Travelmego

Well, if it is working for you ...then why not? Maybe you should double check with your doctor though - and take some Vitamins or something? I guess the only advice I would add is to try to do some other things to jump start your weight loss in addition to phentermine. Perhaps increase your exercise or something. Definitely do what you are doing to deal with stress eating. That way, once you go off phentermine, you maybe can avoid regaining weight like before when you went off it. So, maybe try to make a lifestyle change while taking it and then ween yourself off slowly once you lose the weight. The sleeve and the phentermine are just tools that buy a person time to deal with lifestyle and emotional stuff, I guess.

I have taken phentermine before so I am certainly not going to judge one on taking it - no worries there. , too, lost a lot of weight on it then gained it right back. I also have wondered about taking it post-op since I have a bunch left. I see you have lost a lot of weight with your sleeve. Are you wanting to take the phentermine for more weight loss or just to clamp down on hunger? The only thing I would worry about is becoming mal-nourished with adding the phentermine. (That and the usual side effects like blood pressure.) I am surprised your hunger remained the same. I thought the sleeve is supposed to remove the gherlin production so no way could it remain the same. Don't get upset with my next question - just throwing it out there for consideration in case you haven't thought about it. Have you considered it might be emotional hunger? That you are not really physically hungry but emotionally?

I am still researching too. I am editing this post because originally I answered your question that between the 2 I would pick Aceves....but now I have read susans post about 'think 100 times before going to mexico' and I think Aceves is the doctor she is talking about. Now, after doing a lot more research, I would pick neither of them. From what I have seen about Lopez he is supposed to be good but I have seen various reports on the forums with complaints about not being able to reach him afterward, and a few with complications. The lack of contact post surgery kinda puts me off him. I also saw a post where he did 9 surgeries in a day. Same with Ariel Ortiz (6,500 and considered fabulous)- excellent surgeon but complaints post surgery about not being able to have contact, or get records easily. I made a google doc where I am adding information comparing various doctors as I come by it. It is very rough right now because I just started. Empty boxes just mean I haven't looked for that information yet. Also, it is not very well organized yet as I am still figuring out what questions to ask. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jd4oi1BFANNxuZ28L5w-D79fg2Pm6WWeG7pfQVDfW3U/edit

Ok, I have watched videos by many of the docs in Mexico. I have yet to find one where all of the staff have their nose covered - and that includes Pompa, and Aceves (and maybe Alvarez) - and those guys are considered the best. Sigh. I still want to go to Mexico.

Sure! U can ask me anything. I don't really have any specific problem with the post op diet. It's just because its completely different of what I was used to, eating habits, portions etc. so the struggle is with myself trying to follow liquid diet, shakes etc when my head is saying take me to Olive Garden and eat until you are about to pass out. That's the hard part. Hi, do you know how Dr. Garcia closes his sleeve? Does he have the 3 lines of staple thing? Does he do an over sew of the staple line as added precaution (some do, some don't)? I am considering him, and a few others.

I didn't mean to insult you. I just wanted people to be able to easily read what you took the time to write. Sometimes various browsers will make text come out in one long form because it takes paragraph formatting out automatically.... so I wanted to let you know that there is an edit button. I couldn't find it for several days.

I appreciate your strong and professional feedback. Thank you for explaining the difference. I think I was the one that said about seeing a dentist use one but I took that part out before I saw this post. I had meant simply that I saw one with a shield - not to imply it was good enough for surgery. The face shield I meant that might be good enough for surgery is the helmet like one in that first video. Do you think that type is ok? It is at 4:50. I haven't seen any surgeons doing the bariatric use that style....this video shows a heart operation - I was just looking for face shields to see an example.

I accidentally double posted so removing this post

I would be fine if a doctor wore a face shield. The problem is when there is nothing - no shield, no mask. Here is a surgery where they are wearing shields. See the 4:50 min mark Here is a regular heart surgery with the doctor wearing a mask and has glasses - all of the staff and he cover their noses.

I have decided to put together a google doc table to help with my research. It will be here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jd4oi1BFANNxuZ28L5w-D79fg2Pm6WWeG7pfQVDfW3U/edit?usp=sharing Obviously, I just started making it like 3 mins ago. I will start adding data and questions tomorrow when I am more awake. Feel free to put questions you would also like to know in the comments there or here.

RHW - what was Florence Hospital like? I read in a post somewhere that it isn't a real hospital - meaning fully equipped with icu, bloodbank, etc. Can you please tell me what it was like?

Really, I want to give up. There seems to be something I don't like about every surgeon in my budget. Either it is a hospital associated with a surgeon I have deemed dodgy, or it is not a real hospital, or it is a real hospital but it looks meh, or or or. I will check out Dr. Alvarez. I would love to go to Aceves or Ortiz but they are out of my budget range. Sigh.

Hi, I thought I replied to these last 2 posts. I need to go read through this entire thread again because I decided not to go with dr. Ponce de leon and I am now researching all of these other doctors. zmdh - the whole coordinator thing is frustrating. It is indeed hard to know what is what around here. Covatila - i love the idea of staying a few extra days. If I were not taking my mom with me, I could probably do that.

Ok - that kinda decides it for me. The surgeon seems very nice but infection is a huge risk - even more so for a diabetic I think. I asked my primary care physician today about the nose/mask and he said run away. Good point on 'best behavior' @ life. .

Ohh we should also check out puerto vallerta - a beach resort! http://specializedbariatrics.com/weight-loss-surgery-puerto-vallarta/

I will probably take my mother with me. What kind of activities are there for her to do other than staying by my side? I want her to have some fun and a mini vacation. I heard Tijuana is somewhat dangerous so where can she go? Are there any tours she can take? Go to the beach? What did your companions do while there?

My budget it around 4,500. So far I am researching Dr. Quinones (4,500), Dr. Illam (4,600) and Dr. Garcia (4,400) and Dr. Lopez (4,500) I know that we should not only go by price but I feel I can find a solid surgeon in this price range. Anyone else I should know about?

I have seen several posts about being sure to tip various people who provide services. So I would like to know how much is an appropriate tip for various scenarios. I know someone will say whatever you feel like giving but I would rather more concrete numerical examples. How much for: nurses in hospital (is this really necessary? and which ones should you tip? all of them? every time they bring you food or when you leave?) driver to and from airport? driver from hotel to hospital or vice versa? hotel room service? luggage handler? anyone I forgot or don't know about?

Thank you page. I am trying to decide between several doctors now. I wonder if this is 'ok' or considered bad.

Hi all, I am trying to decide on a surgeon and I found one that seems very competent, has good reviews, and is in my price range. The problem is he has a video up of him doing a surgery and his nose is not covered by his mask. No one in the operating room has their nose covered actually. Should this be a deal breaker? Or is it not that big of a deal? I checked several other videos and most surgeons have both mouth and nose covered even if wearing eye glasses. I did see one or two where someone other than the surgeon didn't have their nose covered. In addition - I think I saw the first one (nose not covered) open a package of something - maybe a bandage - while wearing his gloves. Would that be an issue? I doubt the package would be sterilized on the outside like instruments are so....? What do you all think?

Ok, see this confuses me because in the big Ponce de leon thread - Alex (the forum owner) said that they do not offer the special through Hospital Jerusalem. A coordinator for Dr. PDL told me on the phone that Hospital Jerusalem was closed cuz the owner died. I have no clue what is going on with this doctor, this special and which hospital is being used. Good luck if someone figures it out. PS - The reason for the pre-operative diet is so the liver loses fatty deposits and shrinks. This enables the doctor to see the stomach easier and work around the liver. By losing the fatty deposits, the liver is also not as slippery to hold. PPS It would be great if you could edit your post so that it has paragraphs lol. Just point near the quote button and you will see an edit button materialize.

No, I had no idea about orange cats being usually male. She is the sweetest cat. @Travelmego Wow -- that's really interesting -- did you know orange cats are almost always male (like 95%) and orange females are usually sterile? It's the opposite with calicoes -- they are usually female and the males are sterile. Aren't kittens the greatest!

Aww being depressed sucks. I wouldn't panic over 1.5 lbs - that could just be Water you know. A gallon of water weighs like 8 lbs. You definitely don't need the stress of panicking on top of being depressed so let that issue go for now. Perhaps changing what you are grazing on? Like sugar free Popsicles instead of Oreo Cookies? Yea, I know...just not the same. They say exercise is great for depression. I always hated that saying lol. However, it is true. If you can just get out of the house for a bit, it might make you feel better. . I was thinking to make a themed photography sharing thread here - like "color blue". Then one can take a picture of something blue while on a walk (or wherever) and post it. Do you like photography? I am a point and click shooter myself - no skill involved - but I love themed stuff. If you don't like photography ....Hey, I know - you can write a paper for me! I am so not looking forward to doing that. No? Ok, what else. Um...well I like watching movies and tv online. We could make a thread where we watch the past oscar winning movies or something? Audio book club? How about going through the classics? Go to a craft store and take up a new hobby?

Thank you for your response. I know what you mean about the bypass. I was all for the bypass when I first started out but after reading about the less post surgery adjustments I have been leaning toward the sleeve. I was told that you don't have to take the diet supplements for life with the sleeve. I will have to check this out some more. Even if one does have to take supplements - that is still better than HAVING to take diabetes medicine. Supplements are easy to obtain anywhere. This is an issue for me because I like to travel extensively overseas (for months at a time), and getting the diabetes medicine is difficult - especially when my insurance only pays for 30 days at a time. I would have to have it shipped to me each month and it has to be refrigerated. It just isn't very feasible. Another issue I have with the bypass is that you can't eat certain foods. I would like to be able to eat as normal a diet as I can but in much less quantities obviously. And lastly, the sleeve is supposed to get rid of the hunger sensation. That appeals to me. I am not sure if the bypass eliminated the hunger stuff as well.

I am leaning toward the sleeve but this post makes me double think. I used to get bad acid in my stomach and I always had a bottle of tums by my bed. However, about a year and half ago I found out I was type 2 diabetic and changed my diet - eliminating most processed carbs and cutting way back on even whole grains. Since then, i have not needed tums more than 1 or 2 times (usually after caving and eating too much pizza). I don't even keep a bottle around any more. Would this be of concern for getting the sleeve? I think my acid was entirely diet related but I don't know how that works.