babybig

Thanks for telling me this.... It at least makes me feel a better knowing im not alone. I dothe same thing. I see my primary care doctor for labs. Nothing ever comes up abnormal and i feel great after the surgery. My feelings are that this guy prob didnt want me talking about cheaper options during group meetings. Spreading any rumors about cheap surgery. Whatever to him. He has all of alaska for himself. I hope he gets competition soon!

Ok so I live in Anchorage, Alaska. I had my surgery in Mexico by DR. Almanza on April 15, 2011.

I decided to seek out a group for people who have had my surgery or something close (sleeve)

I called the only bariactric surgury clinic in town and wanted to know about there groups, they said I had to be a patient. I set up an appointment with the doc, which by the way his office is like an assembly line of ppl waiting to be seen. Anyways after i waited well over an hour past my appt time, he then sat with me... and said he refuses to see me because I had my surgery in mexico. I told him I just want to be part of the groups, and he said absolutely not. DONT TELL ANYONE TOO HAVE SURGERY IN MEXICO, TELL THEM TO COME HERE AND WE CAN DO PAYMENT PLANS. GO BACK TO YOUR OLD HOSPITAL AND IF YOU HAVE A COMPLICATION THEY WILL CALL ME THEN, UNTIL THEN I WONT SEE YOU! He was rude! He belittled me. said alot of other hurtful things.... HAS ANYONE HAD A SIMILIAR SITUATION HAPPEN TO THEM????

Im so upset. This is my only rescource here.....I do not reccomend anyone ever have surgery by this guy. If im correct he performed surgeries in the 80's and his first 10 or 20 (i dont remember) DIED on him. My mom is one of the few survivors still left.

Besides that..... all I wanted was to be part of the group meetings.... and I was refused.

Lost 85 lbs since april 15, 2011

Is anyone else having this problem with Milk, Soy milk, Protein Drinks (Ive tried tons, with and without dairy) even hemp milk, and almond milk? If I drink a tiny little sip I am ok.... but even one 8 oz glass will get me sweaty and nauseated for about an hour. I would like to add some more Protein into my diet but i can't seem to add it with a Protein Drink.

At first i thought it was just sensitivity to milk, so i tried soy and non dairy products and still got sick. cheese yogurt, and cottage cheese do not bother me at all.

Any suggestions, ideas?? Anyone just having the same problem would be a relief to know. I am 6 months post op and have had this problem since i was able to drink these products.

Okay, since I have some energy back and only occasionally feel icky I am learning to accept this. But for those of you who think you are slow losers I thought I would share with you my astounding stats:

Sleeved almost 6 weeks ago and I have lost as of this morning: 10.5 pounds

Ta-da....drop the confetti....flash the strob lights.....whoohoooooo

(Moment of pride and clarity: 36.5 total. I lost the rest pre-surgery just dieting in 4 months. Odd, huh.)

Sadly, I have been guessing. This was stopping by the center's office and off their official scales. I actually thought I was doing better.

3 to 4 ounce capacity. Eating 5 times a day.

Oh well. I figure things will eventually change and obviously I was never going to get skinny on my own. Thankfully, I only want to get down to moderately fat. My thyroid was checked about 18 months ago but they are going to check it again next week. They initially thought I was not counting my food right but then they saw everything is packaged. I mean, how can you mis-count a 3 ounce white fish fillet or a large egg? I am NOT a from scratch type of cook.

My honest instinct is that this surgery just happened to coincide with menopause for me. So I really think that's a piece of why my poor confused body doesn't know which direction to go. So my next step might be a year or two of hormone replacement. I know it's risky but using them temporarily to see if it helps with the weight loss --- well there are times when the risk of not doing thing is as risky as doing them as I have learned from this whole experience.

And I'm so glad that almost 40 pounds are gone forever. It does make a huge difference now that summer is here!

if it makes you feel better... i lost 8 lbs since surgery (more pre op diet) and im on week 7. also i have been tested for thyroid problems and everything is normal.

We didn't want to share a room... and there was a risk my hubby would have to sleep on a couch. We stayed at the Hotel Ticuan. It's not ideal choice but if you really want your privacy, ask to stay there instead. It's $68 a night

Check out my blog for details on our journey

I also stayed at the ticuan, it was very nice! One secret is to ask the restaurant downstairs for JUST broth, they have THE BEST broth i ever tasted in my life! I think it cost me 4 bucks for a huge bowl so be ready to bring some back to your room.

The drivers kinda forgot about me during some trips so you have to remind them your there lol! overall i wouldnt have done it any other way!!

Are you weighing everyday? Was this a one day flux or did it creep?

From the paperwork that I got from Dr. Almanza it doesn't really look like you are following his recommendations. You need to cut out the chili and mac-n-cheese for sure! Those will make you retain Water sleeve or not. Mac-n-cheese is a bad choice for anyone, sleeved or not. Dr. Almanza says that beef and pork can be introduced 4 months post-op but poultry and fish are recommended.

3

^rd

to 4

^th

Week Post-Op (Home Soft Diet):

·

Blended meat and poultry (the texture of babyfood), soft poached eggs

·

Canned and/or jarred baby foods that are low insugar and higher in Protein (meat and chicken) are acceptable.

·

Low fat cottage cheese, sugar free puddings

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Unsweetened applesauce, pureed canned peaches(not in syrup), mashed ripe bananas

·

Blended soft cooked vegetables, or overcookedand mashed with a fork

·

Oatmeal, grits, farina

When I stall, I gain 5 pounds everytime!! I track everything too. The one thing I would reccommend is trying to flood yourself with liquids. If you body is hanging on to some, you can try getting some extra in there to get your body to let it go.

This is what i am currently trying to do! Im just glad to hear im not alone. It's less scary then.

So how are you doing? I am in Delta Junction and have just started the steps to have the procedure done. Now I just have to find a Dr. who can do it.

Im doing good! Are you going to havethe gastric sleeve surgery then? Insurance paying or self pay? I paid out of pocket and went to Mexico, so far im happy with that.

I have been reading all the post. I am having surgery June 20th @ Jerusalem Hospital. I am self-pay and I have no other choice. My patient coordinator is Louise Johnson. Is anyone else going at the same

time? I am nervous, but the weight is going to kill me. I have got to have this tool to help me achieve my goal. Excited and scared.... Ginger

Well, I am not going in June, I went in April. You have a long time to wait! I was going to go in July but the anxiety of waiting was so bad i moved it to April. I have to say it would be alot easier if you are bringing someone with you, if not you will be fine. Its just scary being in an unfanmiliar place, alone.

Dont be scared just because your going to Mexico, Ive heard horror stories from American hospitals. Problems can arise in any country, but they are rare!

I think you will be just fine

Are you tracking your intake so you can know exactly how many carbs/protein/calories you are actually eating? Mac-n-cheese (the prepackaged type) is loaded with sodium and 1/2 cup gives you nearly 1/5 of your daily recommended sodium intake, add the milk, butter/margarine that you are adding it to it, and that adds even more sodium because those stats are for the unprepared nutrition, plus it's 24gr of processed carbs, chili is typically high in sodium as well, but it's a great Protein and Fiber source.

It's more than likely Water weight due to high sodium intake. Try pushing fluids in if you're going to eat these types of foods just to help flush out the extra Water weight.

I am not tracking much of anything, just listening to my body i guess. I will try to track and drink more water. Right now im getting about 60 oz a day which isnt enough i don't think. I do know that before this surgery i would eat two boxes of mac n cheese, vs now eating 1/2 a cup! That itself is weird to think of.

are we as sleevers suppose to be eating 6-7 times a day? my surgeon/nutritionist said to stick with 3 solid meals a day. and one snack if you get hungry etc.

could that be it maybe, i dunno. sorry about your weight gain. i worry about that as well

My doc said I need to eat 6 times a day. I think reccomendations vaary. I mean eating three times a day only 1/2 cup isnt going to give you much nutrition. It could have to do with the size your doc made your stomach too? I think mine was a 32 bougie which sseems to be smaller than most on here but I am absolutely not a professional lol.

Thanks

are u anywhere near getting ur period soon? did u increase ur salt intake.. its probably Water dear.. whats ur typical day food intake?

No period for another two weeks, I havent been watching my salt intake either.

Been having stuff like cottage cheese, steamed veggies, yogurt, Protein drinks, chilli, mac and cheese, popsicles (not sugar free, but 80 calories at about one a day) eating about every two hours (around 6-7 times a day) slowly, about a 1/2 cup of food.

I am so used to failure, so scared of being fat forever, I am just worried about this! I dont FEEL like i am gaining weight, but the scale says so.

With pain meds i was ok. I felt sick only the first night, then by the second night i was out shopping (in mexico, may be different then here). I heard someone in the room next to me throwing up all night after the same surgery... so i think it varies alot, saw her the second day and she kooked better than me...

Wondering if anyone else is having this problem of gaining weight. I am only 19 days post op! I lost about 25 lbs then gained 5 back. Getting worried.

Im in Anchorage, Alaska and was sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on April 15th 2011. Looking for local support.