5DogMa

Lying or choosing just not to tell others? My life, my body, my choice. I am not a poster child for bariatric surgery.

The reactions - It's like telling someone you're vegetarian. They think they have to go out of their way to accommodate you. No, just cook what you normally cook and I'll choose what I want to eat and how much I want to eat. Then there's the doubters. "Do you really think that's necessary, can't you just diet? Such a drastic thing to do! You're putting yourself at risk going under anesthesia!" Blah, blah, blah!

At a business dinner one time a coworker told the waiter, "I've had bariatric surgery so I can't eat much. The table dinner conversation following was all about her and the surgery. She kept the conversation going even though the rest of the table was well done talking about it which was real quick. This is a business dinner not an all about me and my bariatric surgery dinner. Well, she gained all the weight back she had lost plus a few more. Maybe she should have kept that information about her bariatric surgery to herself?

Now, if I want to tell and talk about it with a friend or acquaintance who seems could benefit and it comes up in conversation I will tell them and talk about it and ask for their confidentiality. Long term weight loss is not guaranteed so let's not sugar coat it. Some people fail. A lot, well most of us have eating disorders. Or relationship with food is the problem. It's like a drug it calms and sooths us until after we're done eating too much. We don't listen to our bodies. You can't necessarily fix a mental problem with a physical solution.

So, you be you and let others be them.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how it's already been 10 years since I got my sleeve. I've also been thinking about new people just starting on this journey and remembering how I felt about the whole process. I should mention I'm 5ft 2in and weighed 233 lbs and was 56 years old at the time I started my journey. I tried every diet, I mean every diet. Spent too much money on fads and diet supplements.

In the beginning I was excited and worried about having the sleeve. You can't grow your stomach back! Not that I had an emotional attachment to my stomach and actually thought my stomach was my enemy. The thought of removing part of a perfectly good organ in my body. Well, that's just crazy - isn't it??? I have to go to this extreme to stop killing myself??

I couldn't eat hardly anything at first. If I ate one bite too many I was in horrible pain and had to lay down. I remember thinking if I just could eat 1/2 of a small hamburger or one little taco I'd be happy. But pretty much 2 bites of anything and I was done. The weight came off fast in the beginning. But my energy was low, I didn't feel good and I had some regrets. Couldn't go out to eat it was a total waste of money. Besides since I could only eat a couple bites the waitress thought there was something wrong with the food. Naw, just wasn't that hungry I'd tell them. I get a doggy bag and attempt to eat the rest later.

So yes, the first 8-10 months the weight fell off. I don't remember exactly how long it took me to loose the first time over 90 lbs. Yes, I said the first time. I didn't gain it all back though. I still was not at peace with my sleeve. It was the enemy keeping me from eating as much as I wanted and when I wanted. BTW I still can't eat salad anymore it's just too hard on my stomach. I loved salad but NO sleeve doesn't like it!!

So here's the deal...no I couldn't eat a whole hamburger BUT I can eat maybe 1/2 now and then 2 hours later I eat the rest. Same with everything else. HAHA sleeve I win. I really struggled with my love/hate relationship with my sleeve. A couple years go by and I gain back around 50 lbs. HAHA sleeve I win???? Did I already say that learning to live with the sleeve was a real struggle for me?

So, it took me along time to be at peace with my sleeve. Well, I am now. It wasn't easy but I did it and it feels good today not to stress out over not being able to eat as much as I want and I stop when my friend the sleeve says "that's enough!" Okay, you win sleeve. I've lost the weight that I had gained back. No, I'm not skinny but I'm at a comfortable weight that looks good on me. The real win is my health. My blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are good/normal! My sleep apnea is gone! I don't shop in the "big ladies" department and I fit in an airline seat and can put the tray table down! I can walk for miles and I don't break out in a sweat just walking to the mail box. I can play with my Grandkids!

If I were to give advise to anyone considering having VSG. Don't expect the sleeve to be the magic bullet. You have to work with it and listen to your sleeve. You might have to go through what I did. I hope if you do eventually you'll start listening. Most, not all of us have a food addiction and most of us don't want to stop eating when we are really full. Food tastes good, we love it. It's social and everything we do socially has food involved. Television ads for fast food, and restaurants at every commercial break! I was so addicted to food. Well, actually. I still am. But.. most of the time now I stop eating when my sleeve tells me to stop. I have a family member who had gastric bypass. She is so frustrated. " Ya can't eat a meal!" " Nope, we can't but we can share a meal and still have leftovers." I believe long term success (not that I'm saying I have that either) will happen when you accept, make peace and listen to your sleeve. It could just save your life like I believe mine has done for me.

Good luck to everyone on this journey or getting ready to start it. It was the best decision I've made for my health. No regrets!

Yes, I think ketosis also. Low carb intake gets you there.

Yes, we sent pictures through Alma. Have not had a face to face conversation with Dr. Suarez yet.

I still drink diet A&W Rootbeer. I buy it in the liter bottles and take the cap off and let it go mostly flat before drinking it. Eventually you can eat everything you ate before if you choose, just not as much. I can eat 1 taco truck taco. I can eat 1 piece of pizza. Pretty much I can eat anything I did before, again just not as much. After 1 year you'll see, everything back to normal if you choose. So don't go thinking you'll NEVER eat or drink certain things. You can and will IF you choose.

I am also looking into a face lift in Mexico. I'm using Alma at Ready 4 a Change who also coordinated my daughters VSG in Tijuana. She has about 4 plastic surgeons she books with in Tijuana. We are considering Dr. Suarez. I was quoted $6,000 for everything and that includes 4-5 nights at the Marriott. I want to stay longer and it's only $68/night. My daughter is considering a breast lift and implants and would travel with me and get her surgery same time as me. Her quote was $4,100 for everything.

All he meds you take home with you were included in the price we paid with Dr. Garcia. They gave you a goodie bag when you checked out of the hospital and it had several things in it including your meds. We used a cc for the extras at the hotel.

The night before is usually covered in the package price unless you're doing something different. We got 1 night before surgery at the hotel, 2 days in hospital and then 2 more days in hotel.

Fernando Garcia, Alma at Ready 4 a Change, $4,500, but that was a year ago.Hospital Mi Doctor, Hotel Ticuan but I hear Marriott is being used now and it's much better. Highly recommend! Great experience and would use him and his facility again.

When we went it wasn't checked. Just ID/passport. I think the medical transport gets you back in faster and of course nothing is checked going into Mexico.

People are always trying to talk you out of going to Mexico for surgery. We got all kinds of negative talk when we decided to go to TJ for my daughters surgery. My Son tried to stop us! They don't understand and they believe Mexico is a bad place. It's just heresay and rumors with things blown out of porportion. There are bad areas anywhere in Mexico just like in the US. Use caution like you would in any city; like stay out of back alley ways. Honestly I was worried about going to the movies last night. Worried some idiot would pull out an assault rifle and start shooting the audience.

It has to do the patient more than anything. Everyone is different. The bigger you are typically the faster and more you lose. Males lose faster than females, younger people faster than older. Bougie sizes are not far apart and the closer the surgeon follows the bougie guide the smaller the sleeve. The shorter or longer your natural stomach is also determines how much your sleeve will hold. My daugher has a long stomach but her surgeon used a smaller bougie, size 32 than my doctor who used a 40 on me. She can eat a lot more than I can. So no, I would not say one surgeons patients lose more or faster than another surgeons patients. I has to do with the patient and not to mention how well the follow the diet.

SRS The only one I have for her is alma@ready4achange.com I got an email from her last week. She's helping with a plastic surgeon in TJ.

We loved Alma at Ready 4 a Change and Dr. Garcia. In fact I am consulting with Alma to find a plastic surgeon in TJ. I trust her and she is very professional.

How great that you're getting this great tool so early in your life.

The pre-op diet with Dr. Garcia was different depending on your size. The bigger you are the longer the diet. My daughters was only 3 days on liquids but her BMI was 38 at the time. Ask your coordinator.. I have the pre-op diet sheet that was sent to us if you'd like me to email it to you.

We drove from Sacramento and parked in long term parking at the San Diego airport where the driver for Dr. Garcia picked us up. Getting back to the airport didn't take so long because they have a pass that let's you go back through the border in a different lane than others and you bypass the long lines. It took us maybe 30 minutes to get back across the border, but I understand some days it may take longer. My daugher slept most of the way back home. She had minimal pain and tolerated the drive just fine. Just have pillows and blankets in the car and you should do fine.

I was sleeved Dec 7, 2011 by Dr. Steven Patching at Sutter in Sacramento, CA. Sutter is a Baratric Center of Excellence. Dr. Patching is a highly skiled and exerienced baratric surgeon with many acolades and honors in his field. No doubt I felt very safe and in good hands. 7 weeks later my daugher was sleeved by Dr. Garcia in TJ and Mi Doctor Hospital. Granted the TJ hospital didn't have fancy architecture or fine art in the halls, but we felt just as competent surgeon in Dr. Garcia and the facility was clean with excellent staff. My daugher had no complications, minimal pain and overall we felt she got excellent treatment. In fact, we are considering going back to TJ for plastic surgery. My surgery and related expenses was over $60,000. I had a minor set back and was back in hospital for 3 days 1 week after my VSG surgery. Lucky for me I have insurance. Her costs were around $5,000 total including the drive down to TJ. She doesn't have insurance. I have been on these forums for over a year now. Go ahead and look me up. I highly recommend Dr. Garcia based on our experience with him and the Mi Doctor Hospital in TJ. Now if I can find the right plastic surgeon down there we'll be heading back to TJ.

Yes, you mean Mi Doctor Hospital in TJ? We were there in January, had great experience there and with Dr. Garcia.

Nick's Mom, www.puritan.com is the web site to buy them. They are small pills very easy to swallow. This was the first time I ordered from them and I heard about it on this forum. The label says Puritan's Pride Ultra Mega Biotin 10,000 mcg. There are 50 pills in a bottle. When I bought them they were buy 1 get 2 free. They also have a Biotin Shampoo I might try.

As I understand it, taking Biotin helps with the hair loss. I found Biotin at costco and I usually grind it up and put it in my applesauce. Since it's a big pill, my stomach finds it a little hard to digest sometimes.

I'm taking 10,000 mcg a day of Biotin plus to many to mention other suppliments that are for hair, nails and skin. I get a least 60 grams of Protein a day. So it's not working for me. Puritan's Pride has the 10,000 mcg of Biotin small pills for cheap prices plus buy 1 get 1 free. I just think some people will lose more than others and some might not lose any at all. The wigs are working for me just fine for now anyway.

You lost all your hair??? Did you have a hard time getting Protein in?

I only feel nauseous when I first wake up. Once I drink something I feel fine! I am sorry you feel that way often!

NO, Not all my hair but a lot of it. Enough that I'm wearing wigs. No I can drink the Protein drinks just fine. I drink the ones from costco that have 30 grams of Protein per serving.

11 months out and I get nausea a lot all during the day and night. Too empty, too full. Some things just don't sit well. Protein Shakes feel good everytime so I sip on them when I feel nausea and it helps for a little while. I had/have acid reflux and I take daily meds for it. Could be contributing to the nausea. I feel like I have a big pit in my stomach most of the time. Don't know how else to describe it. Maybe eventually this will go away along with my hair!

Oh, at 11 months out I have never stopped losing my hair. It started around 5-6 months out I think and it just keeps coming out! Wondering when or if it will stop?

Doxieville. You didn't ask me but I'll tell you my experience with wigs. I love my wigs. I've bought a couple wigs from www.beautytrends.com and www.wilshirewigs.com and then the first one I bought at a wig store in Sacramento. Wig stores can be expensive but a good place to go to try them on to see what style and color you like. On line is much cheaper and you can return them if you don't like them. Order color swatches before you order on line as the color you see on the computer monitor isn't exactly the color it is. On the acrylic wigs you can't change the color or use heat on them. Trying to match your hair color to the wig can be difficult especially if your a red head like me.

BTW the dog in your profile pic is beautiful!!!! I've never seen one that color.

We saw my daughters and even took a picture of it. It was huge! They have it filled with gas. They said her's was extra long and it took 2 more staple cartridges than normal and an extra 15 minutes in the OR. So we figure that's why she can eat more than I can can and she never felt full before the VSG. Let me know if you want to see the picture of it. Kinda cool to see that came out.