BrandNewBrandy

I have had numerous surgeries in my life and one time I developed a clot that was quickly dissolved with taking aspirin. The clot happened because I was basically immobile due to a tumor in my hip which caused my hip to break for 3 weeks in the hospital and I was on birth control. I had 2 operations, one to take a biopsy and another to place a rod and screws in my hip during that 3 weeks. I am not too concerned with clots this time around because I am not on birth control and I will be able to move really quickly post surgery. Even moving your feet and flexing your calves helps your circulation on the plane ride home. The symptoms I had was my calf was slightly red, warm and tender to the touch. I haven't yet spoken to my PCP about all of this. I hope he is supportive.

You have to be sort of a detective if you want to find this out without asking the doctor directly. If I read of a Mexican Dr having a complication, I would write it down as I researched. Mostly I would search the doctors name and read any post that was related to that surgeon. I also Googled the Dr. name to see what popped up. A lot of people do not list the Surgeon on their profile directly like the above poster so you have to search other posts of theirs to see if it is mentioned anywhere. I got a short list of about 3 that I would be comfortable with and went from there. I still haven't made up my mind 100% but I am very close. I have been researching about 40 hours a week for 2 months but I tend to over think things at times as well. The problem isn't that there aren't good doctors in Mexico, it's that it's tough to decide between 5 that are equally qualified so you have to go with what's important to you.

I feel the quality of my life decline every year. Each year I am less active than before and now I have degenerative disc disease and arthritis in both knees. I had a hip replacement 8 years ago (bone tumor/benign) and vowed to take the weight off then to prolong another surgery on my hip as long as I can. I haven't been able to do it on my own in the past 8 yrs so its time for me to get some help so I don't develop other health issues.

I have thought about how to handle this. I wonder if I should try to detox from those foods in the weeks before surgery to kick those habits before the surgery takes place. If maybe that will help with the head hunger and cravings after surgery? I would hate to deal with the detox of the carbs and recovery at the same time but I'm not sure if my addict self will detach from those things before hand. I have a few months at least before I need to make a decision but it is something that is floating around up there in my head these days.

I understand peoples reasoning to not tell. It is a decision for each person to make. Some people are just more private with all aspects of their life in general and that's okay too I am well aware that people will probably judge me whether I say something or not. That's on them though and not my issue, it's theirs. I have enough work to do on myself without burdening myself with other people's issues.

Even writing it down in a notebook could be valuable as it keeps you accountable. It's easy to eat a bite here a little something there, and forget about it but those calories add up. Looking at those who are successful years out from surgery they all have one thing in common they track their food everyday.

I am preop but I see this as a medical procedure not a cosmetic one. I will probably tell everyone because likely they are going to speculate and I would never want to be in a situation where someone told their obese friend well Brandy lost 120 lbs why can't you with them thinking I only cut portion sizes. I think I would have been more open to surgery sooner if people talked about it. I have told some people and not everyone was supportive and one was negative. If someone judges me for it well that's on them and its someone I wouldn't want in my life anyways because they probably judge me for way more than the surgery and I don't want negative people in my life.

I quit (and my husband) by reading a book called Stop Smoking the Easy Way by Allen Carr a year ago. It was my easiest quit including chantix. If you look for the book you can even download it in pdf for free on the net.

Nolagirl, I hope your surgery went well today...update us when you can

I worry about this a bit since I am usually found with a blanket wrapped around me and I haven't had surgery yet. I rarely sweat, even while exercising until the very end of my workout.

I'm sorry you have had such a stressful time today Try to take care of you and get some rest before your big day tomorrow. Prayers for a great surgery and smooth recovery!

Good to know that there wasn't a language barrier

From looking at Dr. Lopez videos on youtube, his English seems more strained than some other doctors. Did you have any language barriers with being a patient of his?

I don't know much about Dr. Cabrera and Dr. Valenzuela can someone point me in the direction of their website?

I have heard of others doing a 401K loan and if I had that option it would be the first one I would explore.

I saw on one of the doctors websites that you needed a credit score above 650 to qualify for MedLoan Financing. I think I will be trying a subprime bank locally to get mine and using collateral because I would be right on the boarder of qualifing for it.

Hoping that today is a less stressed day for you. It's scary when you hit ice. Glad you and your granddaughter are both ok!

My guess is that you are eating eating too few calories for the exercise you are expending or you are gaining muscle and although you aren't losing atm you are getting smaller because a pound of muscle is smaller than a pound of fat.

I have his website bookmarked. I haven't contacted them yet but plan to. It is www.bajabariatrics.com I am sure someone else will possibly have a better contact information.

I do not have coverage through insurance so I will be self pay. I am a member of a few Facebook groups and when I hear of others I join them.

My husband and I were chatting about how much research I have been doing to try to pick the right doctor for this procedure. Chances are if I was getting it done locally and someone I knew went to the doctor and the doctor would be covered by my insurance I would go with them. I have had 12 surgeries in my lifetime and had a few... gallbladder and a surgery to drain an abscess and a bone tumor which resulted in a broken hip that I had a to have a few surgeries on which I met the doctor right before they did my surgery. I didn't interview them, whoever in charge at the hospital or my insurance dictated who that person would be. Do we go into research mode because its in Mexico? I have been faithfully reading the boards for a few months and still there are a few my gut says no to. A few that I feel more comfortable with and most are somewhere in the middle. I am thankful of those who have shared their good and bad stories to make the decision a bit easier for the rest of us.

I will have to check this out. Thanks for sharing

My mom is liking one that's called number 7 and she heard about it on Dr oz or The Doctors. Bought it at Target around $20. She told me I needed to get some...thanks mom! Lol

I'm not sure how I would have replied to that...maybe find a new store or order online if you are happy with those suppliments. People are strange lol

I quit a year ago by reading a book called Stop Smoking the Easy Way by Allen Carr. I couldn't wait for the book to come and I had actually found it online as a free ebook. I highly recommend it. I tried to vapor to quit and couldn't because of the intense cravings. I read the book and never picked up a cig again