pantala

This month is the 4 year mark for my VSG in Mexico with Dr Garcia. It's still one of the best decisions I ever made. At the time, I told my sister and my grown kids (besides my husband who came with me). I correctly guessed there would be a lot of judgement about the surgery and fear for me going to Mexico to have it. Now, after losing over 100 lbs, and keeping it off for 3 years, I tell a lot of people. I know it helped me to know actual people who had the surgery and were happy with it. But if you suspect there will be negative reactions from family, friends, co-workers, etc., you're probably right and you shouldn't feel like you need to share.

This month is the 4 year mark for my VSG in Mexico with Dr Garcia. It's still one of the best decisions I ever made. At the time, I told my sister and my grown kids (besides my husband who came with me). I correctly guessed there would be a lot of judgement about the surgery and fear for me going to Mexico to have it. Now, after losing over 100 lbs, and keeping it off for 3 years, I tell a lot of people. I know it helped me to know actual people who had the surgery and were happy with it. But if you suspect there will be negative reactions from family, friends, co-workers, etc., you're probably right and you shouldn't feel like you need to share.

I had my RNY July 2, 2013. I have always been very open about my surgery!! If someone wants to talk about it I will give the good bad and ugly about it!! This WLS is one of the very BEST decisions I have made in my 60years. I feel if I can just help one person to have WLS and start their new JOURNEY then I will be ecstatic. The negative stuff that people have is mostly because of early on WLS's. I know of close family that had their RNY 20 some odd years ago. Even they have some ill feelings about it. I think that the Weight Loss Community has made so many improvements with WLS that people really need to be reducated. There is so much negative that people just over look the positive sometimes. I had checked into WLS back when my friend had her RNY over 25years ago. I didn't have insureance that would cover it so of course we were still raising our family and didn't have the money at all. But...hind site I am so very HAPPY that I didn't have it at that time. I defintly was NOT ready for everything that comes with WLS!! Maybe, someone was looking out for me. You have to be physically ready plus mental ready and at that time I wasn't at the bottom of my weight's barrel. I can say it is a personal thing to tell or not to tell!! Each and everyone of us have to do what is best for us!!

If I had a Dollar for every "They are going to Harvest your Organs" comment I could have paid for my Surgery with Dr. Illan. I think if I had it to do over Pre-Op I would have had more funny come-back lines to Help battle peoples fear of Foreign Surgery. If you do decide to be open just be prepared for all the personal concern and baggage people will put on you, they think they are looking out for you but it truly is just their limited knowledge on the subject that is speaking. It is now my mission to use my weight-loss and recovery to Help others learn about a Safe & Affordable option if their insurance won't cover Bariatrics. Let me also Congratulate both of you for making a Great decision in Surgeons, I Promise it is the Best Vacation you will ever take.

Consider it all part of the journey......When I first mentioned WLS to my PCP I was shocked that she agreed it was a good idea - even though I was below 40 BMI. Then when I mentioned it to my Ob Gyn, he was positive as well! So you just never know. But you may as well get used to putting it out there in the world and learning to handle reactions good, bad, or indifferent. It will help make you strong for what's ahead. Good luck!

Consider it all part of the journey......When I first mentioned WLS to my PCP I was shocked that she agreed it was a good idea - even though I was below 40 BMI. Then when I mentioned it to my Ob Gyn, he was positive as well! So you just never know. But you may as well get used to putting it out there in the world and learning to handle reactions good, bad, or indifferent. It will help make you strong for what's ahead. Good luck!

Mariah,
If you tell the nurses or Dr. Garcia you are nervous, they will give you something to relax you, something along the lines of Valium I believe - it makes waiting for the surgery easier on your nerves.
Everyone's experience of recovery is different: some of us have more nausea and pain than others post-op. Just accept your experience but be sure to let the nurses know how you feel and don't be afraid to ask the dr.s if what you are feeling is within the normal range.
Same with progress after you go home. It took me the longest time to move from one food stage to the next but I took it slow and five months out, I have no problem getting enough Protein and fluids to do a good workout. That was a good question on your part.
As for Protein drinks, this is hard as everyone has different reactions to different brands. I used unjury until I got sick of it. I couldn't stand Isopure from the start and gave it to my husband. Try different brands til you find one you like.
And for heavens sake, DO NOT start smoking again! Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for this surgery and post-op complications. We don't want to read about you on the complications board.
Best of luck sweetie! You are very brave even if you don't feel like it.

Like others said, you don't want to use a less effective tool if the more effective tool doesn't work.
If your sleeve "fails" the next step would be the duodenal switch (DS) surgery for which the sleeve is a first step. But that is drastic, so give your sleeve (and you!) every chance to work.

Like others said, you don't want to use a less effective tool if the more effective tool doesn't work.
If your sleeve "fails" the next step would be the duodenal switch (DS) surgery for which the sleeve is a first step. But that is drastic, so give your sleeve (and you!) every chance to work.

Like others said, you don't want to use a less effective tool if the more effective tool doesn't work.
If your sleeve "fails" the next step would be the duodenal switch (DS) surgery for which the sleeve is a first step. But that is drastic, so give your sleeve (and you!) every chance to work.

I wanted to keep it pretty DL if I could. (Im pre op- just submitted to ins last wk.) Anywayyyy, close friends, close family and that's about it. BUT, last nite at dinner with a bunch of friends, on of my friends (innocently) outed me. One of the ppl there I wasn't planning on telling, at least until way after. So my advice so far, "a secret between 3 people is easy to keep, if 2 of the people are dead." It isn't too realistic, but that's just been my experience so far.
As far as work, that's much easier. you just tell them you're having surgery. they arent legally allowed to ask what kind, but if someone does, just say 'girl stuff'.

i hear folks rethinking WLS due to the recent deaths related to it.. But what i don't understand is we hear how folks get killed everyday on the roads and we never think twice about hopping in our car... If we die related to the surgery it was our predestined death date.. everyone has one...u can die from anything we just have to stay prayed up and know in whom you believe...lol

Not a nurse, just a regular "Joe" here, lol. I originally had the band, and had it done in the US. My insurance didn't cover it, but I had received a small inheritance that just covered the cost of the surgery. When my band started giving me problems, I knew I had to have it out and revise to the sleeve. I had spent a great deal of time on the forums, doing research and felt very comfortable in my decision to go to Mexico. Price wise, it just made sense. And, when doing my research, I actually found most of the surgeons were just as well trained and experienced, if not more so, than many of the US ones.
As far as the risks, everyone has to be realistic about this, it doesn't matter what type of surgery you are having, there are going to be risks. This isn't minor surgery we are talking about. What is important is that you do your research, talk to actual patients of the surgeons you are considering and weigh the risks against the benefits. For me, I knew there were risks for complications, but, statistically speaking, they are rare. I was borderline diabetic, my weight was causing additional stress to my back problems to where just walking was becoming difficult, and there was a strong history of heart disease in my family. My chances of death to complications from obesity far outweighed the risks of surgery. To me, it was a no-brainer, I needed the surgery.
In terms of when a doctor loses a patient, well, here are my thoughts. It saddens me when that happens, it is awful for the family, and everyone involved. However, I think if you honestly look at it realistically, there aren't many surgeons who have been in the business for any period of time that haven't lost a patient. And, no, I am not just referring to weight loss surgeons, I mean surgeons in general. It is a fact of life, complications happen, deaths happen. We don't like to talk about it, but they do. When a surgeon loses a patient during heart surgery, gall bladder removal, cancer surgery or any other type of surgery, people don't freak out about it like they do with weight loss surgery. They don't all converge on a forum and discuss it, etc. They don't demand to know all the details, etc. To me, it is like they are oblivious to the fact that the same complications and risk that can occur with general surgery also exist with weight loss surgery, and are shocked when they discover they do.
I am not saying we should ignore it when a weight loss surgeon loses a patient, or turn our heads the other way. I am just saying we need to go into this with our eyes wide open and understand the real risks involved. Do your research. Don't accept everything you read on a forum as fact, because let's face it, we all know one piece of misinformation can be put out there, then everyone else runs with it in a panic and the next thing you know, things are blown way out of proportion and nobody really knows the truth or who to believe. Call the surgeon directly. Speak with his patients who have already had surgery with him/her. Ask for their complication rates. Google them. Then, make your choice based on your own research, knowing you have learned everything you can, you have weighed the risks against the benefits and are confident you have made the best choice for you.

I just have to say that no matter where your surgery is, U.S., Mexico, or anywhere in the world, and no matter who your doctor is, or how highly trained they are, one of the risks of surgery is death. We are all told this, and we all make a choice if we are going to take the chance in going through with the surgery. I am so sorry for the family of this woman who passed, but this is the reality of VSG. There are risks, and sometimes the worst case scenario happens, and it happens to all surgeons all over the world.

I just want to take a minute to throw out a general thank you to all that are willing to share photos (particularly the gritty, unclothed, saggy skin photos). I think that most of us are going to face some really serious sagging skin and feel just as body conscious, or even worse, than we did about our weight. Seeing that we aren't the only ones that have to deal with this undesirable side effect really helps the negative self-talk where we feel like we're defective or have destroyed our bodies. We don't have to feel like we must be the only one that has skin this saggy, yada, yada, yada.
Heartfelt thanks for being so brave!

I dont have any idea of whether or not this happened, but I would like to offer some unsolicited advice. If you are getting your surgery anyway, dont bother looking for any additional information, it will only worry you. I read the complications boards on here and almost gave myself a panic attack leading up to the surgery, and for what? I was going to do what I was going to do. I understand making an informed decision and knowing all the facts but you said that you have already made your decision so at this point Im not sure more information will be a good thing.

I think to summarize what a lot of people have said (and was true for me) ... be sure to exhaust every means possible before VSG. This is a drastic, life altering procedure. I'd say somewhere between marriage and having children, for me.
It makes me crazy reading posts from people who say they regret the surgery and wish they would have tried a diet instead. (You mean you haven't tried that a dozen times already? ... Really?)

Hey all! I had my sleeve done in Dallas about 3 weeks ago. I had a complication. The surgeon damaged part my spleen and I was in the hospital for 5 days. I'm 100% better now. Surgery was totally worth it, even with the complication.
Just weighed today and I am 159. Goal #1 is 140 Goal #2 130 ultimate goal weight # 120.

He is definitely amazing. I credit him with saving my life. When he did my sleeve, he found three tumors on my liver and removed them. Who knows how long before they would have been detected if it weren't for him.
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7 months and 70 pounds down. Not bad. Not spectacular but I count myself has pretty much smack in the middle average.
It's been long enough now since my surgery that I have some thoughts on the thing as a whole. I did NOT go into this thinking it was going to be simple or fast, and that has played itself out pretty true to form. I DO believe that someone could lose weight as the same pace I have without surgery, but until I had surgery I was not successful so I DO NOT regret following through with this. Different strokes for different folks, but for me, I needed this.
Hunger is not what it was before surgery although around the 6th month mark it has made a comeback. Until that point I never felt hungry physically. I am much more in control of myself though, having had a break from what I always experienced as INTENSE hunger pains. Now, I do get hungry, and if its been TOO long I get dizzy too, but I don't feel that deep burning in the pit of my stomach like I might dry heave if I don't eat something anymore.
Now, for the aforementioned tips.
Plan your food, especially if you know its going to be a difficult day. For me, my hardest days are when I go to work. That's why I'm up so early in the morning, coffee in hand, entering things into MyFitnessPal before my day starts. It's easier to stick to plan when you actually have a plan, have your calorie count and calculated results (myfitnesspal always gives you a projected weight)
Don't get hung up on perfection. There are MANY a person on this forum who will chew you up one side and down the other because you ate a piece of pizza and here is what I have to say about that. If you are eating pizza and other assorted less than ideal foods with no reguard for calorie count please do not come here expecting hand holding. You know what you are doing. HOWEVER, even 'junk food' can be worked into a plan if you are willing to work around it. If you have GOT to have that donut, fine, but you are going to need to pass the fat/sugar/calories somewhere else in that day to make that work. Is it worth all that work just to eat something like pizza or a donuts? I don't know, only you can judge that.
Fast food will blow your count out of the Water so damn fast your head will spin. Before anyone gets their panties in a twist, I'm not talking about side salads, I'm talking Mcdonalds Breakfast sandwiches, cheeseburgers, fries... Best to keep your ass as far away from the drive through as possible.
SODA, the eternal question... Is it OK? Is it not OK? I say go with whatever your surgeon says on this one. Mine says its next to impossible to stretch a sleeve but still says soda is a bad call and I can understand why. First of all, we really shouldn't be drinking our calories, and I don't know about you guys but if I'm drinking soda I CAN'T EAT. I can manage maybe two bites but the carbonation just takes up too much space. I do have some blood orange san pellegrino in my fridge but it doesn't get touched very often. Frankly, I'd rather eat.
My weight loss has certainly slowed, but that is to be expected, I'm not 300 pounds anymore, but I am having to kick it into gear a little more than I used too. The second I start neglecting myfitnesspal I start slipping in the weight loss department so I know what I need to do. I have to work a long shift today but if anyone has any general questions I WILL be coming back to this thread

Clinical Social Worker with the Veterans Administration doing case management with homeless Veterans. Sleeved 8/5; didn't weigh before but think it was somewhere between 260 and 270. The surgeon weighed me July 3rd during my final consult with him and will weigh me again when I go for my post-op on the 21st. I feel good, still tire easily, getting in all my liquids and more and pushing my suggested Protein intake. On liquids until I see my Doc for post-op. Life is good and now it will be better.

I am an attorney (or as my brother would say a liar-awyer) working for good ol' Uncle Sam, the United Stated Federal Government in the northern Mississippi/Memphis area. I'm a mere nine days away from beginning my sleeved life. I'm impressed by the diversity of professions represented on this topic, but there seem to be a whole lot of nurses.

Stace, could you do humanity a favour? Could you please use your formidable skills, in line with the project you're already undertaking, to develop an 'idiot detector', too? A geo-locating tool that allows you to see the idiots around you and remove yourself from their presence accordingly! I dunno, you could base it on the types of Cookies stored on their computer/smart phone after using Google as their search engine. In a 1984 Orwellian fashion, if individuals have a certain pattern of surfing behaviour, you could give them a social ranking. Anything around the 1-3 is green and 'normal'. 4-6 is amber, with evidence of weirdness present. 7-9, okay, these dudes are starting to get a bit freaky. 10, they're in a league of their own - run for the hills! I know I'd pay a fair amount of money for a service like that! How COOL would that be - particularly if you're in the dating game?! You got skills, girl, get on it!