FabBy50

Hi Brenda I went with Dr. Almanza in Tijuana Mexico, I had a wonderful experience both times. he really is a great surgeon, I have had no complaints. I can't tell you how easy the sleeve is, you will love it!

Hi Brenda I'm yet another band to sleeve revision...please don't get the band! I wish that I had never gotten it! I had it for only 9 months and it caused a lot of damage. I did a revision in December and could not be happier! I have my life back, I can eat like a normal person. I can go out to eat and not spend the entire time in the bathroom! I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. The sleeve is easy, you just eat less! Go for it, you won't be sorry.

Tia & Robin Good luck on your surgeries!! You will both do just fine. My best advice is walk as soon as you can, it cuts down on the gas. This is actually a pretty easy surgery, you both will do great! Bernadette

Hi Kerri Welcome to Verticle sleeve talk! Good luck on your surgery tomorrow, you will be fine! The sleeve is very easy to adjust to, I love it! Waiting for you on the losers bench! Bernadette

That is so awesome!! I totally agree with you. I lost my job in January and I'm still looking AI just turned 50 and I feel that takes away from you I;m starting to stress some! I will find the right job is just not out there right now!Wish me luck!!!

[quote name=FabBy50 Don't afraid to go there! I did well twice with them!! Go for it! He is an awesome Dr. Pm if tiy have more questions! Bernadette Sounds like you are doing great!! You will love the tasted of the chicken broth. You will also be surprised at how little you can have before you are full. Dreaming of pizza...LOL, was it pepperoni? I still have little bouts of gas pain, not much just a little pain in the shoulder. Good luck on your venture home, glad that you are doing so well!!! Bernadette[/quote] Go Go Go GoGo

Well I will speak the entire truth of the matter!! Since I came to this site and decided that I would use Dr Almanza, I have been called names threatened, told I was lower than POOP!!! And this has been going on for over a year! There are a lot of people who had decided that Dr. Almanza was not a good Dr, Don't know how they came to that conclusion but they did. (the singular thread that links these woman is that they all had surgery with Dr. Aceves) They come out in droves everytime we post positive stuff, and even more if it is negative!!! If you care any about this you will do some research: The negative comments are about the size of the clinic, and the aftercare home. I have been to both and found they were both just fine. I have not heard of anything stemming directly against Dr Almanza, I don't think you will see it. He is a fine surgeon, had to spend 4 hours on me last time to fix the band, I,m doing great!! So to finish this!!!! Please don't always agree with what you read! These people are here to make money, not all of of them, But there is a population that does not admit they are trying to make money. PM me I would be happy to answer any questions!! Pleas don't get freaked out by the ONE time poster who says :no one helped me, we had no phone, I was in pain and they would not give me something, ETC ETC!! It does not happen there! The nurses are wonderful it you do not get what you want call Dr Bettancourt, he will fix it QUICKLY! I Loved my experiences!!

I have used Dr. Almanza twice in fact!! I would trust him with my life, I did! Now if you need a lot of hand holding and a big hospital you will not find it here, it is a surgery center, not a hospital. I was totally OK with that because I have had surgeries in clinics before. Dr. Almanza is an excellent surgeon, don't let anyone tell you different. If you have anymore question PM me I will be happy to answer any and all questions! Bernadette

Just a little advice, don't get the band! I don't know anyone who is happy with theirs, I certainly was not happy.The sleeve is night and day difference, I wish that I would have done this first. good luck to you! Bernadette

I have been to Dr Almanza twice and I love him! He does a great job and he is not bad to look t either. I had the band for 9 months until it started causing problems. I had mt band out and th sleeve done on Dec 30th 2009. It was the best thing I could ever don for myself, the sleeve make eating easy. Good luck to you! Bernadette

Good luck, I know you will do it!!!

WOO HOO!!! Congrats on being sleeved!!

Hey I just had a question for all of you. I have a lump in my arm just past where I had my IV for my surgery. Do you think this is a blood clot? And if so, what should I do? Any advise would be helpful. Bernadette

Barbara Hugs and prayers coming your way! You will be just fine.

Oh NO I did not think you could slime with the sleeve. Well so far so good, no sliming!! I knew someone would have that answer.

Good luck you two!!! You will do fine, and the pain is very low. You will both be fine, if it hurts tell the nurse! There is no reason to be in pain. Good luck and happy losing!!!!

No Sliming is associated with the band only. It is whan you eat something your band does not like, and you just keep spitting up this slimy stuff. Sometimes it goes on forever. It is totally gross!! I have never had this since my band was out, nor have I read about a sleeved person having it. I could be wrong??

Hi Motherof4 So happy you decided to go with the sleeve, it really is so easy to have! I'm still new to it, just over 3 weeks but love it! So happy for you!! Good luck and happy losing!!

I can only tell of my personal experience with the band, and it was HORRIBLE!! If you keep researching you will find more and more negative things about the band. I wish that I would have been sleeved first and never had the band. I won't go into great detail, but look at it this way do you want to have one surgery and be done or have one and then do it again in a few years. Don't know anything about the prices, I had my band and sleeve done in Mexico. Very happy with my sleeve results. If you have any questions PM me, I'm an open book!

Congrats and good luck tomorrow!!!

Hi Maxcat The spinal is not something they do routinely, I think it is only if you have complications and have to be under longer, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I'm sure someone will be able to answer that question. Yes I had stitches that had to be removed. I took them out myself. I thought of it as an adventure, it did not hurt to remove them either. I had to drink some awful tasting stuff and then they watch it go down to make sure you have no leaks. If you have a drain, you will be asked to drink and then they watch your drain to make sure none of comes out. Just standard practice to make sure you have no leaks. I don't know anyone who had to have a catheter, I don't think that would be an issue with this surgery. Glad to hear you have decided on the VSG, it is an amazing tool. I have been sleeved for three weeks, and could not be happier!!! Good luck and happy losing!

WOW Sorry for offending all of you!! I had no idea she was not posting anymore, and was not trying to stir anything up! Sorry if it came across that way.

STEVE I love ya man!!! You don't even have the sleeve but you help people!!!!!!!!! Love ya, and your wife, for putting up with your lap banded tummy LOL LOL:thumbup:

You do NOT have the problems with malnutrition, with the sleeve. Eat well and watch what it is that you put into your month. You still have to be careful what you put into your mouth and how much of it you put in. Did not understand all of your post, saying that you need to be sleeved again, give us more info!

Hi Sweetie You know we all want what is best for you!! And because we have all been there we have a good idea of what that is!! I will tell you here and now, I think the band is downright dangerous!!! But if that is your choice then I will hug you and hope for the best! Do I think the sleeve is the best thing since sliced bread YES!!! I think all of us overweight people could learn from the sleeve. Keep us posted on your new sleeve!!! Don't listen to me, talk to Dr B, he is an expert on weight loss. He will advise you to get the sleeve.