Hi..usually on VSG board but thought I'd pop in and say Hello!

Hello...I have hung out on the VSG board mainly this whole time...have popped over here a couple of times to read. I am from Charleston Illinois. I had the VSG surgery with Dr. Alvarez in Mexico because I had to be self pay. I would love to find a real life support group for bariatric surgery patients near or around me. I love OH but think I would also like a live support group as well.

Nice to meet all of you...hope everyone is having a great day!

hugs

Sherri

Hi Sherri glad you stopped by and posted!   Going to Mexico for wls?  Were you scared?  I was scared going just going into surgery let alone out of the state.  Sounds like you couldn't be happier with your results!  Stop by again anytime!

Hi Pam!!

Yes I was petrified and almost canceled before we left to catch our plane..but something just kept telling me to keep pluggin along. I had a great experience. I think the choice to go to Mexico is a very serious decision and is not something that I would go about really encouraging people to do but am one to support that decision...I had a great doctor. It was definitely an experience I will never forget..I had a very nice stay...no complications and virtually very little pain involved with my surgery. The place was very clean...but the nurses did not speak any real english and we had forgotton our translation papers..lol. So I just pointed a lot...DH knew some spanish from highschool and that helped.

I am very happy with my results. I have now started adding exercise to my daily routine to help me get the rest of my 70lbs gone.

Nice to meet you Pam! :-)

Sherri

HI Sherri and WELCOME! I can't really help with live support groups as I too live very close to the Wisconsin border, but I wanted to welcome you to this board where we are very active, friendly and supportive of each other.  We even have get-togethers when the weather is decent and we are not having tornados! It sounds like you are very happy with your surgery choices and that is a wonderful thing! Please stop by often, glad to see you!

Thankyou so much for the welcome Dawn! :-)

I am also very friendly and easy to get to know. Looking forward to reading and posting more.

Thanx again!

Sherri

Hi Sherri!  Welcome to the Il board.  We are a great group of friendly people who love to meet people. 
I cannot imagine going out of the country to have surgery...weren't you scared?  Was it a big difference in money?  I'm not sure I could do that.  Kudos to you!

It's nice to meet you and I hope that you visit often and get to know us and we can get to know you.   Where is Charleston IL?

Hi Monica!

Thanks for the welcome! Oh yes I was petrified to go out of the country but I did my research well on the Dr. that I chose and actually I was very very impressed. Once I got there and met Dr. Alvarez..he eased my fears. They were all really nice there...it was so quiet and serene and peaceful..and of course  my DH went with me...I could not have done it alone. The cost was 10,500 for the VSG..it was 500 more because my bmi was way over 50. I was originally going to go with the lapband but that meant having to travel frequently for fills and I wasn't really interested in doing that. Very happy with the surgery I have...it has done well by me :-)

I had a great experience in Mexico...and my doctor I think is just wonderful there..however there have been people who have gone who have had not so great experiences with other doctors when complications arose. The decision to go is a very personal and serious decision to make. I was basically a very healthy overweight person...and I did not have any complications...thank god.

It is nice to meet you:-)...I will try to pop over here lots more often...would love to meet everyone :-)

Ohhh Charleston hmmm...well it is home of Eastern Illinois University. We are about 200 miles south of Chicago...and about 50 miles south of Champaign/Urbana. Not sure if that helps or not...lol...it is not a very big area here..we have about 20 thousand people in our town.

hugs

Sherri

Hi Sherri,  I'm new here, too.  Trying to get up the nerve to post more.  I live in Northern Illinois, just 10 miles from the Wisconsin border.

Hi KJ...nice to meet you :-)

I figured it was time to broaden my horizons and check out other support areas..I am particularly interested in how to find a group in my area? Anyone know how to do that? Newpaper? Internet Search? Hmmmm...The hospital was a good idea that someone had mentioned..think I will call there today.

Again KJ very nice to meet you...hope to see and read more of you

Sherri

Thank you, Sherri!  It's nice to meet you, too.  I like Charleston.  When my daughter was checking out Eastern,  I thought it was so pretty in that area. By the way, my name is Kathy.

Good luck finding a support group.  Maybe a doctor could make a recommendation?