HatheryOnHerWay

We stayed at the Days Inn in New Iberia. It was by no means fancy, but it was adequate. My husband was able to eat continental Breakfast there in the morning and the staff were pleasant. Our room was clean and sufficient. I was very comfortable there, and would recommend it. Especially if you want to keep your travel expenses low!

Hey! So I haven't posted in a while (just rockin' my sleeve and enjoying life!), but I'm still working on my webpage which lists the self-pay prices for bariatric surgeons performing VSG. I want to help others to find a surgeon they can afford, if they're unlucky with insurance like I am! My website specializes in surgeons in the United States, since many folks are uncomfortable going abroad for surgery.

If you paid out of pocket for your surgery or are thinking about it, please PM me with the name of your surgeon (or the one you're considering) and the self-pay price. I want to collect as many self-pay prices as I can to make the website comprehensive and useful for potential sleevers all over the country.

Your help is very appreciated, and I'm sure will be appreciated by others trying to find the right surgeon!

I have told a very select few people. I am an impatient person, and I just cant stand the thought of having to explain the surgery and how it works to 8 million people every day.

I was a 44F at 289, and now I'm a 38D. I'm very pleased that mine have stuck around as much as they have

Supposedly the part of the stomach they leave isn't stretchy. I think it gets a little bigger with time, but I don't think it's easy to stretch it out.

18 pounds is pretty awesome, dear. If you hadn't had the surgery, would you have lost 18 pounds?

Right now I'm just pleased that regular XL's fit over my big ol' chest! haha

You can check out my blog if you feel so inclined. I've compiled prices for some of the more affordable docs in the US. I personally used Dr. Borland ($9800) in Louisiana and couldn't be more pleased with the experience. My blog is selfpaysleeve.blogspot.com if you wanna check it out.

I have a blog where I've collected some of the more affordable self-pay prices from various surgeons. It's selfpaysleeve.blogspot.com . It's divided into states, so you can see if there is an affordable surgeon close to you. Hope it helps

The hospital costs are what can really add up. My surgery was $9800 because it was done outpatient.

What's the biggest danger, if youre body is not making you hurl it up? Is it that you'll stretch the sleeve? Or that food will pass to quickly to digest?

I have this same fear since I eat way too fast too.

For me, if I eat too fast then I feel sick because I overeat before my brain tells me I'm full. Sometimes it DOES make me throw up

Hooray for dumping syndrome!

Yep I'm still a fast eater... I just get started and I'm finished. I'm 10 months out so the learning train has left me behind.

Glad to know I'm not the only one!

One main difference is that some of the cheaper ones use a "clinic" instead of a hospital and you do most of your recovery in a hotel. I went to one of the more "expensive" doctors, and I think I definitely paid for his experience, but even more so for three days in the hospital for recovery. For me it made all the difference. It was a very modern, clean hospital and I felt like I was in very good hands. That's my story, and that's why I paid more.

Exactly. My surgeon in the US does his surgeries outpatient to keep the self-pay price low. The hospital cost really adds up fast!

I had Dr. Borland in Louisiana and he was great! Here's my review: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/89160-dr-borland-new-iberia-la/

Also in my signature is a link to my blog where I list a bunch of surgeons in the US and their self-pay prices.

What are most people's symptoms after eating too much or the wrong foods? If I am too hungry and start eating I will not realize I am full until it is too late - I have had sweats and feel super uncomfortable etc nauseated - will later end up with diarrhea? I don't throw up but wish I could - what do other experience ? Is this normal

I get the same things. I need to learn to slow down!!

This will probably change some day, but at 4 months out I really hate eating. I get hungry like I used to and then sit down to eat, and within a few bites I feel gross and barfy. I need to learn how to a.) slow down and b.) chew my food. You'd think I would have figured this out by now, but nope! Apparently I am a very slow learner.

I wish I were afraid of bread...unfortunately it goes down VERY easy for me.

As I was sitting in my chair at work today, I noticed something felt weird about my tummy. It just didn't feel right when I sat. Then I realized it's because my tummy now curves INWARD when I sit, and no longer pooches over my thighs in a lovely half moon. haha

I don't believe this story is real. Gawker.com is like The Onion.com and produces a lot of satirical news reports.

Not to be argumentative, but Gawker is not a satire site.

It almost sounds to me like he's angry that he'll have to make changes, so he wants the rest of the family to "suffer" too. I know I've felt that way many times in the past. Eating my salad and glaring at my husband while he mows down on French fries without gaining a pound...

We all go through a wide range of emotions with our weight issues: anger, depression, etc. I think it's so important to understand these feelings so they don't get the best of you post-surgery.

I often wonder if restaurants are serving ostrich eggs or something, because last I checked two scrambled eggs shouldn't take up half a dinner plate

If it weren't for flattering selfies, there would be no pics of me in existence for the last 10 years!!

No worries! I heard nothing but crickets for my first 60-65.

I figure people have seen me gain and lose so many times already, they probably figure they're wasting their breath

Ok' date=' today was my worst: my former boss said "How's the dieting going?"

Me: "Well - I've lost 50 lbs"

Him: "Fifteen?"

Me: "No, FIFTY"

Him: (glances at me incredulously) "Really? Fifty?"

YES, A-HOLE, FIFTY!!!![/quote']

I'm at 55 pounds and not a soul has said a single word!