• Name: Tamara
• Age: 38
• Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
• Surgery date: May 24th, 2012
• Testimonial date: August 15th, 2012
• Surgeon: Mario Almanza

I have been over weight on and off my entire life! In 2001 I got pregnant with my daughter, her father and I ended up splitting up, which was a very difficult time for me being pregnant and alone! After I had my daughter in 2002, and gained a ton of weight during my pregnancy! For the first time I was alone, and unemployed with a beautiful little girl to support! For the last ten years I have gradually added on more and more weight! I was exercising 7 days a week and not losing I just kept gaining weight! That is when I started researching gastric surgery. After a year of looking into it, I decided that I needed to get healthy and since I tried every diet possible, would lose some weight but then I would gain the weight back plus 20 pounds! So In January I gave my self the best present I could! I started the procedure to get the gastric Sleeve! The week before school was out I started my preop diet, and the first 3 days were the hardest, but after that it got a little easier. On the last day of School, I flew out of Alaska. I arrived in San Diego on May 23rd, and was picked up and then we drove and picked up a couple patients at the recovery house! Then all of us were taken to the Clinic! They checked us in and we did all the testing which seemed like it took forever, however it was only a couple of hours. It was very warm outside and I was very tired! But then they took me to the hotel and I ordered some wonderful broth and walked around did some shopping and enjoyed some warmth! The next morning I weighed in at 232, we were picked up and taken back to the clinic, the group that had surgery the day before were up walking around. They checked us all in and took us upstairs, I was the first to have the surgery I got an IV, legs wrapped and then I walked down to the surgery room. I was very nervous, but that is the last thing I remember. The next thing I remember is waking up in a bed upstairs, I got up and started walking right away. I didn't have much for pain or gas pain, just a little in my shoulders. Later that night because I was doing so well they went ahead and took me to the recovery house. I stayed at the recovery house for 2 nights, the people were very nice, and the house was very clean. The third morning we were given this nasty stuff to drink! It was horrible and stained your teeth purple, it was hard to get the nasty taste out of my mouth. Then after we drank it we drove so they could do our xrays to make sure that our sleeve was ok and there was no leek, during the XRay we had to drink this additional nasty stuff that made you almost puke! But thank goodness it was only a few minutes! After everyone in my group got their xray we left back to the recovery house! I chose to leave that day back to the US. I was ready to go home! So then a group of us were taken back to the US, got through the border with no problems and the driver dropped us a the airport. I took a taxi to the greyhound bus station. I took the bus to Long Beach, got a hotel for the night and the next day I went to the airport picked my daughter up and got my rental car then the next 9 days we took a vacation! It was a wonderful experience and I would do it again. As of Today I am know 186. My goal weight is 130, I have a little ways to go, but I will get there slowly but surly. Every pound I see go I get so excited. For the first time in a long time I am not physically exhausted. I feel I have energy to do things. I am excited to keep losing.

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* This is an actual testimonial, however, your results may vary. For more information, please read our Testimonial Disclaimer and Risks of Surgery.