amykins

I live in the Vegas area and went to Mexico for my surgery. My surgeon has much more experience than the Vegas surgeons and it was much cheaper. I hadn't heard of anyone having complications and I didn't have any either. Insurance will cover your follow-up and they don't need to know where your surgery was anyway. My PCP is following me with no problem. Actually I've only been once for a one-month follow up and I go back for a 6-month appt.

At first I would burp which was weird cause I wasn't a burper pre-surgery. Then at about 6 weeks my nose would run. Now I get a squeeze/tight feel in my stomach. Regardless of the signal, I learned quickly to STOP immediately Even if I had food in my mouth. I spit it out. I know if I have even one more bite, I will be very sorry. Took 2 times, but I learned LOL. The discomfort is not worth it. The second time I ended up throwing up a little (probably just that extra bite). Lesson learned.

You are 12 days post op and have lost 20 pounds! Your body has not gone into starvation mode, it's just trying to catch up. Most people don't lose every day. I would lose for a couple of days, then hold for a couple days, then start losing again. Three months out, I still do that. Now when you start mushies at about 3 weeks, you may have a real stall as your body adjusts to having real food again. There;s still nothing you can do but wait it out and keep doing the right things. The weight loss will happen. You are too soon out for it not to happen.

I'm three months out and I know how you're feeling. Had a Christmas potluck yesterday at work and was able to resist most of everything except I ate the soft part of 1/2 a bagel. I am still refusing to eat sugar though. That was my biggest weakness before. Years ago I went to some AA meetings with a friend who was trying to get sober. One message they pushed was to not pick up. I use that message myself. I don't say I can't have it. That will make me want it 1000 times more. I just say I don't eat that right now. So far it's working for me. So since I didn't pick that cookie up yesterday since I don't eat them right now, I didn't eat it. Hope this helps a little.

You might need a different one. I tried nexium and prevacid before I got a script for pantazol.

Keeping you in my thoughts today. Prayers for you and Dr A's staff :-)

I had terrible gas too but putting a heating pad where it hurts for about 30 minutes really helped me. glad you're doing so well!

They do give you a box of the supradol (dissolving )pain reliever and a box of pantazol (anti-acid grains). I bought an extra box of both at the pharmacy across the street but never even used more than one or two of the supradol they gave me. I think I used one after walking what seemed like a zillion miles from the check-in to my gate. And maybe another one after I drove myself home. I went alone and didn't tell anyone so I had to drive myself home. I was really glad I got the extra box of pantazol. Taking pills was really intimidating to me even a month after surgery. I think it was about $20. Ps no one told me to have extra bandages for the drain site. By the end of the first day of travel home it was goopy and I had to stop at Walmart to pick up bandages & sticky tape. It was fine after a couple of days. Just FYI.

I went alone for my surgery and was just fine. There were several patients who had already had surgery earlier in the week and were still recovering as well as two people who had surgery the same day as me.

I was 193.5 on my surgery date (8/31) and am 145 today. My first month I lost 23 pounds, the second was only about 8 but I dropped 3 clothes sizes that month. Last month was 10 pounds and another size. I'll take slower losses, I'm hoping it will help with loose skin issues.

I eat atkins bars. Chocolate peanut butter is my favorite

You can drink the click mocha hot, according to the package,but I haven't tried it yet.

I was nervous too, especially since I went alone. Fortunately I found a sleeve sister on this board and there were several people there in various stages of recovery. All my worry was for nothing. If you haven't read this thread yet, I highly recommend it. It's by another person but it describes my experience almost to to the letter. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/31522-sleeved-in-mexicali-warning-really-long/

I'm allergic to pain LOL and even if it was the cause of my nausea the first night (could be one of a dozen factors) it was worth it. I'm a pain baby and I didn't have a smidge of pain LOL.

I highly recommend keeping busy. Start walking (if you don't already) as much as you can to get yourself ready for all the walking you will need to do. Order your protein samples, but don't try them till after surgery, your taste buds will probably change. Start a pinterest board with inspiration pics and exercises (my favorite thing to do now). Make another one with high protein low carb recipes for when you are able to eat solids again. Take lots of before pics from all angles. I wish I hadn't hidden from the camera so much but I have a few. I was lucky enough to have a cruise scheduled during the month before, so it helped keep my mind busy. I'm not saying take a cruise but maybe there are some opportunities to volunteer in your area over the next few weeks that will keep you busy? Food bank, toys for tots, etc... I hope this helps a little.

Does he still do it as outpatient surgery? Even though I live in Vegas where he is I'm still glad I went to Mexicali and got my three nights in a hospital for $8700.

That must be new. I know he gave me one in August. Wonder why he stopped?

I lost weight on the old WW program, but not on the new one. I think the addition of unlimited fruits was not good for me. My body does better on low carb meals. However, I am using a lot of WW recipes and adapting them to a lower carb meal. And I'm sure I'll use more once I'm in maintenance.

Thanks for posting and telling us how you're doing. Sounds like you are truly living life now.

I had Dr Aceves and he uses the spinal to provide pain relief for about 24 hours. It's given while you are under sedation. I don't know about other surgeons doing this, but I haven't heard of any.

Your tummy is still healing from the surgery and the nerves are too so it's very unlikely that you are truly hungry. Three months out I still haven't felt hunger like I did pre-surgery. Are you taking a PPI? That feeling of acid/gas is very similar to hunger especially at first. When I forget to take it, my pouch reminds me.

I never noticed the drain. It wasn't like the bulb I had when I had my gall bladder removed a couple years ago. It didn't hurt when Dr Campos removed it, just felt weird for a couple seconds. Afterward they put a thick gauze on the site that they will change after your shower.

Good point. I put unflavored unjury in my crystal light.

Ellie_kae, don't worry, you will be under when they give your the spinal shot. And since it gives pain relief for 24 hours you will be grateful for it. I never had a bit of pain. I just felt like I had done a couple hundred sit-ups.

PS Isopure is NASTY! Don't stock up too much. I bought two bottles and only took a couple sips of one. Blah!