Mommydog14

I am going to be sleeved by Dr. Aceves on May 11th. Currently I do Cross-fit 3 times a week. Cross fit is a very high intesity workout that involves the use of weights. How long after surgury can i go back to weight lifting??? I really enjoy it, and I'm still fat...!!!

sorry, I tried to cut and paste the link. It's a Yahoo-Health group entitled Dr. Aceves-Bandsters. Hope this helps.

Dr-Aceves-bandsters : Dr-Aceves-bandsters

I'm being sleeved by Dr. Aceves on May 11th. I am very excited. I was going to go alone at first, but now my husband will be with me. At first, I really wanted to go alone since I will worry too much about his boredom , etc. A question: is the hospital room sufficient for my husband to camp out or should he just stay at the hotel? Thanks. Deborah

I am approved and scheduled and I am sooo excited. Dr. Aceves on May 11th. No pre op diet because I am just this side of obese. It is my greatest hope that I will find weight stability and not have to have this burden any longer. Dr. Aceves' patients also have a Yahoo group site which has a lot of information. I can't believe how universally loved he seems to be. I wish it were happening tomorrow.

Opps. I'm being sleeved by Dr. Aceves on May 11th. Since I am a lower BMI patient (31), no pre-op diet was required. He actually told me not to lose any weight. I guess I'm a thin obese person.

I'm being sleeved by Dr. Aceves on May

I'm between 30 and 31, but if I wait it will surely increase. Heck, I could get to 32 or 33 by the surgery without much effort at all! I'm just a vistor at any particular weight--never stable. I was 40 pounds lighter in September after completing a medical fast. I'm so sick of this insanity in my life! I hope to hear by tonight or tomorrow. Other than being a chronic yoyo dieter, I'm very healthy. I'd love to have a sleeve buddy in Mexicali. I hope I hear soon--I feel very comfortable with Dr. Aceves. When I find out, I'll send you a private email and let you know the particulars.

Wow! That would be great! I'm trying to confirm for May 11th. Did you have any difficulties having Dr. Aceves approve you? Send me a private email and I'll let you know what happens.. Deborah

I am waiting for Dr. Aceves to approve me for surgery. I was originally thinking of getting a lap band, but after reading and reading and reading ( and talking to people) I think the sleeve is the way to go for me. I have a lower BMI,(about 30 or 31) but am a chronic yoyo dieter, so I just at this weight for a moment anyway. I had originally planned on using another surgeon, but became concerned when I could find very little about him on these forums. I talked to Dr. Aceves' coordinator and felt very comfortable. Now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that he approves me. Just a question----because I have an elderly mother at home who needs supervision, I may need to come without my husband or other family member. Have any of you gone alone? How was it? Thanks.

Ok. I did it. I have scheduled band surgery with Dr. Kelly in TJ on May 10th. I had a long talk with him on the phone last week and feel comfortable. My main concern is the after care and getting fills. In his opinion, he thinks US doctors are not agressive enough on fills, requiring their patients to come in more frequently. He thinks three times in the first year. since I live in CA, I'm thinkng that it wouldn't be that big of a deal to have him take care of my fills. I am sooooo tired of my insane yoyo dieting life. I know this is just a tool and commitment and compliance are important, but I think this is a tool I really need.

Ok. I've done it. I'm schduled for May 10th with Dr. Kelly in TJ. I must be crazy.....

Yesterday I was convinced that I would take the first plane to Mexico and have myself banded immediately. Then, I became concerned with the aftercare, which seems pretty critical, to say the least. I live in Northern Ca, and found that Dr. Waltrep is doing a study lower BMI bandsters and will perform the surgery on people with a 30 BMI. Of, course it's self-pay since insurance won't cover it. I was quoted $12,100, which doesn't seem too bad, and then I would be certain of aftercare, support groups, etc. I asked about providing aftercare if surgery was performed by a Mexican dr., and they said it is difficult since there are a variety of different bands, etc. I actually spoke to a doctor who answered the phone (shock). They have an introductory seminar this month, so I'm going to check it out. Do any of you have any comments on Mexico (less $$$) vs local (assured aftercare)?

Thanks for sharing, Slice. Where did you get banded?

Branmante45, I send you a private email last evening. What scares me about this is the possibility that it won't work. Then what? There are a lot of people on this board, it seems, who haven't met their goals. Why doesn't it work for some people?

I just spoke to a coordinator from Dr. Kuri's practice and he will not band anyone under about a 33 BMI. I also spoke with coordinators for Dr. Ramos Kelly and Dr. ORtiz and they don't seem to have an issue with low BMI folks. Dr. Kuri's rep. said that there is a greated problem of slippage with low BMI banders, while the other two reps said that they take a stitch and it isn't a problem. I am so confused now. My yoyo dieting is driving me crazy, and has for most of my life. I could probably be 300 pounds if I let myself get there. I just don't know if I'm a proper candidate for banding. Can anyone help me bet some clarity? Part of me thinks nothing will work for me, and it's totally crazy-making. Thanks.

Hi. I am new to this forum but have been exploring both lap bands as gasrtric sleeve options. I am 57 years old, have a "low" BMI (30 to 31) but have been a life long yoyo dieter. I have done everything that's legal, but I lose very very slowly (2 lbs a week on 600 cal diet), and always gain it back. In the last 10 years, I have gained and lost 50 pounds at least five times. In short, it is making me crazy. Durng my last "very low calorie diet", the Dr. suggested that i consider a lap band, and that a dr. in my area was conductng a study on people like me--lower BMI's and yoyo dieters. I was shocked since I thought it was an extreme suggestion for me. Now that I've regained that 40 pounds, I'm rethinking it. My insurance won't cover this procedure since I am not big enough and have no comorbiditites. I am in good health and exercise vigorously 3 times a week. So, I started to research the Mexico possibilty. A friend of mine had a lap band done in Tijuana by Dr. Ramos Kelly and she spoke highly of him. when I talked to his coordinator to get information, she also recommended that I consider the gastric sleeve procedure. I don't know what to think: the band is a foreign object in my body that needs adjustment, but the sleeve changes my anatomy. Can anyone give me some help trying to think this thing through? Thanks.

I think I found the right sub-forum. I am 57 years old and a lifelong yoyo dieter. I have literally lost and gained 50 to 70 pounds in the last 10 years. I have tried every plan that is legal. My last go-round was a medically supervised very low calorie diet (600 per day) and I reached my goal after losing an average of 2 pounds per week. I have a very low resting energy expenditure rate--about 6.8 calories per pound per day, which isn't much. Most normal people are between 10 and 12. So, I was somewhat shocked when the bariatric doctor suggested that I might benefit from a lap band. I was shocked because I thought you needed to be about 100 pounds overweight, and I am not. She told that Dr. Waltrup in Roseville, ca, was doing an informal study on the benefits of a lap band on relatively low BMI yoyo dieters, like me. I know that my insurance will not pay because of my BMI, so I am researching Mexico. A friend recommended Dr. Ramos Kelly, but I keep reading about Dr Ortiz on this thread. It just seems extreme for someone with a 30 BMI, but my yoyoing is just sucking the life out of me and I need something that will work. I am anxious to hear about everyone's experences. Deborah.

I am new to this forum. I am 57 years old and have been yoyo dieting since the age of 10. Over the last 10 years, I have lost and gained 40 to 70 pounds at least five times. My life is either dieting or gaining weight and I'm totally discouraged and ashamed. There is nothing legal that I haven't tried. My last weight loss experience was a very low calorie medically supervised diet (I've done that at least four times). I lost 2 pounds per week while others lost 3 to 5. I had a resting energy expenditure test to see how many calories a day my body needs for basic function. Most "normies" use 10 or 11 calories a day per pound, so a 140 pound woman needs 1400 calories a day to exist, using a figure of 10. My REE is 6.8, so, basically I'm screwed, even with regular exercise (I am a Crossfitter and the oldest one in my class by 25 years). The doctor at the obesity clinic suggested that I consider a lap band. She told me that Dr. Waltrup at SALSA in Roseville, CA, was doing an informal study on people like me---life long yoyos with a lower than normally required BMI (mine is probably 30 now). I was shocked that I could be a candidate for a lap band since my BMI wasn't that high. So, after losing and gaining 40 pounds in a year, I'm starting to think that perhaps I am a candidate. Since insurance won't pay for me, and I can't afford 20k, I have been looking into Tijuana. A friend had surgery performed there by Dr. Ramos Kelly, and was very satisfied, but I haven't seen anything about Dr. Ramos Kelly on these boards. I do see a lot about Dr. Ortiz however, so I thought I'd contact his clinic as well. So, is there anybody like me out there who has been banded? How's it been???? Again I am a chronic YOYO dieter with a BMI of about 30 (give me time, and I can get it higher...) Thanks Deborah

Has anyone used DR. Ramos-Kelly in TJ???

Has anyone here had experiece with Dr. Ramos Kelly in TJ??? thanks