acopas

I'm self pay and doing my procedure in Mexico. The physician once approved had the coordinator send over all available dates. I would have been able to do this last month or this month at the time of my approval, but my mom decided she also wanted to do the procedure at the same time. Her clearance was more involved as she had to have an EKG which led to needing to see a cardiologist who said she was fine but wanted her to have an echo done to be certain. SO...after having months of delay, by the time we were both approved, the soonest available was June 15. My oldest daughter(14) happens to be out of town that week, so we pushed it back to the following week, so she could be around to help with the youngest(3) while I was out of the country.

I am somewhat starting mine a month early. I'm not doing the full on full liquids until I have to, but I have swapped out two meals for protein shakes and am doing a dinner that is a meat and vegetables only. Right now I'm also having two snacks a day which are typically a low fat mozzarella cheese stick.

My doctor will give 4 weeks off of work, but I'll have surgery on 6/22 and return to work on 6/27. I am primarily at my desk though. I just don't know how my 3 year old is going to handle not being picked up all the time. She's under my physician's guide of "no more than 30lbs in the first 30 days", but I'm not sure I'll feel up to carrying her up a flight of stairs at daycare.

I have a 21 day pre-op that starts on June 1, but I'm using the month of May to get used to tracking foods again. Putting things on scales, looking at macros, all the fun stuff. I'm also starting to let go of the foods that I won't carry forward with me. I've had my last pasta meal, eaten my last ice cream, etc. I know people can still be successful with those items in their diets, but that's not my story. I recognize the addiction I have to carbs/sugars and it's all or nothing.

I previously did a program where I lost 130lbs. I didn't tell anyone that I didn't interact with in person. So though I talked to my mom a lot, she had no clue that I was losing weight. I showed up to drop my daughter off for her annual trip to the grandparents and was missing a person. After five years and a pregnancy, I've regained all of that. I restarted the previous program, but I just couldn't eat the foods this time. My mom and I are now going through this process together, so she knows this time.

For my surgeon, you don't have to have a passport. I just have to have my birth certificate and driver's license. I'm taking my marriage license just in case. I'll fly to San Antonio, Texas and their staff picks us up and drives us across the border. Since we aren't flying into Mexico, no passport is needed.

I delayed doing surgery for forever (originally joined this forum back in 2009 and have surgery scheduled in two months). I would say if you are certain what procedure you want done, start your research there. Gastric Sleeve is probably the most common procedure these days; however, some people still elect for gastric bypass or other procedures depending on their own journey. There are plenty of places that do the procedures and there is a high rate of medical tourism where people travel to Mexico to have it done. I'm personally going to Mexico for mine as I was also self pay. My procedure was 7799 as I paid cash and have someone doing the surgery on the same day as me, but financing was 8500 I believe. The surgeon I chose has a ton of videos on his website, YouTube, and Instagram. His name is Dr. Alvarez with Endobariatric. You can certainly look at his website and videos for research regardless of what surgeon you end up selecting. All the best!

I originally joined BariatricPal in 2009 while researching Lap-Band. I never followed through with that procedure. I've struggled with my weight since then. I did lose 120lbs by diet in 2016/17, but have since regained it then some following an unexpected pregnancy. I finally had enough when I saw the highest weight I've ever seen staring back at me once we installed a new scale in my office. I waited to tell my mom that I was going to Mexico to have surgery because in the past she's been negative about traveling for the procedure. She surprised me though when she not only was happy for me but decided to have it done herself as well. We will be traveling to Piedras Negras to have VSG with Dr. Alvarez at the end of June.

I haven't done my pre-op diet yet as my surgery is still two months out, but I enjoy Atkins Milk Chocolate shakes. There are tons of flavors to choose from; just find one that works for you. I know when I first started drinking shakes, they needed to be ice cold for me to enjoy them.

My surgeon shares part of it on Instagram.

Dr. Alvarez has performed numerous procedures on people from my hometown and surrounding area. I've watched their successes and challenges from afar as I no longer live in the area. My mom who does was really only comfortable using him as well. We briefly discussed other surgeons, but she was of the mindset that you get what you pay for.

We are using Dr. Alvarez with Endobariatric in Piedras Negras, MX.

I'm scheduled in Mexico on June 22. My mom and I are having the procedure done on the same day. I'll return to work on Monday the 27th barring any complications.

Looking for a doctor in Tampa Bay? Any Suggestions? Covered by BCBS FL... "Weight loss reductions excluded except "medically necessary gastric or intestinal bypass or gastric banding"

Hi everyone, I'm so new to this. For years, I wouldn't consider a weight loss surgery due to my mom's horrible accounts of patients who met their demise because of it, but I'm tired of being fat. I am 25, and have literally been on one diet or another for 15 years. My mother enrolled me in WW at the lovely age of ten because my pediatrician told her I was not on the charts for weight by my age, but failed to tell her that I wasn't for height either...(5'3 at 10....) Anywho...So from WW to Susan Powter to Phentermine to WW...you get the cycle.... In February 2006, I was dx with PCOS. My DH and I had been trying to conceive for almost six months when I went to see someone...It ended up in total being about 17 months before I finally got pregnant with my daughter. 5'11" and 292 when I got pregnant...I was 271 the day I delivered...Yay Pregnancy! So I had our daughter in Oct. 07, joined the gym in January 08 at 263. Worked out with a trainer three days a week and on my own 2 -3 extra days. End of month one, go for my weigh in with my trainer, and I've gained 37 pounds:crying:.. WTF!?!?!:huh2: 300lbs...I about lost it there in the gym, that was never a number that I wanted to see. So I go to my primary TSH level is at 24.9, so we now have a dx of hypothyroidism. I've been on meds now for almost a year, and have gained between 20 and 30 more pounds:thumbdown:. I am walking daily for about an hour and eating pretty sensibly. So if you read my book...Will this procedure help me?