Hello Everyone!

Thank you for making this great board where one can gain so much insight into the lives of others going through what each of us is going through. Happily, one of the best uses of internet technology.

I am a 34 yr old psychotherapist living in SF. I am married and have a 5 yr old daughter who is the center of our lives. Our family is everything to us. We are most content when we are just with one another. Close second to my family is my work which I love and am whole heartedly dedicated to. All these aspects of my life are great, however, I have been experiencing depressed mood, anxiety, fear, and self image problems that casue me a great deal of distress.

I am one of those cases where weight was never an issue ( between 127-130 at 5'5) all my life before pregnancy. Was a terrible pregnancy and I gained 60 lbs that has somehow redistributed but never gone away. I lose some for a bit here and there but cant seem to keep it off. Doesnt help that all the activities I enjoyed for exercise feel impossible at this weight like mtn biking and rock climbing, jogging. I know they arent impossible, it just feels like it because I am not used to the weight. So now finally 5 yrs later have decided on "taking measures" :-). Have found this board and a couple others very helpful.

I have always used ayuervedic medicine principles and though I have had this persistent problem with weight,for all other health issues our family has been very healthy with them.

Any people willing to share their natural preparations and healing journeys I would greatly appreciate. If anyone has suggestions on dairy and gluten free Protein drinks that are low sugar please let me know as well. We tend to abstain from dairy, sugar and wheat gluten when it comes to healing any type of sickness or injury we have. Also, flax oil or ground flax for Omega 3's, pineapple ( dont usually do juice but maybe pureed , or even clear juice the first couple days? and the lemon, honey, cayenne drink. Anyone having success in using these pre and post op?

Thank you!

BTW, I am looking at surgeons so any advice would be helpful. I know there are a few beloved docs on the board and that speaks well but any other ideas would be great too. I am in northern Cali so I prefer to stay fairly close to the cali border. Also, money is not a primary issue ( well of course it always is but what I mean is, I am expecting to pay $11 for this so anywhere under there is wonderful but I wouldnt take a risk I thought unsafe to get below that). I know there must be whole dr threads, just cant seem to find the right ones. Thanks for the opportunity to be here!

Edited November 4, 200916 yr by joon
too long! :-) posted a portion more relevant somewhere else.

Thank you DeeDee! Thats a good idea.

Oh, Also, No surgeon in the US will operate on me at BMI 31.6 I dont feel worried about having surgery with Dr. Aceves in Mexico though. My family is from India and I know that is a country where many people would think the care is terrible. There definitely is terrible care there, but there is also excellent care there. I dont think one can discount a whole country.

I had read their published research results (which included complication rates.) Jossart & Cirangle have VSG complication rates at the lower end of those published in the medical journals. You will not find anyone better or more experienced to do your surgery anywhere in the world.

Mexican surgeons never have any complications. This is because they have a culture of telling people what they want to hear No respectable medical journal would believe a doctor who said he never had any complications. Why should anyone else?

I traveled to San Francisco to have my surgery because of Dr. Jossart's reputation and experience. My total cost for the surgery and 1 year follow-up care from the doctor and dietician was $17,300. This is not as cheap as surgery in Mexico, but what kind of follow-up care are you going to get from Mexico?

Money doesn't grow on trees. But...this is irreversible and major surgery.

Dr Aceves states he has had no leaks and no deaths. His care and attention was better than any I have ever received in the United States in my 50 years and 16 various surgeries. I am not expecting to need much face to face follow-up care but I have the same commitment from Dr. Aceves for a year at only $9000. I have already had two contacts from his office and have only been home for a week. I had better customer service from his coordinator than I have from any of my specialists' offices combined.

There are excellent surgeons in the world who are not Americans and there are doctors and hospitals in the US that I would not trust with my health as well.