Hello all! My name is Charity. I'm 26, a pediatric nurse from Missouri, and scheduled for a VSG on 12/20 with Dr. Almanza in Tijuana, MX. I am a prior LapBand patient (banded 4/16/08 and emergently removed 10/1/10). I hated every day with my LB and didn't lose more than 20 lbs in the 2 years I had it. It was the worst choice of my life.

Now, I'm happy to say that I am on my way to a VSG! I hope I can find some people going the same time as I am because my boyfriend is most likely unable to go with me. I'm not nervous about the surgery (being a veteran of WLS and all!), but I am nervous about leaving the country. Other than the Bahamas on vacation, I've never left the US!

I work in a school setting, so although I want the VSG sooner, I don't want to take much time off of work. I have from Dec. 20-Jan. 4 off, so I will only have to take 2 days off of work! The wait for the surgery will be killer though. The good news? Hopefully I'll be able to save up enough money that I don't have to finance anything.

Good to "meet" you all!

Nice to meet you, Charity! I am in Missouri, too . . . and I just got sleeved yesterday! I hope that your experience with the sleeve is better than your experience with the LapBand was. I considered the band . . . but after reading so many forums, I was amazed by how many problems people seemed to have with them. I think I made the right choice in getting sleeved.

It stinks that your boyfriend won't be able to go with you. Is there anyone else (mom, sister, best friend) who could go with you? I can't imagine going through this by myself!

Good luck to you . . . and welcome to this board!

Shanna

After sending you a PM tonight, I read some other posts on this website in the forum VSG Complications and Support (or something like that). You might want to do a search of the name of your doctor on this site and read what some people were saying tonight. Since I had read your post earlier, I thought I should let you know. At least, I would like someone to do the same for me. It would minimally give me a reason to make a list of questions to ask about procedures used.

After sending you a PM tonight, I read some other posts on this website in the forum VSG Complications and Support (or something like that). You might want to do a search of the name of your doctor on this site and read what some people were saying tonight. Since I had read your post earlier, I thought I should let you know. At least, I would like someone to do the same for me. It would minimally give me a reason to make a list of questions to ask about procedures used.

Thanks for looking out for me. I have done my research, and have researched the facility. I'm a nurse - I take these things very seriously. I've spoken with people who have gone to Almanza, as well researched his credentials. I feel 100% confident in my choice. The truth of the matter is - infections and post-operative complications happen. After my appendectomy in a huge hospital, I got a staph infection from dirty surgical tools. Statistically, Dr. Almanza has done more VSGs than any other surgeon - which means the results of his 'issues' are skewed.

Again, thanks for looking out for me. I hope you find a surgeon that you feel as comfortable with as I do in my choice! Good luck!