SweetTee

Now why did you steal this models photo and put it next to your preop picture?
Girl you look fabulous! You are so beautiful.
Congrats to you for all your hard work. I love the new hair color.

As far as Dr Garcia, I know he said that he does the most difficult cases first. Which could explain the long wait. If the person before you had several issues to arise in the OR then you could run into a long wait. As far as I was concerned, I didn't wait extremely long and they did come and tell me that I would be going second and in less than 5 min they were there to take me. As for the nursing staff. They were pretty good to me, one poster commented on how her fluids ran out once, so did mine and as the next nurse came in and noticed she was right there to quickly hang another. The medical staff of "Dr Garcia" was great. His team was always available and attentive. I was experiencing bad nausea and the Zofran was not cutting it. The dr came in the middle of the night to order me something else for both pain and nausea. Try getting that in the US ("I'm a nurse and trust me I know"). I never had to ask for pain meds though. They were right in and as soon as they heard me gag they were in there. I'm not sure if they were more attentive because I was a nurse or because I was alone. Whatever the case I felt they were knowledgable and competent. I did not like the fact that they didn't have a call bell. I was however able to tell "NURSE" and they came right in. And I did do that when I dropped my remote, my cell phone, and my emesis basin which they had no trouble cleaning up and refilling it with tissue for my next use. I would not have just kept quiet and accepted substandard care. I definitely don't mind being vocal when needed. Was it a cake walk, heck no! Was my needs taken care of, heck yes! Would I do it again, without a doubt! Is the hosp different from in the states, most definitely!

Yoohoo! I made it through week 1!!!! I feel better and better each day! I'm so glad I made this decision and I pray the scale gets moving from here. Any advice on getting the scale moving would be greatly appreciated!

Okay Amy I took your idea about the personal thread, what a great idea. Ok well I got my pedi today with a friend of mine and it really helped me to relax. I didn't get the neon color I had talked about because my friend has breast cancer that went with me so I got the breast cancer pink on my toes for her. Then we spent the rest of the day together and it was great until I got ready to leave. She is the strongest person I know and has been through so much in her life but when she hugged me good bye she started to cry and then I started to cry. I told her I would be fine and not to worry and that I would be back before here next Chemo treatment. That was the first emotional breakdown I have had. Actually, I was only crying because she was crying, that's what good friends do right? Well anyway big girl panties are on and I am going to bed(or try anyway)so I can sleep for a few hours. I have to leave the house at 3:20am eastern time. I will keep u guys up on my journey as much as possible.

Ha! I am eating meatloaf right now. Not kidding. But I made it, not SweetTee, but I'll let my wife know I'll be looking for dessert later.
Yeah, this is a tough, emotional time for us and we set expectations for the people around us that they are just not able to meet. Remember, expectations are just resentments in the making, so try to right-size your expectations. The only thing you have power over is yourself and your actions.
Now, where's my ketchup?

Boy sweet tea! If I'm an ass to you then kiss your pretty face afterwards and say sorry...,
Will you make me meatloaf and sweet potato pie

I was sleeved on the 27 just got home @7:30 doing great getting in my h20

Thanks you guys, and PDX Man you are right. He says he was upset that I was in the store complaining over the price of chewable vitamins, lol. It took me forever to pick one. He also said he was glad that I am putting me first and I would not have been complaining if it were something I was buying for the kids. He also apologized and said that I was extremely moody yesterday. I know that I was but I figured they should cut me some slack and understand. I was so frustrated cause I couldn't eat anything!!! He kissed my sweet face and told me he loves me and he's my a&$ho$&. . So today I made him his favorite meatloaf, potatoes, and corn. I also baked him his favorite sweet potato pie. If I felt up to it I would give him dessert twice,(wink). Maybe next time.

Thanks you guys, and PDX Man you are right. He says he was upset that I was in the store complaining over the price of chewable vitamins, lol. It took me forever to pick one. He also said he was glad that I am putting me first and I would not have been complaining if it were something I was buying for the kids. He also apologized and said that I was extremely moody yesterday. I know that I was but I figured they should cut me some slack and understand. I was so frustrated cause I couldn't eat anything!!! He kissed my sweet face and told me he loves me and he's my a&$ho$&. . So today I made him his favorite meatloaf, potatoes, and corn. I also baked him his favorite sweet potato pie. If I felt up to it I would give him dessert twice,(wink). Maybe next time.

When I first started researching surgery. I was watching videos on you tube and this place has lots of them. Almost like they try to get all their patients to do a video. But I seem one persons video and it showed them driving up to a place that looked like a strip mall and I said then no way!!!!!! I love vertical sleeve talk!!!! It has helped me choose Dr Garcia at $4700.

I had none of this. I was sleeved by Dr. Garcia at Mi Doctor. I remember waking up briefly after the surgery i was clothed. They didnt strip me naked anyway? There is a difference in between not having a solid stool and runny stool. I didnt have diarehha but i didnt have runny stool because there were not solids in my body on Water. But im sorry to hear about your negative experience and complications.
I would hope that this does not deter others from Mi Doctor because the hotel and staff members are great. Rosie (coordinator) was also available the entire time that i was there. I didnt have a problem with waiting for surgery....i was chillin honestly. Time off of work, no kids, no spouse, just me the 2 american stations and my music.

I remember the 2nd week post-op I turned into a monster and EVERYONE around me was an a*****e ! Amazing how that happens. Just don't kill or maim anyone, go and slam some doors, pray because God listens and is NEVER an a*****e, and remember that this too shall pass. *HUG*
And yes, my husband is still an a*****e, but he's my a*****e :-)

Sweet tea you are right your husband is an a**hole!
Tell him shut up and give you a foot massage!

I just came home yesterday and I'm 6 days post op and...my husband is just being such a jerk. I'm not sure what his problem is and he says I'm moody. WTF??? I don't feel moody. We were so happy 6 days ago....ugh! I'm just venting because I really do love the a*****e and was so happy to come home to the jerk. Now I just want to go to work, back to Mx, or anywhere he isn't. OAN, my kids are all up under me and so attentive.

As far as Dr Garcia, I know he said that he does the most difficult cases first. Which could explain the long wait. If the person before you had several issues to arise in the OR then you could run into a long wait. As far as I was concerned, I didn't wait extremely long and they did come and tell me that I would be going second and in less than 5 min they were there to take me. As for the nursing staff. They were pretty good to me, one poster commented on how her fluids ran out once, so did mine and as the next nurse came in and noticed she was right there to quickly hang another. The medical staff of "Dr Garcia" was great. His team was always available and attentive. I was experiencing bad nausea and the Zofran was not cutting it. The dr came in the middle of the night to order me something else for both pain and nausea. Try getting that in the US ("I'm a nurse and trust me I know"). I never had to ask for pain meds though. They were right in and as soon as they heard me gag they were in there. I'm not sure if they were more attentive because I was a nurse or because I was alone. Whatever the case I felt they were knowledgable and competent. I did not like the fact that they didn't have a call bell. I was however able to tell "NURSE" and they came right in. And I did do that when I dropped my remote, my cell phone, and my emesis basin which they had no trouble cleaning up and refilling it with tissue for my next use. I would not have just kept quiet and accepted substandard care. I definitely don't mind being vocal when needed. Was it a cake walk, heck no! Was my needs taken care of, heck yes! Would I do it again, without a doubt! Is the hosp different from in the states, most definitely!

As far as Dr Garcia, I know he said that he does the most difficult cases first. Which could explain the long wait. If the person before you had several issues to arise in the OR then you could run into a long wait. As far as I was concerned, I didn't wait extremely long and they did come and tell me that I would be going second and in less than 5 min they were there to take me. As for the nursing staff. They were pretty good to me, one poster commented on how her fluids ran out once, so did mine and as the next nurse came in and noticed she was right there to quickly hang another. The medical staff of "Dr Garcia" was great. His team was always available and attentive. I was experiencing bad nausea and the Zofran was not cutting it. The dr came in the middle of the night to order me something else for both pain and nausea. Try getting that in the US ("I'm a nurse and trust me I know"). I never had to ask for pain meds though. They were right in and as soon as they heard me gag they were in there. I'm not sure if they were more attentive because I was a nurse or because I was alone. Whatever the case I felt they were knowledgable and competent. I did not like the fact that they didn't have a call bell. I was however able to tell "NURSE" and they came right in. And I did do that when I dropped my remote, my cell phone, and my emesis basin which they had no trouble cleaning up and refilling it with tissue for my next use. I would not have just kept quiet and accepted substandard care. I definitely don't mind being vocal when needed. Was it a cake walk, heck no! Was my needs taken care of, heck yes! Would I do it again, without a doubt! Is the hosp different from in the states, most definitely!

As far as Dr Garcia, I know he said that he does the most difficult cases first. Which could explain the long wait. If the person before you had several issues to arise in the OR then you could run into a long wait. As far as I was concerned, I didn't wait extremely long and they did come and tell me that I would be going second and in less than 5 min they were there to take me. As for the nursing staff. They were pretty good to me, one poster commented on how her fluids ran out once, so did mine and as the next nurse came in and noticed she was right there to quickly hang another. The medical staff of "Dr Garcia" was great. His team was always available and attentive. I was experiencing bad nausea and the Zofran was not cutting it. The dr came in the middle of the night to order me something else for both pain and nausea. Try getting that in the US ("I'm a nurse and trust me I know"). I never had to ask for pain meds though. They were right in and as soon as they heard me gag they were in there. I'm not sure if they were more attentive because I was a nurse or because I was alone. Whatever the case I felt they were knowledgable and competent. I did not like the fact that they didn't have a call bell. I was however able to tell "NURSE" and they came right in. And I did do that when I dropped my remote, my cell phone, and my emesis basin which they had no trouble cleaning up and refilling it with tissue for my next use. I would not have just kept quiet and accepted substandard care. I definitely don't mind being vocal when needed. Was it a cake walk, heck no! Was my needs taken care of, heck yes! Would I do it again, without a doubt! Is the hosp different from in the states, most definitely!

Most of my problem with American providers is with the attitude of the surgeon & the staff
In Mexico, any little discomfort is taken seriously, examined, and addressed. Quite the opposite in American hospitals.
In Mexico they want to identify any possible issue before it becomes a problem, whereas whereas American facilities have repeatedly written off complaints as patients just being whiners.
And when there is a problem, American doctors first response seems to be to avoid litigation, whereas in Mexico the first response is to serve the patient.
I don't really blame the surgeons for this as much as I do society. They are practicing medicine in an environment that is continually seeking an opportunity to rake them over the coals. Whereas in Mexico a patients recourse is to ruin the surgeons future career, but it won't be to the financial benefit of the patient.

I finally made it home to Louisiana safe and sound. Thanks to all my VST family for all the prayers and well wishes. For those of you that are traveling to Mi hospital and following in my steps, Dr Garcia and his staff will take excellent care of you. Trust in God and press on. If he brings you to it, he will bring you through it!

Dear Jesus, Help Amy during her recovery time and help her to heal completely. Give her
comfort on her way back home.
Amen

I was sleeved on 2-27, at first in the hospital I thought wow, this is it, well its awesome. very litlle pain, felt like myself, and thought I can totally handle this. However, I forgot one thing...I was hooked up to a Dilated pump and getting shots of Toradol every couple hours.
My head could have missing and I would have felt the same way...lol
Facing reality at home minus the hi powered pain pumps and booster shots its a lil different.
In my experience you have to have some level of tough-girl in you. Yes there are some posters out there who had surgery within days of me who are already walking a mile and a half and shopping at Wal Mart. Thats Great. I am jealous and happy for you. With that said thats not the case here.
I am sleeping on my side, with the assistance of two stuffed pillows one in my back holding up pressure their and one on the opposite side holding the pressure under the length of my stomach, I do not lay on the side of my worst upper left incision.
I do not sleep through the night. The pain from my incisions, and the relentless monster growling painful gas that goes on minute after minute I suffer the worst from the gas that just likes to camp out in my intestines. I take 15 mg of Oxycodone every 3 hours , or one an hour. I get up every couple hours to walk my house and go to the bathroom and literally have a heart to heart with god about how good I will be if he just lets me go number 2..lol. ( its gotta relieve that gas right?)
Last night I got so desperate at 4 am I bit open a colace and sucked the inside out. I couldn't just take it because it was a gel cap, apparently a big no-no. It tasted like rat poison. Not doing that again.
I have to have my husband help me in and out of our bed, (it is a lil high up)
I also have to wake him up several times each time in the middle of the night to do this.
I have had issues with diverticulitis in the last couple of years which I associate with the super sensitivity to the horrendous gas pains which I can only compare to end stage labor pains. I have taken gasx strips, milk of magnesia and the colace I bit into. And yes I walk walk walk and sip sip sip.
Does my actual stomach hurt? no just the gas in my intestines.
Am I hungry? No not at all
Have I lost weight? Yes like 7 pounds in 5 days.
Do I regret my decision to be sleeved? No I am in this for the long haul and cant wait to see my results in 6 months.
Am I a whiner? Maybe. But I don't remember reading this on posts before I got my surgery. Maybe I didn't want to see the rough parts and only focused on the before and after pics. Just keeping it real by telling my own experience.
I have been joking the last couple days saying they should have a "victims panel" (LOL)in one of the required pre op classes. Real ppl telling their real accounts of the different stages of the surgery (good bad indifferent ) would have been enlightening and I could refer to that as I go through each stage.
With all this said. I am happy with my decision. I am excited for the future. This isn't easy for my right now where I am on day 5 it can be frustrating, I'm sure lack of sleep, chronic pain and hormones on fire are fueling the fire. Fine. I can deal with it. Just venting. Thanks for listening, without judgement I hope.
J

I finally made it home to Louisiana safe and sound. Thanks to all my VST family for all the prayers and well wishes. For those of you that are traveling to Mi hospital and following in my steps, Dr Garcia and his staff will take excellent care of you. Trust in God and press on. If he brings you to it, he will bring you through it!