Band07

Thanks! I'm feeling pretty good, weak still and headaches I can't kick but I'm back at work today. You will be fine!! It's a lot of worrying before you get there though, I totally get that but you will feel fine once you are there. Best of luck and keep us posted!

I am leaving this Thursday and having surgery Friday morning. Your posts have been very helpful to me. Thank you for posting it. I wish you a great journey and a fast recovery. I am excited but yet terrified. Lol.

Refried beans! Omgoodness what I wouldn't give to have a taco bell over here! Yep, I know, fast food is bad...lol I have to go to a special shop to get so many things and even then, they may or may not it that week or ever again. Refried Beans would be yummy with a little cheese and salsa mixed through. I have some laughing cow cheese that I'm wanting to put into some mashed cauliflower, but I'm weighing the yum satisfaction vs. cauli-gas. I'm not ready for that risk. Maybe in a few weeks.
I followed the same plan when I was sleeved and I truly believe it's why my sleeve was less successful. After reading these stories of amazing losses in the first few months, I was a bit disheartened with my own. Makes sense, though, with the liquids usually being for 3-4+ weeks and us over here only doing 5 days worth.
Anyways, yes, I plan to go much slower this time. I'm hoping to be able to travel in 7 weeks. So healing completely is top priority.

Hi there, I wanted to post a review of my experiences though I know a lot of you have been following me in some other posts I wanted a new topic so that others who are researching could easily find it. Here is my story.
I left my house 5 am (Eastern time) on Thursday and after a very long day of travel and one delayed flight I made it to Star Medica around 2pm (4pm Eastern time) No trouble at all crossing the boarder, in fact we didn't even have to stop the van. Also, I had some worries (okay A LOT of worries) about Juarez but once there I actually felt silly! Everything appeared completely safe and I never gave it another thought. In fact had I not been scheduled for surgery same day, I would have went across the street for dinner and not thought anything of it. Which brings be to my first bit of advice...for me personally, flying in the same day as surgery was just way too much ! I did not get to surgery until 7pm (9pm to my body) and I was EXHAUSTED, GROUCHY, and STARVING to death. Be aware, if you are someone who feels they need to know every little detail and what the plan is at all times, you may have some trouble. Things really kind of just happen when they happen and you're just along for the ride.
Surgery itself went great and I was in recovery by 10pm. Mine took longer because I had a revision from sleeve to MGB. I felt pretty good and slept on and off through the night. They do not hover over you so don't expect that like in the US where they come in every five mins. However, they did come immediately if I called for someone. I stayed one step ahead and asked for a spirometer before they offered and I was up walking as soon as I was able.
I had pretty bad gas pain in my left shoulder and I had a drain (some do some don't) and it was very uncomfortable for me. I walked as much as I could and took gas x strips but it still was very uncomfortable, I won't say I was in pain though, just very uncomfortable. They brought me ice chips that mid morning and around 1pm some broth (delicious) and Jello (yuck) and hot tea and apple juice. It was wonderful to have anything really by that point. Dr. Rod and the other two came in to check on me twice that day, all were very nice but they are busy and they come and go quick so have your questions ready! By 5 that evening I had my drain out and my leak test then more broth. They gave me a sleeping pill to rest well to prepare for travel the next day.
My hubby went with me, he ate in the cafeteria for $5 a meal including drink and we thought that was great! It wasn't the most comfortable sleeping for him but he managed. My only other complaint would be that the shower was cold but others I talked too said they had plenty of hot Water so not sure what was up with that. Also, as you've read I'm sure not all the nurses speak English especially overnight but we managed.
I'm happy with the experience and would have no problem recommending Dr. Rod and his team. I'm happy to answer any specific questions anyone has.

I had the same problem. Really annoying constant headache.
I found that it stopped once I quit the anti nausea meds (saw that headache was listed as possible side effect) and switched to plain liquid tylenol for pain.

@@Band07 I hope your recovery is smooth and trouble free.
Your decision to go with the MGB seemed to come really quickly. Was that because your surgeon recommended it? It makes seems to make sense to me that trying to do a repair of your VSG would have been less optimal.

@@Band07
I am so glad things went well. I have been following your posts about your difficulties with both the lap band and the sleeve. I hope the MGB works out for you.
I think your experience underlines the fact that no WLS is perfect and each carries its own risks and results. And the results for one person are not necessarily the results of someone else. The complications forums certainly prove that. You decided to get the sleeve because of all those who said it was "great" and your experience was that it wasn't.
Good luck to you and I hope you have much success and will let us know.

@@Band07
OMG that was fast
you just started this post a couple of weeks ago
how did WLS go??
how are you feeling now
inquiring minds want to know
hope all is moving along smoothly
good luck
kathy

Thanks guys ! I'm scheduled to revise to MGB on 4/23.

I had my sleeve revised to a mini bypass on Thursday. Physically I'm doing fine but it's been hard on me emotionally. Do a lot of research !! Think long and hard and decide what is best for you !

I went today and bought some Premier Protein to try and I also found a high Protein organic nutritional shake that I bought singles of at Kroger in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. It only has 10 grams but it has lots of other Vitamins and nutrients in it. I'm desperate to find at least one that tastes good as I usually hate them all I also plan to order some nectrin syntax protein soon.
I'm struggling right now with my farewell to food tour ! I know it's terrible but there is a good chance I'll never be able to eat some things ever again and I have this overwhelming desire to have them one more time ! Lol I haven't gained any weight luckily but I still work out a lot. I was only asked to do one week of pre op diet but I want to start increasing my protein and Water now to help with healing. I already take B12 and Biotin and a multi Vitamin daily.

It went ok. I sincerely feel no effects from the bypass part of my surgery, but the meshing/fixing of the incisional hernia (from gall bladder surgery, nothing gastric) is hella-painful. I don't have to worry about going back to work, but hubs goes back tomorrow. I'm going to miss him helping me at times.
I truly had no pain after the sleeve surgery. I was not expecting this to be like this. Coughing, clearing my throat, anything where my midsection tightens is rough.
Good luck with heading back to work. So glad everything is going good for you!

4 weeks! Lol that's crazy, I would go nuts ! Remember this isn't my first surgery, I had lapband on a Friday and went back Monday, I had my band to sleeve revision on a Friday and went back Tuesday. I'm not over doing it, I work at a desk and believe me, I'm doing great ! I never understood how anyone could need more than a week at absolute max !

Just don't over do it! Good luck!! Can't wait to hear about the great results!

RESPECT! With one caveat, be careful please.

Everything was great ! Gas pain and pain from the drain was the worst but as of today I feel good except occasionally moving wrong and feeling pulling in the incisions. I'm on Clear liquids for a week and they are going down well. I'm still resting for the most part mixed in with some laundry, dishes, light cleaning ect but I go back to work tomorrow.

Band07,
Good luck tomorrow! I think I'm having a regular bypass, I don't remember 'mini' being mentioned. But to be true, many of my visits have been in Dutch and while I get most of it (and repeat it back to them in my Dutch or in full on English), there's a chance I missed the 'mini' part. I'll ask tomorrow before going under. I have other things to be fixed while I'm in. An incisional hernia from my open gall bladder surgery and a paraesophageal hernia that developed since my sleeve surgery in 2012.
Anyways, we'll see what happens. I do wish you loads of luck and prayers for us both!

If I was going to do it again, I wouldn't fly in and have surgery the same day. It was just too much for me personally. We left our house at 5 am and I wasn't able to eat all day. Our plane was delayed and it was 7 o'clock (9 pm to me )before I went into surgery so I was worn out, grouchy and starving to death. As far as the process, they aren't on a great schedule and things kind of just happen when they happen. If you are someone who has to know every little detail of what to expect when you will have a hard time. After the surgery I was surprised that they didn't hover much like I'm used to in the US (coming in every five mins) but they were always quick to come if I pressed the button. I had a drain (some do some don't) so that was where most of my discomfort came from and pretty bad gas pain in my left side. I had 2 leak tests, one in surgery and one the next day that I was able to watch and have a copy of. The docs were very nice but they are busy and do rush in and out so have your questions ready.

There are many reasons that people gain weight post surgery, yes some eat slider foods and liquid calories and graze all day, others stretch out their sleeve. I'm not basing this on what Iv read or who I consulted with I'm saying this having worked with a bariatric surgeon for 6 plus years and seeing xray proof of it happening.

The pic on they left is one day post op the pic on the right is one year post op.

Yes it is possible to resleeve. Regardless of what others will tell you it is possible to restretch you stomach, some people are more likely than others for a lot of reasons. My "sleeve" is very large, my surgeon used a 42 Bougie and had to start with a larger sleeve because of scar tissue. It easily stretched out in just a years time. I have X-rays to prove the size and for me, it wasn't about cutting carbs or increasing exercise. I needed a tool that worked for me as long as I work for it and I don't have that. Be sure though that it is the sleeve that is "broken" and not you before restoring to another surgery. I obsessively researched resleeving for months as well as pouch resets and back to basics before deciding to revise to MGB. I'm scheduled for 4/23. Best of luck for whatever you decide.

I'm typing this from the Dallas airport heading home today after surgery on Thursday. Let me tell you, I spent a whole lot of time worrying about things like random gun fire and drug cartels in Juarez only to feel slightly ridiculous once I was actually there. If I had felt a little better on Friday I would have even ventured out to the mall. You shouldn't have any problems going alone though you will need to rely a little more on the staff to help you with things. Not all speak English so just get a good translator app and you should be fine.

I am so excited to hear about all these different doctors doing the MGB. I interviewed Dr. Rod for a lap band some many years ago, and decided not to get it, but he was my favorite doctor by far there in Mexico, and I met some 7 doctors. Please write a detailed report for us telling us all the information about your MGB. I'd love as much detail as I can get, as Dr. Rod is a favorite of mine. Thanks in advance. TODAY IS YOUR DAY! GOOD LUCK! AND it is my birthday! lol
Thanks everyone for posting about your MGB.

Good luck with surgery Band07, thinking of you today. God Bless.

Good luck with your surgery today Band07.