missmachine

I am 2 weeks out - one of my incisions (different from the other one I posted about a few days ago) is healing all opened up. Instead of scabbing over, the scab is contoured in with the incision, which is a 1 inch long open hole and about 1.5centimeter deep. It looks like a bullet wound or something. I am worried I will have a permanent hole/indentation there even after its completely healed. This is really freaking me out. I had my surgery in MX and I have no Dr here because I don't have insurance. Should I go to the ER? Please advise!

I had a really good experience overall. I really liked the Dr Lopez, his wife (also a surgeon who assists him in the op room), and the rest of his staff. Here is some info about my experience:
We arrived at the San Diego airport and was picked up by a driver named Samuel. He was very friendly and loaded our bags for us and drove us to the Marriott about 15-20 mins away in Tijuana.
When we arrived at the hotel everyone greeted us, knew English, and they had our reservation booked already. The hotel was VERY nice! I was given a welcome packet and inside there was a letter from the clinic which stated I would get 3 free cups of broth, 2 free popsicles, and 2 free bottles of Water per day. Then we went to our room and took a long nap.
Someone named Jasmine who worked with the Dr stopped by and explained that we would be picked up the next morning at 7am with a group of other patients (who were also getting surgery done by Dr Lopez) by Samuel and brought to INT Hospital.
The next morning he was there 7am sharp and I got to meet and talk to the other patients on the way. We arrived at the hospital and it was very nice and clean. We were all put in our own rooms after just a couple minutes of arrival. I changed into a gown and did pre op testing, had an IV placed, and was told i would have surgery at 3 or 4 pm. The nurses at the hospital did not speak very good English, so it is helpful if you know a little bit of Spanish so you can communicate some of your basic needs easier. Still though, they were all very helpful and sweet. Dr Lopez came in and talked to me, asked if I had any questions, etc. Then they came early, at 12 pm they came to get me for surgery. I was put to sleep very quickly. I woke up from recovery after 4 hours. I have never had surgery, I woke up in a panic because I was extremely short of breath. After that I was brought to my room, given really good pain meds and a breathing treatment, and went back to sleep.
The next day I was taken for a leak test and X-ray. I got to see my sleeve but it was sort of hard to tell how big it was. I had no leaks.
I ended up getting a fever and I seemed to be in more pain than anyone else I came in with. They all left the hospital fairly soon but I stayed 3 nights. I also have asthma and was having a really hard time breathing. Dr Lopez checked on me every morning and sometimes in the evening to see how I was doing.
Btw, I never once felt unsafe being in Tijuana.< /p>
I suppose since I'm still recovering (only 10 days out) something could still go wrong with the sleeve but it's probably unlikely. I'm grateful I have no leaks and the sleeve seems to be doing its job. I am still having some breathing issues, and one of my incisions is taking forever to heal. It's the biggest one and right in the middle. They told me since there is more fat right there it is taking longer.

I had a really good experience overall. I really liked the Dr Lopez, his wife (also a surgeon who assists him in the op room), and the rest of his staff. Here is some info about my experience:
We arrived at the San Diego airport and was picked up by a driver named Samuel. He was very friendly and loaded our bags for us and drove us to the Marriott about 15-20 mins away in Tijuana.
When we arrived at the hotel everyone greeted us, knew English, and they had our reservation booked already. The hotel was VERY nice! I was given a welcome packet and inside there was a letter from the clinic which stated I would get 3 free cups of broth, 2 free popsicles, and 2 free bottles of Water per day. Then we went to our room and took a long nap.
Someone named Jasmine who worked with the Dr stopped by and explained that we would be picked up the next morning at 7am with a group of other patients (who were also getting surgery done by Dr Lopez) by Samuel and brought to INT Hospital.
The next morning he was there 7am sharp and I got to meet and talk to the other patients on the way. We arrived at the hospital and it was very nice and clean. We were all put in our own rooms after just a couple minutes of arrival. I changed into a gown and did pre op testing, had an IV placed, and was told i would have surgery at 3 or 4 pm. The nurses at the hospital did not speak very good English, so it is helpful if you know a little bit of Spanish so you can communicate some of your basic needs easier. Still though, they were all very helpful and sweet. Dr Lopez came in and talked to me, asked if I had any questions, etc. Then they came early, at 12 pm they came to get me for surgery. I was put to sleep very quickly. I woke up from recovery after 4 hours. I have never had surgery, I woke up in a panic because I was extremely short of breath. After that I was brought to my room, given really good pain meds and a breathing treatment, and went back to sleep.
The next day I was taken for a leak test and X-ray. I got to see my sleeve but it was sort of hard to tell how big it was. I had no leaks.
I ended up getting a fever and I seemed to be in more pain than anyone else I came in with. They all left the hospital fairly soon but I stayed 3 nights. I also have asthma and was having a really hard time breathing. Dr Lopez checked on me every morning and sometimes in the evening to see how I was doing.
Btw, I never once felt unsafe being in Tijuana.< /p>
I suppose since I'm still recovering (only 10 days out) something could still go wrong with the sleeve but it's probably unlikely. I'm grateful I have no leaks and the sleeve seems to be doing its job. I am still having some breathing issues, and one of my incisions is taking forever to heal. It's the biggest one and right in the middle. They told me since there is more fat right there it is taking longer.

-53 lbs
4 months
Before:

After: (in progress)

-53 lbs
4 months
Before:

After: (in progress)

Maybe it's time to go to another dr in another facility and get a second opinion? You should be feeling better by now. (Hugs) my thoughts are with you.

-53 lbs
4 months
Before:

After: (in progress)

I am so sorry you are going through this. I had my operation in march and suffered complications. Mine were a little different then yours. I had a leak where they sealed off my pouch and my old stomach. I initially was in the hospital for 5 days because I had low blood pressure and my blood counts were dropping. I went back in a week later because they didnt initially know I had a leak and ended up back in the hospital for 16 more days. I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything for 14 days. I had iv fluids and tpn for nutrition. It was a really tough time in the hospital and when I came home for a month or so. As hard as it is hang in there they will figure it all out and get you all fixed up. Trust me I questioned what the heck I did to myself, I cried, I yelled, you name it. I am now 5 months out and feel great. I've lost 74lbs, and wear a size 6/8 now. Knowing what I know now, and being where I am now I would do it all over again even with the complications. Wishing you the best with your diagnosis and recovery.
HW 229, SW 214, CW 155 RNY 3/14/13

Wow, lots of people in the Tampa Bay Area... We should definitely arrange a meetup of some sorts.

Vicki...would love to know how things are going for ya!

Could not agree more with music about never hesitating to ask questions. Surgeons have big egos (and that's a good thing!) but few would fail to recognize your questions not as a sign of disrespect, but a need for reassurance. That just makes you human, not disrespectful.
Until very recently it was believed that most of the undisputed benefits from gastric bypass were "mechanical" in nature. Dramatically smaller stomach > eat less > fewer calories > malabsorption > lose weight. There is new and compelling evidence that what actually happens is considerably more complex and much more amazing than previously believed.
The surgery produces physiological changes in the body that go far beyond mechanics. Changes in things like the reduced production of the hunger producing hormone ghrelin, almost immediate changes in gut bacteria from those typically found in obese individuals to those found in folks who have had a healthy weight their entire lives, key changes in genetic markers that are reversed from "obese" to "normal", and within the last 90 days one of the most surprising (and promising) changes of all - the small intestine, formerly believed to be a "passive" organ, undergoes a pronounced change that results in the intestine itself utilizing a whopping 64% of blood glucose. Further studies are in the works but that appears to explain why gastric bypass is so successful in treating or preventing type 2 diabetes.
Medicine sometimes changes quickly. It has been suggested that in light of these new discoveries, more and more bariatric surgeons are modifying the surgeries they perform to "reduce" the amount of malabsorption. New findings suggest that it is not as big a factor in the success of gastric bypass as once believed. I'm most certainly not a doctor. But my impression is that your trust in your surgeon is well founded, he is on top of his game, and you are indeed in very good hands.
You're gonna love the new you!

Oh then ask him EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF!!!!! Big or small, ask it all. Will give you a good chance to see how open and receptive he is to his patients doing research and asking questions. And a good indicator of how supportive he will be with you long term. My RNY was done by the same doc that put my lapband in and then took my band out... By the time I had my RNY I was like 'just do it, I trust your judgement by now'.
HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 204.2

ok everybody! I spent some time and worked hard on this! Here is everyone's surgery dates grouped together and listed
RNY SURGERY DATES! (if I missed anyone please let me know so I can edit and add you)
august 1, 2013
haleymonstah
vicki s
mistyrose03
August 2, 2013
daisykarebear
August 3, 2013
cynthia
August 4, 2013
no one yet
August 5, 2013
Chloe East
kloveburd
Lori
hughs12
August 6, 2013
fourleaf
crisG
misswifey21
Crkrjax76
hrhdiana
beckyford
kinsse
naynay209
August 7, 2013
TheThr33
cinlfor
Mimilynn
Liliana070813
lisalisalisa
time4me
August 8, 2013
jetson
attractpositive
August 9, 2013
nursenicci
Mrsleahhs
August 10, 2013
no one yet
August 11, 2013
no one yet
August 12, 2013
shouser531
ponchik
August 13, 2013
taraster25
gintown29
adri6873
missmachine
August 14, 2013
Joy
missysue
August 15, 2013
liane
jennifer b
svhonda
August 16, 2013
no one yet
August 17, 2013
no one yet
August 18, 2013
no one yet
August 19, 2013
xaviss
Kcarr1120
T-T
Tina727
Work in progress 33
August 20, 2013
alleyoop08
blueeyezz85
Sherell2
Nighthawk
August 21, 2013
mitzie46
shawna29
JustRick
August 22, 2013
ms_shea
courage160
August 23, 2013
no one yet
August 24, 2013
no one yet
August 25, 2013
no one yet
August 26, 2013
equestriansue@gmail.com
kparadisek
prettynpink
bloreorbust
August 27, 2013
lisa463
August 28, 2013
mzshay35
August 29, 2013
no one yet
August 30, 2013
no one yet
August 31, 2013
no one yet

-53 lbs
4 months
Before:

After: (in progress)

Vicki, YES, let's definitely stay in touch and help each other along this journey. We seem to be starting out around the same BMI as well. I am glad you responded. I have not been able to find much info online for vsg to rny revisions and the success rate or anything. Why are you getting your revision, is it because of inadequate weight loss or because of a complication? I do have the acid reflux but more than anything I am hoping that this will help me lose the other 1/2 of my fat. I was worried that since I already had a surgery that this wouldn't be much different for weight loss. I don't know. I will PM you my email.

Welcome Missmachine. don't know how many will reply who have had sleeve to bypass revision as haven't seen much chatting for a month. If you go to Forum on the upper left hand side and select Forums Home then scoll to the main heading called "main gastric bypass surgery forums" scoll down in that area to sub heading "Band to Gastric Bypass Revisions" and click on that, yes I know you are talking the sleeve. Once that populates scoll down and there is a forum Sleeve to Gastric Bypass revisions or something to close to that. I noticed though most who have had this done are either communating in other forums now or not at all. There is nothing recent but there is some information, or stories that might be helpful. Hopefully someone who has had this done will respond who can answer any questions you might help. Hope this helps.

I am really going to look into that. I need a way to tackle this in my brain and not just my stomach.

I am really going to look into that. I need a way to tackle this in my brain and not just my stomach.

There is no doubt in my mind that I have a food addiction. Food does have a power over me still - although it IS better than before my sleeve. I do not see a therapist but I am certainly open to the idea. Now that I have some insurance I can finally take care of myself.

I am really going to look into that. I need a way to tackle this in my brain and not just my stomach.

I am really going to look into that. I need a way to tackle this in my brain and not just my stomach.

I am really going to look into that. I need a way to tackle this in my brain and not just my stomach.

I live in Ruskin, FL. Just sent in my pre-approval yesterday. Now I wait! 6ft tall highest weight 323. now weigh 311...

WE SOLD OUR HOUSE! We should be Tampa residents within two months!

My Dr has actually said that he has performed a lot of sleeve surgeries, and that the bypass holds up better long-term. He stated that after 5 years, sleeve patients are starting to regain their weight and he thinks that like the band, it will ultimately fail in comparison to the bypass as a viable solution to obesity. This really scared me and made me want the bypass as well. I never want to go back to how I was.