bluelemons

I have to be at the hospital at 7am, so 12 hours and it will be noooo backing out! Eek !

Glad to hear that you had a great surgery, Dr, A and his staff are so kind and take good care of us Glad to hear that you are doing well !

Tomorrows my big day!! So nervous - did anyone contemplate backing out?

I'm sleeved!!! I've struggled a bit with nausea but haven't gotten sick.... Thank the Lord! I'm finally getting Clear Liquids today and if I'm able to urinate on my own I may be released this evening!! Hope all is well with my fellow 8/27 sleevers, as well as those who went before us and those to come!

Once again, cheers to all the peeps getting sleeved today! Here's to a new life, full of good health and energy and no more aches, pains, and meds (except for Vitamins, lol)!!!

Tomorrow is the big day! Here's an update on where I am so far. I did the pre-op liquid diet for 3 weeks and lost 18 pounds. I admit it that I cheated by usually eating some Protein at night....the pre-op diet is SOOOO HARD!!! I went from 195 pounds to 177. I'm really hoping my new smaller tummy will make the post op diet a little easier! =) I want to get down to at least 140 pounds, but would love it if I could get down to 125-135 range. We'll see how well my new tool helps with that!
Not nervous at all, but I know I'm never going to be able to sleep tonight. Best wished to everyone that is having surgery tomorrow. Good Luck!

Hi Everyone, my sister and I are having our sleeves done tomorrow morning... Due at the hospital at 7am..... Fingers crossed!

Thank you so much! I know you all had great experiences with dr a... So that makes me feel better. See you on the losers bench!!!

6 days post op and I'm back in the office . Let's see how it goes

3 days post op, flying home tomorrow, and boy do i feel better! Everyday I'm feeling better and better! I'm sip, sip, sipping and trying to take it easy. Everything is going just as I was advised, almost feels a little surreal. Hard to believe that I'm done! Now it's onto recovery and I'm so excited to feel better so i can start walking and running and working out in a few weeks. All smiles

Day 7 (of 14) on my pre-op diet and down 11 lbs!!! Woohoo! Can't wait til next Monday to get this behind me.

I'm slllleeevvvveeeddd! I got sleeved by Dr. Alvarez on Friday the 17th. I'm 2 days post op, and doing well. Passed the nausea and gas, and feeling ok. Dr. Alvarez and his staff have been awesome. Couldn't be more pleased! Planning on my first weigh in 2 weeks post op so I can clear all the IV Fluid and bloating from my system.

Flying into San Antonio on the 26th and having surgery with Dr Alvarez on the 28th. Its so reasuring to hear so many wonderful things about him. He even responds to my tweets...answering every question I have. Good luck to everyone . Three week liquid diet is kicking my ass even as I write this. 10 lbs down 3 days into the liquid diet so far.....still got 175 to go though. Thanks for everyone's posts

I am scheduled for Sept 25!! Counting down the days!
I looked last night but could not find a thread for Dr Alvarez. Would it be good to have one for all of Dr alvarez's patients?

Please add me to the list.
August 27th Dr Zizzi in Louisiana
I'm so ready!

I could double what you said daddy about all how it went for me to...they are truly an amazing staff and Dr A is top notch

I had my pre-op appointment with my surgeon today (he's so nice...and so cute!, bloodwork, pre-op surgery class and signed all the waivers. I weighed in two pounds uncer my required pre-surgery weight goal!! It's getting very real now!!!!!

Sorry I haven't updated sooner. The wifi in my room has been sluggish. I had my surgery yesterday with Dr. Alvarez. I went second. Went in around 11-ish am. Apparently I said the same thing to Jessica as everyone else, "Did he do the surgery?" I woke up in no pain, just groggy. I am resting, walking, melting ice chps in my mouth. Who knew they could be so good. I will post more later. Everything went exactly as all you veterans have said.

Post op – Summary surgery – August 10 – Dr Alvarez Piedras Negras , MX (near Eagle Pass TX).
So Surgery went fine – I was second surgery at 10:15 am – I had an IV in and they asked me to slide over to the gurney and that was the last thing I remember until I woke up after surgery at 4:30 pm. Dr. Alvarez performed a VSG and repaired a hiatal hernia. I went alone. So Dr Alvarez called my wife at 11:45 am after my surgery and explained everything to her and told her I would call her after I woke up.
When I woke up at 4:30pm I was not in pain at all – I know they gave me pain killer medicine. I was able to walk and use the restroom. I called my wife and spoke to her for 10 minutes. I did walk a little up and down the hospital hallways. Then I just rested in bed and Jessica the main nurse came and checked on me often. The other nurses came in every few hours and put acid blocker and pain medicine into my IV – I did not feel these just some cool sensation going into my veins at the IV site. I was able to sleep all night with the nurses coming in every 2hours to check on me and re administers pain and acid blocker into IV.
Day2 - The next day was all about walking and sucking on ice chips. I was able to tolerate the ice chips. I was not able to tolerate the warm Water test. I got nauseas when I sipped the warm water and had a quick incident of dry heaves. I also want to note that Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Gabe came in and visited me at least 3 times after the surgery – same day as my surgery. I saw them again 3 times day after the surgery. I did have pain right below or under my ribcage area across my body and both my shoulders hurt. The Dr. told me that the ribcage area pain was related to my hiatal hernia repair. And the shoulder pain was related to gas buildup left over from surgery. He gave me pain medicine that day and in the evening to help deal with it.
Day 3 – was discharge day – I woke up around 6:10 am and I was asked to sip on grape juice – it was in a small 6oz box with a straw. I walked and sipped and finished the juice in 1-½ hours. I was happy I was able to do that. I had not had any reflux or nauseas feeling during the whole experience. (With exception of the warm water test). Overall experience not bad at all. I felt comfortable – I knew I had surgery but not a lot of pain.
I was transported to the hotel in San Antonio and that went fine – the 2 hour ride was bumpy and I burped a lot but not much pain. I went into my hotel room and took a pain medicine – shoulders still hurt a bit. I slept for 1 ½ and then got up and walked and sipped gatorade for a while and then went out to a restaurant I got Soup. All this time again I was able to keep liquids down and no reflux or nauseas feeling.
I took another pain medicine and went to bed at 10pm. Day 4 - I went to airport and flew home. Arrived home around 2pm – still feeling fine. Day 5 – sipping crystal light with a scoop of Unjury unflavored Protein Powder. Slight headache going on.
Since I went alone - Jessica - Dr. A nurses was awesome in helping me with everything I needed. I was very grateful for that.
Daddyfat2thin

Today at work a coworker asked if I was losing weight!!! YAY!!! I know it's so frustrating when you are bigger and you lose 5, 10, 15, 20 lbs and no one notices because you're so big! Well, someone noticed!!!

Hey everyone!!!! I haven't been on in a while but I'm doing great!! i went for my post-op appointment this morning and I LOST 38.2 POUNDS SINCE SURGERY!!!!!Words cannot express how elated I am. My incisions are healed and I am no longer on blood pressure medication and my sugar is normal!!!! I didn't expect things to happen so fast...I'm smiling and crying tears of joy :D

Stormwarning,
You can always PM me on FB if you need to tak about anything. Seriously, the drugs they give are awesome!! They really are amazing! I feel a slight pain on my left side(where stomach was removed). I got up and walked the about 5:15 because I had some slight chest pain. It was nothing compared to the way I have heard it described. Dr.A is so caring (his looks aren't bad either). He told Mark that my surgey was beautiful, my liver looks great.
Jessica is wonderful. She took Mark out to lunch and he really liked her too. All the staff are very kind. Most of the ***ht nurses speak very little or no English and they are in and out all ***ht long. Can't carry on casual conversation with them at all. Jesus is the one that takes care of Dr.A's patients, he speaks English very well. I just cannot tell you how I am amazed that I did this and i am so happy !!! You will be too. It is just such a good feeling!
I know that your are ICandithis will be the same after it is over. The mouth dryness is the worst thing but i just wet a washcloth and wiped my lips, swished and spit Water, I use blistex medicated cream on my lips (not waxey or greasy ) and I also bought a tube of the spray mouth freshener Binaca. Those have been life savers for me so far! I keep them with my glasses in a clam shell large case and the stay right beside me in the bed.
I will keep you posted on my day today!

Slenderella
So glad to hear that you are doing so well! My turn tomorrow and I am a bit nervous. I have made it to the hotel, tomorrow morning it is across the border and into the OR. Still cannot believe it!