So, hi! I'm totally new here -- this is my first post on this site. I'm a 23-year-old American woman who currently is studying abroad in Germany. I've been thinking about getting sleeved since January. I'm 5'6" and weigh about 187lbs.

I guess even though I'm not "that" big right now, I feel like I have no control whatsoever over my weight. I've been overweight since I was about 9, and now, not even 10 minutes go by that I don't think about my weight. I'll lose weight on a diet, gain it all back with interest, wash, rinse, repeat. I have to eat fewer than 1200 kcal and exercise for at least an hour every day to lose even a pound a week.

I'm considering this surgery, in short, because dieting not only has proven not to work for me, but it makes me totally miserable. I have a very emotional relationship with food, so when I diet and am inevitably hungry, I am always in a downright terrible mood until I can get my "fix." I have a really hard time controlling my portions and stopping eating when I'm no longer hungry. When I do diet, I spend my days feeling depressed and being very irritable. Then, the weight always eventually creeps back on anyway despite all my effort. I don't like the way I look or feel right now at all. I am really happy for and supportive of big people who can love themselves and accept who they are, but I think it's time I accept that I am just not one of those people. I want to be able to wear what I want and be comfortable in my own skin. I want to stop worrying about my health and enjoy being young. I want to feel beautiful again. I have a history of severe emotional trauma, am trying to finish my education, and have a lot of other things I should be focusing on besides my weight.

I've just recently learned that I'm officially "obese." My BMI is about 30-31. I'm 40% body fat. I can't climb a small hill or go for a brisk walk without getting winded. I have borderline HBP and suffered a pulmonary embolism last winter, which almost killed me and was probably related to my weight. In Germany, most young people are quite thin, so being a big girl, I stick out like a sore thumb. And it's pretty much impossible for me to find cute clothes here, since there just aren't enough chunky 20-somethings looking for fashionable clothes to have a market for that kind of thing. Basically, I've had enough, and I'm sick of suffering and busting my butt with no results. I want this battle to be over so I can enjoy my life to the fullest.

So, I found a surgeon in Mexico who is willing to sleeve me. I have the money, but he's about the best I could afford. So, these are my questions:

1. Does anyone have any personal experience with Dr. Guillermo Alvarez in Piedas Negras? If so, what was your experience like? Do you recommend them, or are there any other Mexican doctors that you can recommend?

2. Has anyone with a lower BMI undergone the surgery? If so, what were your results like? Side effects? hair loss? Complications? I want to hear it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

3. Does anyone who has experienced the surgery have any regrets?

4. Anything else of note that you'd like to mention, or comments about my dilemma?

Thank you all so much for your time.

Edited August 11, 201610 yr by pinkpeanuts

Just know at 23, if you don't get a handle on your weight now, it will only get worse. I was about your size in my 20's after a couple of kids. Joined WW's, lost 50 pounds, gained it back and then some, rinse and repeat until at 47, I had dieted my way to 235 pounds (39 BMI). I was pre diabetic and was on meds for HBP.

Almost 2 years later, perfect blood pressure, perfect labs, size 6, running and looking like I'm 39 instead of 49. I do have some GERD, I did lose some hair (has grown back full as ever now), I have completely changed the way I eat to make sure I maintain my 90+ pound loss. Is it a constant struggle to stay on the straight and narrow and make sure I'm exercising and eating right 90% of the time because I know I can eat around the sleeve and gain? Sure. But it's completely worth it. And if you feel you're ready for the commitment, you'll see it's worth it too.

I hope I wasn't the one you thought was condescending to you. I was sharing my experience.

What I didn't go into was what I've seen happen with people who don't address their emotional eating before WLS. I had two friends who got LapBand (this was before the sleeve was available) and the bands were barely installed before these two were deliberately seeking out what they could eat to fill their emotional void without restriction. They drank sugared sodas, ate ice cream, and ate cream based Soups (and much more). They became bulimic, purging so they could eat more. I lost track of them several years ago, but saw the guy on FB a few months ago, and he's larger than he was pre-band. From his posts, they both have developed even worse health issues, and he's no longer even mobile.

Another friend had sleeve surgery without really addressing her emotional issues, and she had nothing but problems after the sleeve. She would go to OA but their very strict approach to eating would wear on her and then she'd binge. She never lost more than about 30 lbs but the ongoing medical problems, some may have been related to the surgery but we'll never know. She died last year.

None of these people were low BMI, I haven't known anyone low BMI to get WLS. But they are why I'm determined to address my emotional eating issues so that the tool that is the VSG has a chance to work.

The research and experiences of everyone on this board is clear. The sleeve can and will be eaten around if you don't get your emotional stuff under control. Then you will have had an irreversible surgery and possibly some long-term issues (most don't, but it's possible) for something that in the end doesn't help you.

You'll hear it over and over on this board, and it's worth listening to: The surgery is a TOOL, nothing more. The restriction eases over time. That is not to say you stretch the sleeve, but rather than your tolerance for different foods in larger amounts grows. If you don't take the "honeymoon period" to change your diet and activity levels, then you'll gain the weight back, and then some.

I have a number of co-morbidities and a high BMI. With my emotional eating issues, if I was a low BMI without the serious co-morbidities, I would not have the surgery until after I had addressed the emotional eating. And I believe I would likely find the surgery not needed. As it is, I'm probably having the surgery a little early in the therapy process, but there are medical reasons for rushing it, and I'm committed to the therapy so I can get the emotional stuff worked out before I'm out of the honeymoon period.

When I was 23 I weighed 188. Never went below that again. At 50 I was touching 300 lbs..so many diets...was a member of Weight Watchers 12 tmes over the years and can't recall all the names of other diets I tried. So I went to Mexico and had my sleeve done....best decision I ever made. I am bipolar...diagnosed two yrs ago. I got off track and some meds made me gain some weight...but I am back on track now and losing again. I wished the sleeve would have been available when I was 23. I have not regrets and really do understand you. My doctor in Mexico was Dr. Almanza. I have heard good and bad about them all...do your research and follow your heart.

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Im scheduled for the sleeve with Dr. Alvarez for 8/19. Ill keep you posted!

Hi I am also a BMI of 30 and getting the sleeve done for a number of health reasons - it is a big decision. I hope your Dr is everything you wish for ❤️

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I would be scared of a surgeon willing to do surgery on you when if you lost 30 pounds you would be in a normal bmi. normally surgery is for people with close to 100 to loose. I'm sure you know that though, but maybe consider another method I would hate for you to undergo a major surgery to loose 30 pounds

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it is a very high percentage of people who regain all the weight loss from weight loss surgery within 5 years, yes the first 18 months you cannot eat a ton but give it a few years and you will be able to eat like before. it is really a mind thing!

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