Changing39

My BMI is 37, but I have high BP and am a diabetic. I have decided not to pay attention to the people who do not support me! Go for it!!!

Go for it!

I am down 87 pounds in 4 months and for the first time in my life I am starting to feel confident in myself and the way I look. I have a long way to go still but when I compare pictures from day of surgery to this morning I can see how happy I am. So thankful for my sleeve

Changing39,
After researching and calling my Walgreens pharmacist for suggestions, I have been chewing up my Effexor and taking it with juice. Chewing it up helps it absorb and because we are lacing stomach acid the acid from the juice also helps with absorption. It's been 1 week since I've been doing this and I feel SO much better!!! I also take Vyvanse for adult ADHD and I simple undo the capsule and put the powder from the capsule under my tongue. Both meds are working again and I'm SO happy I am figuring this out. I take 150mg of Effexor and the pharmacist suggested taking Regular, not XR, 2 times a day in 75mg each.
Would I have the surgery again... Yes;)...
I was so unhappy before. It's been 3 years and I've gone from 200lbs down to 135lbs
It's one less struggle in life. It's a huge weight off my shoulders! I don't think about food all the time anymore and I can just throw on clothes and go and not worry about how fat I look.
The surgery comes with its risks, but so does being overweight. It's definitely been worth the risk for me!

Hey guys,
I looked on this page and others before choosing my doctor, so I figured I would share my experience now that I am done! I know it is a little bit long.....but it is everything I wish I would have known to ease my curiousity
I went through Mexico Bariatric Center. Once I filled out the contact request I received an email from CHRISTY - who became my contact person the whole time. She was amazing! She was very friendly, stayed in contact with me frequently, stayed honest throughout, and made me feel like she was in it with me! I actually booked a surgery back in November....bought my ticket.....then chickened out. She did not try and persuade me at all! She agreed not to do it until I was ready. I ended up contacting her again, because I felt comfortable, and booked it for Dec. 21, 2012.
The night before I flew down I received a call from VICTOR - who was my driver. He was such a sweet man. He had stories and jokes to share about Tijuana TO and FROM the airport. I flew in the day before surgery. Victor was already outside of the baggage claim when I arrived. We went directly to the Hotel Marriott. It was very beautiful and safe! In fact, you have to use your room key to even get the elevator to move. Everyone there was extremely friendly and helpful. The beds were so fluffy that I had a great sleep before the big day. When I arrived at the hotel I was greeted by my go-to person DANIEL. He was also very friendly, informative, and caring!
Daniel is not just the contact person, but like a "brother from another mother". He makes sure everything runs smoothly, translates for you, and is there for you at every transition! He even came to visit a few times each day at the hospital! If you go through Mexico Bariatric Center you should totally request Daniel to be your contact person.
On the day of surgery I took the Marriott (free) shuttle to Mi Doctor Hospital. Daniel was there to greet me and take care of all of the talking. I was given a room, a Johnny and TIGHT leggings to wear. I then had a pre-op session. This was where they did blood work, took my weight and height, and inserted the I.V. I was also visited and introduced to ALL of my doctors and nurses. Shortly after I was wheelchaired to the surgery room. It was very clean and non-threatening. I couldn't believe how many doctors/nurses were in there. Surprisingly I was NOT nervous at all - since I knew that I wouldn't remember anything once I fell asleep LOL. The anesthesiologist was so caring and gentle! I felt like I knew him............and then fell asleep! The last thing I remember was him smiling down at me while Dr. Cabrera rubbed my face. DR. LOUISIANA Valenzuela was heading my surgery with DR. ISMAEL CABRERA-GARCIA as her assistant. They normally take turns being the lead - but BOTH are excellent at what they do!
Apparently my surgery went from 1 hour to 2 hours because they found a Hiatal Hernia in my esophagus. That is when your stomach pouch is larger than normal and pushes it's way into the esophagus. They repaired it along with my surgery for $500 more. I was so glad that they found it and fixed while up in me! I woke up in a recovery room. As soon as I woke up they walked me to my hospital room - where I slept in and out throughout the day. Closer to the evening I started my walking rounds around the hallway. (VERY IMPORTANT FOR RECOVERY!) I was barely in pain!!!! The easiest way to describe the pain was like a cramp when you are running. This pain was NOT constant! Whenever I felt it, I put my hand over it and pushed in - which helped ease it. The next day (day 2) I felt GREAT! I did a lot more walking around the nurses station and started drinking Gatorade. (after they did the Xray with the liquid). I had many visitors from the doctors, Daniel, people from the recovery room, and even my anesthesiologist! I couldn't believe how great I felt - after hearing about other people's experiences! You will feel gas bubbles here and there - but practice pushing it out through burps and eventually you will get a good fart in....smooth sailing from there LOL
On day 3 Dr. Valenzuela came to do my final check before releasing me. Once again, I felt great.... little pain..... and was ready to go - BUT I had to get my tube taken out first. OMG, although it takes less than a minute to remove it - It was a surreal feeling to get a long skinny tube slowly pulled across and out of a whole in my stomach. Yes it hurt for like 30 seconds, but it had to be done! Once that was done, she gave me my 4 different medications, explanations, and a lot of nutritional paperwork. It also included a CD of the Xray of my new banana shaped stomach pouch! You can watch the liquid going down it - too cool!
Once I got my release, Daniel was already there for me with the Marriott Shuttle. We even detoured to an outside pharmacy to pick up one more medicine bottle, and Snacks for my plus 1. I then stayed at the Marriott for another night (but could've stayed for two nights). Victor called an confirmed pick-up times. (By the way, at the hotel - the patient can eat in the restaurant for free using their room key. Make sure you tell them you are there for Bariatric Surgery. You can get broth, Jello, and popsicles. If someone is with you.....they have to pay BUT you get 25% discount. GET THE BUFFET! It is worth it - especially with the discount)
To end my journey, Victor picked my plus one and I up at the Marriott. We then had to drive through customs to enter U.S. and make our way to the airport. NOTE: The San Diego airport is HORRIBLE and offers very little food options. They are under construction and will have a food court one day......but not yet! You can go to Terminal 1 where there is a Starbucks and a really nice restaurant! Although I couldn't eat......it smelled and looked so good. Starbucks had a good mint tea that I drank - which was very soothing!
FINALLY (I PROMISE) a few points I wanted to add:
*Tijuana is safer than you think!
*Going into the border is quick and easy...Out of the border takes longer, but make sure you have your passports and meds out!
* $1 US dollar is equal to $ 12.60 Mexican dollars. (although the currency changes daily)
*Gastric Sleeve is running $4500 American dollars right now (which is great!) This includes pre-op lab work, Surgery, 2 day hospital stay, medicine, food for patient, personal driver, personal contact person, 1 pre stay hotel, 2 post surgery stay at hotel. (does NOT include airfare or food for the plus one). MY PLUS ONE STAYED IN THE BED NEXT TO ME AT HOSPITAL
*Have your plus one bring snacks. There is a deli on the 1st floor of hospital which seems to run @ $6.00 American for a meal - but they close EARLY! If YOU, the patient, want broth, Gatorade, Popsicle, etc... be sure to ASK! It doesn't just come.
* DR. VALENZUELA/DR. CABRERA are the doctors to go with!!! Call Christy before you change your mind... (you want to ask to have Daniel and Victor too)
I hope this helps! Feel free to ask any question........ I know what you are going through! In a separate blog I'll update my status since this is so long LOLOLOL......
David

What an adorable couple you are You were beautiful before but simply gorgeous now!

Has anyone tried this out. I have faithfully been doing the elliptical 4-5 times a week and Zumba or just dance 3 1-2 times a week. One of the nurses at work told me try this out. I am on day two and holy crap!!!! I thought I had built up some endurance and strength but after doing this I quickly realized I didn't!!

Thank you so much everyone! I really love to hear your personal stories and advice. I always come back to....Yes, I'm going to do this.

I had to laugh because I read the thread topic as are there REALLLY GAY people here...as in not a little gay but a lot gay. Then I reread it and figured out where the emphasis was in the sentence...im slow. Either way im a tard but welcome to the forum.

Thanks guys! It seems also from the older posts that i read the 10,000 mcg is the most common. And yes! This is in addition to the cocktail of Vitamins I now take that is recommended by kaiser. I will also check whats the best recommendation with my nutritionist-- and will share with y'all as well!
Thanks ????.

You need to decide if you want to go thru with this and why. Then you need to find you some SUPPORT persons to surround yourself with. I had a person or two at work that just question me but don't support me. Now I try to avoid the subject with them. I am eleven days post op and happy I went thru it. Good luck

But you said it yourself, that person has never been overweight and doesn't understand why people are obese. I myself never had a weight problem until my adult years, after a car accident took me from being extremely active to non-active for 2 years and the weight slowly kept piling on. It's not like anyone wants to be obese, or chooses this life, but things happen. I have done the high Protein, low carb (same as post-op diet) in the past, along with many other things like WW and exercise..., and guess what...they didn't work. I had been at the same weight +/- 5 lbs. for 12 years prior to my sleeve. The reason I ended up having WLS is because I was told last year i was diabetic and was put on metformin. I didn't want to live with diabetes, and figured the risk of the surgery was way less than that of the diabetes. I went into the hospital a diabetic and left the hospital the next day not one. I am now one month out and down 21 lbs. last time i checked and food no longer controls me. I'm never hungry and now eat to survive, not because it tastes good or I have to clear my plate like I was told to when I was younger. Now I can have a bite or 2 of foods I like and am satisfied, but the great thing is, is I no longer crave carbs...at all. I don't want the ice cream, pizza, bread, Cookies, etc. that I used to love. I just have no interest in them anymore. Anyway, everyone has their own reasons for having WLS, and as long as you are absolutely sure it is the best thing for you then you need to do it. This is YOUR life and you must live it for you first. Best of luck to you, and whatever you chose I hope it's the best choice for you.

I am the flip side of Traci. I was a skinny person until after my mid 20's. Drastic life changes caused me to pack on the pounds along with metabolic changes and a dramatic slow down in my physical activity. Could win a frequent flier award at almost every weight loss clinic/club around. Let me confess that I am a volume eater. That voice of "feed me" never shut up....NEVER. Now, the sleeve cured that for a while (not everyone loses to hunger urge with sleeve) but came back. What I am in the process of is learning the difference between head hunger and physical hunger. Back to you...sorry sidetracked.
If you can do this on your own, please do. But for me, I was tired of being a failure repeatedly for years and over a decade. Simply could not do this on my own. Could lose weight for a period, sometimes up to a year but it always came back and with more. The disappointment in me was crushing. Ongoing hate cycle was killing me more than the weight I had on this one body of mine.
So, look inside yourself and take a good hard look. Can you do this solo? Don't let anyone push you into a quick response. Really consider any other option. My answer was no. Remember, VSG is not reversible so your decision if yes if permanent. I am permanently altered where I can no longer gorge.
I love my sleeve and have no regrets. Best wishes.

I'm having the same issue, tonight I was asked,'what is the surgery going to do that a diet won't?' You'd think I'd have a better answer by now, but I mumbled something about how I just did. An hour later, I'm arguing to my computer monitor that the removal of the grehlin helps significantly as well as the inability to inhale huge portions. She says I'll never be able to have cake again....ok...and? It's a tasty thing but I'm rather tired of being addicted to the sweets and getting myself caught up in chasing the next sugar high (more like a sugar hill). It's so frustrating. I'm under a lot of stress over this as my surgery is on the 5th and this does not help.

This could be a conversation between my husband and myself. He thinks I should just eat like I've had surgery already, and skip the surgery. Money saved in his opinion! We banter about my upcoming surgery almost daily now that it's coming up in less than a month...I've decided to just not talk about it anymore with him, or around him..I'm headed to Mexico and my daughter has chosen to accompany me because he refuses too. I even contemplated going alone for a while. Take some time and research and learn as much as you can...it will help solidify your resolution, if this is truly what you desire. For myself, I'm tired of going on a diet, losing weight, then in few short months gaining it all back. I need something new, something I haven't tried before, something that will support me in my healthy efforts and hopefully be the answer to a better me. This is a last ditch effort for me...I'm gearing up for my last good fight to finally be the person I know I can be. If you decide you want this...no one and no thing will stand in your way. Good luck!!

There are always people that are going to be antagonistic. You have to listen to your self. I have friends that were unsupportive and it hurts. I had people tell me to just walk a few times a week. Like it's that easy. I didn't want to want to eat anymore. So, I'm 2 weeks out and feel great. Do your research and decide what's best for you.

I deal with Major Depression and Anxiety and am almost 3 years post op. I've been on antidepressants for 16 years and they worked great for me until after my surgery.
I've been researching recently and have found that our stomach is our "2nd brain" and that 95% of our serotonin is found there. So having 85% of our stomachs cut out can cause major chemical embalances. I'm also reading people discuss this and say not to take the XR version of medicines and the crush the meds up or take them out of their capsule, chew them up and take them. They are saying they get better absorption like this. I am willing to try it and plan on calling my doctor this week to try the regular Effexor... Not XR...
Google "stomach 2nd brain"... Very interesting information

I just wanted to throw out another possibility for you to ponder. I was in much the same situation as you, similar starting BMI, and an absolute exclusion under my insurance policy (for anyone, of any weight, with any co-morbidities) for bariatric surgery. I wasn't brave enough to consider going out of the country, but I found that I could manage the costs with a local surgeon, and I found one who is covered by BLIS insurance, which takes care of the cost of post-op complications should they arise. I'm a professional worrier, and that gave me a ton of peace of mind that I didn't have to worry about fighting with my insurance company if I ended up with unanticipated medical issues.
I know a lot of people go to Mexico and couldn't be happier, and I have nothing against that, but it's nice to know you have options if you're not totally comfortable going that route.
Best of luck to you, it's an exciting change!

I think a lot of us suffer from depression just from being overweight. But then there are those of us that have it chronically not related to weight. I am one of those ppl. I spoke to the doctor about it and they state that to maintain taking your phych meds and therapy during your journey and as you are doing to become educated on what to expect. I think in the long run once our stomachs get used to the hormone adjustment initially we will be happier ppl not to mention the weight loss won't hurt.. hope this helps!

I find myself just shuffling through my life, dreaming about surgery. I'm just trying to get through the days trying to rush time along. I find myself not enjoying the present, certainly not enjoying the holiday season, just looking to the future. I even find mysel thinking "I'll feel differently" about this or that situation after I have surgery. I'm so sick of being miserable and just want to move forward, to live for real. I've already been there once and I know what I'm missing. I still don't know for sure if insurance will pay for a revision and it's driving me nuts. At least if I knew they would pay, I could at least make plans. This limbo business is driving me nuts!! I just want to go back to being healthy and feel better physically. I feel self conscious and inadequate everyday even though I'm the same person I was a year ago inside. I'm still smart and successful, but constantly feel that people are judging me for my weight. It's exhausting. I find myself just wanting to hide and that's no way to live. Of course I suppose that's the point of this post, I'm not living just existing. How sad...

I've lost very little hair and I'm 8 months out.

I will be purchasing my man wing once my hair starts falling out. I'm hoping for a more fuller curly hair. Or maybe the same wig as bieber I think hers looks really nice.

That's so exciting!
I'm going crazy that I have to wait until May or June. I just want to go right now. Seriously, I'm going crazy. I'm in this forum every night. By May I will be a pre-op expert. Then I'm on to post-op expert.

I'm actually paying my deposit next week and planning for a mid-June surgery with Dr. Garcia.
I still have so many questions for Alma.
Now that I have the plan set out, I'm nervous. I'll be a wreck come May.
Anyone else planning for surgery in June?