paitence.....

Well in 1 week I go for my initial consultation with the Dr at Johns Hopkins but I guess I've already decided that if I am paying for this surgury then I'm going to Dr. Alveraz in Mexico.  He's half the price and from researching his technique and testing, I believe his technique to be as good if not better than others. But here I am waiting at work for a week to go by.  I need to have the consultation so that I cna get the Dr report and show it to my family and say see, I know you love me but I am fat and need to do this. If it were up to me and only me I'd have my surgury date already and be on my way. I know the VSG is my ticket to PERMANENT weight loss and just want to have it.  It's all I think about.  I just can't wait for next monday to meet with the Dr and get his report.

i sure hope you get it jack. you can see what it's done for each of us. knowing what i know now i would have paid for it if it came down to it. this is the only thing that has ever worked for me. by all means, go to mexico if it comes to that. you know, the bottom line is that if you get fuller faster, don't always feel hungry and feel smaller then your whole head changes. the surgery made that huge difference for me. if i'm not all that hungry and fill up fast, then i just stop eating. then when you're smaller you want to exercise again. so in less than a year you're a different person and want to keep the weight off and this tool simply lets you live life without starving and stressing about dieting 24/7. on all other diets my body was just waiting for an opening to gain it back. and like all the other guys, boom, back it came and then some. this surgery shuts off some type of tap. it's what i needed. i sure hope you get it too because you sound like you really want to make a difference this time around if you just had the chance......carbonblob

Waiting can be agonizing for many. Hang in there and keep busy with other stuff. I hope all works out for you soon enough. I also hope your family comes on board as a source of support.

Don’t get discouraged or upset by their reactions. Often love and concern for you Can be expressed as objection to the risk of surgery. Yes? Doesn’t necessarily me they aren't supporting YOU, Just fearful for your well being.

Best Wishes- Dx

Hang in there Jack.  It is well worth waiting for.   I had to wait for about 8 months from the time I made up my mind until surgery day.  There were a lot of hoops (tests, insurance requirements, etc.).  Then, my doctor was backed up for several months and I was on a waiting list. Everything worked out in the end. Good luck!

Jack, I am sure everything will work out just fine. I had to convince my wife that what I was doing was a good thing for me.   She was concerned because i did not qualify for the surgery based on weight alone.  I slid in with all 5 of the co-morbids in addition to the BMI of 36 or so. My side of the family didn't rreally follow what I was doing either.  I annoucnded to all of them that the day after we got back form Christmas Vacation in 2005 that I was going to have my initial consult and everything that that would entail.   Went through all of the visits to all of the pre-qualifying visits while doing my student teaching semester and working 1.5 jobs.  Ended student teaching on the Friday the 10th of April and  had surgery on Monday. It has been great and I now look forward to each day even with the few setbacks that I have had. Gary

Keep your head up jack, self pay in Mexico is not the end of the world.

I go to mexico 1-10-08 for surgery with dr alvarez.

Yeah! my first post since joining!.......LOL