Heather D.

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I got an email from Dr. Alvarez's office a couple days ago saying that I am cleared to have surgery with them. I just have to do a three week liquid diet before then - whenever 'then' is. I don't have a date in mind as of yet.

I've been trying to decide if I really want to go with the lap-band or if I want to go with the VSG. I can see pros and cons for each one. The band seems less drastic and permanent, but the results are slightly better with the VSG and there's no maintenance with fills. I still have time to ponder these things as I don't yet have the money for the surgery. I'm hoping to have it in a few months though. So then the question is, when do I want surgery. Aside from my gut reaction of saying "the sooner the better," I am not sure. My classes start in four days and I'm going to be really busy with them. On the bright side, all of my school is online so I can do it from home and work ahead to make time for recovery if I do decide to have surgery before 2010. Maybe winter break, sometime in January, would be good.

I told my parents that I want to have surgery in Mexico. They are all a little worried about that, but I'm going to do my best to put their worries at ease before the actual surgery. Wayne has been really supportive and for that I'm thankful. Not much else to day, other than things are progressing nicely. I'll keep you posted.

I first heard of Obesityhelp.com about eight years ago. I've gone back and forth several times trying to decide if I really want weight loss surgery. Turns out I do.

A little about me...
I'm 32 (33 in less than a week... uggh) and I've been married to my super cool husband, Wayne, for just over 10 years. I'm 5'7" and I weigh... um, a lot. More than I ever have. Last time I checked it was somewhere around 345. (It's so distressing to me just to type that out loud.) We don't have any children, though we will eventually. I hope. I have various and sundry ailments, many of which are weight-related. I don't really feel like typing them all out, but I will say that hypertension has just been added to the list. Joy.

I've decided to go with the self-pay option and I've even picked out a surgeon - Dr. Guillermo Alvarez - to do the lap-band procedure. His clinic is in Piedras Negras Mexico - about four hours from my home in Texas. I was a little nervous even considering a doctor in Mexico, but he seems to have a lot of good reviews here on OH. I haven't made any definite plans or set any dates or anything. I need to save up the money first, but I'm hoping to have surgery before 2010.