Bea Amaya

Thanks for all the updates! I'll give it another day or two for more corrections to come in and then post the complete, updated list again. What a wonderful group of July Sleevers!

I keep a blog, although it's really for my family more than anyone. I didn't blog much during the week of the surgery, but I did post a handful of photos of the hospital and hotel that you might want to take a look at. The blog is at http://beawlj.wordpress.com/ and most of the information about my trip is on the "surgery" page (http://beawlj.wordpress.com/about/). Here's wishing you the best of luck, but if your experience is like mine, you're going to do just fine. Can't wait to hear from you again on the back side of your surgery too! Best of luck!

You look great! I'm one month out as well (sleeved July 30) and am seeing some changes, but not yet in the places that need it most...hips and waist. I'm being patient, however, and feeling better about myself and my choices every day. Congrats on your progress!

I went there solo at the end of July to have mine done and did just fine. The only real reason I wish that hubby had gone with me was to help with the little things in the hospital room (2 days) that I didn't want to call a nurse for. Examples: I wanted to send out emails but couldn't handle getting my computer out; I dropped my hairbrush on the floor; my drain bag sprung a leak and made a mess of everything; etc. Although we decided together that I should go alone (we were on a very tight budget) since I've been home I've discovered that he was the one who suffered more while I was gone. I had no idea until recently how much he worried about me while I was gone. :-) If you need to go by yourself, then do...you can handle this! Sending good thoughts your way and wishing you good luck on your journey.

To add a username to myfitnesspal.com... sign in to your account click on the "Community" menu command click on the "Find Members" menu command type in user name to "Username or Email" field press "Search" click "Add As Friend" Worked for me anyway.

beaamaya2 Would love some "friends" in MFP as I have none there yet.

Thanks for the feedback folks! Will take [all] your advice about breaking up my protein intake and report back in a couple of weeks. LOVE THESE FORUMS!

Thank goodness I'm still doing okay with the shakes, but I really feel for you that just can't seem to stomach them. I take an EAS protein shake in the morning (14oz., 30g protein) and mix 1-1/2 scoops of ON 100% Whey (36g protein) and 2 tablespoons crushed flaxseed (for fiber, 3g protein). The good news is this breakfast gets me 64g of protein in and I don't mind a bit. The bad news is it is more calories than I want (460) so I will be looking for ways to reduce this over the next few days. But again, so sorry for you folks that struggle with the shakes!

Houston during the week (edge of Pearland) and at home in Port Lavaca on the weekends. Sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on July 30.

As I did the budget Mexican surgery thing (out-of-pocket limitations) I actually don't have a NUT. So thanks for asking the question here. I'm trying to do my own thing with the best information I have on hand. :-)

I have to say I've always hated exercise of any kind. A big part of it is I keep thinking I hear people's thoughts like, "Wow, check out that fat lady trying to work out!" I've recently started walking at a pretty decent pace and use my fitbit to ensure I get in at least 30 minutes of "very active minutes" each day. I'm planning on upping this next week. Part of the problem for me is that I'm a big workaholic and often feel like an hour of exercise is an hour that I could have been doing something more productive (ha ha). Now that I'm learning to appreciate my body a bit more, I don't seem to struggle with the time requirements nearly as much. In other words, I totally understand where you are coming from and am glad you brought the topic up here. Love all the feedback provided so far! Good luck!!!

Congrats! You do look great! Love the look of that lacy white top and black skirt, btw...thinking you have a new problem now...having people stare at you because you're so darn cute. :-)

Congrats! The photos are AWESOME and especially helpful to someone like me still early on in the journey...it's encouraging to see what can be accomplished. At 2 years out I'm guessing your focus is on other things these days, so thanks so much for taking the time to stop back in here and encourage the rest of us. Good luck with your next surgeries!

I knew when I signed up for a discounted surgery in Mexico I would be giving up some things that the $10K US patients would get. For me, choosing Mexico was the difference between having and not having the surgery as I have no insurance and it was 100% out-of-pocket. The entire cost of my trip was less than $4,400 (air fare included) and I went there on my own. My preparation involved a lot of research, a lot of planning (especially prepping for meals when I got home), and a lot of discussions about the pros and cons of the surgery with my hubby before I went. I'm only a few weeks out now but am very pleased with everything so far. The hotel I was booked in was very nice and very close to the hospital. My stay in the hospital was fine although in retrospect I would advise taking someone along just for the "little things" (dropping my hairbrush on the floor, having a leak in my drain bag, etc.). The doctors took time to introduce themselves to me and tell me what part they were playing in the surgery and/or recovery process, the nursing staff was available at all times, and the entire process went off without a hitch. But I do have to say that Mexico surgery might not be right for someone that needs a lot of hand-holding and reassurances. Do I wish I was rich and could afford the surgery on this side of the border? Maybe, but I don't think so. Although I occasionally wish I had someone I could check in with, someone that I could ask questions of, I've been on this forum long enough to understand that different doctors and different NUTs often give different [sometimes VERY different] answers to the same questions. I am overly independent, however, and probably would have done just what I do now...look it up online, compare notes, and make decisions. I, for one, don't know how the "end game" is going to turn out, but I feel comfortable recommending the procedure, the location, the medical team, and the hospital to others. Good luck with your decision and follow-up!

I'm feeling fine. Back to work full time (started back on day 6) and only one day of struggles when I just went home and slept all day. No nausea, no pain, no discomfort, unless I take OBTM (one bite too many). I've eaten out several times now and thoroughly enjoyed the broth, some chicken bites, and some very soft avocado in a lovely cup of chicken tortilla soup. I avoided the tortillas, rice, corn, etc. but got all the flavor in just by what I did take in. Although I'm not having trouble getting my protein or water in, I am losing slower than I expected. But then again...today is only the end of week 3. Still have high hopes for some good 1 month measures soon. Glad to hear everyone seems to be doing relatively well!

Jana...I had the exact same thing happen to me. 1st week 9.5 lbs, 2nd week 1.0 lbs, 3rd week .8 lbs. Let's you and I take everyone else's advice and relax and be patient together. I'm counting on you and I making nice progress again soon!

Thanks for this comment, notime! I have plans to visit a nutritionist next week (she's the kind that will draw blood and make recommendations based on my numbers) and I'll be sure to ask her about this. You've definitely pointed out something I didn't think of before. Thanks!

I just have two quick questions (and a brief discussion) about Protein drinks. 1. Do these count as a meal (I'm 3 weeks post-op) or simply as liquids? 2. Am I really getting all the protein in, or is this just washing through my stomach in the way other liquids do? Since before surgery I have been having a Protein Drink (20-25g) with 1-1/2 scoops of added protein (36g - 40g) to start my morning. While I don't necessarily find them tasty any more, I am also not bothered by drinking them...they're fine. Now that I'm at the stage where I need to schedule 3 meals every day I'm wondering if I get 3 meals in addition to the shake or counting the shake. The second question comes from a lot of discussion recently about why we don't drink Water with our meals. When I think of my drinks going down, however, I just don't see Protein Drinks as different than my water, tea, or juice going down. Am I really getting protein this way or is most of it washing on through my system and being wasted? [so sorry if this is an old topic that's been fully covered. I tried searching but couldn't find any related discussions.] Thanks so much, Bea

I feel like I've been lucky. No nausea (at all), very little pain, and I went back to work full-time on day 6. However, last week (about day 15) I had one weird day of weakness. I slept well the night before, went to work and put in 2 hours, then went home and back to bed (about 4 hours). Like you, I ate a bit, drank a bit, but mostly I was wobbly-legged and just wanted to sleep. Surprisingly I slept through the night even after all that sleeping as well. It was just a one-day thing for me. Hope yours is a small event as well. Good luck!

Thanks for the feedback, TwinsMama. I forgot to mention that because I had my surgery in Mexico (a wonderful experience!) the benefits are the much lower costs while the drawbacks include having to seek out a NUT on my own. Still working on this. Again, thanks for the input!

I seem to be a really slow loser as well, so thanks for such an upbeat post. I really wanted to be one of those who is so amazed at how fast the weight drops off and instead find myself calculating how many YEARS it will take me to reach my goal if I only lose 1-2 lbs per month. Here's hoping we BOTH hit a nice little slide soon to bolster confidence and give us a little push forward. Again, thanks for the post!

Surgery was on 7/31 so it will be 2 weeks tomorrow. I've done everything I was supposed to (and avoided those I'm NOT) and still have been at a stall for a whole week. Sheesh I hate this part. I'm just now getting ready to move from liquids to purees and I can hear some of you thinking, "how can she NOT be losing?"...it's the same thing I am thinking! Everything else has gone so well. Went back to work on Day 6 with no problems at all. No nausea. No impulse to vomit. After week 1, no pain. Energy almost back to normal. But dang it...I want to lose, not hold what I've got! So sorry for the venting!

I took $120 in, part of it in 5s and 1s, and came home with $100. And I consider myself a good tipper. :-) Not bad!

Thanks for the advice, suggestions, and support!!! What a great group of "weak tie" friends here!!!