Hello All.

Im a newbie here but I have been reading you all's post for about 3 weeks. Basically, each of you have inspired me to have the sleeve.

TO tell you a little about me--im 26 year old female in the houston area

and a full time nurse. I have battled with my weight ALL of my life.

I remember being in the 5th grade being weighed in front of my classmates

feeling soo embarrassed when the scaled tipped at 150 lbs. My highest weight was 320 lbs, in which I then became fed up and decided to "do" something about it. A friend of mine asked me to be in her wedding and I thought, there is NO way im walking down this aisle like this. Well a year and half later I became under 200 lbs. :001_tt2: I felt great and for once my confidence returned. I have maintained "fairly" but have gained 15-18 lbs back and I am just absolutely CRUSHED. I am over 200 lbs again and I just cannot believe it. Ive had a personal trainer and for the most part, I follow a relatively "fair" diet. But with working as a full time nurse, im currently in graduate school and I am planning a wedding. I think things have just caught up with me once again.

However, I REFUSE to continue this vicious cycle. I have the healthy eating pattern down but my body doesnt want to loose anymore. My lab work is okay, no thyroid problems but I have a VERY obese family--(most women in my family are greater than 300lbs). When I spoke with the psychologist for insurance purposes (when I was considering the band) she told me that genetics play a MAJOR factor with weight.

SO I met this very skilled physician in Houston that was very patient and has good stats and reviews. He told me all about the sleeve and I became curious. I begin reading on this site and I knew this is what I need to do.

To make a LONG story short, I set my sleeve date for Sept. 15, 2009.

Its so far away because....I am a nurse with a very, erradic work schedule so I had to wait until I could take 2 weeks off.

Thanks for reading my story, you all have been so encouraging.

Any advice I am interested in finding out.

I'm a FT RN also and you've made a great decision. You'll learn a lot from the members here so keep on posting and ask whatever questions you have.

Hello All.

Im a newbie here but I have been reading you all's post for about 3 weeks. Basically, each of you have inspired me to have the sleeve.

TO tell you a little about me--im 26 year old female in the houston area

and a full time nurse. I have battled with my weight ALL of my life.

I remember being in the 5th grade being weighed in front of my classmates

feeling soo embarrassed when the scaled tipped at 150 lbs. My highest weight was 320 lbs, in which I then became fed up and decided to "do" something about it. A friend of mine asked me to be in her wedding and I thought, there is NO way im walking down this aisle like this. Well a year and half later I became under 200 lbs. :thumbup: I felt great and for once my confidence returned. I have maintained "fairly" but have gained 15-18 lbs back and I am just absolutely CRUSHED. I am over 200 lbs again and I just cannot believe it. Ive had a personal trainer and for the most part, I follow a relatively "fair" diet. But with working as a full time nurse, im currently in graduate school and I am planning a wedding. I think things have just caught up with me once again.

However, I REFUSE to continue this vicious cycle. I have the healthy eating pattern down but my body doesnt want to loose anymore. My lab work is okay, no thyroid problems but I have a VERY obese family--(most women in my family are greater than 300lbs). When I spoke with the psychologist for insurance purposes (when I was considering the band) she told me that genetics play a MAJOR factor with weight.

SO I met this very skilled physician in Houston that was very patient and has good stats and reviews. He told me all about the sleeve and I became curious. I begin reading on this site and I knew this is what I need to do.

To make a LONG story short, I set my sleeve date for Sept. 15, 2009.

Its so far away because....I am a nurse with a very, erradic work schedule so I had to wait until I could take 2 weeks off.

Thanks for reading my story, you all have been so encouraging.

Any advice I am interested in finding out.

My best advice to you is to keep that date! A sleeve is a fantastic thing, you get your life back, you get your sanity back, you get your self esteem back, you get it all!

This is the best thing you can do for yourself. Congrats! And welcome to our forum! We grow on you, honest. ;o)

Hi Shanda,

I had my sleeve on 24/03/2009 and it was the best thing I ever done. I always struggled with my weight even though my family are not over weight. I tried numerous diets and the weight kept coming back with a bit more..... If you have got any questions I'll be more than happy to answer them if i can.

Take care.

Rukhshandah

Hello All.

Im a newbie here but I have been reading you all's post for about 3 weeks. Basically, each of you have inspired me to have the sleeve.

TO tell you a little about me--im 26 year old female in the houston area

I am a newbie myself living in the Houston area! Everyone here has inspired me to have the sleeve as well. I just turned 27 3 weeks ago:) I am going to be in a wedding in September and of course I am FREAKED out about looking like a cow in a nice dress!

Sound's like we've got a lot in common! :001_tt2:

Who are you going through for your procedure?

I am a newbie myself living in the Houston area! Everyone here has inspired me to have the sleeve as well. I just turned 27 3 weeks ago:) I am going to be in a wedding in September and of course I am FREAKED out about looking like a cow in a nice dress!

Sound's like we've got a lot in common! :thumbup1:

Who are you going through for your procedure

Hey, its so cool to have a fellow Houstonian on here. I have met with Dr. Garth Davis from the TV show BIG Medicine and I have met with Dr. Alanis. I really LOVE both of them. Dr. Davis is VERY famous and he seems to be very down to earth. The only downfall is that when I went to his office, his staff was very short with me. My appt was at 3 pm--I wasn't seen until 6pm. That was a major turn off but that is not his fault. He was very nice but his staff was very "stand off ish". Anyway, Dr. Alanis spent 45 minutes talking to me about the sleeve vs the band. He told me what to expect, reasons if any that he would not perform the surgery, etc. I also met some of his patients while I was waiting. Several of the patients had the sleeve and they WERE so happy with their decision and his professionalism and his skill level. He does a few sleeves a week.

I went ahead and booked with Dr. Alanis---September 15, 2009. I have prayed about this. I visited the facility that I will be having the surgery and its at a bariatric center of excellence.:wink1: So with me being a nurse,I know that not just any old place can get that title. I also met with a few others, which will remain nameless (if you want the names I can email it to you) but they were so PRO band and CON sleeve, I was turned off. Instead of them telling me the difference, they were like "We dont do many sleeves and why dont you want the band?" I was starting to think they had stock with the LAP band. LOL...I was thinking what happened to that PATIENT IS ALWAYS RIGHT mentality!

Which doctors have you met with?

Maybe we can help each other along in this journey! It would be cool. Since we are neighbors.

I am a newbie myself living in the Houston area! Everyone here has inspired me to have the sleeve as well. I just turned 27 3 weeks ago:) I am going to be in a wedding in September and of course I am FREAKED out about looking like a cow in a nice dress!

Sound's like we've got a lot in common! :thumbup1:

Who are you going through for your procedure?

My other post is directed to you, I am still figuring out how to work this thing. Thanks:thumbup1:

Hi Shanda,

I had my sleeve on 24/03/2009 and it was the best thing I ever done. I always struggled with my weight even though my family are not over weight. I tried numerous diets and the weight kept coming back with a bit more..... If you have got any questions I'll be more than happy to answer them if i can.

Take care.

Rukhshandah

Thank You so much for responding. I guess I would like to know about postoperative pain, nausea, vomiting after the procedure. Any complications?

My other post is directed to you, I am still figuring out how to work this thing. Thanks:thumbup1:

I'm scheduled for Dr. Alanis' seminar for this Saturday! HA! I have also called Dr. Davis as well, they wont tell me what their cash price is over the phone but want me to come over for a seminar first. That's a turn off. I scheduled for a seminar July 1st but probably won't go. I've also spoke with Dr. Nowazardan as well. He sounds real nice, I am pretty much narrowing it down at this point but Alanis is in the top running at this point. Please PM who you've seen

!

Hi,I hope im doing this right, I spoke with lapband of houston (i dont know how is all on this team) but they were sooooo against the sleeve. I believe they have *special interest in the lapband!

My best advice to you is to keep that date! A sleeve is a fantastic thing, you get your life back, you get your sanity back, you get your self esteem back, you get it all!

This is the best thing you can do for yourself. Congrats! And welcome to our forum! We grow on you, honest. ;o)

Thanks for the encouragement.

I'm scheduled for Dr. Alanis' seminar for this Saturday! HA! I have also called Dr. Davis as well, they wont tell me what their cash price is over the phone but want me to come over for a seminar first. That's a turn off. I scheduled for a seminar July 1st but probably won't go. I've also spoke with Dr. Nowazardan as well. He sounds real nice, I am pretty much narrowing it down at this point but Alanis is in the top running at this point. Please PM who you've seen

!

Hello,

I sent you a PM, not sure if you got it. (Still trying to work this site out).

Anyway, Dr. Alanis' price is 11,5K and Dr. Davis is around 18K. Dr. Alanis goes to either University General or Surgical Specialty Hospital (I think that is the entire name) and that is a bariatric center of excellence. Both are but Univ. General is VERY expensive & will drive your cost up. Univ. General has private cooks, large suites and is very prestigious (Dr. Davis is part owner of this hospital).

they wont tell me what their cash price is over the phone but want me to come over for a seminar first.

Ugh, I hate that. There is a very good surgeon here who's coordinator would not answer any questions in my email but wanted me to call and also come to a seminar. Lady, I sent the email so I wouldn't have to waste 2 hours at a seminar of a doctor I had no intension of using once I knew the answers to my questions!! :thumbup:

Hello,

I sent you a PM, not sure if you got it. (Still trying to work this site out).

Anyway, Dr. Alanis' price is 11,5K and Dr. Davis is around 18K. Dr. Alanis goes to either University General or Surgical Specialty Hospital (I think that is the entire name) and that is a bariatric center of excellence. Both are but Univ. General is VERY expensive & will drive your cost up. Univ. General has private cooks, large suites and is very prestigious (Dr. Davis is part owner of this hospital).

Do you know how many nights in the hospital? How many (and which) leak tests? What his stats are? Do these prices include complications? I'm trying to gather more TX info. ;o)

For Alanis:

Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Audencio Alanis, M.D.

I see that he's done a lot of bands and bypass but how many sleeves?

Dr. Davis (Garth?)

Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Garth Davis M.D.

Lots of bypass experience, >150 bands and 5 sleeves.

Do you have more details on these doctors?

Ugh, I hate that. There is a very good surgeon here who's coordinator would not answer any questions in my email but wanted me to call and also come to a seminar. Lady, I sent the email so I wouldn't have to waste 2 hours at a seminar of a doctor I had no intension of using once I knew the answers to my questions!! :thumbup:

I HEAR YA!

And another hour just to drive there!

Well I pushed him to the back of my list... the surgeon I picked had a coordinator who answered EVERY SINGLE QUESTION in my email. And there were a TON of them. I printed out my questions and her answers for my notebook and it was 3 pages worth! So I met him, liked him and went with him and that other guy lost out.