trish4

Re to "tell or not to tell your PCP" I got back from having surgery in Mexico on a Saturday and by Tuesday I made appiointments with my gastroenterologist and PCP - I took a copy of the Op Report to them, plus the X-Ray of the new stomach. The gastroenterologist was very "high brow" about it - he said to me: "I hope you realize that if you have any complications no one in this country will want to touch you." The PCP basically was not familiar with the VSG - so I took informatin for her so that she could understad what was done. She has ordered my 3 month labs and 3 month Stomach imagining. Personally I think some physicians in this country think that the U.S. has a corner on all surgeries and medical issues and that no other country can touch us in quality - I happen to disagree - which is a very surprising thing for me to say because until I went to Mexico for this procedure I would have never thought so. Let me put it this way: the physician who was going to do the VSG on me in this country had done 36 of them - and the surgeon in Mexico has done 850+ - "practice makes perfect" and this is what I explained to my physicians here - I went to Mexico not because of the money but because of the expertise.

Just got home from being sleeved. My first 10 days says that I'm supposed to be on clear liquids. So I ordered some unjure - which arrived and I have it - how do I use it this first 10 days? Thanks.

I just was sleeved and got home. One of the medications I take is in capsul form - I can pull it apart and dissolve it and then swallow that but the pharmacy says don't dissolve it to take it whole and drink clear fluid - HELP! (Not supposed to have anything but clear liquids right now so what do I do about this capsul?)

Anyone banded in Mexacali and drove there? Did you drive into Mexico or park on the CA. side and let someone pick you up? I'm bring hubby along (bless his heart!!!!) - is the couch comfortable at the hospital in the room? THanks.

Going through all the pre-op tests, I also had to have a sleep study and the tech. came in in the middle of the night and put a C-PAP on me. Then about 4 days ago they brought it to my house, showed me how to use it. I tried it 2 nights in a row and was miserable. I was so tired yesterday that last night I didn't use it - horrible! I have no idea what I'm going to do. I simply cannot sleep with that thing on me. I am having surgery in 2 days and was hoping that I would take this to the hospital with me to use after the surgery - not so sure now.

Change4theBetter - I have 3 children: I have ONLY told 1 child and my husband and 1 friend - that's it. For the very reason you are going through what you are. Neither my husband or daughter nor friend approve - but they aren't being negative about it. I'm scheduled for this Tuesday with Dr. Aceves. I was scheduled in the U.S. but the surgeon I was going to use has only done about 35 sleeves - and Dr. Aceves has done upwards of about 800-900 and so I felt much more comfortable going to him. I too was going to pay $24K - Dr. Aceves is $9K - I am not using him because of his lower price but because of his experience and track record. If I'm going to do this, believe me I want someone wtih experience. Ignore your family - ignore those who are not supportive. Health is the most important - Some people can take off weight - but most people can't keep it off. All the best to you

Boy, I am one confused woman. I THOUGHT I was ready for the sleeve - had even seriously considered changing to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali for it (because he seems to have the most experience) - so I get on his website and here's what is recommendation is if you have GERD: "the recommended surgery for obese patients with GERD or severe acid reflux is the Gastric Bypass. The bypass is the anti reflux surgery for weight loss. The sleeve can actually cause more reflux that may or may not be controlled with medication..." He goes on to say that if you have the sleeve and your reflux/GERD is not controlled with meds you will need to consider converting the sleeve into a bypass." And YES I do have GERD and Reflux and so does that mean it's the bypass for me?

Hi all - I'm scheduled for surgery in 2 weeks - believe it or not I haven't decided if I'm having the bypass or the sleeve. I have about 75 pounds to lose. Anyone out there have the sleeve done by Dr. Blackstone in Arizona? THANKS!

Lookinupin2010 - I am also from Arizona (Phoenix area) - I see from your post that you will be sleeved soon - did you by chance ask your doctor how many sleeves he has done? That's one thing that is starting to concern me. I'm having it done in Scottsdale March 31st - my surgeon has done 36 sleeves - I'm trying to figure out if this makes her "experienced" enough. Thanks.

Hi all - I'm scheduled for surgery in 2 weeks - believe it or not I haven't decided if I'm having the bypass or the sleeve. I have about 75 pounds to lose. Anyone out there have the sleeve done by Dr. Blackstone in Arizona? THANKS!

Garby_58 - thanks for the reply and congrats on your great weight loss - fantastic. Prior to your surgery did you ask your surgeon how many he/she had done (of the sleeve?) My doct has done only 36 sleeves - but thousands of bypass - and I'm trying to find out if she's experienced enough.

Viola - I'm also having the sleeve - a few days after you - I'm curious - how many sleeves has your surgeon done? I'm trying to figure out if this is something people ask their surgeons

cwalker - I am 64 years old and am having the sleeve March 31 - heck no you are not too old! What makes a person old is too much weight! Good luck - you are NEVER too old

Tiffykins - thanks for responding so quickly. I'm getting very anxious over all of this. My surgeon is at a Briatric Center for Excellence and has done thousands of laps and bypass's - but with the sleeve being somewhat new I guess she's done only about 36 of those. Looks to me like the surgeon who has A LOT of experience in the sleeve is Dr. Aceves in Mexicali - and even though I'm a self-pay it makes me nervous to do it outside of the U.S. so here I am scheduled for this surgery on the 31st and the more I read the more confused/anxious I'm getting about how experienced the surgeon should be in the sleeve - so anything you can throw at me would be greatly appreciated.

Tiffykins - I noticed on a different thread that you said a surgeon needs about 300 sleeves under his/her belt to be considered experienced - can you tell me where you got this info? I asked my surgeon's office today and they said she has done "about 36" - and I'm scheduled for surgery in 14 days and I'm thinking "yikes!"

Tiffykins I jsut saw your post re "make sure your surgeon has done about 300 sleeves - My surgeon's office just told me she has done about 36 - and I'm scheduled for this surgery in 2 weeks!!!! Where did you get your info?

LAN2k: thanks for your reply. Yeah, I know about the malabsorption with the bypass. Congrats on your great loss thus far. I just keep thinking that the bypass has a really good track record and since I'm a self pay I don't want to have to go through 2 operations. And as I've mentioned in other posts - I get nervous about reflux with the sleeve. Just a million things to think/worry about before my surgery

Hello - I am new to this site. Scheduled for surgery March 31 in AZ. I am a self pay. I have 2 concerns: I'm trying to find out much experience my surgeon has had with Gastric Sleeve - and a HUGE concern I have is reflux/GERD after this surgery. I have been on reflux medicaton for 20 years - if I'm not careful I aspirate into my lungs and so I want to get off this medication - has anyone had experience with reflux AFTER the sleeve? And also other than the surgeon telling me how many sleeves she has done - how do I really find that out? I don't meet with her until 6 days before the surgery. Since I'm a self pay I really want to get this right - this is costing me about $25K which I think is ALOT of money - and I don't want to end up with complications. Any help would be so appreciated - and oh, yeah, I'm age 64!

Lee - thanks for the information - I'm glad you are doing so well - lots of weight loss for you and only one month gone by - I know that I have a hiatal hernia - probably will be fixed during my surgery - I'm a self pay so this will probably add to my total bill. All the best to you - thanks again for your input

Tiffykins - thanks for your reply. THe surgeon I'm using in Arizona (Scottsdale) has an excelletn reputation - I just need to find out how many sleeves she has done. Yes you are correct $25K is ALOT ALOT of money but my quality of life should also improve ALOT - that's the way I look at it. One reason I go back and forth on the sleeve vs. bypass is the data they have on the bypass is significant but not as much on the sleeve - but the sleeve sure seems to have a lot of positive going on for it. I meet with my surgeon next week and hopefully I can find out how many sleeves she has done and what her recommendation is for me. Thanks again for yoru reply - the support on this site is fantastic.

Has anyone out there had to use a C-PAP machine (for sleep apnea) prior to the surgery - and then after the surgery been able to discard the machine? Doing my pro-op stuff they found moderate sleep apnea and are recommending I use the C-PAP - and I was wondering if after the surgery and I lose weight will I be able to stop using it. Thanks everyone

Deedee - I noticed you said you are 7 months out from having the sleeve. I am also considering the sleeve (surgery is March 31) - one of the largest concerns I have about the sleeve is will I have reflux? (I've had reflux for over 20 years and that's one thing I don't want to have to deal with after surgery - hoping to also get off the medication for the reflux) - can you tell me how that has been for you?

Thanks everyone for advice on post op complications for a self-pay- not sure if my surgeon has done 300 of the "sleeve" since it is a relatively new procedure - but I do know she done tons of the bypass - but as I sit right now, I'm more interested in the sleeve. Sure is nice to have this site to be able to ask questions and get support. In 16 days I'm scheduled for the surgery - boy! seems close to me so I'm trying to find out as much info as I can.

Thanks LyndaRN - so glad you are doing so well. What are you eating/drinking right now - just like 3-4 days out surgery correct? Are you an RN - if so - are you OK with 85% or so of your stomach being gone? (vs. the bypass that doesn't remove any of the stomach)? Thanks - I have all these questions/thoughts/etc.

Morning everyone - those of you who had the sleeve done without insurance - (which is going to be me in a couple of weeks) - do any of you have concerns about if you would have complications a few months/years down the road - would your health insurance pay for complications related to having the sleeve surgery done?