I am having the hardest time with my family supporting me. They are telling me that everyone that I "meet" on the internet is paid by the doctor's office to "lure" patients to Mexico and that you guys are not real.

I am feeling so low right now because my mother and her Psychologist friend have just come to my apartment for an "intervention". They are telling me that since they've known me for my entire life that I don't have the will power to stick to eating 3 TBSP of food at a time. They're telling me that I'm going to "BUST" my pouch and die and that the bad decisions I make are going to effect their lives forever. My mom even told me that she doesn't want to be a mother again (to my daughter, who's 8), she just wants to be a granddaughter.

I am full of tears and hoping someone here can offer me some comfort or reassurance that me going to a "THIRD WORLD" country with poor sanitation is the right choice for me.

I'm 5'2, 278 lbs and been overweight since I was 8. I also have co-morbidities. My surgery is scheduled next week.

Please help.

I just left Mexicalli yesterday after having the surgery on Friday. The dr. and his staff treated me better than I have ever been treated here in the US. I recommend them 100%!

I am so glad you are doing good. I am getting so excited to get there. Monday will be here before I know it. So how is your pain?? How was the trip back home?? Hope your next couple of weeks go smooth for ya!!

Kathy

Thanks! The pain is gone, only had some on the second day. The plane trip turned out not to be bad at all. You are going to do great!

Hey Dalisgirl,

you are very brave to tell your family. It's the one obsticle I couldn't overcome. Thankfully they live in another state and don't have to know. They would have done the very same thing your mother did.... and then made me feel guilty for putting them to the trouble. It comes from love and concern.... but we're grown ups, right. Hang in there.... we know what we're doing.

Stacey

Awww...Thanks Vegas Angel. (If I Knew how to insert a smiley face, I would put that here.)

I know he doesn't cut you open. (I guess I did say that in poor taste. Sorry! I have a sense of humor that doesn't come across well in writing.) Yes, laparascopically. I've had my gall bladder out laparascopically. I don't remember the pain being that bad but I sure was nauseous and heaving over the side of the bed. I think they only kept me in the hospital 18 hours! I'll have to probably ask for that nausea medicine. I had a c-section and I was sore for a while and had severe swelling of the legs and feet but don't remember needing lots of pain meds. Also had my tonsils out and that was the worst pain for two weeks straight with no easing up! Finished all the pain meds and asked for more! I've never done that before. So, I am prepared for the pains/nuances of surgery.

Vegas, I want to know how long did you have to have those warm liquids? I handle foods fine, now. I still have some spasming if I drink something really cold and don't remember to sip it -- I sure do miss gulping down a bottle of water!!! Also, keep in mind I was in the 1% that have problems from a hiatal hernia repair, so chances are if you have a repair, you won't have the problems I had. I read some old posts about you having some spasms where the hernia was repaired? How are you handling foods now? Did you go to Mexicali with Bearded Italian or alone? Bearded made the trip with me for my surgery and one month later when he decided to have the surgery as well, I made the trip with him. We drove both times, so it was nice to have the company.

I've seen some posts about catheters. Will this be removed BEFORE I wake up from surgery or AFTER?

Dr. Aceves does not use a catheter so no worries!!

Thanks!

Thanks!

They are very good about giving you medication if you feel sick - I had one episode and that was all thank goodness. Bearded was sick most of the time - they gave him medication as needed. Also, if you have pain, they will give you something for that - and if you have trouble sleeping, you can get something for that as well. Just don't hesitate to ask for what you need - they are not mind readers. My pain was the worst the 2nd day and after that, recovery was easy. The only incision that hurt was the one where the drain bag was - it was tender for about a week or so; but nothing unbearable at all. I am sure a C-section is so much worse than this surgery/recovery.

Thanks for the info Ms VegasAngel! I am so nervous, excited, anxious, I can't sleep. Bad insomnia now. Also this Atkins pre-op diet is killing me! LOL.

Hey Dalisgirl...I just need to get this out.....My sister got the RNY last June and let me tell ya girl, we (the family including myself) gave her the hardest time about it...We were not only ignorant about WLS but we were jealous that she empowered herself to make a significant change in her life; changes that we didn't have the guts at the time to make....She is a strong willed young woman who went through with the surgery after telling us that she changed her mind so we would back off....It brings tears to my eyes to know that my youngest sister was all alone having surgery simply because we made the choice to not support her...

It's four girls in our family (all overweight, except for the one who had WLS) and we are all very close and very supportive of one another...we are all look back on our actions with shame...We are all educated people, ironically mostly in social sciences and didn't bother to do the research...saying all that to say that eventually your family will come around and will respect you for following the courage of your covictions.

My sister looks fabulous (almost two years out)....she has been my main source of support since I decided to have WLS...I thank her often for paving the way for me...we also have another sister who has begun her journey to WLS...the last one is still riding the diet rollercoaster but doing research on WLS as well...

I wanted to share this with you because a revolution usually starts with one couragous person...in my family it was my little sister, in your family its you!!!

Be encouraged and know that your family loves you....Right now its all about you and doing what you know you need to do for yourself....I am not one of Dr. Aceves patients, I am having my surgery in Louisiana, but I hear nothing but good things about him on and off this forum...Good luck to you and God Bless.

Hey it's the 8th, Dalisgirl was scheduled for surgery yesterday. Let's hope she went through with it and all is great for her.

Thx for updating me....I am praying for her.

Oh yea... it's the 8th YOU GO DAISYGIRL.

Give us an update when your feeling up to it

stacey

Dallagirl,

Honey if you know this procedure feels right for you and yoru baby then girl go and make it happen. I know it hurts you that your mom has reacted like this but she is probably scared. She will eventually come around after your surgery because after all she is your mom. Alot of people act a it wacky when fear is knocking on their door. Believe me I have been to war three times. I can tell you are ready to change your life, the way you feel about yourself and make a better life for you and your daughter. When you get on that plane think about that okay. God speed to you and girl you can do this!

"you know most people gain all their weight back plus some" "why take the dangerous road...just eat right and exercise" "if you've never lost more than 20 lbs on a diet, then YOU are the reason why...not the diet...what makes you think you can stick to this?"

This is just dead wrong.

They are right about one aspect: most people who lose weight with diet and exercise alone gain it back, and more. But the whole point of weight loss surgery is durable weight loss.

It is MORE of a "dangerous road" to just eat right and exercise, because the odds are 95% that you'll fail with that route, and the dangers of obesity are FAR greater than the dangers of the lap sleeve (when performed by a competent surgeon, and with patient compliance).

The reason you'll be able to "stick with" this is that the sleeve is specifically designed to limit the amount you can eat at one sitting, and to limit your hunger. Thus, it is a tool designed to augment your "willpower."

I think you should realize that your family is afraid for you; be touched by their concern, but still be aware that you are making the right choice.

Everyone, thank you for your support! The Earthquake was on Easter Sunday. I was supposed to fly out at the crack of dawn on Tuesday morning. I was at my mom's house on Sunday and she told me I would be a fool if I flew to Mexico in the midst of aftershocks. She told me that her government job had just sent warnings out about Americans being killed in Mexico and she didn't think it was safe. She even went as far as to say that they might take out my kidney and sell it. I had her talk on the phone to a patient of Dr. Aceves and the next day, her answer was still NO. To boot, she told me that she planned on keeping $2000 because she needed it. I thought she was going to let me have that money to help finance my surgery. She makes GOOD money and lives alone. I was laid off last month and am a single mom. My husband died in 2007.

At the last minute the pressure was on and I had to decide to go or stay. I am ashamed to admit it but I didn't go. I'm already regretting it. This is the second time I cancelled my surgery. I am so bummed out and disappointed. I even wrote a post advising someone else to forget about what their family says and get the surgery. I got scared because I didn't have my mom's support and I started worrying about how will I survive without the $2k that I thought I was going to get.

I know I want the sleeve over any other surgery. I guess I will just have to wait and get it. Meanwhile, my life is absolutely miserable. I avoid mirrors. My daughter is embarrassed of me. I have no friends and am becoming a recluse. I look and feel WORSE than I did when I was 9 months pregnant. This is not the life I want to live. I'm just praying for a miracle to come through so that I can pursue my goal of having surgery.

If anyone is reading this, I hope you have the power within to follow your dreams and not live a life of regret like myself. I hope to reschedule with Dr. Aceves in about a year and hopefully my finances will be better.

To all of those who have supportive family and friends you are truly blessed. You should thank them. For all of you have parents willing to help you with your financing, you are also blessed. I too am blessed for having a forum like this in which to express myself and being able to walk.

Thanks for reading.

Oh Dalisgirl

I'm so sorry to hear that you did not go, I really do not know what to say, except I'm sorry. I wish there was some way that your mother would come around to the fact that this really is the best thing for you. I don't know waht else you can do to get it through to her. Good luck, and keep us posted, we care!!

I am sorry as well....I am praying for you, that God would make financial provisions for you and for him to empower you to do what you need to do for yourself and your future....hopefully, it takes less than a year for all these things to fall into place for you...live for yourself!!!!

Hi, I was just turned onto this site today during my trip to Mexicali for my procedure tomorrow. I am not fake nor are my two other sisters who have had the procedure.

Anyhow, you know what you need to do and be strong. Sorry to hear you do not have your family backing you.

Good Luck!