Good morning Elaine,

  I know that any surgery has some risk with it. But when a person becomes obese, just being in the state of obesity is setting you up for risk.  I really was not wanting,,or thinking really hard about surgery. I am 40 with a BMI of (was) 43. I have a loving husband who likes me heavy,  BUT<<< My health was not good though,,,I was getting high blood pressure and couldn't walk even to my mail box with out getting winded. I was watching Good morning America and they were talking about "Women's Health".  They gave the statistics of a woman my age..and a little less weight than I was at the time...as having a 80% higher chance of dieing younger than normal!  They talked about all the health risk ,,problems that just come by being obese.  It would only get worse the older I would get! I knew I needed to make some major changes. I did ALOT of research on the inter-net...BUT like with ANYTHING in life....You will find people with NEGATIVE,,,,and FALSE information.  People sometimes have ideas in there head that they believe is right....OR someones OL' aunt had a by-pass and they died,,,SO everyone that gets a by-pass is crazy,,,because they ALL die...ECT....I heard ALOT of crazy,,,UNEDUCATED talk about this subject.  I mostly didn't try to tell too many people. Some people talk alot about things they know nothing about.  You will find NEG> info. about weight loss surgery on the NET...DO NOT GO THERE.  Go to the sites where people have had it done for years ...and YES,,,,some people have died...sorry to say.  They had health problems already though...and they were HIGHLY OBESE.  I'm so proud of them though...and keep them in my prayers ,,,,,they didn't just keep sitting on the couch eating...They were doing something about their health. For anyone to get Weight Loss Surgery,,,you really have to know this is what you need. This isn't just an "easy" way to loose weight!  You must know this is ADDING YEARS to your life...and giving you a HIGHER QUALITY of life.  YOU are worth this!  I was worth this!  I will always  for the rest of my life have a "TOOL".....(the best weight-loss aid you can get)....to keep my on the right track.  YES,,I can stay FAT with this tool if I work at it....but seeing how much better if feel already...and how healthy I'm getting...I don't want to risk it.  (You can drink yourself Fat with a ton of liquid calories).

Don't let the idea of going to Mexico get you off track. If you can get it done in the States with your ins. ...I guess do it.  I LOVED the hospital...and DR.JOYA.  It was SO CLEAN,,and nice..private. Unlike any hospital I've been in the States. There was no "PA" system blaring out "paging Dr....so and so".  They are very professional ,,state of the art. Jane is a RN...she can tell you.  The Hotel is SO beautiful.  I wish I could live there!  I would honestly do this again in a heart beat.  You are treated REALLY well....THEY are very competent and Educated. The complication rate is very low.

 

You know.....that today's 60yr. olds..are really yesterdays 40. You have to have the mindset of not being old.....take an active step in your health.  If you feel you can do this,,,YOU will feel younger and add years to your LIFE.   If you're like me,,,I knew how to loose weight...just keeping it off and not gaining more was my problem. This "tool" is a LIFE SAVER, even at your young age.

 

Here are a few websites that have pt. with Weight Loss Surgery for many years.

I know I for one....Truly and whole heartedly believe in the Gastric Sleeve...there are other choices...GO to there support groups and see how people are doing with them.  Study,,,learn...find out what would be good for you.  Do not go into this just half hearted.  I had first booked with another Dr. in Mexico ( I have no Ins. so that did play into going to Mexico)....I was going to get the gastric band.  I joined a lot of gastric band support groups..and  by-pass groups.  I read about ALOT of problems with just eating and getting things stuck in the band...Ect...I had found DR.JOYA and was going to get my gastric band with him (I found his eduction and other things to be more what I was looking for ,,than the other Dr.)....I was still going to get the band,,but was talking to GERALD,,his pt. support person....HE told me to checking the gastric sleeve...I would probably be more what I was looking for.  HE WAS RIGHT!  I wanted to keep my stomach!  I love my new "ballerina" stomach....my stomach is NOW my friend. My head and stomach are working together. This is more than I could hope for!

Go check out these support sites,,,,read..read..and ask questions.  If you talk about getting the gastric sleeve on other support sites besides these,,,don't be surprised if weigh-loss people too feel "their way was the ONLY right way"...ect.  I got blasted once talking about the gastric sleeve in a support group for the "band".   They just don't know anything about it.

 

Both groups have Gastric sleeve pt.  If you have read some of our past post...Jane has explained more about the sleeve.  There are other detailed accounts about the sleeve that I can direct you to.

 

WE are here for you..ask us anything.

Sherry

----- Original Message ----
From: lucyisgoosy <gesmithrus@...>
To: drjoyavsg@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, October 2, 2006 11:13:01 PM
Subject: Re: Dr. Joya Gastric Sleeve Surgery why did you choose this surgery?