mayflo

I want to thank the members of VST. Sharing your experience and info helped me decide on my surgery (had been planning lapband) and I know this board will continue to be my go to place after surgery. I feel oddly calm today, the only thing that I worry about sometimes is my 4 year old. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers, I know things will be fine. Thank you all! Mayflo

Hey AK how are you doing? Wanted to check in with you. Hope all is well. I just realized may be in the hospital without email access but I am leaving in the am to have my VSG and just wanted to wish you well. Mayflo

Hi all, I'm so excited and but also nervous! I have been thinking about the band for about a year. I have been dieting since I was 13. About 2 years ago I just couldn't do it anymore and have just been steadily gaining with no end in site. For some reason I thought I would just taper of at some point, HA! Instead I have reached new heights. My first thought was the band. My insurance doesn't have WLS coverage so I went to see 2 local MDs hoping for some kind of cash discount. Both were asking for over $16,000. yea right. So after much research I decided to go to Mexico (cost $5,500 including everything but airfare). I set up the surgery appointment about 6 weeks ago. I was doing some pre op reading some of the materials given to me by the US surgeons when I noticed that the "permenent "lapband ended up being removed 25% of the time due to problems. I started to reread the boards and rethink this. The fills and unfills til you got it right, slippage and erosions that could happen years later. When the docs had offered the sleeve I thought "no way". I didn't want my stomach cut out. But as I studied it more I came to feel strongly that this was a better choice for me. I can't believe the time is almost here. The board has been so helpful. Hopefully I can keep you posted. I've been lurking for a while because I have had a hard time getting my account activated. When I try to sign on it doesn't take my password and the screen I go to to change password doesn't work and the new password I get doesn't work but by some miracle the 3rd time I used the assigned password it worked. If anyone has any idea what my problem is let me know. I am afraid I would never get on again. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers on Thursday November 12, Mayflo

Welcome LapGyrl to the first steps of your journey. It sounds like you are taking your time and doing your research. Last on my list was to tell some of my family I was going to Mexico for WLS. It was need to know basis, only my husband and sister, 2 friends have known a little longer. I read where some people let everyone know and others who go to Mexico without telling there husband. As you will probably note in the advertisements there are many credit services available for surgery. I don't know what your credit situation is but I remember reading somebody's blog who actually financed with the doctors office and made monthly payments. Good luck and thank you for the kind words you left on my introduction, Mayflo scheduled for sleeve 11-12-09, Dr.Pompa

Good luck tomorrow with these tough decisions. I know it is even more difficult to do these things without the support that we need from those close to us. My best friend friend wrote me along letter the other day asking me to put off surgery. My sister is not thrilled, hubby so-so. Luckily we have the support of this board! I have a four year old and although she isn't breast feeding (lol) I do worry about being there for her after surgery (one of the reasons I'm wide awake at 2 am). Its great that you have been able to breast feed for 4 months, thats a good start. Also thank you for sharing you band story and congratulations on your beautiful son. You will be in my thoughts, Mayflo Sleeve scheduled with Dr. Pompa, 11-12-09

Thank you Ready and LapGyrl, your thoughts are much appreciated.

Hi, Joon I live in the SF area too. I had a consultation with Dr. Jossart and he was willing to do my surgery with a BMI of 34. The cost was going to be over $16,000 for a lapband I'm sure much more for a sleeve. I have not had surgery yet but I am having it done in Tijuana at the Limarp surgery clinic by Dr. Pompa. I believe it is 15 minutes from the San Diego airport. Good luck, Mayflo