stoongal

I know how you feel, as a pensioner I would not have been able to afford the $1000 (with our dollar difference) to go to the other Mexican hospitals. Besides I know a girl here who had it done back in April and she lost 65 lbs in 4 months! She had gone to Emmanuel Medical in Tijuana for the same reason, least expensive. It isn't anything fancy, but the surgean is top rated and excellent. I wrote my experiences there in depth on another thread. Click on my name here and in the drop down menu it shows see all posts by Stoongal, click on that, and then check out the latest ones. Call Shirley at 1 866 806 1090 for the rates & any other info you need, I see they have a new special for the sleeve $5500 with airfare for the 21 Oct. if you can pay in advance. I don't blame you for not wanting to wait! Cheers, Donna:001_cool:

You're welcome Millie, realize I forgot to mention that we had our pouches and drain removed on our last day there, mine was particularly uncomfortable coming out, they think the drain tube may have been caught betwen my liver and new stomach - . Anyway, to me that was the worst of the whole experience! So glad it didn't take too long!

:lol0: - thank you! So right! we have the wisdom of our long life, I am certainly going to enjoy this whole process!! Have my sister and my daughter on this forum now, they plan to have the sleeve in January! Yeah!!

helped me, your operation should be even easier for the physician, and you will be more comfy post op. Don't know about the hair loss thing, too new at this.

Hi Ivy, super that you are adjusting as you should and loving the banana stomach - me too! Do you want ot go to the support group here in Toon town 1st Wed in November? Let me know if you need a ride or any more info. Welcome home!

Hi Nancy, I did travel alone, yes, but I have such an active husband I couldn't see him sitting around watching me sleep and him doing nothing! Besides on our pensions, we simply couldn't afford to have him or anyone else come with me. I honestly can say Nancy, I felt no pain whatsoever! felt some tenderness when I rolled on my left side inadvertantly, learned quickly to sleep on my back or right side with something tucked under my tummy for support. I suppose it was the pain meds they had us on, who knows, but mostly I was very comfortable. Yes two full days in the hospital night before and two days afterwarss idn the recovery house. For pics check out superppp's album he just posted. As for family, well I had talked to them so much from Mexico they were not too worried anymore! :001_unsure: Hope that answers your questions. Cheers, Donna :scared0:

First thing we have to do is find a universal symbol of what it all means to everyone, a flower, a star, something life changing. Something with "Sisters" but not sleeve. OR better yet,a BUTTERFLY, the ulitmate "transformation" from a catipillar to a butterfly !!!! Or Dragonfly, something free, light, and carefree. I'm up for any ideas ya'll can throw at me !!! Personally I love the butterfly idea...I need feed back :thumbup: bring it on !!! My research is about to begin.... Another thought for a symbol, could be a bluebird soaring upwards thrusting towards the sun, a "bluebird of happiness" as surely happiness will be one of our main rewards for the weight loss!

at the Cosmo Civic Center. Let me know if you need a ride, happy to take you!

Thanks appreciate the interest. Well here goes, hope to be as brief yet informative as I know how. The flight: 2 stages, huge wait at Saskatoon airport and much more in Denver but went smooth (I always set off the metal alarms with the prosthestics in my knees) coming back - huge wait in SanDiego and one hour plus in Denver. Crowded full aircraft! Cold back home here! Brrr... The Recovery House: newish, spotless, smallish, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 story home in a gated community - felt very safe and secure there. The Staff: drivers, doctors, patient liason, caretaking staff, nurses, all - gracious, warm and generous with their hugs. True Mexican hospitallity prevailed. The Medical Center: smaller than expected, but it is a shared facility, so I understood all that once there. Our rooms were good sized though, with TV, Stereo and airconditioning all controlled with remotes. In the hallway was a phone for us to use freely to call family - I made real good use of it!:love: I don't own a cell phone and this was on them! Everything was clean, not new or real modern, a real no frills atmosphere. No health spa here! The Procedure and Operation: lots of forms to fill out, blood samples first, sent out to a lab. Weight recorded. Blood pressure taken and recorded, mine was 120 over 80 (great for me) A cardiologist came and did a thorough check over as I have a heart murmur, did his EKG and then came the gown pressure stockings and IV line set up. wait my turn, in came the whole staff to be introduced to me in my room, including the owner, the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, (sp?) the assistant Dr, the surgery nurse, the aftercare nurse, and even Dr. A's wife. We talked at length - pictues were taken with the surgeon - then much laughter and congeniality and showing off of muscles - that kind of thing- made me feel special and oh so relaxed. Shortly after noon hour, my turn for the operation. the room looked like a tiny operating room with equipment and all and was filled with those necessary to be there. They positioned me, placed my arms, gave me the injection, and that was all I saw of it! Woke back in my room. Had vitals taken etc. Felt no pain, needed sips of Water but only to swish and spit out, even got up to use the bathroom. and then to call my children. Slept a few hrs after that. Lots of walking with the other two sleeve patients that evening, and we visited back and forth. Next day: Dr Lopez dropped by to see me (anesthesiologist) and a bit later along came Dr. Amanza who congratulated me for being the oldest sleeve patient and for setting a brand new record - only 35 minutes for my operation! Why? No bleeding, real empty stomach etc. a clean visual field and nothing to hinder the actual procedure, he did my stitches too. so again felt very special. Even Ivan the accountant came to see me! Earlier had showered, had dressings changed, and more vitals taken, took me off separate pain intervenous, gave me antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and pain control through the main intervenous line (had 2 before)then I changed into my own gown and lounging robe. More visits ensued from the other two patients and we did many parades pushing our iv poles around Meantime our rooms got cleaned and beds changed and remade and everything spotless and neat. So I read, did crossword puzzles (about 10 of them at least) Finally! Bliss, Ice chips to suck on and actually swallow! Heavenly! Next Day: up early, bandages changed and drank blue stuff. for leak test #2 (1st done in surgery) Blood pressure taken etc, then I packed my bag as we were to get Xrays done (3rd test for any leaks) We got them done and were to keep them to take home with us. Driven back to the recovery house. Lots of visits from Dr. Betencourt - food choice intructions given and meds distributed to take home with us. Relaxed on the sun on the patio, all of us took siesta naps! much sucking on popsicles, sipping water gaterade whatever, had the run of the place. Tao kept us in clean towels and cooked and cleaned until late afternoon. lots of staff dropped by to nosh and nibble and visit. Made lots of phone calls! again on the house! Next day: More of the same grazing, playing board games, phoning, visiting, napping and going on a three hour outing to Casino, stores, and to the beach on the ocean. Enough of my chronicles! Hope this helps anyone considering this surgery and this facility! In the near future it will be Jerusalem Hospital in a new facilty, more modern and sophisticated according to the owner. Ready in about 2 months. "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending" :thumbup:

I am so happy for you, and that you are home safe and sound. I am glad for BOTH of us sister sleevers! Tonight I had homemade chicken broth, oh was it ever good! for dessert, (I am still sipping on it) am having Welsh's light grape juice with a bit of Water added to it, delicious! I, too, noticed my face was red in the hospital, but then I have a touch of rosacea which really shows up after even a small glass of wine. So sensitive that way I guess. Anyway, hope you will be able to attend the upcoming support group that will start first Wed of November. The more, the merrier, we are getting a nice little group going here in Toon town! They are talking of doing a clothing exchange. Worth checking out! Welcome home! Cheers, Donna :thumbup:

And if money is an issue for you like it was for me, you can have the same procedure done just across the border in Tijuana with Dr. Almaraz for $5000. He also does the three leak tests and keeps you in the hospital for 2 days and in the recovery house for another 2 days. He is A1 in my books and I hear his abilites are compared to a very famous doctor in Mexico, Dr. Ponce De Leon. The risk of any complications are so low and why not check it out at 1 866 806 4286. And no I am not paid for saying any of this, but have just had a successful sleeve operation there Monday, and one other gentleman was a revision from lapband to sleeve and he did extremely well also. Worth a look-see.

Some of my fav's after The Notebook, are Nights in Rodanthe, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, (those are based on Nicolas Sparks books!) then I also love musicals, including any by Judy Garland, classics like Amadeus, Immortal Beloved, Chicago, Dream Girls, West Side Story, High Society, An American In Paris, then there's The Bucket List, Seabiscuit, The Natural, I am Sam, Field of Dreams, Driving Miss Daisy, Magnolia, Green Fried Tomatoes, Schindler's List, March of the Penguins, Planet Earth series, any old Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn movies, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Oceans Eleven, and here is a list of the top 10 courtroom drama movies ever! To Kill a Mockingbird (1963) 12 Angry Men (1957) Kramer VS. Kramer (1979) The Verdict (1982) A Few Good Men (1992) Witness for the Prosecution (1958) Anatomy of a Murder (1959) In Cold Blood (1967) A Cry in the Dark (1988) Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) OK, that will have to do for my tired old memory bank. Hope this helps with your friend!

I and at least two others from Saskatoon are here as members. I didn't even try to get thru our system, just went straight to Mexico, had the surgery Monday and home now and feeling like it was the best decision I ever made. My cost? $100 for the passport, $5000 for the surgery and airfare, $28 for comprehensive travellers medical coverage, and that was about it. Have had to take out a $5000 line of credit at my bank but worth every penny!

Not in detail yet, just got home yesterday, and today has been on the phone lots with friends and loved ones, met my brother from Edmonton up at his motel, he is in town for a bridge tournament, then went to Walmart to buy some more clear juices, cat food, and bread for hubby. Since home been on the phone with my sister and just now back online. I wrote copious notes, pages actually, so am wondering how to pare it down as to not make it boring or repetative from other posts I have already done last night. Thank Nancy, when I wrap my head around the being brief, I will post in this thread, how is that? Check later on tonight maybe.

We are going to start doing that here in Saskatoon. Our support groups will start the first Wed in November, and will be open for anyone who has had sleeve weight loss surgery, and we plan on doing a clothes exchange at those meetings. so we will need to clean out our closets just before the Nov meeting, I hope I will have some to take, (no, need positive thinking here) I KNOW I will have some to take along with me.

Welcome to our community, you will find all kinds of peoples experiences here. Great that you have chosen the sleeve. I didn't need the gas X, heating pad, enzymes, just liquids and I am now just home from my sleeve. But who knows if you will or now. I can't believe how good I feel! I did have a drain up until yesterday morning, no catheter, and had the 32 bougie. I have an Xray of my new tummy - it looks like an almost half moon shaped pouch. Most interesting. Expect nothing but the best in this experience, I know I did, and that is exactly what I got! Once again, Welcome and enjoy the whole procedure, the freedom of the results are amazing!

I am only four days out of my surgical sleeve operation (28th)and just arrived home this afternoon. I am doing fantastic! Sipping away on Isopure for a change, as apple juice and water, popsicles, runny yogurt, and cream soups have been my meals for the past two days. But two ounces at a time, giggle! Seems very little but am so happy with that amount. It is so true what everyone says, no hunger or desire to eat! What freedom! Looking forward to weight loss and exercising and all of that but too new right now to worry about any of that. Abdomen is still swollen and ports feeling itchy but other than that all is good! Will keep you updated! Cheers, Donna

No wonder I am the only one in this category, turns out I am the oldest sleeve patient - period! Also set a new record! My sleeve only took Dr. Almanza 35 minutes from start to finish! Everything went so smoothly, no bleeding, no problems whatsoever! I am feeling truly blessed! Just got home to Canada today, had a nap and now feel raring to go! So will check in on the other forums and see what I missed!

Thank you so much, Nancy. Just starting to pack now, keep changing my mind about what will fit me real loosely after the surgery, in case the abdomen swells even more than mine already is!! So been trying on and trying on, but think I for sure have it figured out now. Talk to you when I get back if not sooner. Cheers, Donna

Marilyn, Can save you lots of money if you buy thru this number: 1 403 329 1380 each plastic container is 16 oz, and costs $10 Canadian , buy by the case and they ship for only $10 Cdn. Mine last anywhere from 4 - 6- months that way, as I use them 5X a week. Our dollar is about .90 yours, I believe, in that vicinity anyway. They are very fresh and keep beautifully Hope that helps. Cheers, Donna

You'll make up for the lack of sleep in the days following surgery, not too much else to do! Lots of little naps throughout. I am taking a good book, some crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles with me, and I understand that there is a Vonage phone in my room for my use and I will call all my relatives and friends that know about the surgery and allay their fears!

Thanks Oregon Rose, looking so forward to the experience. Crazy, huh? Cheers, Donna

Hi, I can so relate, but not jeans, I am the wrong generation for those, but I have a cute duster that I kept from when I was much much smaller (don't ask me why) that I will be so happy to fit into at some future date, even some really nice shoes that I bought that are a bit too small, but will likely fit somewhere down the road. I will be delighted to sit behind my husband on our Suzuki Cavalcade motorcycle and not feel like a mountain behind him, and know that he doesn't have the extra weight to hold up at stops and when parking. He is in his 70's as well, and leg strength not what it used to be. Most of all, after my health reasons of course, I want him to be proud of my looks again like he was when I was a fairly normal weight, and have him show me that again. ~sigh~ My surgery is Monday, you too?

A HUGE welcome, JudyX3--- Love your story, brought tears to my eyes as I, and so many of us, relate to your experiences with the extra 100 lbs. We will indeed be sleeve sisters, all of us, and support each other in any way we can. We are grateful to those who have gone before us to give us the advice we ask for as they understand what we are going through. Anyway, thanks you for sharing your story, and keep them coming (your posts that is) Donna:001_cool:

Surgery is scheduled for Monday, but indeed will keep you posted. I am positive everything will go as planned! Thanks for caring! Donna :thumbup: