HoosierGirl

My hubby just said in passing that he needs to get some weight off too so I don't look great and have people say, "Why is SHE with HIM?!" He was kidding - sort of. I know he would like to slim down too. He's not insecure at all and we have a really good marriage. He knows I am not going anywhere. But I took it as an opportunity to tease him that he had better be on his best behavior or I will kick him to the curb! Ha ha! Said he would even try to stick with me on the pre-op diet? We'll see about that one!

Very exciting! As I await my Passport card for my February 4 surgery, I can't help feeling like I did shortly before I graduated from high school. Not really sure what the future holds, but I have a feeling it will be cool beyond anything I could imagine! This is OUR YEAR!

WOOT WOOT! Pulled my date in to FEBRUARY 4!!!!! The count down is on!

Apologies in advance for my "brain dump" but there is a LOT to consider as you research surgeons in Mexico. Everyone who has posted on this thread have very specific and valid personal reasons they have selected their surgeon. Based on their high level of research, I have every confidence they will have a great experience because they know what to expect before they arrive. And that is what I hope for ALL of us, we do the research so we can have a good experience. When I began to consider Mexico as an option for weight loss surgery, I learned a lot. There were several factors important to me in selecting a surgeon: 1. A surgeon who has performed a lot of weight loss surgery. 2. Member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery (i.e. I wanted to be able to verify their credentials) 3. The doc should have a lot of positive internet “buzz”, or testimonials on weight loss surgery forums so I could contact those and get some independent feedback. 4. Would like to go to a part of Mexico WITH NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS from the US State Department 5. The icing on the cake would be if they were at an International Center of Excellence as designated by the Surgical Review Corporation – same body that designates US bariatric Centers of Excellence 6. Oh, and I wanted to contact the surgeon DIRECTLY, not through a surgery coordinating company THE SHORT LIST 1. Dr. Guillermo Alvarez in Piedras Negras http://www.endobariatric.com/doctor.htm 2. Dr. Alberto Aceves in Mexicali http://gastricsleevesurgeon.com 3. Dr. Pompa in Tijuana http://www.limarp.com/en/dr_liza.php 4. Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana http://www.obesitycontrolcenter.com I checked prices. I spent a great deal of time on each website to understand the process, review photos, verify credentials, etc. Both Dr. Pompa and Dr. Ortiz are practicing at International Centers of Excellence. And I liked the fact Tijuana does not have a travel warning from the US State department. Dr. Alvarez wrote a book about the sleeve. I purchased his e-Book. It’s an easy read and provides a great deal of information about the sleeve procedure, how he performs it, and what you need to do pre-surgery and post-surgery for diet. Ultimately, I selected Dr. Ortiz. Why? • He has a TON of YouTube videos available. I watched many of them and learned a lot about the surgery, recovery, diet, his philosophy, got to see the surgical team working together, pictures of the facility, etc. Also, he has a great video about the difference between healthcare in the US vs. Mexico and was spot on. This video actually made my decision for me. (He even addressed the sombrero issue. I’m in! Ha ha!) Check the video • Confirmed they are a International Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery http://www.surgicalreview.org/locate/cmcoem/ • Confirmed Dr. Ortiz is a member of the American College of Surgeons http://web2.facs.org/acsdir/public/DetailMember.cfm?CHKDGTS=88010816878 • Confirmed Dr. Ortiz is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery http://asmbs.org/member-search/ (search for last name Lagardere, as in Ariel A. Ortiz Lagardere) • Tijuana is in Baja California, the only Mexican border state that does not have a travel warning from the US State Department. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5815.html All other border states have a “defer non-essential travel” warning My hope is that you find a surgeon and location that are right for YOU! Just by being on these forums and becoming educated on your options - I have a feeling you will have GREAT results.

HI Karen and welcome....I am going to Mexcio in February too. Have you selected a surgeon? All the best!

I checked my initial email communication from Dr. Ortiz's office. The price they quoted me in the email was the same for the plication and the sleeve. Hope this helps and that you get resolution to the issue!

YAY! You are doing great....this is what the surgery is all about! Kudos to you

I would keep it loose and tell him you have had a stomach thing for the past couple of weeks and would like to keep it light (like soup) if you go out to eat. But make it clear that you are NOT one of those non-eating girls! Ha ha!

Amanda Rae - this MADE my whole evening!!!! So so so EXCITED for you!

OMG - so funny! I needed this tonight! My besties and I refer to these situations as a "blow out". When you find out a size/weight when this stops...let me know....I would like to add this as a "goal" on my post-op road to thin. Ha ha!

Now you can officically start the count down!!! Very exciting!

Getting geared up (i.e. PSYCHED UP) for the pre-op diet and I am wondering what to expect. My three main questions are: 1. How long was your pre-op diet? 2. How were you getting your calories? (All shakes, Atkins style diet, shakes & small meal combo?) 3. How much weight did you lose?

SweetTee and nurseghana - I will be with Dr. Ortiz and at the Marriot in Tijuana on Feb. 27....hope to meet you there...

Tijuana is in Mexico's state of Baja Califorina . It is the only "border state" that does not have a "defer non essential travel" warning from the US state department. The balance of Mexico's border states DO have the warning. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5815.html I think to some all of Mexico is dangerous. I've traveled a lot to various border states for work where my employer has factories. I've heard crazy stories and know some places are better than others. But the bottom line is this...if you are in Mexioc on the up-and-up, watch where you are at all times, you won't have any reason to run into the authorities or unsavory folks. Keep checking the US State Department for updates.

AStephenson - I am super exicted for you....what a fantastic birthday present to yourself! Cannot wait to hear about your experience! Everyone I have communicated with have great things to say about their experience. Hope to have wonderful results! We'll have to keep in touch as the pre-op diets start too!

Thanks Trixie! Everyone I've talked to about Dr. Ortiz has had nothing but good to say! Hope you are having great success with your sleeve.

Amanda Rae - I know what you mean! These weights are such an arbritrary number. I see people talking about weighing 215 and able to wear XL shirts and size 14/16 pants! That would NEVER happen for me at 215! Although the numbers are the same, we all wear it so differently. All I know is I will be super glad to be off all my medication and be able to exercise without - um - chaffing and sucking wind! Your d-day (deposit day) is coming up fast! When will your surgery be?

A few short minutes ago, I put dollars to the dream and made my deposit for VSG surgery on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 with Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana! Merry Christmas to me - ha ha!!! As I sit here and type this at 233 lbs, I am so ready to start the next chapter of my life. I can only hope my change will have a wonderful healthy impact on my kids and hubby.

Amytug - Flying....you will enjoy it! When you get thru security and to your gate at the airport, most airlines will allow "early bording" for those that need a little extra time. They will announce this as they are ready to let folks board the plane. My suggestion is to take the early bording time since this is a first flight. When you walk from the airport down the jetway to the plane, there will be an attendant on the plane and you could mention to them you are a first timer. Most are helpful. There is over your seat for a suitcase and under the seat in front of you for a purse or bag. Once everyone is one the plane, the attendant will review safety information. Then the pilot will come on and tell you about the weather, altitude and flight time. The attendant makes sure everyone has their belt buckeled and you take off. During flight, they will make some announcements and then will offer drinks/snack. Then, you land. When you have the layover, you will get off one plane, walk into the airport and look for monitors that tell you where your next flight will depart from. One thing I will mention about layovers....if you are traveling when the weather could be snowy or icy, I would avoid travel through Detroit or Chicago or other cold weather city. You are just asking for trouble on a layover! I have flown on all sized aircraft and I actually enjoy the smaller planes. They are more quick to board and get ready to go. Generally, the smaller planes are for shorter flights or serve smaller airports. Some of these might be turbo prop planes and they are more noisey. But if you are able to get regional jet service, that is pretty nice! Good luck - you are going to do great! Allow yourself plenty of time when you arrive at the airport and take it all in. It's actually pretty fun.

Wow - you look fantastic! Amazing 6 months you have had. Kudos to you!

You've got this. No doubt you are going to ROCK this surgery!

Congrats for being so HONEST! Fantastic that you are taking on your weight for yourself and 5 others who depend on you! You will find a lot of support here from all. This site has been a real blessing for me. Hope it is for you too!

At some point on one of these threads, I read something about receiving a DVD of surgery done in Mexico. And apparently that made BIG impression on me as I am having surgery in Mexico too. In the dream, I am at home recovering from my VSG when my husband suggests watching the DVD of my procedure. His logic was that we paid for it, let's watch it. OK, I'm game. The DVD starts in the operating room and everything is ready for the surgery to begin. As it starts, I am HORRIFIED to see everyone in the operating room is NAKED! All the surgical staff were nude. Of course they had on rubber gloves, surgical masks, and caps. Why wouldn't they, it's an operating room, right?! But other than that, they were all buck-ass naked. I was of course naked, but draped in surgical covering so not too embarassing. My husband was there in the operating room observing the surgery - also naked. And our 4 year old daughter was there too watching my VSG procedure and was, you guessed it - naked! The whole video was like a freaky new age birthing experience where everything was supposed to be relaxing, calm and natural. And, naked I guess. What was even more disturbing was that everyone in the operating room was really carefully watching the surgery and seemingly unconcerned or unaware they had no clothes on. WTF? In the dream, I was furious at my husband for #1 being in the operating room NAKED and #2 allowing our 4 year old to watch a graphic surgery like that. (In the dream I was not concerned that my little daughter was in the operating room naked....that part seemed logical....but I was MAD that she watched the surgery!) WHATEVER! I'm spending WAY WAY too much time thinking about this surgery! I'll be totally nuts by the time February gets here!!! Ha ha!!!

Same thing here. Although I didn't specifically notice being "smaller" than everyone else at orientation, one of the other ladies told me she thought I already had the surgery. My BMI is 35/36 and I fight to stay there. I have hyptertension and my parents are both overweight with severe weight related health issues that I would like to avoid. I know I need surgery for my health. Although it is frustrating when people tell you that you don't seem "big enough" for surgery, I just smile and say thanks. Well meaning people sometimes give advice they don't know isn't good advice.

How long after your surgery before you could comfortably sit at a desk and complete a full day of work? I sit at a desk all day. I had my gall bladder removed laproscopically w/gas to inflate the abdomen and I'm guessing the recovery after VSG may be similar? For the gall bladder, I had surgery Thursday and went back to work the next Monday. Appreciate your feedback!