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Guest Stephanie

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Guest Stephanie

Hello all! My name is Stephanie and Im 30 and live in Arizona. I have just made the decision to get sleeved. I am looking for a Dr. in Arizona. I am not against Mexico, but my father, who is helping me with the costs, insist I stay in the US. I am willing to go out of state if I cannot find a qualified Dr. here in AZ.

Im having the surgery for many reasons. I have a tumor on my pituitary gland that has caused severe hormone problems that have led to weight gain. Some weight due to hormones and some due to eating my problems away. I also have PCOS and at this time an unable to conceive. I am considered pre diabetic. This scares the heck out of me since my dad has type 1 diabetes, heart disease and is on oxygen. I dont want this to be me.

My husband and I want to have a family, and we want to be a healthy family. I have tried diet and excercise, but not with true results. Im hoping this is the tool that can allow me to save my life!

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welcome to the board hunny! i sure someone from your neck of the winds will chim in soon, you will not regret the sleeve that for sure! ((hug))

xoxo,

nikki

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welcome to the boards!!

And congratulations on your decision for the sleeve!! It sure did save and improve my life!!!

Your very fortunate to have someone help you with the cost..... good Luck to you!!

I believe there are several here from AZ.... so hopefully they will be along to share their info with you.

If I can help answer any questions... I'd be more than happy to!!

Good Luck on your journey!! It's fantastic!!

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Hi, welcome to VST. I was sleeved in Mex. The Mex Dr.s you will hear about on this forum have done Hundreds of this surgery. Here in the U S not so much. and the Dr.s I interviewed with wanted me to do the band first. (No way)

I have seen a lot of posts on here for Dr. in San Francisco, CA, Ohio, and also Texas. I have not seen any for AZ.

I think there is a forum on how to choose a sleeve Dr.

Good luck with your research. You are on a great journey. Much sucess to you.

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Hello Stephanie and welcome! I too have PCOS and my mother, grandmother (on both sides) have diabetes and it's pretty bad...these all played a part in why I decided to have surgery. I wish you luck on your search for a surgeon. I had mine done in Virginia so cannot be much help there, but you may want to look to California or Texas (both have experienced surgeons I've heard about) if you have trouble finding one in your state. Keep posting your questions, we're all here for you.

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Hi Stephanie!

Welcome to the site! Although I am fairly new on here as well, I've found it to be so helpful. I don't post much, but I sure do read A LOT!!! I have PCOS as well and diabetes in the family, so my reasons for surgery were not far off of yours... also we're the same weight, so I look forward to following your journey as well!

My surgery is next Monday & I am going through every emotion possible, but I will keep you posted on how it all plays out. Wish you the best in finding a surgeon, that was the longest part of my research but I'm glad I took the time!

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Hello all! My name is Stephanie and Im 30 and live in Arizona. I have just made the decision to get sleeved. I am looking for a Dr. in Arizona. I am not against Mexico, but my father, who is helping me with the costs, insist I stay in the US. I am willing to go out of state if I cannot find a qualified Dr. here in AZ.

Im having the surgery for many reasons. I have a tumor on my pituitary gland that has caused severe hormone problems that have led to weight gain. Some weight due to hormones and some due to eating my problems away. I also have PCOS and at this time an unable to conceive. I am considered pre diabetic. This scares the heck out of me since my dad has type 1 diabetes, heart disease and is on oxygen. I dont want this to be me.

My husband and I want to have a family, and we want to be a healthy family. I have tried diet and excercise, but not with true results. Im hoping this is the tool that can allow me to save my life!

Hi Stephanie,

I live in Wisconsin and am traveling to Texas. Two reasons, I am FROM Texas, and the cost of sleeve surgery there is much less. I researched many doctors in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio and decided on Dr. James Davidson in Dallas. Weight Loss Surgery Dallas Gastric Bypass Sleeve Gastrectomy LAP-BAND? Adjustable Gastric Band Home Page Several reasons, his clinic is a 'Center of Excellence' which my Wisconsin family doctor told me to look for, and also, "D Magazine" - a monthly magazine in Dallas has a yearly issue devoted to top doctors in the Dallas area in different areas of practice. Dr. Davidson has been named a 'Top Doctor' for seventeen years in a row. He is the Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. All this tells me that he's probably a pretty good physician. I am going in April for the seminar and since I am out of state, they're letting me do my pre-op appointment at that time. I'm penciled in for surgery June 11th!! I'll fly in early so I can get my bloodwork and anything else that needs to be done taken care of. They've been easy to work with. I've talked to a guy named Trevor...he's been able to answer every question and has been so patient when I call back! Plus, the price is reasonable, it's over twice as much in WI. Good luck, I hope this helps you some!!

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Hi Stephanie! Welcome to VST and congrats on your decision to go with the sleeve. Look forward to hearing more from you. :thumbup:

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Welcome. There is a wealth of information here and some wonderful people providing it. You are so lucky to have your dad 's support. My dad isn't financially helping out, but he is emotionally right there iwth me. It makes a huge difference, doesn't it?

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Hi Stephanie,

Welcome. I too, have PCOS.. amazing how many of us sleevers have it! I went on birth control for 6mths to get me to ovulate and be regular and was able to conceive my second child shortly after I stopped. There is hope... good luck with your journey and there are a growing number of doctors in the States that do the sleeve for about the same amount as going out of State. You will find one I'm certain and please keep us all posted with your progress!

:crying:

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Welcome to the forum, you'll love us. . we are really neat! Lots of info and friendships galore! Good luck on your journey. . .i stayed in state to and have absolutely NO regrets

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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