Cody's mom

I would recommend Dr. Sauceda in Monterrey, MX. There is a support forum full of his past and future patients on Obesity Help. When you have scheduled surgery, there is a private Facebook group of patients where you connect with others that are having surgery the same time you are.
The patient support and info was a big part of why I went to Dr. Sauceda. I had a lower body lift, butt flap augmentation, arm lift, breast lift/augmentation, and a neck lift. I am extremely happy with my results.
The other benefit is Dr. S has the best and most gentle nurse in the world that helps you in the hotel after you get out of the hospital.
Here are some pics from 5 months post-op. I'm 49 yrs old. Highest weight 273. Current weight 174.
 

Last December I considered having the lapband done (I'd never heard of the sleeve). I was at the end of my line, I was huge, I was ashamed and I was embarrassed to be seen. I was at my lowest point. After doing a lot of research I decided the risks were too high, the problems too big for someone that works over an hour from the closest town, and triple that from a decent hospital. So I continued to live with my disgust for myself.
One day I stumbled across the gastric sleeve, and it interested me. When I stepped on the scale last spring and saw something that was beyond belief, I decided I had no other choice, I booked an appointment with a surgeon in Mexico, and off I went. That was September 14, and I'm now half way to my goal weight, and no longer suffering the issues, problems, and pain I was prior to the surgery. There has not been one second that I've regretted my decision, not one.
When I was in Tijuana having my surgery there was a lady with her husband having the sleeve done, her husband had a band done 15 years ago, and I asked her, why not the band if your husband has had such success, and she said after watching the problems her husband had, she would never, ever consider a band.. Yes, he lost his weight, but not without lots of problems.
I hope I never have to be a chronic yoyo dieter ever again, and this tool has offered me the success I couldn't do on my own anymore.
I wish you luck, but my thoughts are, do what ever you have to, to live a happy life, and keep trying, try everything, and anything, it will be worth it in the long run.

@@sonosuzy it looks like you're having the lap band done, and that is somehting I would never consider and would be too afraid of, but the sleeve, I have absolutely no regrets, so far I love it and miss nothing what so ever from my life before the sleeve.

Believe me, it's better to eat to live, than to live to eat. It takes work. If your happy with yourself and your life, don't do it.. Personally I was so ashamed and embarressed how I looked I stopped living, this was my last attempt to regain my selfworth. It truly is a lot easier than you'd think, at least it's been for me. I'm only half way to my goal weight, it's been a slow but steady ride, but it's something I want, so I'll get there. Good luck!

Remember that a lot of patients never again follow up with their doctor in Mexico, so his stats could be very correct based on the data he received. These people make their entire livings off of Medical Tourism. They all seem to want to do everything above and beyond what our doctors in the u.s. do. Based on how everything worked at the hospital I was at in Tijuana, I would say all thse doctors have very low complication rates.

I had Dr. E. Ortiz and he was great.  No problems, if I was to do it again, I'd go to Tijuana even if I had the choice to stay in Canada to have it done!

food, food, food, I love food, and I got lazy, lazy, lazy. Then I just gave up and said tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow I'll start to diet and exercise. I had every excuse in the book, and I wrote a few myself. I layed blame on everyone and everything but myself.. And when I finally looked at myself and was so ashamed and embarrassed that I just wanted to hide, I got the sleeve. My only regret is not doing it sooner, but then again, I had an excuse for that too! But now I'm on the slow road to a happy and fulfilling life, living not eating, and living is so much more important than eating. For some people eating is more important than living, and loosing their relationship with food is more important that loosing their relationship with life! Just my thoughts!

For me it wasn't just the weight. I have other health issues that were not co-morbs., but effected my quality of life. I was told the wls might help with that. So far it has.
I would say this; if you're biggest concern is eating low calorie you might want to question your relationship with food. So far I have been able to everything I ate pre-op but in smaller portions. I can't say I miss eating massive portions of food.< /p>
I'm exercising and wearing compression wear. I hope the slower wls of the sleeve will allow things to snap back. If I need to I will have skin removed.

No problems, up walking as soon as they'd let me, no pain, no problems (okay, it did feel like I had done massive amounts of sit-ups, but that was it). Still haven't found a Protein drink I like, but that's about the worse of my problems and woe's. I was able to drive, shop, etc a few days after surgery, and sadly doing laundry and vaccuming right away as well. I'm not one for laying around so I was back to my normal life as soon as I got home (I went to Mexico). Everyone is different, but those that had it done on the same day I did, we were all up and mobile in just a few hours and have had absolutely no problems.. Good luck!

I occasionally drink - tequila, beer, Mike's Harder Lemonade. I don't drink very often, so it was about 6 months post-op before I had my 1st drink.
Now that I'm 2 years post-op, I'm not worried about drinking. But for the 1st year, I was worried about the extra calories in alcohol.
I just take into account the approximate calorie count in my drinks and cut back on my carbs to make up for it.
I have notice that I get a buzz faster, but it doesn't seem to last as long.

Yes he does. Sucture staple and glue. I leave tomorrow. So far so good, no complications so I will keep my fingers crossed. Never in any pain. Just gassy from anesthesia. Gotta keep walking.

I just got home from my surgey with Dr. E Ortiz which was 12/10. No pain. Just gas. I am so pleased!

@bariatricdreamer No need to worry about travelling alone. They pick you up at the airport, there are other people in the van with you to meet, they take you to the hotel where everyone else is, then the following day you go to the hospital with everyone. When your done, you go back to the hotel with everyone, and out shopping in a group. So don't feel scared, your not alone, there will be lots of others there.

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!

I am 3 months out and I drink some diet dp every so often. No problems, but you belch quite a bit. I can't drink a lot, just a few sips here and there.

@@AvaFern, well said, and agree'd and I do it all as well.

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!

I wish I had known how COLD I'd always be. FREEZING ASS COLD. I wouldn't trade it for being fat, but GOOD GOLLY!

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!

Today I went out to lunch with my daughter and for the first time in years, I sat in a booth. I fit!!!
HW 285 SW 266 CW 254 sleeved 11/18

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!

How great it would be to finally not feel hungry and to not have a life completely consumed with food!

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!