SunnyCox

On the second night there, Jennifer's daughter told us that she didn't eat a lot of her meal. Since there is really no place to keep leftovers in the hospital or hotel, Omar had it wrapped up so he could drop off to some homeless people. I was really impressed. It would have never crossed my mind because it isn't something that is done where we are from.

When we first got here, I thought that Omar probably got a stipend to spend on gas and food since he has done so much for us since we got here. I found out that he doesn't. Dr. Kelly pays him a modest base salary to work from 9am-4pm with Sunday off, plus a (very) small per patient bonus (compared to the amount of work he does). Omar said he gives to people and works way beyond his paid hours because he loves his job. So have any of you left him a big tip or gift when you were departing? I certainly feel that he deserves it for the outstanding service and friendship he has shown us during our stay.

I'm sorry and wasn't trying to bash. The point was that Omar seemed to be running himself to death trying to keep everyone happy, so it may be the reason that you haven't gotten a response during that time. Omar is very attentive to his patients in the hospital and the hotel, and he is probably trying to catch up. I sent Omar a text asking if he had caught up on his emails, and he asked to make sure you had his cell number, 619-395-5347. I would urge you to email him again or text him if you are uncomfortable calling before you give up on him and Dr. Kelly.

Bariatric Solutions in the Dallas area regularly runs a special for $10,500. I still chose to go to Mexico for $5,500. It ended up costing me about 6500 total because I spent extra time there and for plane tickets.

This may or may not make you feel better, but... If you emailed Omar between 6/27 - 7/4, it was during the time I was there. Omar repeated more than once that he had no time to sit down and respond to emails. There were three of us who had surgery on 6/28, and we all had family members with us. A few days later, there was a lady who came that brought 3 family members with her, and Omar was run into the ground. Omar had 10 ladies to run around, and they were going all kinds of places and even to the casino until after midnight. Omar said he could hardly keep his eyes open trying to keep everyone happy. I think everyone went home on 7/3 or 7/4, and he had two more patients in the hospital at that time. He might have been slow to answer your email, but it was because he was so busy being attentive to people who were in the hospital / hotel. Calling / texting Omar is the best way to get a response.

Contact Omar and ask him if there is anyone having surgery on or around your date. He is happy to put people in contact with each other.

Jennifer brought us locally grown "wild" rice from her region. I've made my SO wait to cook it until I can taste it.

I'm doing really, really well. I could have gone back to work within 3 days of surgery, but I'm trying to take it easy. I'm going to send a you a message with my number. I'd love to keep up with people close to me if you are interested.

I had made too many promises to myself that I wasn't keeping. Weight loss surgery seemed like the easy way out, and I wouldn't consider it. I kept asking myself, if I could commit to dieting after surgery, why not before? Umpteen failed diets later, I saw a surgeon in Dec 2011. I was prepared for Lap-Band, but he told me about the sleeve. I still wasn't ready. I told myself, I would try dieting for one more year. I told myself it was the last dieting promise I would make myself before surgery. I made an appointment with a family practitioner who specializes in bariatrics and takes care of patients before and after weight loss surgery. I told him I didn't want to have surgery, and he told me that my BMI of 50 and diagnosis of PCOS would make it very hard to lose weight and keep it off without surgery. He told me that he would be willing to help me and guide me, but he wanted me to be aware that in his experience, less than 1% of people in my situation were successful. I left his office sure that I was going to be that 1%. Six months later, I had gained 9 pounds. I decided I wasn't going to weight a year. I had been reading forums about the sleeve, and people who were 6 months post-op were down an average of 50-70lbs. I was sleeved 6/28. I had some dry heaves the day of surgery, but I haven't thrown up. Couldn't be happier with my decision. I am only a week out, but I am not starving every evening. It is much easier to make good decisions when you are ravenously hungry.

I'm in downtown Fort Worth. I was sleeved 6/28 in Mexico by Dr. Kelly. I don't have many friends in the area, so I would love to meet people close to me.

Nothing moved that way for me until after the swallow test. I was all burps. Unfortunately, the barium swallow went through me very quickly. I learned not to fart unless hovering over the toilet. Thank goodness, it resolved in about 3 days. I also had to admit to my SO that I do fart in my sleep. Almost cried when I had to change my panties in the middle of the night. At least it was my panties and not the sheets. Funnier now than it was at the time. Hahaha

My first visit to the surgeon was to discuss the lapband. I know I didn't want gastric bypass, and I knew I needed help. With a BMI near 50, he recommended the sleeve. I thought it was EXACTLY what I was looking for, and I had never heard of it. I walked in with a plan to discuss all of my fears about lapband so that he could reassure me: having a foreign body in me, being able to feel the port, lifetime maintenance, slippage, erosion, not being able to lose weight unless it was filled to a "sweet spot." He listened to me and told me about gastric sleeve. I took home information and researched. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford it, so I went to Mexico. I was sleeved on 6/28 by Dr. Kelly, and I couldn't be happier. Dr. Kelly told me that he doesn't do the lapband any more and that he regularly does lapband-to-sleeve revisions. I'm 31, and I do not have children either. My SO is 42, and we plan to have kids in a few years. I feel completely safe doing so with the sleeve.

Joe and I plan to go back and visit too. I set a weight goal that I want to reach before I go back to visit. I want to have my picture taken with Dr. Kelly again when I've slimmed down!

Jennifer suonvieri and I are traveling to Mexico today, and we will both be sleeved by Dr. Kelly tomorrow! I think Jennifer leaves on Monday or Tuesday, and I will be in the hotel until 04Jul12.

Dr. Kelly was with me for the leak test. If I had a leak, he told me we would go back to surgery. By the way he said it, I felt as though he would have taken care of everything himself.

That's great. Joe and I will probably not leave until close to noon, so we should get to see you.

I was sleeping on my belly the same night as surgery. I really felt that it helped me to break up the gas. I had surgery 6/28, and I have had no problem belly sleeping. I honestly thought my gallbladder surgery (last year) was less invasive than the sleeve, but it took me almost a week before I could sleep on my side and almost two before I was on my stomach.

$100-$150 is a week is well paid by Mexican standards as I think the average salary is $65-70 a week, but it wouldn't even cover one day's worth taxi service at home for the attention he provided for us. I guess I am comparing too much, and I feel a little guilty. I can see how getting tips would make him feel uncomfortable. I'm just going to get a card and leave $100 for him when I leave.

I was told the same thing. No matter how much you chew it up, the fibers are hard to digest.

That is great. Maybe we can come over and meet you today with Omar. If we don't, we will see you at the hotel. We are in room 227.

I want to add to Lissa's advice. If you go in, and you wear the mask for a while without any pressure, you should then ask the techinician to 'ramp up' the pressure. This means that they will set the machine to slowly build the pressure to where it is not as noticeable of a change. A lot of the newer machines will do this automatically to help you fall asleep before the full pressure begins. You can also ask for a consult with the person who does mask fittings before your sleep study. Go in during the day and get fitted for a 2-3 masks that you find comfortable that would fit your life style. Bring the list of masks with you to your sleep study to reduce your stress. Patients tend to prefer a dental device, and studies show that CPAP/APAP machines are often more effective. ULTIMATELY, no appliance is going to work for you if you can't use it due to claustrophobia so be honest with what you feel you can handle. I work in pulmonary medicine and spend half my day with sleep patients. The biggest issue I see with CPAP therapy is patient compliance. I tell people to start off wearing their mask while they are awake watching television to try to ease the transition. I know it has to be hard to get used to wearing the mask. Personally, I brought one home to try for a week to understand how people feel. Some natural things you can do to reduce sleep apnea include losing weight, quit smoking, avoid caffeine and heavy meals a few hours prior to bed, avoid sedatives (alcohol & sleep aids)(because they relax your throat muscles during sleep), sleep on your side, keep a regular/routine sleep schedule, lift the head of your bed 6 inches, use nasal spray to keep your nasal passages open. You can also Google "throat exercises to reduce sleep apnea." Just to throw this out there - Sometimes sleep apnea is cause by another underlying condition. Also, there are surgeries which can help correct apnea.

I noticed your surgeon was in San Antonio. After you've lost some weight, consider shopping at Plato's closet. We have them in DFW. They have trendy, second hand clothes and dollar day sales.

I told my trainer that I was sweating more since I gained weight. He pointed out that my muscle was better 'insulated' by the fat, and it made sense that I would sweat more. I liked that answer and was hoping that I would sweat less as I lose weight.

In the post op instructions that Cecy gave me, it says there should be steri strips over my incisions, but I don't have any. I took a shower today, and my SO changed my bandages. My incisions are glued, but no steri-strips. I planned to ask Omar today when I see him, but it will be a few hours before he comes to the hotel.

Yes, they are from Alabama.