I work in Covington, I used to live there. I drive a big white dog grooming truck called the Shag Wagon. Maybe you have seen it! I went to Dr Ortiz for my surgery in Jan and I am down 32 lbs! I am sorry to see your insurance got denied but Dr Ortiz will take good care of you!.
April 10th, here I come!!
I can't wait:
- 'til May, when I can see some results.
- until I can happily own a swimsuit. I live in the Dominican Republic AND there's a pool in my backyard and do not own one.
- until I can finally enjoy going to the beach.
- until I can stop acting like an agoraphobe because I refuse to go out looking like this.
- until I can post my before and after pictures to the forum.
- until I don't mind having my photo taken.
- until I can smile without my cheeks making my eyes small.
- until I can finally like myself.
- until I can see what I REALLY look like.
- until I can finally stop window shopping and actually shop for clothes at my favorite stores!
- until I can, once again, take my clothes off for someone.
I just can't wait.
DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references.
How do I embed the weight loss ticker? There are many ticker generators you can use, but the majority of us use TickerFactory.com or MyFitnessPal.com – Once you create your ticker, embed the code into your signature via your “Settings”
*Adding* liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein Drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc… NOTHING CAFFEINATED
When can I have coffee/soda/tea? Decaf coffee is typically OK about 30days post-op. Decaf tea is OK starting with your clear liquid diet. Soda is typically never OK, with the reasons varying from the carbonation causing painful gas to the carbonation stretching your sleeve. Regardless of the reasoning, it's generally a good idea to avoid sodas entirely, or to consume them in extreme moderation.
When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows:
Day 1-7 Clear Liquids
Day 8-14 Full liquids
Day 15-21 Purees
Day 22-50 Mushies
What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed.< /p>
I'm on liquids/purees and I feel no restriction, should I be concerned that my surgery didn't work? Nope! You'll feel your restriction as you start to take in denser foods. In reality, you never want to experience that over stuffed feeling again because that means you've over stuffed your sleeve. There's much debate over whether or not you can stretch your stomach by over stuffing your sleeve, I for one am not trying to prove or disprove the theory. Best to play it safe - when you start to feel full, stop eating.
Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs.
How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day.
How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz
When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest.
Best Protein Shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy powders? utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury.
What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods)
Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside.
What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching.
What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between.
What do all these acronyms mean?
In no particular order:
WLS – Weight Loss Surgery
NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…)
NUT – Nutritionist
PCP – Primary Care Physician
VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
TOM – Time of the Month
SF – Sugar Free
WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner
How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off.
What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own.
When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity.
When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home.
What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink.
Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however.
I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, Constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses.
I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon.
Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy.
When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks.
How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay.
Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign.
Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling.
What is dumping syndrome? Dumping syndrome is what happens when the contents of your stomach are rapidly dumped into your small intestine. It is characterized by cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Most people that complain of dumping syndrome associate the attacks with eating a certain type of food IE sweets, carbs etc.. It generally resolves on it's own once the offending food has left the system.
What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult.
What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.
I see a lot of people posting about drains - I don't have any. Should I be concerned? Drains are tubes that are temporarily placed in the abdomen that allow fluids to drain from your abdominal cavity in order to prevent infection. Not every surgeon uses them so if you don't have any, don't worry. It likely means your surgeon saw no need to place them. That being said, it doesn't mean you're immune to infection so you should still be on the lookout for fever or any areas that a red, warm to the touch, painful, swollen, or oozing any green or yellow fluids.
Yes I did my last week before surgery.... I had some fried chicken and French fries for what I called the last supper..... This is not a license to do this again. . However, I got back on track for the rest of the way. Had a decent weight loss even my surgeon was surprised..... My liver was fine. That being said I would get back on track and drink tons of Water to flush your systems out ladies! You can do this!!! A you are almost there!
Another thing to think about when making a decision to come to Mexico for any surgery...we are a guest in their Country. No one was forced to make this decision for anyone but themselves. If they do things a bit different so be it. But as for myself, who has a ridiculous Private Insurance that wouldn't even consider talking to me about ANY weight loss plan or surgery, I would choose Mexico and Dr. Lopez/Dr. Ortiz again without any hesitation. Plus my Dr's are VERY easy on the eyes.
I totally agree with the above statement! I originally planned on staying in the US and ended up in Mexico. The doctor I chose here in the states, a center of excellence, did not use a drain, and does not perform a single leak test because he is so confident in his work.
I'm glad I made the choice I did, I had great care in Mexico, a drain, 3 leak tests and an extra night in the hospital to recoup. I would have been miserable being sent home the day after surgery.
Confidence can also be arrogance and will catch up with people one day.
Well I had surgery there last Monday and yes there is a lot of waiting, but that happens here also in US hospitals. I have had many many surgeries in 7 yrs that's always been a factor for me, the waiting. In regards to the coordinator mine were pretty busy and once I reached the hotel I saw her one time to but she called me every day, I don't know what company you went with but the Marriott is instructed to call your coordinators and doctors if need be. In regards to the diarrhea I too have that the last 2 days but I have ingested more gas x strips then I used to Oreos! Going in to the OR I did see the person in the other room but I absolutely didnt see any nakedness. And I could give a crap who sees me naked anyway, to be honest. :-) again I have had plenty of surgeries in the US, 4 in Florida and 3 in ohio and the experience wasn't far off! Not all are blessed with insurance WHO WILL PAY, so 25000 to 5200 I am in!!! :-)
Tomorrow is my 8 month "surgiversary". I am at my goal and have lost a total of 73 pounds. Dr. Fernando Garcia was my surgeon. I went from a 16-18 size jeans to a size 6.......yes, a size 6. I am smaller now than I was in college.
This journey has not been easy. I will not lie. I only regretted it one time and that was probably about 6 weeks post op and I was staying nauseated. But before I knew it, nausea was gone, I had finally turned a corner and I could drink Water without being nauseated. Could not drink much of it, so don't worry if you can't now, you will most definitely be able to in the coming months post op.
I feel life is somewhat normal again. By that I mean, I can eat anything I want. I do not feel deprived. I am not really ever very hungry. Going out to dinner was a big challenge for the first 4 or 5 months. What was the point on spending $15 or $20 on an entree I was only going to eat 1/4 of and box up and bring home and probably not eat because I don't do leftovers well? Eating out with my family seems somewhat normal now.
My favorite snack of choice is 2 slices of the Monterey Jack Land o lakes cheese. 2 of those and I am good for several hours.
I am very happy with my choice and my decision to go to Mexico and using Dr. Garcia. I have had no major problems and all my labs have been good post op. Slightly anemic, but everything else checks out fine. Be prepared to be in one size one week and a lesser size in another week. That has been frustrating. Trying to not buy too many clothes because I knew I would keep losing. I happily donated my dressy clothes to a woman who was about to have to go back to work after being a stay at home mom and was getting divorced and needed nice work clothes.
I do seem to stay colder, but with all the fat gone, I guess that is to be expected.
Good luck to you all who are thinking about VSG or have just had VSG or are just a few months post op. Your life will return to normal. Be patient with yourself and don't stress over water amounts and Protein amounts. I have struggled with both and am still alive and well. I did experience some Hair loss, but nothing major. I take Biotin for that. I did not have the infamous stall at 6 weeks or 3 months. My stall happened at 6 months and I just reached goal this week. So, it took me 2 months to lose 7 pounds but that was with limited physical activity also and holidays. (There was a point I thought I might not stop losing)
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or concerns.
Chow for now.......
Hola!
I'm feeling ok. I've had her refill me up on pain killer 3-4 times now. It's the darned drain. I'm positive I'll feel better when they remove it. The tramadol(sp) sucked and I asked for something else. This works way better and (knock on wood), not much nausea at all after the switch. I'd read about the tramadol causing nausea in some.
I'm super sleepy. Gonna run!
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