Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

Anyone use him in TJ, Mexico? I did a post search but couldn't find anything. I am really wanting to stay close to border (just-in-case) but have pretty much ruled one clinic and wanted to see if this Dr. came a little more highly recommended then other.

I remember someone posting that they wanted to run into their old boyfriend. Although I really never thought about that, I have been very embarrassed over the years to see people I had not seen in many years because of my weight. BUT THEN IT HAPPENED. Friday in Wal-Mart, I rounded the corner and there he was. It was so nice to see him and feel like I looked decent! We talked about 20 min. :thumbup:

Will all those who have any problem or discomfort/distaste for drinking plain water POST surgery please state your case. I have asked my surgeon and nutritionist and they haven't a clue. I would like to pose this dilemma to Dr. Jossart and provide him with the link to this thread to illustrate that many of us have this issue. I am hoping he will be able to give us a satisfactory explanation. Thanks.

Hey everybody, I know there are diabetics out there, so hopefully you'll check this forum! My surgery date is in less than 2 weeks (hooray!), and I'm curious how quickly you've seen improvement in your levels after surgery, and how long until you were able to throw those pills away! Currently, I'm on Metformin and Glipizide, as well as Lisinopril for hypertension. My surgeon's nurse says I'll be able to swallow all my pills without a problem after surgery. Has this been your experience? It seems to be contradictory to the liquids only philosophy. At least I know I can split the pills into smaller chunks. My surgeon is located in another state from where I live, s…

I think I asked this same question when I was researching the band..... Is there anyone on here that has personal experiences to share after being "sleeved" for several years? The band seemed like the thing to do Feb 2008....not a lot of complaints or problems (or none that I distinctly remember). Now pretty much everyone you talk to who has had a band for greater than 1 1/2 or 2 years is having some sort of nuisance issues or had removal, etc. I am seriously considering the sleeve, but I dread getting 2-3 years out and having issues that can't really be reversed. (I had my band removed in March due to slippage and have no problems resulting from my 2 years be…

Amazing. I can cross my legs now, without having to lift them up with my arms. I have not been able to do that in five years. I can bend down and not have to have something near me to help push me up. I can get into the car without feeling like I am a contortionist. I can fit in a restaurant booth without my stomach touching the table. Amazing.

A member here, youknowit, let me know she had seen my before and some after pics of me in some youtube videos. Shontel had let me know a couple months ago that she had seen my pics in a youtube video as well, but didn't do anything about it. Now, I find this kind of creepy. Least to say, I did not authorize the usage of my photos. I contacted the poster, and advised them that they were violating the TOS of youtube. I'm assuming they snagged my photos from this forum because my OH is completely private. So, I went in and made my photo album here available to only my friends. I gave the poster 24 hours to reply. If I do not hear from them, I will report the …

Good evening everyone! Well in 13 days I will join the ranks, Dr. Aceves will be performing my VSG, very excited... BUT of course I am now thinking of every possible question leading up to the big day. This evening, it is all about the staples they use... What if my body reacts to them? Do they eventually dissolve? Could they work themselves out of place? If anyone has any research/information on the staples and safety of this procedure in terms of the way they secure that side of your stomach, I would be so grateful! Thanks everyone!!!

So, no sleep apnea, which is was the last shot I had at getting insurance approval. I am sad and the worldly side of me wants to just say "forget it, I'm just gonna pay for it myself" but then I get a gut check in my soul about it and I know it's the Lord telling me "no, the doors didn't open for the surgery, don't force it". So, I'm not going to force it. I'm going to go back on the supplements that I was taking toward the end of last year that helped me lose 18.5 lbs. They are all natural and help me be healthier in general, and enhance my results when I put out a little effort in the eating department. I've bought an elliptical and it is kicking my rear end. I…

I've read a lot of you talking about your liquids being too sweet. I am just the opposite - I want, no crave, sweet liquids. Tea sweetened with Sweet-n-Low, drinks with Splenda, etc. Am I completely weird? (Well, maybe don't answer that question. :tongue_smilie:) Anyone else find this to be true?

Has anyone noticed that they now bruise really easily post-op? I hardly ever bruised pre-surgery (even when I was thin), even if I was bumped to the point that it brought tears, saw stars, etc. Now, however, I bruise really easily and they last forever. Should I be concerned or is this just a "benefit" of having less padding?:svengo:

Well I'm super excited! My surgery is scheduled for May 12th!!!! In the beginning my closest friends were in total support. Some of them even jealous! And then, as soon as my actual date was scheduled, it turned bad. They actually sat me down and did an "intervention"!!! I knew there would be some worry and concern, but that was above and beyond what I expected! They actually told me I was going to die on the table, and what would my 9 year old daughter do without a mother? Then they actually tried to get me to smoke and drink pop knowing I have beem struggling with those addictions. They dragged my boss into it, speculating that I would have to be off of work for a mo…

This is more of a vent than a question, but I need to share with someone. I'm having one those weeks. We all have them, we all know that sh*t happens. Anyway, what I can not wrap my head around is why stress causes me to lose weight. I'm eating a very balanced diet. Getting in between 1200-1500 calories a day, and have quit worrying about carbs. All I really make sure I get are my calories and Protein. I can't for the life of me understand this cycle. I've tried to stop stressing. I've been praying for peace and grace. I've been repeating "Let Go and Let God". I've slipped below 124 for a few days, and I feel so lost and frustrated. I'm doing ev…

:001_unsure:so why do my mom feel the need to tell everybody. we had a fight today because i don't want the whole stinkin world to know aboutr my wls. i do feel guilty when people ask me how i did and i just say protien shakes and exercise but i leave out the sleeve part. am i lying?? should i feel bad???? but today my mom told a couple people at the gym i had weightloss surgery i was so piss!! she had no right and i have told her this twice. so now what?? i thinking about swicthing gyms that how upset i am!! and my guess was right every one has a bad thoughts about wls (now they looking at me funny mine you this are size 2 chicks!!) she should have not said anything. it …

Ok, since my surgery I have had the easiest transition. It worries me a little though. I am 1month out and have had zero trouble with any food. I eat chicken, eggs, toast, ground meat and even tried a little pasta (2 tiny bites) . No problem.. I feel great after I eat everytime! I eat about 2 to 2 1/2 oz of food. Is anyone in the same boat? I'm a little worried that I could be eating wrong/too much. Thanks in advance for help!

so i told two different people today that the vsg is something i'm looking,and the reactions i got were quite interesting. one was very interested and asked lots of questions, and the other just kind of got quiet, and sort of changed the topic. i think the second girl got quiet because she felt uncomfortable talking about it, and i know that she's lost quite a bit of weight recently through diet and excersize. the thing is that i know i could do the same thing, BUT i would just gain it back. i've done the "same" thing over and over. except, i lose 20 pounds and then gain it back and a little bit extra. people who haven't been fat their whole lives don't seem to get it. ye…

So, my lovely girlfriend took a number of pictures of me standing around in just my boxers, and, yeah... now I remember why 1) I never go shirtless, and 2) I don't like pictures! I believe that, under all the flab, I'm still a basically good looking man. But I have let the fat pile up, in roll after roll, until I'm almost unrecognizable under it. I think I've never really let myself accept just how very fat I've become. I have this bizarre mental image of myself as much more "normal" weight than is reality, but I also live in constant apprehension of someone seeing just how large I am. It's a bizarre mental double-image, and the photos today (which are in my private…

I was sleeved on Feb 24th and am looking for a support group or someone that has gone through the surgery. Thanks, Joanne

How does this happen?

what kind of problem can happen with having the sleeve??/ I had the lapband it eroded in dec 09.. Now I am going for teh sleeve,. I just hear good things.. what are the bad??? And I have heard about a 3 leak test.. I know what a leak test is . but do they do it 3 times after surgery or at other times after surgery>???? Thank You, Rose

Hi All, I had my psych eval on 3/26/10, how long before I get my orientation appointment? How long did you all have to wait? I'm thinking of calling Monday to see whats going on. Also, I know I have to loose 10% of my weight, should I start now or after orientation? Does the doctor start the time from your highest weight & PCP's referal or from the time he first sees you? I am so ready for this :biggrin2: Thanks in advance for all the great info Lydia

I get surgery on thursday and everyone is like are u getting nervous are you freaking out aren't you worried! I don't know what I feel I trust in my surgeon I did not know what the sleeve was i went for a consult for gastric bypass and my surgeon left the room soon as he walked in I was like uhhm ok then doing my research the last five months and reading everything everyone post here I know I am on the right track. I have faith in god so I am not freaking out. I guess my question is how did you feel should I be freaking out.

Just curious what you have found/been told is safe to take for a headache. Thanks! Stacie

Hard to believe no one has posted on this forum....Happy Easter I was wondering if anyone had advice on the best Vitamins to get. I have plenty, but I am concerned about whether they are strong enough or whether they are they ones i should be taking. Appreciate it. Thanks, Les

Hi everyone. I was admitted to the hospital last night with pancreatitis. I thought I had something lodged in my sleeve. But evidently it has nothing to do with my surgery. Anyone else have experience with this?

This is my first posting on here. (Hello All!) I had my sleeve op nine days ago and am pottering around, although I still have quite a lot of pain. I ordered loads of books from Amazon before surgery, about weight loss surgery - but none of them really say much about VSG. They all seem to be aimed at banders or by-passers. Can anyone point me in the right direction please (it will probably have to be online shopping for now ... oh, and I'm in the UK). Love to hear from you. Thanks Tiaras xx

Hi all... I had surgery Monday. I've been sleeping constantly but feeling better every day (aside from starting my period yesterday, ugh!). I have a couple of question, though: My stomach is constantly LOUD...growling, gurgling, etc. Does that stop? It's growling like I'm starving (which I haven't eaten in forever so I probably am). I've taken Gas-X strips which help for an hour or so but then I feel the gas again. When I drink too much too fast I get a severe pain (when I had the band I could drink more as long as I wasn't eating). Is this just because I'm so fresh out of surgery? Do you feel the same way months after with liquid? I'm dizzy a lot and light headed.…

Tomorrow morning, bright and early at 7:30 (if all is according to hospital schedule) I will be starting my NEW LIFE !!! YEA !!! Not scared, no apprehension...just grateful for this opportunity.:scared0: Hopefully, I will be released on Friday and will check on all you others that have been sleeved this week.

And I feel lika big, fat sausage. I have gained 10 lbs since my band unfill the first of march, and I am worried about what might happen before I get the surgery. The doc has to remove my band(maybe week after next) wait 1-2 months for my stomach to heal, then i will get sleeved. I dont want to put on another 10 or 20 lbs! Maybe I should get some appetite supressants or something. Blech, Lisa

I haven't posted in awhile so I wanted to let all of you who are newly sleeved and about to get sleeved that I'm thinking of you all and praying for you. I don't feel like I have much to offer on most of the threads since I don''t know what I'm talking about yet, LOL. But, I am on here several times a day reading and learning. Anyway, point is, just wanted to let y'all know that there's someone out there praying for you and learning from you! Still no word on insurance approval for me :-( It's been a week and a day since it's all been submitted. Just trying to keep the faith and trying not to take it out of God's hands. There's a part of me that wants to say so ba…

I am going Tues. for my seminar. I am debating between the band and the sleeve, from reading everyone on here I think i'm leaning more towards the sleeve. I will be self-pay as my insuance doesn't cover it. So here are my questions: Which is better band/sleeve? How long is the process for self-pay? Do I need to do a diet before I can have surgery or is that only for insurance? Has anyone ever heard of any long term problems with the sleeve? Sorry so many questions and if you can answer any of them I would greatly appreciate it..THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!:lol0:

One Pound of Fat Hello, do you know me? If you don?t you should. I?m a pound of fat, and I?m the happiest pound of fat that you would ever want to meet. Want to know why? It?s because no one ever wants to lose me; I?m Only One Pound, just a pound. Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds or fifteen pounds, but never only one, so I just stick around and happily keep you fat. Then I add to myself ever so slyly so that you never seem to notice it, that is until I?ve grown to ten, twenty or even more pounds in weight. Yes, it?s fun being Only One Pound of fat, left to do as I please. So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying ?Oh, I only lost one pound.? (as if that…

Below is a link to the updated position on the Sleeve Gastrectomy from the ASMBS. http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/Updated_Position_Statement_on_Sleeve_Gastrectomy.pdf

Hey guys, What a day I had yesterday. I went to see my to see my PCP to update him on my surgery, etc. The next thing I know I am in an ambulance to take me.......across the street, to the hospital ER. My blood pressure was down to 65/33. This had my doctor worred that their could be internal bleeding, or worse. My heart isn't in the best shape to begin with (5x CABG, 3 stents, two coronary occlusions). After taking every blood test imaginable, they finally released me at Midnight! With the diagnosis of DEHYDRATION. Evidently, even though i caught up to drinking the appropriate liquids by Sunday. Thursday through Saturday I had only managed to drink about 3 or 4 12 oz gla…

I had my VSG 7-7-09 so I am almost 9 months post op. I started at 201 & my goal weight was 135. I reached that goal by 6 months. I now weigh anywhere between 127-130. I'm actually trying to get to 125, but not stressing over it. Anyway, my current dilemma is that several people have told me (some to my face, others behind my back to my Dad) that I've lost too much weight & should NOT lose anymore. One even told my step-mom "don't let her lose anymore weight!"...like she controls my weight loss...So, I'm asking for your opinions/advice. I am 5'4 and my current BMI is around 22, I think. I don't have any recent photos (the last one was about 20 lbs ago or more…

Hi, I've heard quoted a few times now, from different sources, that "only five percent of obese people are able to lose weight and keep it off with diet and exercise alone." Of course, this is a great -- perhaps the strongest -- motivation for seeking weight loss surgery. But, is it true? So, in the spirit of being scientific, I'd like to ask if anyone has ever seen a study corroborating the five percent figure. Obviously, if the number is 80% instead of 5%, that's going to significantly change how I think about WLS. To be specific, I'm only interested in peer-reviewed research here.

Hello All, I am having my vsg on April 7th and am looking for a mentor who is a vegetarian and/or interested in organic foods. I myself am a pescatarian (my main source of Protein is fish) who also eats eggs/dairy as long as they are humane-certified. Anyone who can share their tips/knowledge will be very much appreciated! Blessings, Denise

Okay, after much thought and discussion, I think we've figured out what's going on. Date: April 3, 2010 Time: Noon Place: NorthPark Mall Directions/Map: NorthPark Center - The Premier Shopping and Dining Center in Dallas Let's all plan to meet at the Dillard's main entrance that faces US75. For those that have sent me a message, I will send a message with my cell phone for contact. Also, if you plan on attending let me know so we can get a general head count on who all is attending. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, coffee places, and shopping to enjoy. NorthPark Center - The Premier Shopping and Dining Center in Dallas I honestly ca…

Hopefully everyone is OK. I know several members were scheduled to arrive there today for surgery tommorow.

I had the band put in in November of 2007 in Tijuana, Mexico. It was great for the first year or so then BAM! I was in and out of the ER being dehydrated and not being able to keep anything down. Finally in November of 2009 my Dr here in California said enough is enough and the band was taken out on Dec. 31st. The plan was to do the sleeve at the same time, but once he got in there he found erosion under the band. He said my stomach needed to heal before he could do the sleeve. I have that surgery scheduled for March 22nd (3 weeks from today) but who's counting? The last two months have been pretty rough. I have watched myself turn back into this person I promised myself …

...that there is a higher risk factor for adenocarcinoma (cancer) in the stomach,if part of your stomach is removed for any reason? i just read this and it scared me. Stomach (Gastric) Cancer | Health | Patient UK go to (What causes.....) btw. it seems this information is well known, (google) why isn't this written in every pro vs con list? ------------------------------ still pre-op

So, I have been very good the past few weeks staying in the 600-800 calorie range, but it's been creeping up to closer to 800 the past week. First quesiton - should I be worried? I'm having difficulty distinguishing between head and stomach hunger. I'm not craving things that are bad for me, just a little more of what I should/can be eating. I reached for 1 mini pretzel last night & my husband pointed out "Are you snacking?" Don't come down on him, I have specifically asked him to help me stay on track. But, I'm wondering, would one pretzel be ok every once in a while. It totally took care of my "urge" and I didn't want any more. Am I heading down a slipp…

Time for an update, went to my doctor today, labs and everything looks great! Tried the unflavored protein, NOT good, so I returned it to GNC, got more of the liquid protein vials. Will probably stick with those for a while, each one has 42 grams of protein, more than half of what I need daily. I found some soups in the organic area at the store, creamy butternut squash, cashew carrot ginger, cream of portobello mushrooms, ready to try one of those for dinner today. Only thing I'm chewing still is the chewable multivitamin. Scheduled to go back to work on Monday, gotta get back into my routine, and have to start scheduling gym time, don't want to slack off on that!…

I'm less than 48 hours from my surgery, and I should be studying for my psychology midterm tomorrow, but instead I have been hanging out on the internet googling "VSG" and "WLS" and so on. That got me thinking that I should see if there's any such thing as a WLS or VSG refrigerator magnet to add to my collection! DH and I collect refrigerator magnets in a big way. A few years ago we painted our kitchen ceiling with magnetic paint, and now it looks like this: I went to food rewards for weight loss?

Click on the Months 1 Months* 1 This was shared on OH, and I found it beyond interesting. Especially, for those that chart their loss, or those just beginning their journey. Plug in your numbers, hit "Create Report" and it spells everything out for you. Do to copyright rules, I can't share my stats openly, but least to say, I am stoked by this report. Of course, my goal weight by my age, height, gender says 110lbs. So, it shows that I've only lost 85% of my excess weight. However, I'll take 85% loss. Plus, the average American female's weight in my age, and height bracket, is 137. I don't think I've ever been close to the "average" anything.

Hi Everyone, You are NEVER too old to start a healthy life. I was sleeved 10/21/08 by Dr. Aceves in Mexicali and now have reached my goal of a weight loss of 100 pounds. It has been an amazing journey and I feel fantastic. Life has never been better than it is right now. You can do this too. I failed at so many 'Diets" in my life. This is NOT a diet, but a lifestyle change that I can and will do for the rest of my life. It takes effort on your part to get here, but you can do it if you want to. I used to hate the word exercise, now I honestly look forward to it. I make sure I eat healthy foods too. I want to live until I am 100 and this is my tool to allow me…

The chat room is open. anybody want to talk?

Some interesting reading over on Obesity Help in the VSG forum tonight. Especially on page 1 by PeanutFreeMom.

I'm done with the clear liquid diet. The best flavor to mix with the liquid Protein was the sugar free Hawiian Punch wild purple smash. Today I started the full liquid diet, mixed the Any whey powder protein, with peaches Dannon light n fit, not bad, maybe a bit bitter. Will add it to my chicken broth and low fat cream Soups as well. I also have the Optimum Nutrition vanilla ice cream powder protein, to add to skim milk, Water, or any Great Value drink that might taste good with vanilla. I've been walking every day, want to start with light dumbells for the arms and shoulders, can't do anything else for now. I feel great, still sore on the incision on the left side…

Remember "Loser", he had gotten sick and has not been on in a while. I PMed him and no response. He is in my zip code but no idea how to find him. Just Loser, if you are out there please let us know how you are and if you need any help/support. If anyone knows how he is please let me know b/c I find myself worrying if he is okay. Thanks.