Hi Empress
I am scheduled with Dr. Almanza in 2 wks for suregery. I am having the VGS, is there any advice you can give me. I am super nervous and not sure what to expect from the various negatives review i have read about him, and also any tips you can give that you wished someone had given you prior to surgery.

nice and smooth. I am glad it was pain free. How are you doing since the surgery? Is life after what you expected? The diet gets boring and unappealing. I am now 75 days post op and I have NO desire to eat anything. I have to remember to eat now. It is so crazy and different but it wasn't like that at first. I needed the first month and half to accept my new limits and mourn my old ways. See ya girl. Update me sister.

Hi Mariko,

I'm glad to hear that my hint worked. After I posted I realized that you are just 3 weeks out. I promise it will become much easier as time goes on, you get used to drinking that much water, and your stomach heals. I hope that you find this helps your weight loss. I am going to let you in on my other hint. Throw away your scale and only weigh once a month. You are at the point that most people stall. Don't be surprised when you stop losing weight. It is normal and happens to everyone. It's only temporary and you will start losing again. I don't own a scale. I weigh in once a month at the doctor's or the gym. I have never had a stall... that I know of so I never stress about it.

Good luck with the rest of your journey to becoming the healthy new you!

Jim

In regards to the stitches being removed, I just took mine out at the beginning of this week myself, and it didn't hurt at all. It is no different than removing your earring every night before bed. The whole the stitch is in, has already being formed and healed and the stitch will be easily and pain free during the removal process. Also, don't pay a doctor seventy bucks to do this. You can do it. plucking our eyebrows hurts worse than the removal. However, I too was scared to do mine but I tried one to see if I could do it and I felt nothing. So I did them all. Good luck sister. And Congrats on your new journey.

Hi there. Feeling better if you still wanna chat. Did u want to phone me?

Hey Mariko! I'm a bit nervous, but I took my before pictures this morning and that helped me calm down and remember why I'm doing this. Our dog sitter canceled on us at the last minute so I had to scramble to find someone to watch the pups...that was stressful. (We'll never use her again.) Bag is almost packed, I have everything sitting on my kitchen counter for when I return. So I guess I'm ready to go!

Worst part is surgery is the same day I travel. And I can't eat or drink anything...including water...after midnight tonight. So that is going to be a bit miserable...I can't imagine surgery happening before 3 or so. The pre-op diet makes me so thirsty!!!

Dreamt about surgery last night...weird dream.

When do you arrive? I'll send you a private message with my cell phone, if you want to text me.

Take care, safe travels!! Can't wait to get to the other side...I'm so ready for this.

Kristen

tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my husband and I had surgury with Dr. Almanza. Today I feel pretty darn good and I am down 13 pounds since surgery. The first two days after surgery will be the worst. ps the chicken broth at the resturant is fantastic, and just go to the front desk for juice/jello stuff (don't wait for them to bring it to you).

Hi, only a few more days! Hang in there. Will be happy to meet you.

I'm doing ok. I'm still a little nervous but still ready to go through with the surgery. I have to do a 5 day pre-op diet and so not looking forward to that, but still I'm going to do it. How are you?

Just checking in with you to make sure your nerves are okay. We will be fine. I'm looking forward to meeting you. I'm being picked up at 3 pm from the airport. Take care and God Bless.