newmeki

Staying hydrated was a bit of a problem because it was so new after the procedure that I still had to remind myself to sip constantly. I walked quite a bit on the plane as I did not have a layover though I think that that would have been a better idea, to be honest. It was a bit rough doing the non stop long haul. A layover would have been much better. I also had little container of cottage cheese and Jello just make sure that I was ingesting something because it is very easy to forget. I felt really good after my procedure. Much better than I had expected so that was a plus.

I am now a little over three years out. I still LOVE my sleevie but I have to respect it as well. The sleeve is only a tool, not a quick fix, though it seems that way at the beginning. Once I reached my goal weight I became too comfortable and started testing my resolve and my sleeve. That was not a good idea. While I do not feel that I will ever regain 70 pounds, I do not want to regain even 20. So I have to be very careful. At one point, around the two year mark, I felt that I as a bit too thin for a woman my age. My face began to look hollow and my skin sagged. I looked like an old woman and it was not cute. So I made an effort to gain weigh but I did not make good food choices. Now I am working to rid myself of about 15 pounds. I am exercising more and juicing as well. Sleevies LOVE juice! It is so much less work for the sleeve so I am using my NutriBullet daily. I also use the PURE bariatric Protein powder as it tends to break down easier than the GNC brands. I also use Shakeology for energy and its nutritional value. All that said, again I say, the sleeve is a tool and if used correctly and given the respect it deserves it will work for you for a very long time. But you have to respect its limitations. Hope this helps.

My procedure was done in Cancun by Dr verboonen. I had my passport as I live in Saudi Arabia but I am not really sure if it were required. I did most of my pre-op lab work before leaving KSA but had a few things done when I got there. As a self pay, I made my payment via bank transfer. Took maybe three days. As mentioned in a previous post, I researched my surgeon as well as the facility for the surgery. I work as a health care professional so I was very picky. I did not want to go to a free standing clinic but preferred a hospital setting instead. This was just my personal preference. I chose Dr V because other staff had travelled from Saudi Arabia to have surgery done by this surgeon. Also he has had the surgery himself and fully understand the associated struggles. I am three years post op and still could not be more pleased with my decision for the surgery and the surgeon that I chose. Even though I am far away, we are still in contact and he still checks on my progress. That is beyond caring to me!

I travelled from MX to the States immediately after procedure and then returned to Saudi Arabia (16 hours) after about 12 days. Because I was not sure of how I would be feeling, I booked first class, first row for my return flight. While it was a good idea, it turned out that my window seat was so close to the front wall, I still needed to ask my seat mate to move every time I needed to get up. I was happy that I could lay the seat back and put my legs up. I also purchased travel socks in order to support circulation. Franda

I was one of the so called lightweights that the people around me would ask why i was having the surgery. I had yo-yo for so many years that half the time, I did not even realize how much I weighed. I live in Saudi Arabia but chose to go to Cancun to have my surgery done my the wonderful Dr Sergio verboonen. I went to him because he came highly recommended by sleevers here in this country. I could have gone to Lebanon or the Philipines but I had send the results from this doc. While I chose to go to Cancun, which was a bit more expensive, he also performs the procedure in Tijuana as well. One thing I liked about this doc is that he had had the surgery himself. As has been mentioned, we will lose the weight a bit slower that those that are heavier but at the same time, I feel that I looked healthy the entire time and I did not have a lot of excess skin, etc. I am now three years out and at the two year point, I became smaller than I wanted for my age. My face started to look kind of saggy and old. That said, I kept up my Protein and also gained a bit of weigh back. I actually gained more than I wanted so am now back on a downward journey. And it is a journey. The sleeve is a tool, not a fix all. Franda

Had the same problem post op for quite awhile.....Biotene helped quite a bit.