parker

I was sleeved at florence by Dr Garcia on March 28th. florence was a clean facility. There were folks coming to clean and sanitize twice a day. The room equipment used was comparable to a smaller, rural hospital in the states. The OR was modern. With the exclusion of the bed. I had to scoot onto the operating table, and after have bruises where my legs hung over. ( I am tall). The room was clean, but seemed like it had been through a bad home remodel. The faucet in the bathroom only worked on one side. I ran out of TP while there and ended up using tissues.

On the other hand, I was visited by nurses round the clock. All but one spoke English. The one who didn't had an app on her phone that translated. The overnight nurse was lovely, can't remember her name. And my day nurse was Fatima, she was a doll and did anything I needed. There was a doctor there 24-7 and Dr Garcia's team was there each day to check on me.

Overall I had a great experience. The care was phenomenal. I traveled solo and had no worries. The coordinator, Meli, informed me when my fellow sleevers were around. I visited, briefly, with others I have chatted with on this site.

I am going to be sleeved April 13th with Dr garcia in Tijuana. I originally went to a seminar at banner gateway but sadly my insurance has a wls exclusion. I look forward to changing my life. I am in queen creek. Does anyone go to the banner support groups?

I was sleeved by Dr Garcia last Thursday. He is the sweetest guy and all the staff is awesome. Two of his supporting drs have had VSG also, it's kinda cool. I'm in Chandler, ya'll, we should definitely get together like once a month. I'd love to meet other local sleevers.

Becky

I'm in room nine at florence. I was the last one sleeved yesterday. And apparently the first one up walking. I feel sore, some pain immediately after the anesthesia wore off, but its much less now. I slept most of the day and evening, now I'm wide awake at midnight! Lol, just can't sleep all day!

I'm here waiting for you! Driving around with Samuel until another sleever arrives at 10:10.

Does the Biotin help with hair? I heard a lot of people lose hair I'm terrified cause I have super log hair and if I lose it I will be devastated !!

I've added a gummie prenatal Vitamin for the Hair loss prevention. Along with Calcium, Biotin, multi, b complex, B12 and Iron. I too would hate to lose my hair! I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow, so we'll see! Oh, I'm not pregnant , lol. I just remember how wonderful my hair and nails grew while I was pregnant and taking prenatals.

I'm leaving in the morning. I'll see ya'll there. I love that this the first trip I've ever just packed sweats and tshirts! Excited and hungry.........can't wait to be not hungry.

I'll see you there! Hopefully. I'm packing my bag and fly out tomorrow morning, surgery same day.

I am going to Tijuana on Thursday to have my surgery. I'm in chandler. I haven't been to support groups either. Just this forum.

I switched Florence Hospital for my March 28th surgery. It looks like a much better facility than MiDoctor. But who knows?!

It started off as SVT but switched over to a-fib. Second time in my life that's happened. I think I over did it yesterday' date=' walking. I walked several city blocks to the mall during the heat of the day. Not my brightest move. They were able to regulate me through the night with medicine and are keeping me around to be safe. And because I'm so darn charming!

Taking it easy today. Still sipping and walking, but staying close to home base.

Amanda Rae[/quote']

I'm glad your heart is back to normal! Take it easy, don't over do it. Thanks for all your posts, it puts my mind at ease

Becky

I checked out the link for the florence Oasis Hospital. It seems nice. My only concern is valuables. I read that MiDoctor has safes in each room, but florence says they only have a single safe. They recommend leaving valuables at home. That would be easy, if I wasn't traveling out if the country alone. It also says that if you are moved to surgery or a care unit that your belongings will not be left in the room.

Does anyone know any different?

Heart rate regulated now. Dr. Campos is keeping me an extra night for observation.

Amanda Rae

I'm glad they're keeping an eye on you. I have had bouts of SVT also, none for almost three years. But I have to get an A-Ok from my cardiologist before heading to Mexico next week. Did you get any idea how it was triggered? Did you have to get "elephant on your chest" drug to stop it, or did your heart regulate on its own? Becky

Happy sleeve day, Amanda! Keep us posted, can't wait to hear about your experience.

March 28th

Dr. Fernando Garcia

36

Current 295

5'10"

Goal 170

Mines is March 19th with Dr. Elias Ortiz. Leaving out tomorrow morning

Good luck !

You're in it for sure now! I'm glad you stalked for a while. I did too, and made my decision to have Dr Garcia perform my surgery on the 28th. I'll see you there!

My pre-op diet is only one week' date=' so I don't start until next Thursday. My goal this weekend is to make some homemade clear broths (chicken, mushroom, maybe beef) and stock up on sugar free popsicles and clear juices. It has started to creep into the edge of my thoughts, as I've been eating this week, that this is the last time I'll eat XX (fill in the blank) for a while. I've been trying to push that out of my mind, though, and focus on being prepared and the overall goal.

~Kat[/quote']

Are you going to freeze the broth? I bought a few containers of organic broths and Soups, but I do prefer homemade. I want to make some, just not sure of how to store it. Could I freeze it in ice cube trays? Or how long would it keep in the fridge?

Starting pre op diet today! I can't believe I'm only two weeks away! Getting a little nervous, passport hasn't arrived. Other than that things are on track. I started tracking in My Fitness Pal, I love how they track your nutrients for you along with calories, fat, carbs etc.

Inner ear infection? I would get to your pcp as soon as you can.

Yeah the more you read the more comfortable you will be. You will meet someone. Pantalas husband is taking care of us at the end of march. Lol I'm just picking pantala. Hopefully I will be able to manage.

Pantalas hubby is going to have his hands full! I think it is myself, cindysc and imdeborah all traveling alone at the end of March!

I have had concerns about being alone, but I know that this surgery will change my life. So I've mustered up the courage to just do it! And finding all the other people on this site has made me much more confident.

Oy! It is big!

You poor guys! Take as much Vitamin c as you can, your body disposes of what it doesn't use. Also, I can't say enough about the power of onions and garlic on a cold. You know the chicken Soup thing is really about the onions and garlic in it! So if you are on your liquid pre op diet, just cut a bunch up, sauté until clear and cook to a mushy consistency in chicken broth, then put it in the blender if necessary.

I hope you all get well! Oh, and change your toothbrush, or sterilise it.

Becky

Almost impossible to keep all of one's muscle during rapid weight loss. Of course sufficient Protein helps and depending on your Dr's pre-op requirements' date=' if you have low/no-carb, low fat Protein shakes, you could have all you want of those and it will help some. The Branched Chain Aminos (BCAAs) really help retain muscle during weight loss. Some people also use L-Glutamine, but I'm not sure about the effectiveness of it, but it's fairly cheap and worth a try I guess. Also, make sure you still lift and do resistance training during the weight loss pre-op diet. I wouldn't recommend doing really high rep/high intensity lifting, but you want your muscles to know that you still want them around and need them, so use them, even during the weight loss period, just cut back on the intensity and still lift. Because you will be limited for a few weeks POST-OP already and will lose muscle mass during those few weeks at an alarming rate, but it's better to limit that weight loss period to those few weeks post-op than to combine those few weeks with another few weeks pre-op. When you do lose some muscle mass post-op, try not to panic like I did. When your Dr clears you to lift, ease back into it and gradually build it back up.....and be patient...... it will eventually return with good hard lifting, protein and well-timed complex carbs after a workout. Good luck! [/quote']

What are Branched Chain Aminos? I've noticed the Aminos in protein supplements, but not these. What am I looking for, or can you recommend a specific brand?

I've never really had to rely on these things before, so I feel a bit slow when it comes to knowing all the different things about supplements.

And thank you to everyone for the advice, it seems that ya'll have had good success with the sleeve giving you the opportunity for a new, healthy life.

Four weeks to go!!!!!

I am four weeks pre op, going on the 28th of March to get my sleeve! I want to know if anyone has experience maintaining, or losing muscle. I ask because I have a lot of muscle, freakishly strong honestly. I'm currently 5'10", 295 and wear a size 20 pant. I joke about my fat being a protective layer for my muscle!

But seriously, how can I make sure to keep that muscle? I don't want it to deteriorate and be weak and bony. Do I need exercise? Is it all on the Protein? In the Vitamins? What gives?

Any help would be awesome! Thanks. Becky