Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

I'm In Az Looking For A Buddy



Recommended Posts

I'm originally transplanted from IL & have lived here the last 13 years. There are a lot of things I miss but wouldn't trade it for the snow & cold. I do sometimes miss the city life but when I hit that traffic in PHX, it makes me appreciate the life I have here in SV :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So, were you sleeved in Tucson? I was trying to see of VA would cover it and it seemed like it was taking forever. I miss the people of Sierra Vista....so warm and friendly.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We relocated there from Washington DC. Both of us were prior service. It was nice initially from the hustle and bustle of DC but got a divorce and realized my <3 for the city. Sierra Vista is a beautifully diverse city though.

I moved to Pheonix from D.C./NoVA two years ago. Small world.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello all. I am in Phoenix. In the process of insurance approval. I lived in Sierra Vista for 2 years and decided that it wasn't for me. I got out of the military and wanted to live in a neutral place' date=' Phoenix.[/quote']

I lived in Tombstone and now I'm in Mesa. SV is great, but not for everyone!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We relocated there from Washington DC. Both of us were prior service. It was nice initially from the hustle and bustle of DC but got a divorce and realized my <3 for the city. Sierra Vista is a beautifully diverse city though.

We moved to Phx from DC/NoVA 2 yrs ago. Small world

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's so nice to find people right here in the Valley to speak to about our sleeve/weight loss journey!

I am in Goodyear' date=' Arizona.

I had my VGS on June 19, 2012 (3 months ago today!) with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico.

Can't say enough good things about Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez and the OCC staff. Wonderful experience.

My insurance would not cover the surgery, so I was self pay and had to look for lower cost. It might have been lower

cost but the quality was excellent!

I lost 24 lbs pre-op and 47 lbs post-op! As of today....that's 71 lbs (total pre and post op)! I woke up very excited about this! (I like to keep saying the total over and over!)

It is still challenging day to day experience. But a very good one. Each day I feel better and I am getting healthier.

If anyone wants to chat about upcoming surgery or post-op surgery, let me know. I still have many questions myself!

I just came out of stall. It seems it took forever just to lose the last 10 lbs. I cried half the day yesterday because I wanted to have lost 70 lbs by today.

I woke up and had lost 2 POUNDS! Which put me at 71 lbs today! God is good!

Thanks for listening and let me know how my fellow AZ VGS are!

One last thing....If anyone knows a regular Physician in the West Valley or anywhere in the Valley that is good with VGS patients, please let me know. My current Physician in Goodyear is not real good about my VGS follow ups and is really rude because I choose to go to Mexico for my surgery. In fact he told me if I had any problem post surgery that I better look else where or go to an inner city emergency room! Thank god, I have not had anything major as of yet. But to say the least.....looking for a new Physician!!

Joy[/quote']

I hope your primary care is not the same as mine. If it is, I would be leaving him as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello everyone, I live in litchfield park and will be having my surgery October 25th at Gateway.

Hi brennie, I'm in San Tan Valley, good luck to you on the 25th :) I'm going to Mexico for mine and it's just 1 week away...eeek :huh:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi brennie' date=' I'm in San Tan Valley, good luck to you on the 25th :) I'm going to Mexico for mine and it's just 1 week away...eeek :huh:[/quote']

A week away, lucky girl. Let me know how it goes, and have a safe journey.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi brennie, I'm in San Tan Valley, good luck to you on the 25th :) I'm going to Mexico for mine and it's just 1 week away...eeek :huh:

Brennie,

Just best of luck on your upcoming surgery. :) I was sleeved by Dr. Almanza on 7/16/2012. Great experience! Plan to go back for cosmetics next year :) Have a blessed and successful surgery,

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was sleeved in MX, my ins wouldn't cover it. Dr Almanza was terrific & I couldn't have asked for better care.

I was also sleeved by Dr Almanza :) Great experience!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello everyone! I know that this thread was started several months ago but was wondering if anyone is still out there!! I live in Gilbert and I am waiting on pins and needles for my insurance approval! My physician is at Banner Bariatric and I am seeing Dr. Schuster. He is super nice and very honest. I would love some support if anyone is still out there!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello everyone! I know that this thread was started several months ago but was wondering if anyone is still out there!! I live in Gilbert and I am waiting on pins and needles for my insurance approval! My physician is at Banner Bariatric and I am seeing Dr. Schuster. He is super nice and very honest. I would love some support if anyone is still out there!!!

I'm here, even though I wasn't before! Lol I am scheduled for May 11th, but I am having mine done in MX.

I live in Surprise :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Woohoo May 11th!!! That is so exciting! I am awaiting approval and I hope that I hear something this week. I am so scared of denial. I am so ready! My drs ofc said that once they get the insurance approval, they can schedule me about two weeks out. So hard to believe that I started this in October and I could be having my surgery in April!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • 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.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×