MEDICPRINCESS

post surgery my Canadian friend and I were both allowed to have Decaf coffee with artificial sweetener (splenda is my choice) and herbal tea and neither of us had a problem. Our first coffee was 3 days post-op. We both had different surgeons but surgery same day and same hospital. I felt so good the day of discharge I spent 6 hrs walking around tiajuana shopping! Next day cup of coffee to start the day and another 7-8 hrs of shopping no problems. My surgeon was Dr Ramos Kelly and at discharge I got a large packet of info and dos and dont's and approve liquids list. Decaf coffee was approved and I have had several times since without any problem. Dr Kelly said caffeine acts as a diuretic and stimulates you urinate more which can lead to dehydration quickly if you are one that has a hard time getting all the fluids recommended.

Oh and I am also taking multi vit and vit B daily. as well as BPX which is a circulatory health proprietary blend of herbs. You might ck with your dr or nutritionist to make sure they don't have a better idea suited just for you, but thanks to my medical knowledge and several friends (Not to mention the lady at the Vitamin store) I think i am getting a good start on it.

Just an idea, but my hair dresser and a couple other post VSG people told me that I needed to start taking the following as soon as I got a surgery date. Taking BEFORE helps considerable and starting back as soon as your dor allows you to swallow pills again. I am taking Biotin 5,000 mg at least once a day, Silica at lease once a day sometimes twice (both are for hair, skin and nails and will not only help support Hair growth /loss but will help your skin and assist with the wrinkles and sagginess that comes from rapid weight loss- Now you will still need cardio and weight training but this helps)

Hey there, I am headed to TJ on Dec 4th, surgery booked for Dec 5th with Dr Ramos Kelly. I will be at the Oasis Hospital and then am moving to the Lucernia Hotel when discharged from hospital. I have heard from several people that his acommendations for his pts are great and being a Paramedic I have researched him and his practice followed his pts for several months now thru this blog as well as others. I had heard horror stories of the Mexico hospitals and alley way surgery rooms, but it seems almost everyone here has done their research, knows what to expect and once sleeved has been so good about posting what they are going thru and how their progress is going that it definitely has helped me to prepare both physically and mentally for the trip as well as the journey afterward.

I am sorry I will be going a different time but i hope to be as diligent posting as many of the others have been once sleeved. I wish you the best of luck !

I'm right there on the same page with ya sister!!!! This new year is going to be different, no more fad diets, no more slaving at the gym to shed 2 lbs a month. I'm starting 2012 1 month post sleeve!!!! Yep-eeeee

It is probably not the ideal time. I do worry a little. I would rather not have a lot of extended family around, just my immediate ones, but it is what it is. I will deal with it. My desire to begin 2012 already sleeved and somewhat recovered is much greater.

Having said that, I know I won't pick a date before November 12 though. I have awesome tickets to see Sting in concert and I won't miss it! We have to have our priorities straight, ya know.

Love your will power. I hope I can do the same. I have surgery Dec 5th and will be in my 3rd wk by Christmas. I will be on the liquid pre op diet (lots of Protein shakes ) during Thanksgiving but i have the same philosophy as you. Make it thru the holidays and be that much closer to being in a new body this summer

I'm here for moral support,.......may need you guys for the same !!!

Haven't we all enjoyed enough holidays and the foods/festivities that revolve around them. Isn't that what got us into this boat in the first place, making something revolve around food instead of other things. Sounds harsh but it is true. Maybe your focus is not the food part but actually instead the family part. You should be feeling well enough to be around your family, you just wont be eating what they're eating in the quantity that they are eating it. Which you will have to get used to eventually anyways.

My surgeon estimated I should be having surgery sometime between Mid-November and Mid-December, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It is the ultimate test, because if I can get thru the holidays with mine and my BF's family (who revolve everything around food) then I can get thru anything. Plus as an added bonus like you said, skinnier for the summer.

That is so worth it to me. Giving up one Thanksgiving and one Christmas to be thinner and healthier for the next summer and the holidays that follow has no contest to not having the surgery this year just to eat holiday foods and hang out with my family. I will still be hanging out with my family but I will be eating chicken broth and relaxing a lot more. They will be eating Turkey, sledding, and building snowmen.

As a side note I will most likely be cooking a lot of holiday dishes too, but it doesn't matter to me. I am too determined to put it off now.

You should do the surgery sooner rather than later, JMHO.

Thanks for sharing your story and for the words of widsom. I appreciate it. I am off work today and trying to figure out what all I will need to take with me. Any advice?

I have a few weeks before my surgery but everyone has talked about taking pillows for coughing, liquid anti nausea meds, gas x for the couple days after heating pad for the cramps in the abd from gas pains and comfy cloths to keep from rubbing the incisions. Do I need this or am I misisng anything?

I had a BMI of 28 when I decided to get sleeved. Best decision I have ever made! I too didn't look like I was overweight, but was packing an extra 45 pounds. I lost the same 20-30 lbs for years. So far, I have lost 33 lbs, (sleeved July 27, 2011)!

I was asked more than once at the recovery house, what I was there for and when I said "gastric sleeve", some were a bit shocked. After hearing all of our stories, I think they realize that we all suffered the same battles. Mine were on a smaller scale, but still a battle.

I feel wonderful, am told I look great! My husband, who was nervous about the procedure in the beginning, has complimented me so many times since then.

Details on my surgery.

Self Pay

Sleeved July 27th, 2011

Surgeon: Dr. Almanza Jeruselum Hospital- Tijuana Mexico

First few weeks were a little rough with the liquid diet. Once the soft food stage rolled around, it was a little bit better. 30 days after my surgery, light at the end of the tunnel. I could eat almost anything, but in tiny quantities. It's amazing how tiny! You are not hungry.

So best of luck in your decision on this life changing option. Take care.

Thanks so much for your reply, it has put me at ease. I hadn't found anyone that had actually went to him before and of course with all the horror stories and scams out there i was pretty nervous. I did the research and although a little higher than others and yet lower than other surgeons from Mexico, I was hoping I had make the right decision. Knowing that it hasn't wrecked your lifestyle is nice to hear as well. I to drink coffee but usually in the am cause I get up at 3:30 for work 4 days a week. Being a paramedic I usually have a pretty fast paced day. So I need a cup or 2 of coffee to get me going. I don't drink anything but diet soda if I drink soda at all. I am more of a Red Diamond with Splenda Tea kinda of gal. Yes it has some caffein but nothing else. I don't snack much and dont eat alot now but it seems i have the metabolism of a slug because I hae to be on a 1500 calorie a day intake and at least an her of exercise a day to loose 1-2 lbs a week and that's even using rx diet drugs like Bontril . I am hoping this surgery is the answer to my prayers. I have been looking into it for the past yr and a half so needless to say actually sending the money I had been saving and getting that Surgery Date put a BIG smile on my face

I do appreciate you taking the time to reply, It is nice to know someone else went to the same one and has had success.

Did you stay at the Lurcerna Hotel? Surgery at Oasis/Florence Hospital? Did you book thru A lighter Me? What was your pre-op diet well for how many days did you need to be on it I should ask? Some say 10 some 14 others 7 and some Dr's don't require you to be on one at all. I would really like to have real food for thanksgiving since I will be only 2.5 wks post op for x-mus I think real food then will probably be out of the question! lol

Thanks Again

Yes, Dr. Ramos Kelly, and he is very good. He really put me at ease. There is a very large staff at the hospital, I think I was seen by 5-6 doctors total. Some of the nurses don't speak English very well, but are very good nonetheless. I had originally planned on going alone, but my sister eneded up coming with me. I am so glad she came because the first 24 hours after surgery were difficult, as I got sick from the anesthesia. For pre- op and post-op clear liquid stage-- clear boost is so much better than isopure! As for advice-- I am trying to change my lifestyle as little as possible, with the hopes of making an easy sustainable change to my new life. I used to drink coffee all day long, switched to Decaf, goes down nice, I can meet my Fluid intake easily. I used to have a Cereal bar for Breakfast every morning at my desk-- switched to Protein bars. I didn't usually snack during the day before and don't now, although I will in the evening. I try to eat all my Protein, but will have a premixed shake 2-3 times a week. I go low carb for the most part, but allow myself carbs occasionally. I eat the meat portion of whatever hubby has made for supper, no special meals for me. I walk 20 min everyday. I haven't made any drastic changes to my lifestyle, I feel "normal".I don't feel like I'm dieting. Hope this helps, I'd be happy to answer any more questions you have.

Yes, I will be starting the Pre-op diet a couple days before Thanksgiving and will be almost 3 wks post op at Christmas. A little nervous, but that's the only time I could get off work before the end of the year. I to would appreciate any helpful hints for the holidays as well as returning to work about 11 days post op - I am a paramedic so I have a pretty rigerous schedule but I have a great partner who's willing to pick up some of my slack for the first couple weeks

Hi, I am in the same boat with getting sleeved around the holidays. I will actually be on my Pre-op diet during Thanksgiving. I am the one who make the Turkey for our family. I am alittle nervous about it but determined to get sleeved. I will be interested in what others have to say about being sleeved around the holidays.

SOUNDS LIKE YOUR ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY TO ME- I have been doing alot of research and have already booked my VSG for Dec 5th. I am excited but i have read many side affects that are simular to dumping, retension problems, gastrointeritis, deficiency in Calcium, mag, vit D, ect, and people say they are having to take these supplements for life along with a Multi vit. Do you have this issue? I understand that it is highly recommended one get at least one set of complete labs yearly to look for potential problems such as deficiency but is it necessary to take supplements before you have problems? I am in the medical field and sometimes to much of any of these lead to cardiac dysrhythmia's and many other problems. Can you Advise?

Dieting since 9 years old!? Good grief get off the dieting bandwagon. I am 50yrs...31 bmi...vsg August 1st and wished I would of saved all the money I blew on every diet known to mankind, hypnosis, etc and had the vsg done a long time ago!

Do your research and if you are doing if for the right reasons then GIT R Done!

Good luck and keep us posted!

You mentioned you had surgery with Dr Kelly- Did you mean Ramos Kelly? If so how was the process? I have booked my surgery thru Linda at a Lighter Me with Dr Kelly for Dec 5th 2011 and am very excited but nervous at the same time. Since booking Linda has been in Tiajuana and has not had phone service to reply to a couple of my questions. If we are talking about the same Dr and using the Oasis / florence hospital I would love to discuss your experience(s) = I am a fulltime paramedic but I also own and manage 2 other businesses. I am taking about 10 days off work after surgery but cannot get more than that due to the fact my work will make me do a complete lift test which is grewling and requires carying 175 lbs up and down flights of stairs, and jogging with the wt for a mile in a set time. I could pass that on any other day but probably wouldn't be wise to even attempt it less than 4 wks post surgery. Anyway with the way my employer is if I take any kind of medical leave I would have to retake lift test before returning to work . Thus I have discussed my surgery with my partner whom is willing to take up some of my slack on lifting pts ect for the first couple weeks post op. You mentioned you are in a stressful hectic job as Am I. I am 35 and find that my wt doesn't come off as easily as it used to and the older my kids get (12 and 13) the more active they have become with their sports ect that I feel I don't have the time to exercise. I have a BMI of 37-38 and although i don't look obese (just overweight) it seems to be the only way to get off the roll a coster and live life alittle. Do you have any pre-op or post op advice?

Thanks,

Mel

I had surgery with dr. Kelly on Aug 29/11 with a starting BMI of 30. I have had success in the past with weight watchers, and even worked for W.W. For a few years, BUT the only way I was able to maintain weightless was through very vigorous exercise 1 hr a day,7 days a week. At 44, with back problems, and a stressful job, that amount of exercise is impossible. Needless to say, even with good eating habits, my weight had been creeping up for years. Now, 8 weeks out, I have lost 26lbs, about 15 -20 more to go.( if you start with a lower BMI, you lose at a slower pace than ppl with higher BMI's) I walk everyday for 20 minutes, and feel like I am no longer fighting my hunger constantly. Yes, you can gain weight with the sleeve once you are in maintenance, but your stomach can NEVER stretch out to the size it was before. You can "eat around" your sleeve by eating too often and high calorie foods, BUT if you need to lose again, it will never be a s hard as it was pre-sleeve. FYI, if you find it hard losing weight now on your own, it is at least twice as hard once you are over 40. I kind of feel like having 85% of my stomach removed was like having my appendix or tonsils removed- an organ I can live quite easily without,lol. The functional part is still there,thats all I need. I starved myself for 20 years

witth mediocre results, would I do this surgery again? HELL YA!

Hello, I am simular to your story. Most of my family is obese and it is hard to go thru life knowing that some day more than likely that will be you. No matter what you do or how many diets you try the wt keeps slipping up on you. I to have lost and gained and been on phen-phen and bontril but as soon as I go off the pounds start creeping back on. I have fought wt since I was 16 and the older I get (now 35) it is harder to get off than ever before. I have finally decided i hate looking at my body (neck down) in the mirror and although I am only in the 35 bmi catagory and am muscular in build I weigh 206 and I have never been this big before. I scheduled my VSG with Dr Ramos Kelly for Dec 5th last week. I am so excited but it's hard to talk about it because of not knowing what people will think of you (those that dont' know how much you battle) considering we are not morbidly obese. Anyway I have finally told my dad and husband of course they think I am crazy but are supporting my wishes because they know i have battled it physically and emotionally for so long. I think once you make the decision and have done your research that you will find you can be happy with your decision and if you are educated in the procedure and people can tell you have done your research and weighed your pro's and cons that they will accept your choice and understand. I didn't tell my family I was even looking into it for the past yr and a half until about 2 months ago. of course I think they blew me off thinking I wasn't serious till I sent the deposit to book my surgery. I wish you all the best in your decision. Good luck -

Hey everyone! This is my first post in the forum! Where to start? I am 26 years old, with a BMI around 29 or 30. To look at me you wouldn't think I am obese or anything, just overweight. I grew up as an obese child and have since lost 50 lbs, but keep on putting back the same 10, 20, 30 lbs back on my body. ITs so frustrating. To lose I feel that I basically need to starve myself and I gain back so quickly. Even though I'm only 26, I bet I have gained and lost 250 lbs over the course of my life! I have been dieting since I was 9, and thoughts of my weight, food, and how my clothes will fit consume my thoughts everyday. I feel as if I am insane sometimes. I can literaly gain and lose 20 lbs in a month. I can't imagine what I'm doing to my body, and I just can't diet anymore.

I am consdering getting the VS survery. My dad had it as a severely obese man and is doing amazingly, but I am afraid to talk to my parents about it. I know they think I am not overweight enough. Has anyone else been in this situation? I know I'm ready, and I want to better myself and my life. I know this will just be a vicious cycle that will continue for the rest of my life. I need some guidance and thoughts.

Thanks so much, and I look forward to getting to know some of you!