How was the three day for you? I have to go to work. water, chicken broth...anything else that will keep me full? Did you ever get the videos?

Nice Avatar image must have travelled to Haiti alot.

Thank you so much Blan...I just watched it and it does help explain. I guess we should be happy that we are not throwing up everything we eat but I almost wish that I would. If I wasn't desperate to lose weight, I wouldn't have made the trip. I see you used Dr. Almanza...So many people have good results with him, I'm sure you will too.

Good.... hope there aren't too many below the 42 bmi that I have, lol. I am so ready to go! So ready to begin my new life!

Hi Blan,
Thank you for responding back and letting me know your opinion on bringing somebody else along fro the trip. I kind of fiqured the same thing that I would be more concerned about my wife being bored out of her mind just sitting there watching me rest and recover. I do hope that they at least let me stay in a hotel instead of the clinic though, I read that the clinic is very small and also located in a business / plaza style setting. I would think that staying there would make it more uncomfortable especially when you feel like getting up to walk around. I have my flight scheduled to arrive in around 12 noon on the day before surgery so I may get at least a half day in to go catch a movie or two so I can take my mind off the big day. I am also flying out around 2:00 pm on my flight back home so i could give myself plenty of time to get to the airport and get settled. Unfortunately i do have a good 4 hour direct flight back to Atlanta so hopefully it wont be to uncomfortable. I could not afford the airfare difference between coach and first class "almost $500 dollars more each way" It was rediculous! I will definetly take your advice on the gas pills verses the gas strips, I also hate the taste of those damn things.

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So tell me how have you been since surgery? Have you gotten over all of the soreness yet? How about the weight loss? I remember back when I had my lapband surgery it was a steady but slow drop. I lost about 50 lbs in the first 5 months and it then it really slowed to about 3lbs a month. I have been reading some pretty incredible stories here on the site where some men are claiming to have lost as much as 70lbs in 3 months! But the most important claims that I have been reading is that 4 and 5 years later there are a tremendous amount of sleevers that have kept 90% of there weight off. I also have a close friend who I talked to this morning and she is 6 years out with about 85% of her weight loss still gone. I am excited to say the least!

Well thanks again and i will keep in touch and let you know how everything goes. I am 28 days away from surgery and can't wait!

Take care, Stephen Wallace

Hi Blan, Im wondering if you are not losing because you are eating other things to soon in the journey. I am still on my full liquids and next week I will get to advance to the mushy/pureed stage.. Im not really eating alot of high sodium foods either and trying hard to get my water in. I usually have no problem with water but I am just so parinoid of doing something wrong to my new tummy. I also need to start taking my calcium chews again.. I try to get in at least 1 protein shake a day (thats all they want me to have) and that seems to boost my day. Hang in there, we will get there baby steps if need be.
Keep in touch and keep me posted. When do you see your doctor/surgeon again? I have been going every 2 weeks and along with him I see the dietician and she kind of keeps me on track. I have a very good support with all the staff at the bariatric office, their great. Keep your head up, you will figure it out..

Someone on this board posted this. Her name is VSGOct2011.: Your's is not the first negative story I've heard about him either, there were some links further back about some surgery issues there and one patient death. I am very happy your doctor at home was able to catch this and will be able to rectify it and hope this is an opportunity for people to re-evaluate whether cheaper is best when you are talking about your own most precious commodity --- yourself. For what it's worth we are all people who have lived our lives obese for so long that we want a magic quick fix and when you have someone offering you a cure you want to have blind faith or believe the positive stories. You also need to explore and dig deep, not just on these forums, but others, and in legal registries and any other kinds of searches you can do to make sure you are getting someone who will be credible. I hope to goodness Mr Almanza returns ALL of your money including airfare and any other out of pocket expenses because he's got a pretty loyal following here and it would be the only thing in my mind which makes him credible and accountable for his error.

I have caught other such references to say that he's had someone die on the table also, but cannot find any reports or real info/news to such a thing. I feel that I will be ok.... I hope, lol. I am 243 in that pic....looking even heavier than I thought I looked. However, those days are about to come to an end. How are you doing??

Thank you. I am now doing the pre-op diet as a mandatory thing, not voluntary (so not sneaking eating). It's becoming more real to me. I have been reading some of the negative stories and wondering if it's true regarding any deaths at Dr. Almanza's hospital.... I hope he doesn't have too many to do on my day either. I don't normally worry, but now I feel it starting, lol.

im doing good im coming up on my 3 week post op and have no regrets, so far im down 34 lbs WOW, its crazy, im going to be starting some light zumba and ab workouts on my next set off, never thought id be planning and looking forward to exercise lol how are things with you?

Hi Stephen,
I was glad I went by myself. I would have been constantly having to stress about another person being there with me. Once you are there, you spend a lot of time with the other patients anyway. But some people like to be with their spouse, especially men who don't do pain well LOL ( just kidding ). Right now, there isn't a recovery house. It is under construction. So, you may stay at the clinic (depending how many people there are) or you go to the hotel. You may have to share a room but it would be with another man and only if that man is also traveling alone. Otherwise, they will put you in a private room. There is a nurse at the hotel who comes right once you call. He is there 24/7.
Depending how long your return flight is, and how big you are, I suggest booking a first class ticket home or hope for an empty seat next to you. I fly all the time and have no trouble ever but flying back was very uncomfortable because there were two guys next to me who were really big and I felt just horrible. Everything annoyed me! LOL
About the meds, yes, they give Cipro and some other pain medication but I never took the pain meds. I was not in pain. I did buy Gax X pills, the really little squishy ones for the way home. I figured if I can take my regular meds, I can take those pills rather than the expensive nasty tasting gas x strips. As long as the pills are small, you will be fine

Hi Blan,

All of this information is great!!! I am not sure if i asked you or not but did you go alone (or) did someone go with you? My wife was going to orriginally go but due to finances we had to change that. I have also read many other postings where some of the patients chose to stay at a hotel for recovery instead of the recovery villa. If you had to do it over again would you had chose to stay by yourself in a hotel (or) in the recovery villa? Also you mentioned that they did give you medication like cipro which I believe is an antibiotic. What did they give you for pain medication?

Thank you again for your time and sharing with me! Stephen Wallace

Hi Blan, yes we made it to our 2 week mark. I am doing really good and sounds like you are as well. Why did you have stitches? They sent me home with 5 holes from the laproscopic surgery with just siri strips over the incision. I have been having some heart burn as well and I'm hoping that its nothing permanent. How much are you down at this point? I am not on solid food yet, I am only 2 days into the "full" liquid stage but loving having to eat more then just broth and jello.. Glad to hear from you. Keep in touch and continue the good work,, we CAN and WILL do this.

It cut my message & I had to figure it out. said it was to long! I lost it, then it told me you never sent a message. Gotta get use to this forum!

Yeah I know shame on me but its whats best for him is what matters. Keeping my love safe & healthy is my objective. He lost 30lbs since 2 week pre op diet. That's 20 lbs since surgery! I'm amazed & can't wait to get my man back! He has changed into a depressed man for the last 2 years.3 years ago he was wearing a 2x, he is a big guy & now when we look at those pictures those shirts were entirely to big! Well, now he wears a 6x and bigger. He doesn't go anywhere cause he wont buy clothes cause it disgust him & all. How are things for you weight wise & health wise? Any suggestions ob vitamins & such? Or food choices or advice period? It's great to have the wise ones around!