@RealScoobyDoo

I understand that surgeons are hesitant to follow patients they didn't do surgery for. But any primary care provider, including nurse practitioners, can follow you for any labwork you need. I'm a nurse midwife and follow labs on many female patients that need frequent lab work (midwives are mid-level providers for women that do much more than deliver babies). There is no need to seek out a bariatric center. What about patients in areas of the US that are nowhere near a bariatric center?

Very nice that you have their support!

I have already told people at work and all of my family know. The people at work have seen me struggle with diet after diet and give up. They are supportive. One is my boss and she needs to know in case I have to miss more work for Dr visits or complications. I'm doing this for me.

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Actually, you do not need to give your employer the diagnosis (unless you want too). If your doctor has you on a lifting restriction of 10 lbs or less for 3 weeks, that what you need to disclose.

I think it sounds extremely twisted for anyone to think that someone would go through major abdominal surgery just to get opioids. Seems a lot easier to feign back pain!

But seriously, Stephens Johnson is no joke. You would have better luck talking to an actual surgeon. Unlike in the US, the representatives very often have zero medical background. Problem is that they want to see if you are a good candidate and make you fill out a questionnaire. My advice is to find a surgeon in Mexico with excellent English, fill out the health questionnaire and arrange a Skype interview where you can discuss your concerns. Won't cost you a cent.

I used Dr. Fernando Garcia, and I hear that his English is very good (I only spoke to him in Spanish), and I'm using Dr Illan for my revision, and he and his partner Dr Ponce de leon also have excellent spoken English.

Good Luck!

Yes, it worked initially, I'm 3 1/2 years out and got down to 142 and stayed there until about a year ago. It was amazing!! I've since gained back almost 35 pounds and having terrible GERD. I have a history of esophageal strictures with dilations, and the sleeve has made it much worse. I got approved for the mini bypass as few days ago. BMI of 29 with comorbidities.

What a great question! Yes, the bypassed part of the stomach continues to secrete ghrelin, compared to the sleeve, so sleevers can lose weight really fast. Long term, though, bypass patients have a slightly higher percentage of excess weight lost. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18376181

The best, best, best thing I bought was an electric heating pad. Helped with belly and shoulder pain.

I used Dr Garcia 3/2013. We were the first day of surgery at florence Oasis Hospital (I think they changed to a different one.) great experience 100%. But I'm going back for a revision to Mini Bypass, and Dr Garcia is a lot more than other surgeons. Anyone have any recommendations?

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I agree with okiegirl. I had surgery in Mexico and just brought toiletries, underpants (very loose), and an extra teeshirt and yoga pants (also very loose). I brought $200 cash but only used $60-bought some ice pops, paid for some cabs, and a few souvenirs for my kids.

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Imdeborah- can I ask why you are getting a revision? If it didn't work, what did you start to notice and when did you know that it wasn't working for you?

I was sleeved March 2013. Got down to 142 at 5'5" and stayed there for over 2 years. Then I would gain 5 pounds, the take it off, then gain 10 pounds and take it off, but over the past year my weight has steadily crept back up again to 167. I was drinking iced lattes, but no juices, sodas, not eating sweets. But I have lost pretty much all the appetite suppression I enjoyed for such a long time. And now I'm having issues again with reflux, joint and back pain. I haven't discussed it yet with my surgeon, so I don't know if it will be a sleeve redo or a DS.

Not disclosing accurate health information to an insurance company is dishonest (and criminal), not disclosing it to your doctor is stupid, but not disclosing it to people who have no right to know it is neither dishonest or deceptive.

I've been searching the forums and can't see any posts about anybody having a revision of their sleeve. I had VSG 3/2013 and got down to 142 for 2 years, and then the weight has started creeping up again, and I'm now at 170. I've tried doing Protein shakes, but it's not slowing down. I had been drinking iced lattes, and I cut them out so I'm not drinking my calories.

I still have some restriction, but my appetite is like before the surgery. It wasn't hungry pretty much ever for the first 2 1/2 years.

I was sleeved my Dr Fernando Garcia (great experience), and because of my history of esophageal structure mine was done slightly bigger than most patients.

If anyone could share their experiences I would really appreciate it.

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I was sleeved 3 1/2 years ago, and I only told my daughter. I'm going to get a revision in a few months and I think I'll tell the rest of my family about it.

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I was sleeved by Dr Garcia 3/29/2013. Wonderful experience. (It was at florence Oasis Hospital.)

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Don't be afraid of staying on Protein Shakes for a while. Everyone has their own time frame for healing, and shakes are non-irritating and you get a big dose of Protein, even if you can take only 2 oz at a time. I pretty much was all shakes and yogurt for 6 weeks postop. If you'll just be patient, you reach a time that you can eat a few spoonfuls or forkfuls of anything you want. Like a skinny person.

Ice cream should be on your no-no list for a long time. It's too easy to take in too many calories. You can keep some containers of Greek yogurt in the freezer. It's harder to over eat on it, but you still get the ice cream-like texture.

I'm 6 weeks out and I can have 1/2 a cup to a cup for a meal depends what I eat. I tried a few bites of cold stone when I was like week out and had a bad experience so now I am afraid of ice cream and sugar lol

Carafate should be dissolved in a small cup of Water. It works great, but it expands in your esophagus if you swallow it whole.

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Imo unjury tastes the best, and the unflavored can be sprinkled on almost anything, but I got a couple of cases of premixed Premier Protein. It's just so convenient not to have to shake up something when you pretty much feel like crap.

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Just my experience, but after a year I started taking Ibuprofen for my chronic neck pain. I tried the long-acting alternatives, but because meds pass through the stomach so quickly I was only getting 6 hours max of relief. After about 3-4 months I was in the hospital with severe gastritis. No more NSAIDS for me, ever.

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I'm 3 years out. Can't handle even one sip of soda or beer...potatoes in any form hit my stomach with a "thud" and make me miserable, so I still only have a few bites. No problem with dairy or spicy foods. Pork is okay as long as it's ground or pulled, but I have to chew any meat forever. I don't drink alcohol, but I make up for it in coffee. As far as volume goes, I can eat maybe 3/4 of a small McDonald's hamburger. No fries. 3/4 of a small hot dog in the bun, but I usually pull off half the bread of whatever I'm eating. I finally can eat salad! Took about 2 years, though. Hope this helps.

Deborah

Sleeve 4/2013

High 230 5'5"

198 before prep diet

Low weight post op 142

Now 152

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I was sleeved by Dr Fernando Garcia at florence Oasis Hospital April 2013 (I was part of the first group of patients there.) He and the other physicians I saw were so nice. I was so scared, but Dr Garcia patted my leg and said, "We are going to take very good care of you," and they did.

I'm a nurse myself, and I think that the nursing staff there was amazing. If I rang the bell, they were right there, and pain and nausea meds were given before I needed them. I liked the nice courtyard, and after I went to the hotel it was nice to be able to walk around outside.

I was 230 at my highest weight, prediabetic, constant joint pain. I got down to 198 (I think) before surgery, and I've been at 148-158 for over two years. Im going back on Protein Shakes for a couple of weeks to get that 10 pounds back off. If I can figure it out I'll edit thesis post to add a before and after pic.

Deborah

The body is funny and will hold on to weight if you aren't getting enough calories. Try lowering exercise to 3 miles a day and/or adding a shake. I didn't do nearly this much at week 3.

Deborah

Sleeved 4/2012. Took about 8 months to he to goal (145)

Size 10...5'6, 142lbs

Best decision of my life

Um, I was joking. Was trying add a bit of levity. A thousand pardons.

I have started taking real sugar in my tea, about 5 cups daily. But then I hardly take carbs in any other form.

5 cups of sugar might be a bit much.

I think they meant 5 cups of tea with added sugar, not 5 cups of sugar. Really now?