5DogMa

We used Alma at Ready 4 A Change she was great. We also just got back from TJ and Dr. Garcia and the Hospital Mi Doctor were also great. We couldn't be happier with our experience and the level of care we received. We highly recommend Alma, Dr. Garcia and the Hospital Mi Doctor if your thinking of going to TJ. Good luck!

Capt Derel, Really? If saying a "caveman can do it" isn't downplaying the surgery I don't know what is! I'm sure my surgeon as well as all the others would take offense to that statement. Well Capt, perhaps you also think a caveman could navagate a ship? Oh wait, maybe that's what happened to the Costa Concordia? Cavemen these days, they just aren't what they use to be. I wouldn't trust one to do my surgery.

Really, I seriously doubt "a caveman can do it" and you've really over-simplified the whole process and proceedure. Anesthesia is equally risky and has it's complications for many people and may even be more of the risk for some than the actual surgery. Everyone should feel this is very serious and not to be taken lightly. Even in the most experienced hands things can go wrong. All surgery has a risk regardless of how invasive it is. Bottom line is each individual has to make an infomed decision and feel confident in their choice to have the surgery in a state of the art facility with the doctor they feel has the experience and reputation to provide the best outcome. I've had this surgery and it wasn't a cake-walk for me. I had an unexpected bump in the road to recovery and it didn't have anything to do with my most highly experienced and reputable surgeon who performed my surgery in a Bariatric Center of Excellence facility here in California. So don't down play the seriousness of this surgery. Everyone's experience will be different. Luckly most don't suffer any complications and recover quickly. I'm taking my 29 year old daughter this weekend down to Mexico where she will have surgery with Dr. Garcia on Monday, Jan 23rd. I am scared for her, but she is determined even after seeing what I've gone through. Don't think for a minute I won't be scared and anxious until I see her out of surgery and recovering well beyond the trip to Mexico. Am I scared about Mexico? No! About choosing Dr. Garcia? No! Research, make an informed decision, and listen to your inner voice.

Who's the coordinator? Mine is off and she sent me an email yesterday telling me should would be out until late Sunday. Her name is Alma.

I originally thought I wanted the lap-band also until I went to several seminars and heard about the maintenance of it and then the amount of people who do revisions to a VSG. RNY seemed a bit much and I wanted to do the leasts amount possible that was permanent, low maintenance, and got results. Although I felt like I physically assaulted my body taking most of my stomach out, I don't think I'm going to miss it or the hormone it produces that makes me hungry. You have to do what feels right for you. You'll know once you do all the research which of the proceedures feels like the right choice for you. Good Luck!

If you look up Dr. Garcia on Obesity Help dot com you'll see he's done over 2,000 surgeries. So he's not really new, maybe new to this forum.

Muscle burns fat so you bet I'm exercising! My cousin lost a lot of weight like 150 lbs and didn't exercise. She looks like she melted. She has a hood of skin hanging over her knees from her thighs shrinking, but not much thigh muscle there. Same at her elbows. Looks weird. She hates exercise and refuses do do anything.Yikes! I'm doing the Les MillsBody Pump classes 3 times a week!!! It's so much fun!

When I had that problem years ago when I was thin and not eating enough the doctor said I had a vitamin K deficiency. Has you doctor checked your blood for vitamin deficiencies?

Send me a message after Jan 23rd and I'll tell you how our experience went with Dr. Garcia and the Mi Doctor Hospital. I feel pretty comfortable with our decision and I keep checking the forums and PM his patients to get their private messages. So far no one has said anything to make we want to change my mind. Good luck to you!

This is what Dr. Alvarez said on another forum about hiccups. "Not everyone gets hiccups after surgery but the people who do, it is normally a sign they are full or almost full. Some people get hiccups right immediately after surgery as a sign that the sleeve and tissues are swollen and then subside. People who get the hiccups after the initial postop phase is normally related to the irritation of the phrenic nerve that is very close to the esophagus or to the GE junction. I tell my patients who do get it to use it as a signal of fullness and stop eating. I hope this explanation helps a bit. I tried to put it in a not-too-cietific way. Congratulations to everyone with their sleeves! Dr. Alvarez"

I was on line yesterday checking my claims on Blue Cross Blue Shield. The hospital billed over $51,000 for my 2 day stay and the surgery facility. Have not seen the claim for the doctors yet. Since I was back in the hospital the following week for 3 days I'm sure that will be another $30,000+. I can't believe it cost this much in the US. How can they do it in Mexico for $5,000?? Well, we're going to find out. For self pay people Mexico seems the only way to get help. I've heard enough good things and have done enough research to make me believe surgery in Mexico is a viable option.

We're going to Dr. Garcia for my daughters VSG on Jan 23rd. I have heard good things only so far about him on this web site. If you go to this web site http://www.drfernandogarcia.com you can hear an interview with him. He is also having a couple of seminars in the Chicago area in February. There are a lot of people who have had him to their surgeries. I feel pretty confident in our choice.

Pasta, rice, breads, cereal all swell up inside your stomach overfilling it. You may have started out with only 1/4 cup, but it ends up a lot more than that once in your stomach a while.

I've had esophageal spasms that felt like a heart attack. Very painful and some so severe I've almost called 911. Google it and see if that's what your having. There is medication for it. Also, severe acid reflux can cause esophageal spasms. Did you have an endoscope before surgery to see if you had damage to your esophagus? Do you have history of acid reflux? Hope you get help whatever is going on.

I got a nasty cold 3 weeks post op and have been coughing for week now. My stomach hurts and I'm wondering if all this coughing has done any damage to my new sleeve. I am also experiencing nausea, but I think it's from the post-nasal drip. The cough medicine tastes really awful and burns going down so I'm not taking it like I should to control some of the coughing. Once the medicine hits the sleeve I feel my acid reflux kick in. It doesn't like the cough medicine. Thoughts anyone?

I don't know that there is such a thing as normal. Everyone is different. I'm 4 weeks post-op tomorrow and I am healing very slowly. I can't eat and drink as much as some or most people at this same stage. Every thing has to be mushed up and real creamy, no chunks, and not too thick. Drinking is slow going with resting between sips. Lot's of girgiling, burping and hiccups. I believe my acid relflux is slowing things down and I take Nexium and drink Mylanta as needed during the day. My doctor does not allow coffee, says it's slows down the healing process, but I started drinking coffee with lots of milk and creamer after 3 weeks. You are only 1 week out, it takes time and make sure you get in fluids. I was not a milk drinker before this surgery, but I am now. Skim milk goes down easy for me. You're in the hardest time right now, it will get better. Good that you're seeing your doctor tomorrow. Let him know your fluid intake.

Wow, that's scarry! We are going to Mexico the end of January for my daughter with Dr. Garcia. I have read good things about him on this web site, but now I'm worried if they are real patients telling us great things about him or his recruiters druming up business for him. We are going thru alma at Ready 4 a Change and she's been great to work with. Dr. Garcia patient,s please speak up.

Getting ready to send her a depost for my daughters surgery using Dr. Fernando Garcia in TJ in January. Looks legit and they have a BBB rating I checked out. She is super nice and seems very experienced in doing this. They are part of Obesity Solutions Int'l. Anyone have first hand knowledge of this group? Thanks!

I didn't tell most people about my WLS, just my closest family members. I didn't want to defend my decision to people who don't or won't understand my choice. My choice had nothing to do with vanity. At 5'1" and 232 lbs high blood pressure and type II diabetes was breathing down my neck. Both run in my family and I saw what they went through. Not to mention physically I couldn't do much. My back and knees were killing me. I resent any remark that I would do this to get skinny, that was never in my mind. Only getting healthy so I can live to play with my grandchildren one day. I would love to eat more right now, but I can't and since I'm still not a month post-op I don't want to over-fill my sleeve and risk a leak or do any damage. I am taking Vitamins and I am listening to my body. I also want my weight loss to be slow because I don't want those who don't know that I had WLS to ask if I'm sick or worry something is seriously wrong with me. I don't want to look tired and sickly, but I do right now. So I got the best Christmas present this year. A postive pregnancy test from my son and his wife all wrapped up like a Christmas present. My first grandchild is due in August, one of the main reasons I did this. I'll be the one pushing the stoller all over Disneyland instead of someone pushing me around in a wheelchair. I know things will get better just right now I'm tired and weak. I wish I could eat more and drink more, but I can't. Do you see a ticker tape below my posts? No, because it's not about losing the weight, it's about getting my health back.

Me too, I didn't do this to get skinny, I did this to get healthy and I want a slow weight loss because of my age which is 57. I don't want my neck resting on my chest in a couple of months. As it is I already look tired and frail. So much of my weight loss is showing up in my and face and I don't look like me anymore. I'm looking much older and tired. I wish I could eat more, but right now I'm still on mushies and 1/4-1/3 cup fills me up and I have to eat real slow. Eating and drinking is a full time job almost. I think I am healing slower than most as I can't gulp fluids and have to wait in between drinks. Sometimes I'd love to just chug-a-lug some milk, but small swallows is all I can do now. I think I'm still pretty swolllen because of my acid relflux still acts up even though I'm taking my Nexium and drinking Mylanta as needed. I'd like to get my calories up to around 1,000+ daily. Before surgery I was eating around 1,200-1,400 a day and losing weight. I felt really good and could exercise and had lots of energy. I'm not trying to break any fast weight loss records, I want a slow steady loss that will allow my body to adjust and shrink. My health comes first, not the weight loss.

How is your energy level on so few calories? I am struggling with extreme fatigue and weakness at around 500-600 calories a day. I am getting in around 60 grams of protein. I gotta do something to get some energy back, it's depressing me. I want to walk, go back to the gym, just be normal again. My surgery was Dec 7th. I am taking extra B12 and all my vitamins. So are you functioning well on so few calories?

Never heard of this until now. If they are so concerned about gallstones why don't they just take the darn gallbladder out when the do the sleeve? So are you to be on this medication for the rest of your life or only for a few months post-op? My doctor have never mentioned it at all.

This forum has been my biggest support and teacher during this process. No matter what your feeling or what's going on with you, people are here to answer your questions, share their experiences, and calm your fears. Many have experienced what you will experience and tell you what they did or how they handled a situation. This surgery, although consider major, has less complications than other WLS. You notice very few people have had major complications because it's rare. You said you read a couple of stories, it's just a couple out of how many people on these forums? But you must always consider the risks. Everyone is different in how they handle pain, how fast they heal, and experience the changes in their bodies. It hasn't been easy for me that's for sure. I had major regrets the first couple of weeks. However, I must admit I was delighted that my new stomach was content with just a few bites of mushed up Christmas dinner and it feels good to know I can't and won't pig out ever again. So far I am never hungry and just a 1/4-1/3 cup of food fills me up. I'm getting some strength back and starting to feel almost normal at 23 days post-op. For me it's worth the risk to avoid high blood pressure, type II diabetes, hip and knee replacements, sleep apena and all the other complications caused by morbid obesity. Good luck in your journey and know this forum is here for back-up and support during the process.

You better get the acid under control before it causes damage. Prilosec and Prevacid are PPI's that help stop your stomach from producing as much acid. You may have to crush them into some applesauce if you can't swallow pills yet. They don't work instantly and you'll need to take them on a regular basis until things settle down or maybe even for a very long time. Instant relief from Tums or Mylanta. You may find the liquid types like Mylanta more soothing especially now since you are so soon after surgery. Trust me, you'll feel sooooo much better when you get the acid reflux under control. I have been taking Nexium for years and they gave me Protonix in my IV when I was in the hospital. Oh yea, the sweater on your teeth? I know that feeling too. Bad breath, nasty taste in your mouth may be caused by being in a state of Ketosis caused by low carb intake. That can be a good thing for some people since your body is buring fat for fuel if you can stand the side effects of being in Ketosis. I experienced that also last week and still some today. I increased my carbs and that seems to be helping some. I'm 23 days post-op and I'm just starting to eat real food mushed up so I'm getting more carbs. Good luck!

Wow, I so wanted mine done that way but couldn't find a doctor in my area who could do it. I saw a You Tube video on it. Good for you consider yourself pretty lucky. Probably over the next few years the "spider" method will be the norm for a lot of surgeries.