kemo46

Hey Jenn, get your family on the forum, let them research and ask questions. This helped my wife understand and become more comfortable with the surgery and Mexico. I could not be more happy with my surgeon and my progress.

Having the support of your friends or family are very important. If you have the support, it will help you with this life changing experience and make it much easier. My wife has started eating much better and is losing weight with me, it makes it much easier when everyone in the family is eating healthy. I think a big sign for me is know when you are full and stop eating. Your newly sleeved stomach will let you know when you are full. Eat protein first and you will do fine. I am so glad I had this surgery, I just wish I would have had it a long time ago.

Hey Tamz, I had my surgery on May 25th, they took my drain tube out on May 27th before I went home. It is very normal for it to be sore at your stage, mine was tender for about 10 days. My stitches were removed on the 11th day and it is very important to use a saline wash like a product called wound wash. You need to do this two to three times a day. We were not allowed to use any petroleum based products like neosporin on the incisions. Mine have healed nicely and are no longer tender. I too was concerned about the protein at your stage but the Doc said get the liquids in, the protein will come later. If you become dehydrated, the protein is the last of your worries. I know you have heard it a thousand times but sip, sip, sip. The best way to monitor if you have a leak is you would feel real bad and your fever will go up. I took my temperature everyday for three weeks. My temp never got over 98.4 degrees and I never felt bad. You are doing fine. I was able to sleep on both sides just 2 weeks after surgery so the pain will go away. Keep us posted.

That is great, it will be over before you know it. You are going to love the sleeve so much more than the band. The maintenance was one of the things that turned me off the band. I am on soft foods now and it is wonderful. Keep us posted on everything and we will keep you in our prayers.

You will do great, I had my surgery with Dr. Almanza on May 25th and it was great. It is hard to vacation in San Diego while you are on a liquid diet, I had to watch my wife eat two large lobster tails while I was there on my liquid diet. Just relax and let them take care of you, he does about 150 of these sleeves a month so they know what they are doing. You need to follow their directions and it will go very smoothly for you. Their staff will really take care of you and your daughter while you are at the clinic and recovery house so you do not need to worry about anything. Enjoy your experience.

I am very blessed that my recovery is going great as well. I would suggest a small pillow to put next to your stomach on your ride home. A little pressure with the pillow helps a lot. Congratulations on your new life.

I am very happy for you. I was just there myself, you will lose a lot more quickly. It was a big deal for me to get under 300lbs and I am now at 277 as of this morning. Those are big milestones for us and we have many more to come.

Like they said, everyone is different. I had no pain and was up walking every hour. I did have the drain tube i had to carry with me the first 2 days after surgery. I did not take any pain medication after the 2nd day. The only issue I had was the gas and the only thing that seemed to help was the walking. My incisions were a little tender the 1st two days but great after that. I will tell you this, It was a lot easier and better than I had prepared for. I had done a lot of research prior to my surgery and I was prepared for pain, nausea and throwing up. To this day, I was never sick and now I feel great a little over two weeks out.

Is there a good electronic food journal that you can get that automatically calculates calories and or carbs? What journals are you all using and do you have to manually enter the nutritional information? I know there are websites that you can enter a food and it list the calories, carbs, sugars and other nutitional facts. I am trying to find a good journal and curious what everyone is using. Thanks.

Way to go Kurt, that is fantastic. After I saw your pictures a while back, you become an inspiration to me and it has really kept me going. My surgery was 5-25-11 and I am well on my way. That is one heck of a goal you reached.

I had my surgery with Dr. Almanza in Tijuana on 5-25-11. It was a great experience and there were no surprises because I did my research and knew exactly what to expect. It was small and clean clinic but not a fancy hospital. I could have paid more but I doubt very seriously if I would have got better care. They treated us like gold and i would recommend in a minute. Yes there are fancier hospitals but I doubt if you could have received better care anywhere. If nice fancy hospitals are what people are looking for, this is not your place but if you want a great surgeon, fantastic care and a clean facility, this is your place. We had one person in our group that was not aware this was a clinic in a strip mall and she was a bit surprised, that tells me she did not do enough research to have this or any surgery done.

Great, FM, glad they helped. I had a great experience, they treat you very well. As long as you are aware going in about the strip mall, you will love the experience. Who is your coordinator?

My Surgeon was Dr. Almanza in Tijuana Mexico. He was great and we were treated excellent. It is not a fancy hospital or a lot of bells and whistles but the care was great and the facility was clean. I would highly recommend this surgeon.

I was able to go back on my Benefiber 1st week after surgery per my Doctor's advice.

Congrats, you will love it. I just got back from Dr. Almanza and it was a great experience. As long as you know it is not a hospital and it is a clinic in a shopping strip mall, you will not be surprised. I had superb care and attention and wanted for nothing. They treated my spouse like gold. If you have any questions, PM me and I will answer everything I can for you.

I had my surgery with Dr. Almanza on 5-25-2011 and I am back home and doing great. I have had no pain and the gas has finally let up which is fantastic. The experience was great and went exactly as advertised, they could not have been more accommodating to my spouse. We had a group of five and I was the only male in the bunch. If anyone is thinking of going to Mexico and has any reservations, I would say do your research so you will know what to expect and you will not be disappointed. We had one person in our group that was surprised the clinic was in a strip shopping center, these are things you should know before you show up at their door. If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me and I will tell you about the whole process with Dr. Almanza.

Amen Brother. I am ready to experience that feeling.

I was wondering, did any of you stay on your Benefiber during your liquid diet? This stuff really helps me and i put it my coffee ( now decaf) every morning. I just started my liquid diet on the 16th, i want to make sure I do not mess anything up.

Does everyone require these shots for the VSG surgery? I have not read about this until recently. Is it up to the surgeon or is this a pretty normal thing with all surgeries? I have read where some will get it in the hospital but not have to self-inject once they leave the hospital, what determines this. I am also traveling a distance after my surgery, I was told I could wear compression socks and to get out and walk around every hour to help with circulation and prevent clotting. Please reply and let me know if everyone had to get this medicine and if it was just in the hospital or at home as well. Thanks.

Hey DogGroomer, I will not be there until the 25th, you will be leaving the recovery house when i get to the clinic for my surgery. Keep me posted on everything, I am ready to get this done and started on the new journey. How is that liquid diet going?

Kelly, did you take your vitamins in pill form and was it easy to get them down? Where they chewable, gummy or did you have to crush them? Just curious how we will be able to take our vitamins right after surgery.

Well Pasquini, is it what you thought, better or worse? Are you hurting more than you thought or not as bad? How are the drugs, are the keeping the pain down? I take it they are taking good care of you, hang in there.

Tiffy, who was your coordinator?

I figure your surgery went so well, you have been out shopping and roaming the streets of Tijuana. We want to see those videos and pics and hear your detailed experience with Dr. Almanza. I want to hear about anything that you experienced that you did not hear about on the forums and any pleasant or unpleasant surprises. I hope you are doing great and feeling no pain. Hope to hear from you soon, good luck with your fast recovery.

Looking forward to seeing the pics. I will be there on the 25th for my surgery and I am ready. We want to know everything.