TheCurvyJones

It will be GREAT. I was sleeved by Dr Alvarez in December. He makes it so easy, his staff is WONDERFUL and with the technique he uses, you will not be in any pain. At least I wasn't. His team is top notch and the nurses are really nice, as are his translators/assistants. He's a delight to work with and he keeps in touch afterward. If you're not already, check into the Endobariatric Facebook page and also the Facebook group. Lots of patients there. My suggestions-- bring plenty to do... if you don't have an iPad you can check one out. WiFi is free and there is a phone you can use to call back to the states. try to keep your phone off /on wifi unless you have an International calling plan. Bestie was charged about $40 just in roaming fees and the hospital is ONE mile over the border. There are FEW TV stations in English so bring some books or a portable dvd player if you can swing it. In between walking and sucking on ice chips, there's not a whole lot to do! Though the first day I was pretty much out of it. Not in a single lick of pain. They keep you pretty high. LOL..

Nah, just let it pass. Try to relax.

Coming up on two months next week. Best decision of my LIFE. Down from a 22 to a 16 Hoping to hit 25lbs lost since surgery before my 2 month date. I am just a few lbs away from 50lbs down overall. Dating a nice guy now... can climb stairs without pain, lots less back pain. Life is really good, only going to get better!

Yup, this. At three weeks out you're hardly even on real food yet. Wait till you have two bites of some chicken and feel like you ate a KFC dozens bucket! err on the side of dense Protein as much as you can. Refried Beans are great for that stage.

3 lbs off aint bad at all!!!

My goal was 227. I hit that this weekend! I was hoping I'd be under for the official end of the challenge so we'll see what tomorrow brings.

I didn't start needing a PPI until I was on regular food. Now I take it every morning or my sleeve is UPSET.

I lose a lot of hair ANYWAY, so i'm not even sure I'll notice. :/ I do plan to braid it up and either do a weave or a wig so I am not messing with it and it has less chance to fall out.

:wave: Hello ATLers! Things are good here. Weight has been picking up the last few weeks. I already hit my valentine's day goal! I have weighed this weight since 2007, so I'm AMAZED. I hope everyone is doing well!!!

I loved Dr Alvarez and his team. Kinda didn't want to leave. You are the whole reason they are there. Your surgeon is YOURS for those days, and especially w/ Dr A, he does his own rounds and checkups. He doesn't push that off on a nurse or assistant. My friend had surgery that was covered by insurance. She saw her surgeon at consult, pre op and right after surgery, then never again. I considered Tijuana and also Las Vegas... but when it came down to it, I really wanted Dr Alvarez and once I could pay for it I was sold. That said to the OP, there ARE surgeons in the states that accept self pay patients, so research research research and check out reviews online. Nothing gives me confidence in someone who's gonna root around in my belly like reading about personal experiences.

I had surgery Friday morning and had two flights to get back home Sunday. I wasn't in any pain (thanks to the meds) and was relatively comfy. You'll just need to make sure someone is there to help you with luggage because you won't be able to lift. I found I really had to push the flight attendant to help me. They really weren't at all concerned with what I couldn't do.

It takes a while to hit your stride, post surgery. The high of 'OMGGETTINGREADYFORSURGERYOMG' is all done and all that's left is healing and getting used to a new life. Add to that all the changes in your life and it can be cause for some ups and downs. I am coming up on week 8 and finally feel really happy and settled with my sleeve. I can eat normal foods, I am working out, the weight is coming off, my clothes are hanging off my body. I know it doesn't seem like it, but it gets so much better. I read about people saying that and didn't really believe them. Everyone thinks they will be different... now I know they were all right. Hang tight, follow your surgeons plan. Head down, aim for your goals. Time will move faster than you think it will.

It really really changes!! I promise! People ask me if I feel deprived, because I can eat so little. Really? 2-3 bites of something and I am done. and it's not like I eat 2 ounces of food and stop because I force myself to. I eat and I am satisfied like I ate a six course meal. Even hunger is different. It's more of an 'I'm empty' feeling than ravenous hunger.........unless I go too long without eating, at which point my sleeve has a temper tantrum until I eat something. Things change after the sleeve. They really do.

Yup. I have way more energy so while I do enjoy hanging out at home, I mostly never went anywhere because I was tired and listless. Now I have tons of energy so I am up and out. I also started dating, which I hadn't been doing for a few years. This surgery is one giant step toward a new life.

Awesome! Great luck! I had my sleeve done by Dr Alvarez. ZERO regrets.

I don't even know... what the hell. Got on the scale and it said 227.2. Like................dude.

GoodE2shoes and I were sleeved on the same day by the same surgeon. How irresponsible to send a patient home with no instruction. If you can get ebooks, pick up The Gastric Sleeve by Dr Alvarez. There is a world of info in that book as well as step by step what to eat, what to take, what to do have successes.

You are kicking ass.GET It!

yup. I can ask my friend who had hers done in the US, not sure if US doctors oversew.

So there is an acid reducer (pepcid, tums) and there is a PPI which is an inhibitor.. it actually STOPS the stomach from over producing acid. You need something stronger than Pepcid... Pepcid is kind of reactionary and not preventative. Try something like Zantac or Prilosec or... there's a G one... can't think of the name. Not GasX.... anyway, think of something along those terms and not on the level of TUMS... which can still be helpful AFTER gas starts. I take zantac 75 twice a day. Thinking of switching to Prilosec. I get Heartburn first thing in the morning and at night.

No it doesn't last forever. Your sleeve is swollen so that makes it harder to drink. Small sips, no gulps. Even now at about 7 weeks out, I can feel/hear it going down after it sits for a bit. Warm coffee especially! Try cold Water, ice cold, and your PPi (anti acid) to help reduce swelling. And if Popsicles is what works, Popsicles it is!

Some docs want patients about 8 weeks or so out before stressing abdominal muscles like that. Totally depends on the doctor. What did your doctor say?

I could eat pork, beef and chicken around week 4.. small, moist pieces. Nothing dry or crusty or tough. I tried tilapia but the smell of it was too much for me. I might try salmon but I'm very sensitive to scents and its like I can taste the smell. BLECH. Beef and pork go down the best for me but like others said, trial and error. Your stomach is individual to you.