Gilly

I ultimately chose Dr Jose Rodriguez for several reasons but here are my main ones..
1) He operates out of the Star Medica hospital which is who the US Embassy uses in that area - I know that some people are ok with staying in a hotel or recovery house but if I'm going out of the country for the surgery I need to know that if anything comes up or I have questions or concerns I can push a nurse button and there is someone there.. I will be there 4 days and 3 nights in the hospital. This is definetly not to say the other options are wrong for someone else, I'm just already kind of stressing about being in Mexico to begin with so I want to know I will be in a safe and comfortable hospital stress free! lol btw, the hospital gets amazing reviews as well, you can look up pictures and videos of it on youtube.
2) He has a fantastic background (credentials & training) and history with his surgeries and has received degrees here in the US as well as several other countries.
3) Great reputation with his patients, I have spoken with 11 other women who loved him and his staff =) Especially that they speak English (well, most of them anyway! you are in Mexico after all lol) Dr Rod himself speaks English
There are more reasons but these are the biggies for me. I also truly love the co-ordinator that I am working with, Jessica at belight. She has been so helpful. It also helped that they financed a portion of the surgery for me with very affordable payments. This surgeon and hospital cost a little more than what I see on these forums, but I'm going to make the best decision for me during all of this and if it takes an extra $2K to have the peace of mind that I need, so be it =) My surgery is this next week on the 29th so I can give you more info on Dr Rodriguez and the hospital and area if you would like, just pm me!
Making this decision is so hard! Choosing the doc then listening to all of the different opinions and it seems as if all of these docs are loved by their patients so it's really about what is right for you.
Good luck with your journey!

I had my revision surgery at Star Medica with Dr. Rodriguez in april. My experience was awesome.
The hospital was clean, modern and comfortable for me and my companion. Dr Calderon met us in the lobby and explained the process each step of the way. We saw him several times each day. I saw the anesthesiologist, I can't remember her name, and Dr Rodriguez everyday. They came to my room and chatted and answered my questions.
I do have to mention that many nurses spoken varying degrees of english. Some of the staff spoke none. However, I never really had any issues making myself understood or understanding them. Everyone was very nice and very caring through the whole process.

In my personal opinion, I think it's good to do it before the surgery. I kept lifting a lot before my surgery and up through the first week of the liquid pre-op diet. Then I hit the wall from carb depletion and stopped working out for the last week of the liquid diet. Your muscles want glycogen to repair themselves after being broken down in the workout and with the no carb or extremely low carb pre-surgery liquid diet, you MAY do your muscles more harm than good once all of the stored carbs are gone from your liver during that last week or so of the pre-op diet. That's just my guess. It would be interesting to hear other people's thoughts on this. But lifting all the way up through the beginning of the liquid diet sounds like a good idea to me. Muscles have memory, and I think I got my strength back a lot sooner after my surgery due to this muscle memory. However, muscle size was really slow to come back. Also, after doing more research on this, I wish my Dr would have recommended also taking L-glutamine and branch chain amino acids during my weight loss. These supplements are known to preserve more muscle (along with the protein) during rapid weight loss. So that might be a good idea as well. BCAAs and Glutamine are relatively inexpensive and there are some already in many of the whey Protein supplements. "Inline", it sounds like it may be worth looking into these supplements if you are a lifter. We work hard for our gains in the gym, might as well do all that we can to preserve those muscles you earned. Good luck and keep us updated!

I would love to connect with my fellow sleevers on Myfitnesspal. Please add me, gillnaty!

Hi All!
Sleeved: April 24,2012
Starting weight: 232
After pre op diet: 213
Current weight: 195
Just had my 1 month post op appt on May 24th.
My NUT and my Doctor were VERY happy with me
I have gone from a 16 to 12.
My scrubs from XL to Med.
I hit a mean stall at week 2, but you know ....
That is when I lost most of my inches!!
My Doctor just chuckled when I told him that, he said, yes that will happen. My NUT said this next month will be when I really start dropping major pounds. I was like, OMG, really??!!
It's all about Protein and exercise
Lets go Sleevers, let's Go!!
( thought a cheer might help) LOL
Sent from my iPhone using VST

I am a revision.... had it on May 4th.
The sleeve is nothing like the band for me. I am up to mushies and only had a problem one time when I ate some yogurt too fast and that was a couple weeks ago. No problems since.
The way it feels when I eat is completely different...with the band it felt like a lump in my throat after eating, now I actually feel full in my tummy and not my throat. It's so much nicer.
The only issue I"m dealing with is reflux at night, but I had that with the band also. I'm on Prilosec twice a day, and have to stop eating a few hours before bedtime, but my doctor thinks it will resolve itself when the healing is done and the swelling is gone.
I'm glad I had the revision.

Hm, I dont know if i buy that, I dont see any studies that would suggest that. However I would say its better to have more than enough than too little.
Also Casein is a slow digesting Protein where Isopure is more like a quick shot. So even though i'm getting 50g in one setting 25g of it is slow digesting and keeps me full for 2 to 3 hours.
Basically I get 50g for breakfast, probably 10g for lunch, 20g Protein bar snack and 20g for dinner. So really i get 100g spread throughout the day.
Even if my body only absorbs 30-40 or my morning 50g i'm still getting 80g per day.
Though i can say without a doubt, you shouldnt drink a 50g Protein shake for breakfast, have a 20g protein bar for lunch, eat junk food for dinner and think "hey i got in my 70g of protein!" That much i know is true lol