help....

[percy37 0]

Hi There,

Just new to this forum and I am thinking of having the surgery with

Dr Pompa in Mexico in December. I was convinced that I wanted to do this as I am tired of

being overweight. I am currently 250lbs and I felt wonder ful at my lowest weight which was 185lbs.

My family is dead set against me doing this surgery and they feel

that if I just eat healthier and exercise more I will lose the weight on my own ( I have been this weight for 10 years, going up and down and

back up.... ) I just received a lengthy email from my sister telling me she had spoke to a nurse sho said she has seen horror stories from the surgeries, stomach's leaking, stomachs bursting etc.. which have cause life long problems for people and she gave me the whole if you just tried harder

at dieting you can loose the weight on your own.....

I really need some advise from people who have had this surgery to see if they have had any regrets and if they would do it again....

[SouthernSleever 236]

I'm only 2 weeks out and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'd have it with Dr Aceves again too, in MX.

[juliarh 35]

I'm with DJackson -- I would do it again in a heartbeat. I spent my entire adult life dieting, exercising, losing, regaining more, and starting the cycle again. The problem is not that you can't lose the weight (you can), but the chance of regain is unbearably high that it's like asking to be tortured over and over again.

This was my chance to be healthy as an adult and so that's what I did. I highly recommend it.

Yes, there are *slight* risks for complications (as with *every* surgery), but if you peruse the posts here, you will find only a couple of people who have had complications like the ones your sister described.

For me, the risk of complications was worth it -- otherwise, I *knew* I was facing a lifetime of health complications.

But, whatever you decide, know that we support your decision and are here to answer any questions!

[percy37 0]

I'm only 2 weeks out and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'd have it with Dr Aceves again too, in MX.

Thanks! I am going to meet with the facilitators for the surgery next week. I am paying for it so I guess it can

happen fairly quickly. Let me know how you are doing with your weight loss. Its nice to talk to someone who has had the surgery recently.

[percy37 0]

I'm with DJackson -- I would do it again in a heartbeat. I spent my entire adult life dieting, exercising, losing, regaining more, and starting the cycle again. The problem is not that you can't lose the weight (you can), but the chance of regain is unbearably high that it's like asking to be tortured over and over again.

This was my chance to be healthy as an adult and so that's what I did. I highly recommend it.

Yes, there are *slight* risks for complications (as with *every* surgery), but if you peruse the posts here, you will find only a couple of people who have had complications like the ones your sister described.

For me, the risk of complications was worth it -- otherwise, I *knew* I was facing a lifetime of health complications.

But, whatever you decide, know that we support your decision and are here to answer any questions!

[percy37 0]

I'm with DJackson -- I would do it again in a heartbeat. I spent my entire adult life dieting, exercising, losing, regaining more, and starting the cycle again. The problem is not that you can't lose the weight (you can), but the chance of regain is unbearably high that it's like asking to be tortured over and over again.

This was my chance to be healthy as an adult and so that's what I did. I highly recommend it.

Yes, there are *slight* risks for complications (as with *every* surgery), but if you peruse the posts here, you will find only a couple of people who have had complications like the ones your sister described.

For me, the risk of complications was worth it -- otherwise, I *knew* I was facing a lifetime of health complications.

But, whatever you decide, know that we support your decision and are here to answer any questions!

Thanks for responding. You are so right when you talk about the cycle starting all over again. I see you have lost 47 lbs already. Wow. My goal is to be 150lbs too... I have doubts I can get that low as I can't even imagine being in the 150's or 160's. Its not even the weight so much as the difference in how I would feel. Like so many others on this site, I avoid going on rides at disneyworld, going to the pool with my children... Its nice to know I have support out there. I have been reading this forum for a few weeks and finally decided to join in today. Thanks again!

[pumpkin07 32]

Where do you live? I would do it again, but am glad I did it in US w Center of Excellence bc if you have complications you will find a doctor in Mexico to be useless to you. I do know a few that have had leaks and if surgery was done here they were able to get through it easier. You can imagine doctors here are hesitant to get involved if a doctor outside of here did your surgery.

[emme2009 4]

Hi There,

Just new to this forum and I am thinking of having the surgery with

Dr Pompa in Mexico in December. I was convinced that I wanted to do this as I am tired of

being overweight. I am currently 250lbs and I felt wonder ful at my lowest weight which was 185lbs.

My family is dead set against me doing this surgery and they feel

that if I just eat healthier and exercise more I will lose the weight on my own ( I have been this weight for 10 years, going up and down and

back up.... ) I just received a lengthy email from my sister telling me she had spoke to a nurse sho said she has seen horror stories from the surgeries, stomach's leaking, stomachs bursting etc.. which have cause life long problems for people and she gave me the whole if you just tried harder

at dieting you can loose the weight on your own.....

I really need some advise from people who have had this surgery to see if they have had any regrets and if they would do it again....

I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I think my ticker speaks for itself...and as you can see, my starting weight was where you are right now. My initial goal weight was to get back to where I thought I'd be comfortable (175ish--just like you're thinking) but I've been able to reach a normal BMI. Awesome stuff.

My sister is getting sleeved in less than a month.

Yes, there are risks of complications but the risks associated with obesity and yo-yo dieting/weight loss and weight gain are pretty intense, too. Do all of your homework and have all of the facts so that your sister knows that you know what you are doing and that you are 100% knowledgeable with this procedure as well as the aftercare. You can also remind your sister that gastrectomies have been performed for decades for people with stomach cancer, etc.

The biggest regret you will hear from people on this board is that they didn't have the surgery sooner. I was 29 when I had mine and had struggled with obesity my whole life. I managed to lose a significant amount of weight and maintain the loss for a few years in my early/mid 20's but gained it back slowly, surely and with a vengeance. I kept trying *everything* else and spent tons of money on *everything* until at this time last year, I decided that I needed a more permanent fix to my problem. I couldn't keep doing the same things expecting different results or go on an expensive 'medically supervised diet' only to go off of it to save money and then gain weight back...I needed the restriction the sleeve has given me and it is a godsend. I also knew that I'd still be struggling in 1 year/5 years/10 years, etc. and wondering "what if" I did it sooner...?

I wish you all the luck that your family will come to support your decision but remember, ultimately, it is your decision and they will surely understand that you have researched that this is the best option for a longer, healthier life.

Do you live in Canada by any chance and might be working with Melanie/WLF?

[percy37 0]

Where do you live? I would do it again, but am glad I did it in US w Center of Excellence bc if you have complications you will find a doctor in Mexico to be useless to you. I do know a few that have had leaks and if surgery was done here they were able to get through it easier. You can imagine doctors here are hesitant to get involved if a doctor outside of here did your surgery.

Live in Saskatchewan, Canada. There aren't any doctors performing the sleeve surgery in this province. The facilitators who are arranging the surgery have sent about 80 people to this hospital and have had no problems so far. I will see what they say when I go to my meeting on Wed....

[emme2009 4]

Live in Saskatchewan, Canada. There aren't any doctors performing the sleeve surgery in this province. The facilitators who are arranging the surgery have sent about 80 people to this hospital and have had no problems so far. I will see what they say when I go to my meeting on Wed....

Your facilitators are a very awesome group---you are in excellent hands I didn't use them (I'm not from Canada) but I corresponded with Melanie a lot when I was pre-op and met her when I was in MX.

[percy37 0]

I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I think my ticker speaks for itself...and as you can see, my starting weight was where you are right now. My initial goal weight was to get back to where I thought I'd be comfortable (175ish--just like you're thinking) but I've been able to reach a normal BMI. Awesome stuff.

My sister is getting sleeved in less than a month.

Yes, there are risks of complications but the risks associated with obesity and yo-yo dieting/weight loss and weight gain are pretty intense, too. Do all of your homework and have all of the facts so that your sister knows that you know what you are doing and that you are 100% knowledgeable with this procedure as well as the aftercare. You can also remind your sister that gastrectomies have been performed for decades for people with stomach cancer, etc.

The biggest regret you will hear from people on this board is that they didn't have the surgery sooner. I was 29 when I had mine and had struggled with obesity my whole life. I managed to lose a significant amount of weight and maintain the loss for a few years in my early/mid 20's but gained it back slowly, surely and with a vengeance. I kept trying *everything* else and spent tons of money on *everything* until at this time last year, I decided that I needed a more permanent fix to my problem. I couldn't keep doing the same things expecting different results or go on an expensive 'medically supervised diet' only to go off of it to save money and then gain weight back...I needed the restriction the sleeve has given me and it is a godsend. I also knew that I'd still be struggling in 1 year/5 years/10 years, etc. and wondering "what if" I did it sooner...?

I wish you all the luck that your family will come to support your decision but remember, ultimately, it is your decision and they will surely understand that you have researched that this is the best option for a longer, healthier life.

Do you live in Canada by any chance and might be working with Melanie/WLF?

Yes and yes to both! LOL! How did you know? Are you from Sask too? Now I am going to have a million questions for you! LOL

[percy37 0]

Your facilitators are a very awesome group---you are in excellent hands I didn't use them (I'm not from Canada) but I corresponded with Melanie a lot when I was pre-op and met her when I was in MX.

Thats great to hear. That makes me feel better! She has done amazing with her sleeve as have you!

[emme2009 4]

Yes and yes to both! LOL! How did you know? Are you from Sask too? Now I am going to have a million questions for you! LOL

I knew that WLF sends their patients to that surgeon so I was just guessing Sorry, I am not from Canada---but I met Melanie when I was in MX in January and I know she is an amazing person and very knowledgeable. I actually just sent her an email to let her know that I reached a normal BMI...I feel like she was my little VSG angel as she used to post frequently on one of the other chat boards and helped me a lot pre-op.

[emme2009 4]

Thats great to hear. That makes me feel better! She has done amazing with her sleeve as have you!

She certainly has--and thank you....and you will, too

[percy37 0]

She certainly has--and thank you....and you will, too

So was Dr Pompa your surgeon as well? That is the other concern my family has is going

to Mexico for the surgery....