VG1978

Just had my 3 month check-up and lost an additional 24lbs during the last month. I've lost a total of 82 pounds in 13 weeks. I haven't felt this good in years, I feel in control and truly happy!
Here's an updated before and after pic! Started at 44 waist, I now fit in 38's I still have another 57lbs till I reach my goal.

Go to Mexico, 15 days and you are in!

Thank you so much! I am glad to hear that you are doing good, it give me hope :-) lol
I will keep u post with my story!!! Please let me know how you do, my prayers with u also my hugs xxxx!

I am drinking the Isopure drinks

I am drinking the Isopure drinks

Even though this experience was bad, never say never! It will be hard to eat certain foods over the months, but eventually you can eat anything, even spicy chicken. In fact, today I had shredded spicy buffalo chicken for 2 of my meals without any issue at 13 months post op. By month 6, you should statistically be able to eat just about everything. Some struggle with a few items after hat, but it is not the norm. If in doubt, be sure to take your Prilosec before eating something spicy again. You might wait a couple months before trying spicy chicken again. One type of food I struggled with at month 3 was eating beef (hamburger meat and pot roast). Made me throw up. I tried again in 2 months, but still an issue. Between month 5 and 6, my issue with beef went away and I could eat a burger ( without the bun) and pot roast. So, moral of story : never say never.

I'm being sleeved by Dr Ortiz at the OCC and Marriott on Aug 7.

I am in TJ with my mom and sister and we have been treated like royalty. The men at the hotel have bern wonderful and the taxi that took me to Walmart waited an hour for me and didn't charge ne extra. There are good and bad in every city. I would come back again. I even went to the dentist who was a superstar.

DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references.
How do I embed the weight loss ticker? Click on the liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein Drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, Decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc…
When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows:
Day 1-7 Clear Liquids
Day 8-14 Full liquids
Day 15-21 Purees
Day 22-50 Mushies
What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed.< /p>
Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs.
How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day.
How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz
When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest.
Best Protein Shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy powders? utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury.

What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods)
How long will my surgery last? Typically about 45mins assuming there are no complications or other procedures (ie: hernia repairs) being done at the time of your surgery. Every surgeon is different so for a more accurate answer you should consult your respective surgeon.
Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside.
What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching.
What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between.
What do all these acronyms mean?
In no particular order:
WLS – Weight Loss Surgery
NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…)
NUT – Nutritionist
PCP – Primary Care Physician
VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
TOM – Time of the Month
SF – Sugar Free
WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner
How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off.
What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own.
When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity.
When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home.
What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink.
Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however.
I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, Constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses.
I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon.
Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy.
When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks.
How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay.
Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign.
Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling.
What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult.
What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases.
Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.

The good, the bad & the ugly... Mexico Bariatric Center, Dr. Kelly, Mi hospital
I have written this for information purposes only. I am trying to be as informative as possible to anyone that is considering surgery with Dr. R. Kelly, or using Mexico Bariatric Center or considering Mi Doctor Hospital. We just got back a few days ago from TJ… so far so good! My wife is doing GREAT! I hope this is not found as advertising as per the Forum Rules.
I accompanied my wife for VSG surgery; I had mine three years ago. My surgery was with Dr. Almanza and that is a complete other topic. Someday I will write about that gong show.
THE GOOD
Airport pick up in San Diego by a MBC employee was on time as scheduled. AAAAA
Dropped off at the Marriot... not my first choice but very acceptable.
Originally booked into the Grand but was changed by MBC the week prior. Been at the Grand several other times and prefer it over the Marriot because of its location, dining and facilities. All was ok because MBC did advise us prior to leaving for Tijuana. AAAA
Mi hospital was good. There is no Doctor present in the evenings till early morning. Very clean for Mexico standards. AAA
Opted to have the leak test and x-rays at Angeles Hospital due to the fact of their more advanced equipment. A Hospital that most definately meets all standards. An extra cost of $60. AAAAA
Dr. Kelly and his assistant Lora were both great. Very caring, conversations were very informative, professional and there is no sugar coating and no bull ****. We really appreciated that they both personally checked in with my wife during her recovery at the hotel. It was nice to see him & Lora other than just a nurse or coordinator. Not sure if he was supposed to do that since we booked through MBC. AAAAA
MBC was caught in a lie about changing Doctors to another patient and Dr. Kelly was caught in the middle. To keep the patient happy and to keep the patient from feeling they were used in a “bait & switch tactic” Dr. Kelly performed the surgery at no charge and picked up all Hospital charges as well. I witnessed this as this patient was in the room next to ours. AAAAA
THE BAD
Originally booked with a coordinator named Kelly. After our second communication with her she advised that she had a family issue with her dad and that Cindy would be able to assist us from there. Half a dozen emails, 3 or 4 phone calls. All was good at that time. I would rate her and the service a AAAA BUT… after us having problems with the hospital change, Cindy understood why were upset but changed her tune after speaking with a higher up at MBC. I did not take her comments lightly when she said it’s about time Dr. Kelly took responsibility and admit to his errors in regards to the hospital change. She also advised us that she did not make any money on this booking and we brought up this issue with Daniel (Mexican liaison for MBC) that we didn’t feel it was right for Cindy not to be paid as she did all the work as far as we could see but I truly don’t care how MBC pays its employees and Cindy had no business telling us that. We feel she did her job and should have been paid by her employer no matter what differences we might have had with her! This is business… not personal. AA
As far as blaming it on Dr. Kelly, he personally told us why we had the hospital change… that will be in detail in “the ugly”.
The Marriot's room service was poor. AA
My wife wanted to be one of the first surgeries of the day and was advised by Cindy that she had to arrange that with Daniel once she was in TJ. She spoke to Daniel’s assistant, Tatianna at the Hotel the minute we arrived and she said she would look into it and call me back. No callback came and Daniel said he knew nothing of this, and surgeries were already booked. Very poor communications between Cindy, Tatianna and Daniel on this matter. A
THE UGLY
Taken to MI Doctor Hospital. We booked our surgeon to operate in the Florence/Oasis Hospital. We were never advised by MBC that there had been a change. We found this unacceptable. Tatriana & Cindy advised us the morning of the surgery that Dr. Kelly no longer had privileges there and he only had privileges at MI Doctor (thus the change). After meeting with the doc an hour prior to surgery he and his assistant advised they also had privileges at Nova Hospital & Angeles Hospital. MBC states the Dr. changed the Hospital on us and the doc says MBC would not pay the higher operating room fee. Any way you look at it, we booked through MBC and they were the ones that should have advised us. Then it would have been our option to cancel or book directly with Dr. Kelly’s service directly. We would have cancelled and booked directly with Dr. Kelly! Our package cost was also higher than others MBC offers and were told that part of the reason for the higher cost was having the surgery at the Florence/Oasis which was a nicer facility (according to Cindy). No partial refund/offer of extra services was offered to compensate the difference in price between the two facilities. A
We were also advised by an onsite MBC employee that Dr. Kelly was not set up to operate out of Nova Hospital as of yet, but Dr. Kelly's assistant showed us his schedule and that he has worked out of Nova Hospital for the last 13 days. I detest blatant lies. A
Fees at MI are $400 dollars cheaper than Florence/Oasis and Nova is a few hundred more than Florence/Oasis. If you book directly with Dr. Kelly ... Nova Hospital and all its benefits are included at the same price. More on that in my summary.
The website that we booked through was www.ramoskellymd.com It states that it is the “Official Patient Coordinator Website of Dr. Ramos Kelly”. IT IS NOT! Dr. Kelly’s website is www.wlsclinic.com There are differences. See my summary. A
SUMMARY
I suggest anyone that is considering surgery with Dr. Kelly should book directly through his website at www.wlsclinic.com or call Lora at 619.793.4869 or email at Wlsclinic@outlook.com. There are many differences with the package sold through Mexico Bariatric Centre and sold directly. They both charge the same price but when booking direct, surgery is performed at Nova Hospital. I had a chance to inspect this facility. It is state of the art, high tech and has Doctors present 24/7 in case of any problems that might occur. Not just nurses and a doctor on call. Another difference is the leak test x-ray. He takes you to Angeles Hospital where again… state of the art equipment and images. He has a nutritionist meet with you while still in the hospital… the list goes on and on. Please do your research on this!
There are many Bariatric Surgeons in Tijuana. Some excellent… some very poor. The same applies to Hospitals and Hotels. Being that this was my 10th visit to TJ, I feel abit qualified to speak on this subject. I have assisted many friends while having VSG surgery and so far… I am the only one with a few minor complications. They are not major but just little hiccups along the way.
I have lost over 120 pounds and feel great. Wish I knew of this surgery years before I actually did it. If anyone wants to get the real scoop you can call me at 250.675.4657 anytime. I’m on the west coast so please remember the time difference.
I’m not a coordinator; I do not get referral fees… I’m just a happy, lighter individual that wishes you the very best with whatever decision you make.
And I cannot sign off without stating one opinion.
I do not want to debate this statement (and won’t) but if you are considering having surgery at Jerusalem Clinic with Dr. Almanza and Dr? (Mr.) Bentacourt… please reconsider. Research the facility, Betancourt and the recovery house and its personnel.
Thank you for reading my comments. They are just my comments and do not reflect others. I know many of you have had surgery with other surgeons and facilities and love your doctors but I wrote this to help others while in the decision process. If after having surgery you feel that you had the best care then I suggest you start your own Topic.
George

A day and a half later and the only real discomfort is the gas rising up my back and under my ribs. I have been walking, but may need to do a bit more. Ihaven't drank much either because every drinks makes the gas hurt more. Wondering how I will ever get enough fluids in? I feel ok. Ready to get this drain removed in 2 days. I go in tomorrow to get the bandages changed after my shower. I've been sleeping off and on.

I know, but I dont really have much of a choice.

It went very smooth. It was at 7:30 this morning. The only real pain im having is a gas pain. Dr. Ferrari was excellent. I am a tad woozy when I get up but thats about it. I'll post more details when im sober haha.

In went alone and it was awesome. My surgery was at the OCC with Dr Ariel Ortiz and I was well taken care of by all concerned. From the driver to the staff at the OCC to the Marriott. I was never afraid for my safety and the Marriott was a great place to relax and recuperate. As a single mom of an 8 year old not worrying about anyone or having to answer 100 questions was so peaceful.

I am scheduled for surgery next week but I feel pretty confident because once u make your appointment they give u every detail possible and help walk u thru what u will need to do and what to expect. I am going through Dr. Ortiz at the OCC. there are a lot of utubes if interested or have not chose a doctor. Oh yeah, my pain medications are in addition to the fee and was told to bring $125-$150 for them. Hope this helps.

I am scheduled for surgery next week but I feel pretty confident because once u make your appointment they give u every detail possible and help walk u thru what u will need to do and what to expect. I am going through Dr. Ortiz at the OCC. there are a lot of utubes if interested or have not chose a doctor. Oh yeah, my pain medications are in addition to the fee and was told to bring $125-$150 for them. Hope this helps.

Hope the surgery went well and that you're feeling well! Keep us updated, please. ????

Here at OCC now waiting for my iv. Dr. Ortiz just left out after thirty minutes of great discussion. He is absolutely amazing! I feel so at ease now. The staff here is phenomenal.
 
 
 
 
 
[ATTACH]15930[/ATTACH]

I used Dr Ortiz and blogged about my research and surgery experience hoping it might help someone else. (Now the blog is like free therapy for me! Lol)
You are welcome to read the blog or message me. Good luck and good job doing your research! Www.hoosierfatty.wordpress.com

Thank you everyone - it's so helpful to be able to talk to people who have been through it already. I am desperate to have this done - still trying to talk my husband into it. He's actually not against the surgery, just the cost right now !! (our ins won't cover it) I have tried to explain to him that it's going to cost an awful lot more in medical bills with everything that is going to go wrong with me if I carry this weight any longer. I get up in the morning aching all over, can never remember feeling so totally bloody ill !!

This may be the best post I've read here! I really appreciate your honesty and insight!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!