Cindy F.

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Tomorrow will be 4 years since I had my sleeve surgery.  I lost 80 pounds and have kept it off.  Love my sleeve it is the best decision I have ever made.  Thanks to Dr. Alvarez my life changed and I love it.  Now I am happier person.  Healthier and food and weight does not rule my thoughts each waking hour.  This sleeve is the BOMB!!!!!!

Two years today I had my sleeve.  I remember being at the hospital in Mexico waiting for my surgery nervous wondering if I had made the right decision to have surgery, wondering if I would make it through the surgerey LOL, and anxiously awaiting my turn for surgery.    Wow hard to believe it was 2 years ago.  It is still so vivid in my mind each and every detail. 

Well here I am 2 years later with 80 pounds gone.  I feel so much better physically.  So much better emotionally.  I realize this has been the best thing I have EVER done for myself.  I went from a size 22 to a size 12/10.  Do things I would have never done before.  Have more confidence,  

When my head wants more food my stomach says no Thank goodness.  This is permament portion control  Which is exactly what I needed.  I go up and down about 4 pounds.  When I am up a bit I tune in to making better choices. 

Can you believe I love exercising now.  Who would have thought.  Before it was always so physically hard and painful.  Now I crave it, miss it when I am not able to be active.  (Is this really me?  LOL)

Now it is time that I am going ahead with my journey and having Plastics on Oct 5.  I am having a LBL, breast lift lipo and at the same time fixing my hammer toe.  (Should be very messed up for awhile LOL)  It is interesting I am going through the same emotions  excited one second then terrified.  Then excited again.  It is coming fast.  Oh wow!!!!!!!

But I could not remember this special day without thanking each and everyone of you for all your support, love, and for being my friends in this amazing journey.  What a ride it has been!!!!!!

Next chapter Oct 5

Hugs

IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE  Well this is the day.  Wow just think one year ago today I was in Mexico at the hospital walking the halls (nervously) waiting for the results of my chest ex-ray and my blood test before surgery.  Excited but at the same time scared half out of my mind.  Thinking what am I doing!!!!!  Have I lost my mind!!  LOL

Well one year later I can say I DID NOT LOSE MY MIND.  That decision to have surgery was the best decision I have ever made!!!  I have no regrets.  I Love my sleeve.  It has changed my life. It has made the dream I have had since I was 8 years old come true.  Being slim and liking myself again. 

I have lost 75 pounds.  I went from a size 20W to a 10.  (something I never thought would happen)  It still amazes me each and every day.  I feel so much better!!!!!  Not only physically but also emotionally.  The horrible self hatred is gone!!!!  No longer depressed and hopeless about being fat and not being able to loss weight.  I have more energy, and a new zest for life.  I am very thankful that I had surgery before I developed some of the problems associated with being fat. 

I could go on and on about the benefits that this surgery has had in my life.  They just seem endless!!!   I am eternally thankful for my sleeve.  Anyone thinking of surgery I say it is the best thing ever. 

And I want to say thank you to all of you who so patiently helped me walk though each step in this process.  You all mean more to me that you can imagine.  Thanks for letting me take the ride of my life with you!!!!!!!!

I did a testimonal for Dr. Alvarez on it is on utube is any are intereted in seeing me.  It shows before and after.  Here is the link.  Hope it works.  As if today I have lost 74 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yahoo!!  Love my sleeve.  I would truly recommend it to anyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTRseCh8pCs

Hugs

Well it has been 6 months since I went to Mexico to have my gastric sleeve with Dr. Alvarez.  And what an exciting ride it has beenMy only one regret was that I could not have had this done years ago.   my sleeve.  Best decision I have ever made.  I can honestly say it gave me my zest for life back.  I am no longer controlled by what I am going to eat or how I was starving from what ever diet I was on at the time.  I no longer hurt all over.  It had gotten to the point with my bad back that each step I would take was agony.  Now I can walk miles.  And it does not hurt.  I still have back problems (from a car accident) but they are managable now.  Losing weight really does take the pressure off your spine.  

My starting weight was 233.  I am now 163.   So I have lost 70 pounds.   I went from a size 20 to a size 12 or medium. I even wear stuff tucked in with a belt.  LOL  Something I thought I would never be able to do.    I am about 13 pounds from my goal.  Can you believe it.  Sometimes I have trouble wrapping my head around it.  But love it.  But everyone says I look slim and fine now.  But would like to make it to my goal.

I love that a few bites and I am stuffed.  So when my head wants more I just can't.  This is my answer to a prayer.  I was not a horrible eater.  Just had a huge capacity.  This controls my capacity so I can lose the weight.   

So anyone thinking of the sleeve.  All I can tell you is that I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I have followed the Dr.'s plan pretty closely and I do exercise about 5 times a week.  But this sleeve does work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks you to all my sleeve buddies who walked me through each step.  To Susan who got me off the ledge several times before surgery when I was scared.  For my hero Dr. Alvarez who gave me my life back.  And for all the encouragement and love on this board.  

Hugs and kisses to you all!!!



 

I am now in Onderland.  It is great to be here again.  It has been so long since I have been here.  I have lost 34 pounds since my surgery.  Love my sleeve. 

As you know I went to Mexico with Dr Alvarez to have surgery.  My experience was great.  He is a very professional Dr and nice man.  The hospital was clean and the care was great.  I was very nervous but meeting Dr. Alvarez seemed to calm my nerves somewhat.  Nurses were very attentive.  I slept alot after surgery because of the pain meds they were giving me.  But able to walk in the halls the following morning.  Walked and slept and walked....Dr Alvarez  checked on me several times while in the hospital  Had surgery Tuesday 9/18.  Stayed in the hospital till Thursday morning.  Then we all met with Dr Alveraz and he gave us our meds and post op instructions.  Along with paperwork to take to our PCP here in the states.  Then Rosie drove us to San Antonio.  We stopped half way to get water, and stretch.  The drive was fine.  Alittle sore but no pain.  We got to the hotel in San Antonio about 2 pm.  Checked in.  Those who had surgery the same time as I did were tired so we all went to our rooms.  I called my family and my cousin and got on the computer.  I was tooking forward to going home the next day.  I did walk around the hotel that night.  Then I went to sleep.  Sleep well.  The next day we got the shuttle at the airport to head home.  I was anxious to be home and see my family.  My trip was fine. 

So if anyone is thinking of Gastric Sleeve with Dr.  Alvarez I say go for it.  It is 3 weeks out and I have lost 15 pounds.  I am so excited about that. !!!!! !!!!!  Hope the loss continues.  Just thought I would share

Sitting here in Eagle Pass waiting for tomorrow so that the anticipation will be passed and I will be a loser.  Wow wating is so hard.  I want this done. I pray all goes well. 

I am leaving in 2 days and having surgery in 3 !!!!!!!  I am getting the last minute stuff done, packing.  getting so excited, nervous and thrilled that soon this will be a memory and I will be on the losers bench.  This is my shot to achieve the dream I have had since I was 6 to be a normal weight person.  So here I come loser's bench.  Is there room for me?

I sent in my deposite and bought my plane tickets to leave on September 17th and surgery is September 18th.  I am going to Dr Alvarez to have gastric sleeve.  It is 1 month and 3 days away!!!!  Hard to believe it is really going to happen.  I have been waiting since April.  So I am coming to the loser's bench!!!!

I have not had surgery and it sure has been quite a ride so far!!!!!!!!!!!!