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Hi! I felt the need to share my story because when I began this journey I relied on these forms to provided me with hope, advice and courage. First my surgery was through Ready4Achange with Dr. Fernando Garcia in Mexico. With the flight to San Diego it cost me around 5,000 US. Starting I was 230 pounds and a size 16-18 and I was 25 years old. I wanted this surgery more then anything, I worked two jobs for six months to save up. My surgery date was November 18th 2013. So its been a little more then a year. Today March 31st 2015 I am 165 and a size 10. I would have the surgery again in a heart beat. I feel healthier today. Since the beginning of my dieting career, I have wanted the number on the scale to prove to me that I am healthy and happy. Now it doesn't matter what the scale says because I do feel healthier and more confident. I make better food choices and I am not afraid of the gym. I would also like to add... change is hard and scary, for me at least it is, but taking the plunge was worth it.

Some things I recommend:

1. Research (the doctor, the hospital and the aftercare)

2. Make a list of all ur concerns and talk to your doctor directly (or over the phone if you plan to go out of the country.)

3. I almost made the mistake of going by myself. Go with a loved one or a friend. You will need their help and support before and after the surgery.

4. Find a support group (most surgery's that have been approved by insurance provide these groups) but if you plan on having surgery away from your hometown then it can be hard. I joined OA aka Over Eaters Anonymous where i could talk to others about my growing pains with the sleeve and get support.

5. This is truly an amazing tool in your tool box. Its not going to solve all your problems but it will change your life!

I hope I have given back what was given to me!

If you have any questions just let me know and thank you for reading my story and below you will find my before and after pics!

*VolleyGirl*

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Amazing progress and transformation... great job! best wishes :)

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Well done! Glad you got your health and confidence back. You look great!

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Well done!!!!..u look great!

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You really carried your weight good to begin with. Mines all in front. How tall are you?

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Very exciting and thank you!

You look great! Congratulations on you success. I'm scheduled to be sleeved April 8th. Super excited!

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You look wonderful! Congrats on your success.

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Hi! I felt the need to share my story because when I began this journey I relied on these forms to provided me with hope, advice and courage. First my surgery was through Ready4Achange with Dr. Fernando Garcia in Mexico. With the flight to San Diego it cost me around 5,000 US. Starting I was 230 pounds and a size 16-18 and I was 25 years old. I wanted this surgery more then anything, I worked two jobs for six months to save up. My surgery date was November 18th 2013. So its been a little more then a year. Today March 31st 2015 I am 165 and a size 10. I would have the surgery again in a heart beat. I feel healthier today. Since the beginning of my dieting career, I have wanted the number on the scale to prove to me that I am healthy and happy. Now it doesn't matter what the scale says because I do feel healthier and more confident. I make better food choices and I am not afraid of the gym. I would also like to add... change is hard and scary, for me at least it is, but taking the plunge was worth it.

Some things I recommend:

1. Research (the doctor, the hospital and the aftercare)

2. Make a list of all ur concerns and talk to your doctor directly (or over the phone if you plan to go out of the country.)

3. I almost made the mistake of going by myself. Go with a loved one or a friend. You will need their help and support before and after the surgery.

4. Find a support group (most surgery's that have been approved by insurance provide these groups) but if you plan on having surgery away from your hometown then it can be hard. I joined OA aka Over Eaters Anonymous where i could talk to others about my growing pains with the sleeve and get support.

5. This is truly an amazing tool in your tool box. Its not going to solve all your problems but it will change your life!

I hope I have given back what was given to me!

If you have any questions just let me know and thank you for reading my story and below you will find my before and after pics!

*VolleyGirl*

You look amazing! awesome job!

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Congratulations on your success! You look amazing :)

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    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
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    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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