NiecyBelle12

Sariejack, I don't know if your a Christian or even a Religious person, but if your afraid don't be think positive and just before going in you can read this prayer:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me all the day's of my life. (Psalm 23:4) and Sign off with GOD Protect Me through this Surgery and in my Life. In Jesus Name Amen.
Note: Change the way you think and Change Your Life. Think good thoughts you will be ok its normal to be nervous, but you WILL be ok.

Being afraid is 100% natural. But the sleeve's mortality rate for "on the table" issues is amazingly low. In fact, ALL of the WLS now have super low "on the table" mortality rates. The numbers you might be looking at or hearing are usually skewed by old numbers, the surgeries have all advanced quite a lot even in the past 10 years.

As far as getting "too fat"... we all understand. It's not 100% your fault either and you shouldn't shoulder all the blame. It's a battlefield out there, horrible easy to access foods are all over. Advertising bombards our subconscious mind at every turn.

Let the past be the past. Stop dwelling on it and start moving forwards. The road ahead is going to need your undivided attention. You can't change the past, but you can control your future. So leave the past where it belongs, behind you. Now you get to start working on where you are going now.

Congrats on deciding to take back control of your life. The path laid out ahead of you is tough, and is going to require major changes to so much of your typical daily routine. It's going to get emotional. It's going to get stressful, it's going to be painful, it's going to be very hard. But. It's very worth it!

Remember, you are stronger than you give yourself credit for, be ready, post-op is an amazing journey!

My surgery is 8/21...I'm nervous and excited!!😊

Hello Future Losers!! I’m from June wishing you all the best and can’t wait for you all to meet us on the other side.


Surgery July 14th.
HW 271
SW 264
CW 226.50
GW 180

Any questions inbox me.

July 18th!!!! Just got the approval today.

Dear Brass! Please stop this. You are only 10 days post surgery, and your body has been through a great deal. We all lose at different rates. I’m forty days post surgery and only down 15 lbs so your post should make me feel awful, but it doesn’t! I’m the turtle, not the hare in this story.

I had mine with Long Term wls May 29th. This was 2 days post op. I'm down 64 pounds today at just over 7 weeks! I am so thankful I did this! I went when they had a special $3,499 plus my airfare. Totally worth every penny! Love my surgeon and so did my PCP here. She said Dr Maytorena did an amazing job, And the records they sent home with me for my file here was outstanding!

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My husband and I are having surgery in Tijuana on August 7th. We're going to be at the Nova Clinic. Our surgeon is Dr. Maytorena.

They will only keep us for two nights, but I'm thinking we might want to get a hotel for two more nights, just to be safe. Any thoughts or hotel recommendations? Thanks!

Officially reached my 1 year mark!
Sw=217
Cw=153
Gw= 140

I had gastric sleeve with Dr Fernando Garcia at CER Hospital in Tijuana Mexico. He is THE BEST!! My best friend and I had it done together. My daughters mother-in-law used him & my sister is leaving tomorrow. The hospital was immaculate!! The nursing staff & doctors were awesome!! The whole experience was great! I'm 4 wks out from my surgery and down 20 lbs. (my bmi was 32) My friend & I went back to San Diego 2 days after surgery. We toured all of San Diego, walked for miles!! We have had zero complications!


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I second Dr. Illan via BariatricPal Mx! It was the best decision I could have made. Had surgery 3 weeks ago and the experience was wonderful. I experienced very little pain, the nurses and doctors were awesome and made sure I was comfortable. The hospital is nice, clean and quiet. The service they provide is top notch! I think Dr. Illan is a great surgeon that is kind and professional. Everything was great and the cost was less than I could pay here with insurance!

@I'm Changing 4 Me
I created a spreadsheet to help me figure out what I wanted. Personally, I contacted each and every one of these companies/doctors. How are you going to know if you like them unless you deal with them directly? I think in reality, you have to go through some kind of coordinator. Do you expect your surgeon to be dealing with email and phone queries all day? (In fact, out of all these doctors, the only one I was in contact with was Dr. Illan - and while he seemed very nice, the wi-fi connection was so bad I have no idea if he actually answered any of my questions). So, while it would be nice to talk to them, it's not always possible. However, in some cases the coordinator will contact the doctor if you have any specific questions.
This is far from a full list, but based on this, and other sites, I felt that these were the most consistently well-regarded companies and surgeons. As I've mentioned in other posts, I think the biggest reason for price differences are the reputation of the doctor, the hospital used, and the hotels used.
Unless otherwise mentioned, all these doctors are in Tijuana, and these are quotes I got for a Gastric Sleeve (prices may vary depending on your personal health conditions):
Bariatric Pal Team MX: Dr. Jalil Illan ($4399)
Endo Bariatric (in Piedras Negras): Dr. Alvarez ($8900)
Mexico Bariatric Center: Dra. Louisiana Valenzuela ($5500) and Dr. Ismael Cabrera ($4995)
Obesity Control Center: Dr. Ariel Ortiz ($6500-$9000)
Pompeii Surgical: Dr. Sergio Quinones ($4500)
Ponce Bariatric: Dr. jaime ponce de leon ($5000)
Tijuana Bariatrics: Dr. Fernando Garcia ($4250)
WLSC: Dr. Ramos Kelly ($4870-$7710)
Another option seems to be Trinity Medical, also promoted by a pretty active member here, but unfortunately I didn't come across that company until after I had made my decision.
In my particular case, I live in Japan so unlike most of you in the US and Canada, I have some pretty long international flights, and my pear-shaped bottom can no longer squeeze into a 17" economy seat. I might have done that one-way, but I definitely did not want to be squeezed in for 14 hours after major abdominal surgery. Knowing that I would have to buy a business class seat on an international flight meant that I couldn't afford the more expensive doctors - so anything over $6000 was out. I did not like the way I was treated with Tijuana Bariatrics - all I got was a form letter "you've been approved - send money" - and all requests to speak to a coordinator or doctor were completely ignored. In the end the surgeons I was most interested in were Dr. Q, Dr. Ponce, and either Dr. Valenzuela or Dr. Cabrera at MBC. What swayed me the most was how well I was treated by the coordinator, and the amount of information they could give me about the operation, hospitals, etc, how many surgeries the doctor does daily (some doctors work out of more than one hospital, so make sure you find out the daily total and not the hospital total), and finally the price. Oh - and whether or not the surgery could be done on a day that was most convenient for me (for some reason it seems like a lot of the doctors will be away or on vacation or are already booked in February).
I know in the beginning it seems overwhelming, but the best thing to do is bookmark the sites you like, fill out the forms, and see what happens from there. I started with 3 different companies, but over time I expanded my search a little. That said, the problem is the paradox of choice: the more options we have, the more difficult it becomes to choose. Keep it small for now as you get your feet wet. Ask questions. Do research (other bariatric forums, Facebook, etc.) It should get better as you go along.
My surgery is less than 6 weeks away, so I can't tell you how it went, but I'm confident enough that I will be treated well. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Best decision I've made in my life.
I'm down 75 kg (165 lb) in around 11 months and working for the last 17 kg to reach my goal weight.
A small advice to all weight stuck sleevers, GYM GYM GYM !

SW: 176.6 kg (389 lbs)
CW: 102 kg (224 lbs)
GW: 85 kg (187 lbs)

"You're". Wow first of all this person was asking for help not looking to be berated. I joined to get advice and pointers but seeing posts responses like this and one above make me rethink that. " do you ignore them because you're special?? " Hope you never answer any of my questions. RUDE and NASTY Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using the BariatricPal App

Hw:287
CW:218
Had gastric sleeve nov 11, 2016! Hasn't been easy! I was in and out of the hospital with dehydration and stomach spasms causing me to vomit constantly! I'm doing much better now and these results make it seem worth it finally! Don't give up! You're gonna get to where you want to be! Have a blessed Friday!
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Thank you for sharing yours! I'm going to be 39 soon and I lift weights pretty regularly. I haven't had my surgery yet either. I am half white and half black (I do think genetics play a big part to how we look, skin, etc) and I'm extra hopeful now!!! Yay!
With that said, my health is more important than what I will look like. We can always use makeup, get cosmetic surgery, etc.
I like what a previous poster said, being obese will kill you, looks won't. So true.
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My goal weight was 165, which is actually 10 pounds "overweight" by the BMI charts. The lowest I got was 153, but that was definitely too thin for me. 165 is my happy space.
To the OP, here are some pics for you. My highest weight was 270, my weight in the "after" photos was around goal of 165. I am 5'6" tall.

Practice listening to your heart, your intuition. Are there changes in your life you are feeling called to make? If so take action NOW.


Every time you deny you inner knowing, that small still voice within, you suffer and chip away at your self esteem, your self worth. Release the need to please others, to fit in, to go along with the crowd. Lovingly, assertively, and respectfully speak up for your self, speak your truth. When you deny your truth and ignore your feelings you can’t help but suffer: you may feel angry, sad, victimized, depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, which often leads to engaging in unhealthy behaviors (overeating, drinking, smoking, shopping, etc) to numb the pain of these feelings. Life is so much simpler when you are authentic. You DO have the power to change your experience of your life. Don't complain. Instead FOCUS on what you DO want in your life, how you WANT to feel and what ALREADY IS GOOD... See yourself as being happy, fulfilled and loved… Keeping this vision/feeling in your heart notice the signs and follow your instincts as they will lead you to living an abundant joy-filled life… All day long check in with yourself to be sure your actions are GROUNDED IN THE ENERGY OF LOVE not fear, anger, or anxiety.

Know this: WHEN YOU LIVE IN LOVE ALL IS WELL! XO


Live in Love,
Louisa

Congratulations! You look great!
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Wow - you have some really beautiful photos, and your story is an inspiration to all who are nervous about getting this done. We all only have one life to live - as many people have said throughout the years, it's not the things that you did do that you'll regret, it's the things you didn't do. I'm having my surgery done two weeks from tomorrow, and while I wished I had done it earlier, I'm going to live my life to the fullest from this point onwards.

Hi, guys. Just wanted to share a progress pic and Celebrate with you all. Went to the sleep doctor today, and for the first time ever, I didn't dread stepping on the scale.

I enjoy moving more and have so much energy.

You all gave me tons of candid insight into the process - thank you! Was a great choice for me.

HW/SW 231
CW 191 (40 lbs down!)
Sleeved 11/7/16

Instagram: a_sleeved_story

 

@@SarahSleeve
Keep in mind men lose MUCH faster than women.
Try not to get so hung up on the numbers. How much each individual loses is variable for many reasons. You'll just end up disappointed if you set unrealistic expectations for weight loss. Instead try to learn as much as you can about post op life and prepare for the complete lifestyle changes this surgery requires. The rest will follow.

I think we have to be wary of exceptions. If you are planning to get pregnant again, leave about a year after surgery just in case. No one plans for hernias or some complications that may arise as a result of surgery.
In addition, when Pregnant, you are eating for two; many people can't even get enough essential nutrients for themselves in the initial 2-3 months after surgeries like Bypass and sleeve, so you can imagine how risky it might be for a developing foetus.
In life, there are always exceptions, but better safe than sorry.

Vomiting and GERD -- I haven't had any
Pro's and con's -- first time in my life I am at a normal weight, which means my life has changed entirely. No real cons except (1) it's major surgery, so that does mean a period of pain and tiredness after as you recover; and (2) some people find themselves unable to tolerate certain types of food after. I can't/don't eat bread anymore or anything carbonated.
Advice -- you have to be ready and want to build an entirely new relationship with food. Food will no longer be your comfort, your entertainment, your stress relief, your way of celebrating holidays or family. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it though. You have to be willing to work hard at weight loss and weight maintenance for the rest of your life (I'm deadly serious about that). You have to be willing to accept the possibility that you radically change the kind of food you eat for the rest of your life. Don't kid yourself into thinking this surgery means you eat three bites of pancakes for Breakfast, one mini-cheeseburger for lunch, a Snickers fun bar for a snack, and a twinkie for dinner with a side of a couple french fries. Doesn't work like that. If you are like most of us, those types of foods are either entirely or very largely excised from our lives completely if we want to be successful in losing weight and keeping the weight off.
Small portions for the first month? I didn't have any "portions" for the first month. My plan called for liquids for the first month post-op.
After that I was allowed to move to pureed high Protein foods for four weeks. Portion size there was 1.5 ounces weighed or 3 tablespoons measured. This was more than enough, believe me.
After that I moved to soft foods for four months and my mandated size for each of my three daily meals was 3 ounces. I could rarely eat that much though.
I am now 3.5 years post op and can eat about 5 ounces per meal, depending on what is in the meal. I still focus on high protein, low carb eating in order to maintain my weight loss (over 200 lbs).
I don't know that there are stats or averages for weight loss in the first month. The first month post-op, your body does some insane things trying to recover from the trauma of surgery. Healing and getting used to a new way of relating to food should be your focus in the first month post op, not how fast you are losing. All that said, I would think anywhere from 8 - 25 lbs is a reasonable expectation for first month loss for someone your size. Focus on the lower end of that and if you lose more, let yourself be surprised and happy. Good luck in your decision!

Ok so admittedly right after the surgery I think I was deluded on how easy I thought this was. I had no problems from day one getting my liquids and Protein in. I had no nausea and no restriction while on full liquids. It was amazing, I was losing weight rapidly and was having no problems meeting my goals contrary to so much that I have read here. I walked everyday at least a mile.
Now I'm 4 weeks post op and lol it's not so easy anymore. I have restriction now and find that after about half of my 4oz of soft foods I start to get a little nauseous. I have made the mistake of overeating twice and gotten incredibly sick violently vomiting because of it. I now having problems getting in all of my liquids because I feel full for hours and if I drink anything when I feel full I get sick.
I am still managing to get all my protein in and walking everyday but of course my weight loss is stalled right now.
This is not really a post with a question, just some observations. How funny that the first few weeks after surgery I thought this was super easy, and now I'm met with challenges.
All in all though I'm still very happy with my surgery. Even though my weight is stalled right now I have lost 24 pounds and that is something I never could have done before. I keep plugging away everyday at my protein, liquids and walking and I feel like I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.