32 BMI Got Sleeved 5/18/2015 - Mexico, MX

I am 9 days post op, so late to the party. I went through researching, the decision making process, the apprehension, the pre-op, the surgery and the first week already. CNN Summary: I decided 15 months ago to look into WLS. Over time, I decided it was for me. I have been a yo-yo dieter for 20+ years. My health is suffering. I am 43 and I have young children....we ALL deserve a healthier me. I was approved (self pay) for a local bariatric surgeon/Center of Excellence and was trying to pull together $13,000. Then I started researching "Medical Tourism" and found A Lighter Me and Dr Ortiz. $4600 + airfare, got me 2 nights in the hospital (vs outpatient) and 3 nights in a nice hotel in Mexico to heal ...done deal! I signed up and had the surgery a month later.

Traveling, the surgery itself, all was good. I feel like I bounced back a bit quicker than some who were having it done the same time as I was. I was walking 2 hours post op. Traveling home was fine (4 hour flight!)

So here I am, back at work, trying to figure out how to get in all my liquids and protein. I am on "full liquids" until the weekend, then will be allowed to switched the pureed foods. Never have I been more excited for apple sauce, LOL.

Recovery is not super easy. I am still sore. It still hurts when I swallow. I can literally feel everything slide down my throat, sit at the bottom of my esophagus, then spill into my tiny tummy. I get cramping, tons of "throat burping" and just got over like 5 days of diarrhea. And I get hot flashes every time I swallow. And OMG am I tired. I could literally sleep for the next 3 days straight through. But....all tolerable!

Stats: I am 5'4". High Weight: 237 (41 BMI) Start Weight: 195 (33.5 BMI) Surgery weight: 187 (32.1 BMI) Current Weight: 174.5 (29.9 BMI)! I am now officially "overweight" and no longer "obese." I am super motivated and ready for my new lifestyle. The smallest I have been in 20 years is 168, and I feel like I will get there quickly!

Not sure what my weight was here.....I know it was close to 220. Never again!

I had a lower BMI at the time of surgery. I have been heavier in my lifetime...BMI over 40 more than once. Its horrible how many people with judge you for not being "fat enough." Its insulting. I actually had 2 strangers tell me if "I just tried harder" I would lose the weight. They don't know how many years I have dieted, how many trainers I've had, how many "lifestyle changes" I've tried, what my labs looks like, what my health history is or why I decided this was the option for ME. And frankly....I DON'T CARE. I did this for ME. So I can be healthy and see my kids graduate from High school, so I can meet my Grandchildren someday. For a lot of reasons.

If you are like me and have a "low BMI" with "Only" 50-75 lbs to lose, don't let these people get to you. If this is for you, its for you. I have yet to tell ANYONE in my family or in my "offline" life about it, save my therapist and MD. And no one needs to know. Not that I am ashamed. I am just not needed to hear the stupid commentary from the world. Just because I didn't make it to 300 lbs didn't mean that I wouldn't "next time" and WHY would I WANT to get that big if I could prevent it??