NewLife2011

I ride a HD Sportster 800L. Well, haven't ridden in a while as it's been way too HOT this summer in SoCal. Looking forward to some cooler fall weather

Update: I am now day 6 post-op and having no issues with the clear liquid diet. Unlike before the surgery, it helps that I don't get hungry and that I'm sipping slowly all day. Seeing as I am unable to stomach the artificially sweetened Protein drinks it's probably a good thing I didn't do the pre-op diet, as it is I will have only 10 days of almost zero calorie intake rather than 24. I can't wait for the full liquid phase to begin

Lisa, I am feeling great! So glad with my decision to have VSG and with my choice of surgeon!!

One more thing I now know that NOBODY warned me about be careful of your cats! My two were thrilled to have me back and one of them immediately jumped on my tummy! Ouch!

I had the surgery on Saturday and drove back to Los Angeles yesterday. Everything went as smoothly as I could have hoped. The doctors and nurses are wonderful, the hospital is modern and clean, and I always felt that I was in very good hands there. I would recommend Dr Aceves to anyone considering this surgery, thank goodness for this board and all the information that is available about all the options.

I had mu surgery yesterday with Dr Aceves and I'm feeling great! Just take deep breaths, focus on why you're having the surgery, and remind yourself of how many hundreds of these are done every day. You are going to do magnificently!

I think the lesson here is that there is no "one" right way and it doesn't mean your surgeon is from the dark ages or less competent if he does things differently than another surgeon at a well known hospital. Fotrunately Dr Aceves had no issues with my liver and I'm recovering well. Thanks to everyone for the support !

Glad that things worked out for you guys. Sounds like a back office glitch and not a reflection on Dr Kelly.

I feel like I've been In a zoo the last few hours! Woke up feeling like a small horse had kicked me in the chest but fortunately the very foxy looking nurse came and made it all better. Then when I started drinking my Water and blue dye I was burping like a piggy! But oh boy did it feel good Spirits are good, no regrets, looking forward to the rest of my life!

And feeling great! Surgery went well. I've been up walking the halls and doing my breathing exercises. No pain, no nausea - maybe they forgot to take my tummy out??!) Nurses are amazing and so are Dr Aceves's staff. Thanks to all the rock stars on this board for the support, encouragement and information! Oh, BTW, I asked Dr A how my liver had been and he said it was fine, no problems (NOT looking to start a debate on the lack of pre- op dieting again thouhgh

Iegal, you're right - I shouldn't have responded the way I did, sorry,

Thanks for the tip,

Well, I'm at the hotel. Pre-op tests are done, now I'm ready for lunch. The trip down was quick and uneventful, got here in 4 hours from LA. People at the hospital are very friendly and it's very clean. I am feeling very comfortable with my decision and can't wait for tomorrow!!! And, I'm loving the iPad I bought with some of the money I saved by having the surgery in Mexico

Leaving tomorrow morning at 6:30 for the drive to Mexicali. Pre-op tests at 1:00, surgery Saturday.

Congrats! You look amazing!!

Actually a 1 to 2 day hospital stay was required with the Dallas surgeon, I have never heard of any US doctors doing VSG as an outpatient procedure. Did some research and the drain usage is not based on "modern" methods. Some things I found from current USA bariatric surgery doctor web sites: feeding tubes. Some surgeons use these as a matter of routine, and some do not. If you need to have a feeding tube, it is easy to put in during the surgery. After surgery it is harder to put in. The same can be said for a drain. Those who don’t use them say the odds of needing them are small, and they can be placed later. There is no right or wrong answer here, so do not ask your surgeon to change his way of doing things. This is from the Johns Hopkins web site for gastric bypass (they didn't have anything for VSG): Surgical drain, placed during the operation if you have had an open procedure. The drain will be removed in 48 to 72 hours, or when drainage is minimal And - no pain meds needed - with "modern" methods?? ROFL!

Well, I kinda thought without most of my stomach I would be able to handle eating less food. That's the idea of the surgery, right??

Congrats! My journey begins on Saturday and I can hardly wait!!

Dr Aceves takes only a $500 deposit up front and you pay the balance when you get down there. Hopefully you get your money back!

I live in Woodland Hills. We should hook up when I get back from my surgery. Where do you live?

I lost a friend of 20 years due to her jealousy at my weight loss. It was a few years ago, and I had dropped a bunch of weight using Phentermine and exercising and she hated all the attention I was suddenly getting from men. One evening we were out with some guys and she just attacked me out of the blue, saying "just because she lost 70 lbs, she thinks she's all that". I was totally humiliated, these guys had not known me when I was fat and it wasn't something I walked around telling people. The next day she apologized, blaming it on the fact that she'd had too much to drink, but it wasn't long after that that our friendship fianlly died. It was clear to me that she was very resentful of me and it was only when she was intoxicated that she had the courage to say what was really on her mind. That was a very painful experience for me. I still miss her but know that I am better off not having someone that nasty in my life. The good thing is that our friendship had ended before I put all the weight back on, so she can't gloat about it.

Congratulations on your new life! My journey begins on Saturday, thanks for the inspiration!

It happened within a week for me. I canceled my surgery that had been scheduled in the USA on Monday this week and switched to Dr A with surgery scheduled for this Saturday. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Good luck and let us know what you decide!

Great to hear you are doing well! Keep it up!

When I was scheduled to have my surgery in Dallas, the doctor required a 2 week clear liquid diet. I was totally unable to stay on it as I was hungry all the time. I have now switched to Dr Aceves (not because of the diet requirements) and he does not require a pre-op diet for lower BMIs. His pre-op diet for higher BMIs allows full liquids and lean Protein and veggies, which in my mind seems a lot more reasonable. I also cannot stand artificial sweeteners, so i was struggling to drink 2 glasses of the BariEssentials drinks a day, he wanted me to have 4. When I canceled the surgery in Dallas, they told me that all doctors require the pre-op diet which I know is not the case - why is there such a difference of opinion about this??