JenC

Congratulations! on getting your date. I had surgery with Dr. Aceves July 14, 2012, he and Dr. Campos, the anestesiologist and the rest of the team are great and will take good care of you. I think pain may be a very individual thing but I can tell you my experience involved some discomfort but no real pain. When I asked for pain med in the hospital 2x I would describe my pain as being a 4 on the chart. The pain/discomfort I felt really came from my drain tube area which came out the second day. The gas pain that people describe can be very uncomfortable and for me I believe was minimized greatly by walking. As soon as you can get up and walk once you are out of recovery the better off you will be. My husband was a slave driver making me walk every hour and every 2-3hrs in the night. But I thanked him for it. I was sent home with pain med (Sucradol (?)) and picked up extra and the Pharmacy there just around the corner just in case. I also bought a 3 month supply of the PPI (Pantezol) at the Pharmacy around the corner. They will also send you home with a month's supply.I wish I had bought more because I am taking it morning and night now and will run out before the 3 months that I need to take it is up. It is cheaper there and in a little packet that you take instead of having to crush a Nexium or Prilosec or something. I really haven't had a need for any pain meds since I've been home, except on day when I've over done it with my walking. Don't be afraid to ask for pain med when you are in the hospital if you need it. Better to get up and walk the gas out then lay in bed with pain. Happy to answer any other questions you might have about my Mexicali experience. Best Wishes. Jennifer

I know what you mean about the adding calories..."Yikes I'm eating too much." I'm on day 22 and have been averaging around 400 calories and am working to get it between 600-800 as my doc recommends for weight loss stage. As I work to increase them I fight the battle of ...if I eat less I will lose faster but I don't believe in the extreme that, that is true. I am hoping that once I am able to increase my calories (good healthly ones) that my weight loss will be consistant and improve. I believe that too few and we put ourselves into a starvation mode and actually decrease our metabolism doing ourselves more damage than good. We also don't give ourselves enough nutrition to think straight!! and for me that means...self defeating thoughts! When was the last time you lost 25lbs and knew that you could be saying goodbye to them forever? That you had cut the string to the yo-yo! I keep seeing this poster on my fit friends facebook pages...The Journey is the Destination it gives me hope that no matter how far I have to go the trip there is worth it, no time is lost! Good luck to you and congratulations on your loss so far!! Jennifer

Good luck tomorrow! I went out to dinner with my family last week (still on liquid) and had a bowl of broth soup while they enjoyed cocktails and a meal. I wouldn't have been able to be sweet to them & satisfied... enduring that without my sleeve so kuddos to you for getting through this weekend pre-op without it!! Wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery!

I agree with all of the acid comments. Isopure can be nasty (especially the white bit of whey it can leave on your tongue) but I just decided that not everything was going to be delightful and I would just have to drink it and get through it. I've actually come to not mind it at all and am still drinking one a day for the protein and liquid benefit. I find it easier to "enjoy" if its super cold and will sometimes chase a sip with a sip of water. The protein is great to aid your healing and the hunger feeling... Good luck enjoy your weekend

Suger Free Popsicles where allowed by my doc on clears and full liquid stage, they took care of my need to chew/have something other than liquid in my mouth. Maybe you could try those! BTW you can do this!!!

In laymans terms this is what I was told...The purpose of the drain is to allow excess fluids/ little blood out of the surgical area, my surgeon also uses it for his second leak test. I would not describe it as painful but it was a bit uncomfortable. I was glad to have it out. I had a 3 day hospital stay and the drain was removed end of day two. I had a second leak test day 2 with the a blue dye substance and once they where assured none of the blue dye had leaked from my stomach my drain came out. Because the drain hole does not get a stitch (it is allowed to heal from the inside out) it was the most tender of my incisions. I tend to have a low pain tolerance, but this did not cause me pain...just discomfort

Mine does the same thing (plus or minus 4 pounds) I move it around on the floor like a crazy person until I get a reading that is the same or lower than the day before... so I just ordered an Omron 400 ($44 from Amazon). But now what if it gets here and tells me I weigh more than the one I already have?? I will be totally ticked off then.

Days 1-6 Clear Days 7-21 Full Liquid (protein drinks made with milk, cream soups no chucks or ground up meats) Day 21-30 Soft food/mushies (cottage cheese, tofu, thicker soups) Day31+ Regular food with warnings about certain meats, raws ect

My doc recommends 600-800 calories during weight loss stage and to shoot for 1200-1400 during maintenance & 70% of calories from protein.

geno5150 I'm crackin up at your comment!!!

Its not for everybody, it takes a strong person to face their problems head on! I noticed yesterday just how many glucose meter commercials there where on tv. I've never noticed them really up until lately...some people just don't get the severity of the problem we have on this continent...its called denial. Carry on, what you are doing will dramatically change your life...for the better

Hi Amanda, my name is Jennifer. I had surgery in Mexicali MX with Dr. Aceves on July 14th. I had no concerns while there about safety. Mexicali's economy is all about business and a large part of it is medical tourism. My husband and I felt very safe and comfortable there during our stay. Almater Hospital where I had my VSG is a top notch facility and patient care is outstanding. The hospital was meticously maintained, the equipment up to date, and the attentive nursing care better than any Canadian or American facility I have been in. Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos have alot of experience (3000+ procedures or more I think) and I believe that my experience was seamless as a result. Since my surgery the coordinators have been in contact with me and so has the Dr. following up on my progress. I flew from MN to San Diego and was picked up along with another patient and then returned by the driver on my morning of departure. There where several patients there who had traveled alone and did not think anything of it, my husband accompanied me and spent the three nights on the sofa in my private room. I highly recommend Dr. Aceves and after having the experience that I did I am glad that I went there, even if insurance would have covered my procedure I would choose him over what would have been available to me locally. I think the number of procedures a Dr performs makes them even better at what they do and I benefited from that. My VSG price was $8750.00 ( I think that was a July price special). No additional costs except our airfare to San Diego. Good luck to you. Oh, the other thing I loved about this was when I called I said I would like to come next month...and I was able to schedule my surgery, when I wanted it without having to jump through anymore insurance hoops!!

Is it inevitable? Does hair loss happen to everyone?

I said to my husband at about day 4 or 5 post-op that if I had to return to work right now, I definately could. I know its different for everyone but I got over that foggy weak feeling pretty quickly. So my experience was that returning to work in 6-7 days was possible. Take the weekend to rest up if you're getting your fluids in and some protein you could be well on your way back to work next week! ...Unless of course you have a physically demanding job ; ) I didn't ask what you do. Good luck to you!

I'm not very far in this journey (17 days post op) but so far my only regret is that I didn't do this 2 years ago, or 5 yrs ago or...you get the point. I'm a big foodie, I love to entertain, what I'm looking forward to now is enjoying and being satisfied with a "portion" that will not contribute to my early death. Cooking and experimenting with food that will fuel me and my husband for our future rather than weigh us down. I've had a real love affair with food, indulging myself comforting myself. I regret not changing that relationship earlier...I tried, believe me...for years. I wish I had this tool a long time ago...anyway, probably not what you where looking for but that's my only regret...not having done this sooner

Oh my gosh, you're funny. If insurance doesn't cover you, you could do stand up to earn the extra cash for surgery. Funny aside, I know where you're coming from with the " you're not that big and you're healthy " comments. I went to information seminars and first consultation appointments 2 years ago where they basically told me gain 40lbs to qualify or book a ticket to Mexico and self pay. I had a BMI of 35 with no co-morbities. I went away discouraged and put it on the back burner. In June I had, had enough... thinking about it time, and picked up the phone and booked a July 14 surgery date with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali Mexico. So far I'm thinking it's the best $8750 I've ever spent. And by the way, if I had to do it again, I would'nt choose to do it anywhere else after the outstanding care and experience that I had. I'm Jennifer I'm 5'8" / 17 days post op / down 17 pounds. Good luck with the insurance battle, hope you win but if you don't there are excellent alternatives. I look forward to hearing more about your journey.

Good luck tomorrow. Advice...keep that positive excited attitude and get up and walk, walk, walk as soon as you can when you get out of recovery.

My doc suggested turning water acidic makes it easier to drink after surgery, so adding lemon or a squeeze of citris of some sort. Vitamin water has been my go to drink. For some reason I can drink that but G2 or Propel is a no go.

I'm adding Unjury Unflavored to my soups for the protein...kinda tired of all the sweet protein drinks. I don't taste or smell the unflavored stuff at all when I add it.

Congratulations! Great way to start your day! Enjoy the feeling!

if you live by a mall with air conditioning you could walk there

Only 56 lbs?...you go girl, give yourself a nice pat on the back size 20 to 14 is big deal. Woohoo for you!

I told my husband, who accompanied me and is totally supportive and my sister in law...so someone had our travel itenarary to Mexico, and no one else. Like you I don't want to be anyone's poster child. Nor do I want to have to spend time and energy explaining, defending or discussing the merits or risks with anyone else. I've done my research and I've made my own decision. I decided this time and this journey was for me and I'm keeping it personal...only sharing it with a few thousand people going through the same thing here on these boards...lol. When people ask what I'm doing (re: my eating habits or right now lack thereof) I just say I'm eating less and moving more which is all true. Once I'm further in my journey if someone I know is looking for support or advice and asks my opinion I will gladly share my support and experience but until then for me....mums the word.

I'm 11 days and 14lbs post op and feeling great! I can't believe how fast and what a breeze the surgery was! I did not do a revision so a litte different situation in that respect but any of the questions or anxiety I may have felt before is behind me and I'm so excited for my future! You came to the decision for many reasons and with a clear head I'm sure, before the anxiety of the "moments" before set in. You can do this! Get your desk cleared and your stuff done so you can focus on YOU during the time you've taken off for recovery. Luck to you!! :)