Travelmego

Ok I found the my surgeon, height, weight, etc. stuff under 'my surgeon' (doh) on the drop down menu when you point at your name top right side of forum (on laptop). Now how do I change location?

I'm usually pretty good at the net but I can't figure out how to update or delete information in the left side bar? I want to update surgeon, change location, etc.

You might get it approved. I have heard that insurance companies deny a few times then pass. You never know. But yea, it doesn't hurt to have a plan b.

@@Chubtastic Here is the document but it is still a very rough draft. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jd4oi1BFANNxuZ28L5w-D79fg2Pm6WWeG7pfQVDfW3U/edit @@Sassypants92201 Sassy - I am going to ask if we can but dang I don't know if I can watch myself getting surgery. Wow. Yeesh.

Are you going to appeal the denial? Or do they just not cover the sleeve at all? @ That is amazing all that came to only 263 wow. I am glad they were so good despite the oddness of the situation.

Hi, I don't know if Dr. Illan does single. I know Dr. Garcia does but your BMI has to be lower than 40 and it costs 1,000 extra (from what I recall). One thing I like about Dr. Illan is he does the 3 rows of staples (like everyone does), plus sews from top to bottom behind the staple line (not everyone does), and then uses a bio glue over the staples (few do). He closes the incisions with internal sutures and external glue.

@@msfitn2014 - Good, i am glad you are aware of the issue. I have seen it talked about a bit around here but I wasn't sure if doctors and nutritionists were telling patients about absorption rates or not. @@KrissySMD I know that, prior to this info, I was thinking about how to get the most Protein in a single serving that I could. So I was looking for shakes that had like 40 grams a serving thinking it would be easier to choke them down. Now, I will cut the scoop in half which will be both more economical and more palatable to boot.

What is the 5 day pouch test?

Choco did you join the facebook group? Do that - lots of people in contact. Call Omar on the phone. He is often with patients helping them out but he has always made time to speak with me. My impression is he does the email and such in the evenings after he is done helping patients. Ask him why he is being slow to respond and tell him it is making you uncomfortable.

Oh ya I can totally see that Krissy. I am just wondering if we should try to get like 20 grams per meal and have like 4 or 5 spaced out meals - in order to get better absorption of Protein. This is rather than trying to get like 40 each meal for 2 meals.

Good god, if she isn't concerned about her own self coming into contact with bodily fluids......... If I were working in a hospital I think I would just wear a hazmat suit the entire time. @@Rocky1 Yea I think he is a good choice. Seems to be so far. I spoke with a lady who is an OR scrub nurse in the usa and had just had surgery with him. She said his sterile technique was perfect.

I am not saying we would get too much Protein. I mean that people might THINK they are absorbing more than they actually are because we can only absorb so much per meal. So they might think they are getting 40 grams per meal but are really actually absorbing only 10 to 20. So once they think they got their 60 to 80 in for the day, they quit focusing on the protein. However, in reality they didn't absorb nearly what they thought they did.

I haven't had surgery yet but was reading about how people have hair loss possibly from not getting enough Protein in. I also read that our bodies can really only absorb about 10 to 20 grams of protein a meal. If people are trying to get say 40 grams in one meal in ..say in a Protein shake, then 20 to 30 grams of that are pretty much wasted, right? If they think they are getting 60 grams in 2 meals for the day, they might, in reality, be getting only 20 to 40. So, should we go for smaller amounts of protein spread throughout the day?

Which surgeon did you pick choco?

Rocky - as much as I would love to go to an internationally certified hospital, the doctors I have seen at Angeles are out of my budget. And no, I don't have the time to save up the extra. I am on a tight schedule. So, for me - it has been a matter of comparing doctors in the 4,500 range. I feel comfortable (so far!) with the one I found. However, we must all practice due diligence and ask, ask, ask about sterile technique. Question is - what do we ask? If you all can help me figure out what to ask, I will add it to my google doc chart. I am going to make a final checklist master template so people can ask these questions while researching themselves.

Ok, I am imagining proper technique in my head for putting in an IV. Mind you, I don't know squat but...... Ok, Should the nurse put on gloves, then open the sterile pack not touching anything else, and then insert the needle? Or should the nurse open the package, then drop the needle onto a sterile cloth without touching it, and then put on gloves and then insert it in you before touching anything else? I know the inside of the sterile pack is sterile but I don't think the outsides are right? So how do they keep it sterile?

Sassy, oh my. You just got home didn't you? Please be sure to go to the doctor about your hand right away.

Adding lemon or lemonade flavor to the grape or whatever might also help. Can you get more Protein in that amount of Water? 32 oz seems a lot of water for 15 grams.

Get another refrigerator. Tell him to cook his own meals. People can only treat you how you let them.

Are you sure you are not allergic to the source of the Protein you are using - like whey or whatever? If you are not, I have found adding a bit of crystal light lemonade takes away that meh protein powder taste. I despise that taste. For some reason the lemon brings out the fruit flavor and negates the protein flavor. Also, you can apparently only absorb like 10 to 20 grams of protein at a sitting anyway so maybe cut your protein powder in half. Here is what I use to make a shake: - almond milk unsweetened - strawberries (Note - some say for pre op liquid diet or right after post op not to use strawberries because of the seeds so try something else like some kind of flavoring or another fruit) - protein powder (i have only tried cream or chocolate and both work) - Splenda (optional) - Hershey's sugar free Chocolate syrup (optional) (I advise adding splenda if use this) - a touch of crystal light lemonade powder Blend well ---------- Also, I am kind of skeptical about the stomach not being able to absorb protein from food right now. Has anyone else heard that? Is that correct?

I was thinking cease and desist letter too but does she really have a legal leg to stand on? I am not sure the 'friend' actually named her did she? Can give it a shot anyway - might shut her up.

By the way - one of her titles is RICH in hypocrisy: "Choosing self-preservation and kindness over friends..." By her being a mean, two faced, backstabbing witch all over the place? I think you should take the advice and choose self- preservation and kindness over 'friends' too. Preserve your health with people who are kind and support you and toss her aside.

True dat! it is scary to think of how I would have gone into surgery in the USA pretty uneducated about the entire thing. Mexico made me learn.

She is obviously a crazy loon having her day in the sun with a completely made up dialogue in her own head. It's probably the echo from having her head up her a$$. Do what everyone else said - put her out of your life. Look at her like she is a babbling crazy person walking down the street and don't let her words affect you. She has to live in her own bile. I promise you, her life is miserable.

To be fair, Mexico is a corrupt country seemingly on the brink of civil war at times. I think that when we are researching surgeons in Mexico, we should hold to an extremely tough standard. We should ask really hard questions. In order to get my business, they have to jump through a higher hoop to prove themselves than I might ask from the USA. That is not prejudice. That is facing reality. Mexico is KNOWN for corruption. To ignore that is not smart. In the USA, we generally know the hospital we would go to for surgery. It would probably be a local hospital or a well known regional one. We feel confident in knowing the hospital's reputation, the legal system here, and our options if something goes wrong. We have family or friends nearby. We believe hospitals are trying to implement best sterile practices and that it is an important goal for them - and generally this is true. We generally don't have the same knowledge about Mexico. That is why I feel we should go above and beyond to know every detail we can about the surgeon's skill, the facility, the tools being used, infection/complication and leak rates, etc. I am having surgery in August in Mexico. i