Luck Ruthi

My partial gastrectomy was just done on the upper part or the anterior fundus of the stomach. That was the only part that was necrotic. The reason they just didnt go ahead and do a gastric sleeve is that it probably wasnt covered under the op permit, it was to correct the problem which they werent sure of when they started the surgery. Also the emergency surgery was done at a VA hospital (free for me as I am a Veteran) and it would have been considered an elective surgery which isnt done on the governments dime. Ruthi