Hello Everyone,

I My name is Nicola. I am new to this site and would like to find support and information from others who have, or looking to be sleeved. I am a quiet person and I have been on this journey for over 3 years with having insurance with my previous job but that did not cover WLS, to not having insurance at all now. I have been on this roller coaster for so long that I have decided to self pay this time. I am going to be 50 tomorrow and want to become health, happy, with myself by doing something different. I struggled for so long with yo-yo diets and to only gain every pound back within weeks sometime months. I am looking to be sleeved on March 1, 2013 in Mexico with Dr Almanza. I am excited and nervous and just feel like something is going to go wrong and then I will become depressed once again. My family is very supportive and my daughter refuse to let me travel alone she insist on going with me to Mexico. I am 5'4" and weigh 283 my weight is still going up and my highest weight has been 295. I am looking for any suggest, support or ideas. I live in Philadelphia, Pa if there are sleevers here it would be nice to get to know you all so we could have suppport within our city, but at this time I would look for any support that is willing to give. Thanks so much in advance.

Welcome! I wish you good luck during your journey. I too went back and forth trying to decide on surgery. I'm close to my year mark and closer to my goal everyday. I would do it all over again. Happy early birthday. Improved health and well-being is a great gift to give yourself.

Thank you and yes this is my birthday gift to me:) You did well I see in your journey congrats to you Niahri.

Hi Nicola

I live in Philly! I'm having my surgery threw Einstein Hospital. My mom is having her's at university of Penn. they have REALLY GREAT support meeting every second Saturday of the month. This support meeting are awesome. I wish Einstein had them for me but it is something you could Definitely come to without having having your surgery at University of Penn. I will be there next Saturday. Let me know if u r interested in attending:-)

Ebony

Good luck! I am right outside of Philly... Lansdale, PA.

Hello Everyone,

I My name is Nicola. I am new to this site and would like to find support and information from others who have, or looking to be sleeved. I am a quiet person and I have been on this journey for over 3 years with having insurance with my previous job but that did not cover WLS, to not having insurance at all now. I have been on this roller coaster for so long that I have decided to self pay this time. I am going to be 50 tomorrow and want to become health, happy, with myself by doing something different. I struggled for so long with yo-yo diets and to only gain every pound back within weeks sometime months. I am looking to be sleeved on March 1, 2013 in Mexico with Dr Almanza. I am excited and nervous and just feel like something is going to go wrong and then I will become depressed once again. My family is very supportive and my daughter refuse to let me travel alone she insist on going with me to Mexico. I am 5'4" and weigh 283 my weight is still going up and my highest weight has been 295. I am looking for any suggest, support or ideas. I live in Philadelphia, Pa if there are sleevers here it would be nice to get to know you all so we could have suppport within our city, but at this time I would look for any support that is willing to give. Thanks so much in advance.

How was your experience with Dr.Almanza? I'm thinking about using him, but I've heard mixed reviews and am trying to build knowledge. He is definetly the most cost effective surgeon out there..and for some reason that scares me. Some are saying he's like an assembly line and it's not a personal experience. What was your experience like? Were you treated like a number? Did you feel like two days was enough to stay in Mexico? Some places have a four-day stay. That's why I'm curious. What did you do for post-op care in America if you had complications? DId you have any complications? Please share your experience. Thanks soooo much!!

I did not use almanza, I hear he is a great surgeon but does many in one day and I've heard the hospital is not the best. Please search him and Jerusalem hospital on here to get first hand experience. My dr's were cheaper then him and the hospital is top notch and so was the hotel. I guess my point is, there is other options priced as good or better then almanza.

Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

@janarae, thank you for your suggestion:)

@janarae' date=' thank you for your suggestion:)[/quote']

You're welcome, who did you end up choosing for your surgeon? When's your date?

Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

I went with Cabrera and V. for the 19th of March