timetotakeitoff

I had my sleeve 6/19 with Dr. Garcia at Hospital CER. Honestly I would stay far away from that hospital. My mom and I are both RNs and we were completely horrified with the cleanliness of the facilities as well as the nursing care. When I got to my hospital room, there was bloody tissue filling up the bathroom garbage and something green all over the shower chair. My bed did not work right and the nurse call button was inconveniently zip-tied out of my reach.
The nurses would come in my room wearing gloves, empty my bloody drain into a basin with all the other patients' blood in it, then leave the room still wearing the bloody gloves. They also never cleaned off my IV port before hanging secondary medications.
My medications were never given on time, and when I had significant pain, there was no effort to help me until my mom went and found the doctor. What I have since learned is that narcotics are either never used or used very sparingly. Even when the doctor ordered a second pain medication, it took four hours of repeatedly asking to receive it.
My IV constantly backed up with blood (which is very easy to avoid) and my temp was only taken once over three days and then only after I insisted.
When I returned from surgery very nauseous, my mom asked for something to throw up in, but she was told there had nothing to give me. I ended up throwing up all over the sheets and into her hands before she dumped out her coffee cup and let me throw up in that.
My mom repeatedly asked for a clean sheet do she could change my bed, but we never got one until I went and found a doctor who told the nurse to change it.
Also, after the first day, no nurse ever introduced herself, called me by name or even showed a hint of compassion. I speak enough Spanish to clearly make my needs known, but the nurses always waved me off or shook their heads.
I honestly feel pretty traumatized from this experience. All the patients I was sleeved with had similar complaints about pain, dirty rooms, and horrible nursing care. I only saw Dr. Garcia twice, and I feel like he did a good job with my surgery, but I don't respect him for bringing his patients to such a terrible hospital.

Dr. Zavalza through Bariatric Pal. In Tijuana

@@NewSetOfCurves do you have before and after?
Here is my pic taken at PS office at one year. And my day before LB surgery and i guess about two years post op TT in purple

I'll post a bunch of photos, but first let me explain my situation for anyone who doesn't know my story. In 2010/11, I lost 90 pounds "on my own" through diet and exercise. I went from 270 down to 180. I maintained around 180 for about 8 months, then had plastics done in August of 2001. I had an extended Tummy Tuck with muscle repair, breast lift with augmentation, all over Lipo, and fat grafting to my butt.
Over the course of the next 3 years, I regained 80 pounds, back up to 260. When I decided to try to lose weight again, I opted to have VSG, because I didn't want to get back down only to regain again. I was hopeful that sleeve would allow me to maintain a lower weight. I was sleeved on Sept. 1, 2014 and at 7.5 months post-op, I am now back down to 180 pounds, so I have re-lost all the weight I gained post-plastics. I still want to lose about 25 more pounds to reach a healthy BMI.
So, here are the pics!
Before initial weight loss - November, 2010 - 265 pounds:
 
After initial weight loss - August, 2011 - 180 pounds:
 
Pre-plastics - August, 2011 - 180 pounds:
 
Post-plastics (1.5 months post-op) - September, 2011 - 180 pounds:
 
Before sleeve surgery - October, 2014 - 240 pounds:
 
After sleeve surgery (7 months post-op) - March, 2015 - 185 pounds:
 

you know my wife has lost about 35 pounds along side me losing mine. and she said the other day , its so hard to stop shopping for workout clothes. and this from a couple ( me and the wife) who used to make fun of people dressdin yoga pant or workout clothes all the time. Now we do it. I guess maybe it was a defense mechanism. anyway. well that and weighing myself, its become more than a habit with me, and i cannot stop. lol

I do lots of shopping as well. I used to buy too much because I still had the 'if it fits, get it in every color' mentality. Then I bought too much because I was so excited to go into smaller sizes. Finally, I'm starting to realize that I can shop anywhere..not just in 'women's' sections so I can be much more discerning now so I try to only buy what I love.
I'm getting there, but thank goodness I live alone because my closets are ready to explode. Oh..and along with the new clothes, are lots of new shoes, bags and purses, and fashion jewelry. Thank goodness my food bill is so much less money..

@@bayougirlmrsc
i have acquired a magnet in my tummy
draws me to this board all the time
kathy

Awww...that stinks! I didn't tell ANYONE until after my surgery. Not even my sister. She was supportive but it was surprising to me when other people weren't. But don't worry, you are doing the right thing. Like another poster said, wait 'til she sees you after! You will prove her wrong!

What is so weird to me is buying smaller sizes. Today I bought a pair of shorts in a size 10!! A 10! When I held them up I looked at them at thought, "these will never fit ME." Then I tried them on, and bought them! Totally freaky!

My surgeon just said "go for it!" Everything's out of your system in 24 hours. Everything was fine.

My surgeon just said "go for it!" Everything's out of your system in 24 hours. Everything was fine.

Okay she loves you and she's concerned. I get that. But her implication that you haven't thought about this, or thought enough about it to reach HER conclusion, is somewhat manipulative. Your body....your decision. Don't "let" a doctor talk you into this? Don't "let" her talk you out of it if it's what YOU feel that you need and it's what you want. I'll get off my soapbox now (wow, did this strike a nerve with me!). Wishing you the best on your WLS journey!

Hi everyone. I am a single female and live alone so was not telling anyone I am doing this because I wanted to avoid comments and opinions and just all of the questions. As the months have passed, I realize I am lonely because this is the biggest focus in my life at the moment and I can't share it with anyone I know. SO, I decided to tell my friend I've known my entire life (lives in diff state) and all I can say is OMG! This was a text convo, not out loud. So, she went on and on which was like,
"Bindy, do you know what you are doing to your body? You can't come back from this. You have lost weight before and you can do it again the healthy way. I personally know 3 people that have had bariatric surgery they all regret it and two are heavier than they were before. Don't let a doctor talk you into this. They make is sound good to people because they are getting rich off of it. This has become a trendy surgery and you just wait until they find out long term what it really does to you. They want you to do a liquid diet for two weeks. Do you even understand what that is doing to your kidneys or your pancreas? You are smarter than this. I love you, THINK!"
Well, I just never responded at all. Part of me wanted to disagree or explain or educate, but all I could do was wish I had never said a word.
I feel like .. ugh.
I didn't want to go on this journey alone, the isolation of hiding it away with people I know was getting me really down, but now I know I can't tell another soul. She is the one person, if any, in my life that would embrace me and be kind.

@@timetotakeitoff
I'm stronger for longer gym times. But yes I am also a weakling. I have noticed some things. If I have the car door in my hand and a gust of wind catches it. The car door now pulls me. When weeding I used to grab the weed and lean back to pull with my weight. Now if I lean back nothing happens.

As far as lifting, climbing, exercising, I'm definitely stronger but I work out a lot.
As far as pushing weight, pulling it, moving heavy carts, pulling down the minivan hatch, etc., I'm a "weakling". I have 112 less pounds of force behind me so what I used to be able to move is a huge struggle now.

Have you had your levels checked recently? I can't say I am stronger, but I'm most definitely not weaker. I got tired easily the first week or so post-op, but now I'm pretty much back to normal. In fact I may get taken off B12 at my next blood test. My levels were really high so I only have to take the sublingual twice a month now. If they remains high it will be taken off my list of supplements.< /p>

Yes Yes!!!..Even a walk u the tube stairs takes energy. Vitamin B12 helps but its still a struggle...Good luck!!!

I'm just happy I never have to try to impress someone by ordering a salad ever again, LOL. Never really liked the taste of lettuce and for the dressing calories I'd just as soon have chicken!

I'm wondering if anyone but me feels like they are weaker than before being sleeved? I'm a big, and should be strong girl at 5'9" and now 187 pounds. I've lost 60 lbs over the last six months and run on the treadmill and lift (light) weights, just as I did BEFORE surgery. But I'm so much weaker overall without the extra weight! I have trouble lifting a costco sized pack of soda from my cart onto the check out conveyor (soda is for my kids' birthday party-Not Me BTW and even taking a pack of Water up the stairs is just too much. I used to be able to hoist anything!
It seems weird that I'm in BETTER shape, but overall, weaker. Anyone else notice this?

I had the same experience at the beginning. I figured it was because I was always so dehydrated and my body relaxed when it felt like it was getting some quick liquid.< /p>

What is so weird to me is buying smaller sizes. Today I bought a pair of shorts in a size 10!! A 10! When I held them up I looked at them at thought, "these will never fit ME." Then I tried them on, and bought them! Totally freaky!

What is so weird to me is buying smaller sizes. Today I bought a pair of shorts in a size 10!! A 10! When I held them up I looked at them at thought, "these will never fit ME." Then I tried them on, and bought them! Totally freaky!

What is so weird to me is buying smaller sizes. Today I bought a pair of shorts in a size 10!! A 10! When I held them up I looked at them at thought, "these will never fit ME." Then I tried them on, and bought them! Totally freaky!

What is so weird to me is buying smaller sizes. Today I bought a pair of shorts in a size 10!! A 10! When I held them up I looked at them at thought, "these will never fit ME." Then I tried them on, and bought them! Totally freaky!

I'm just happy I never have to try to impress someone by ordering a salad ever again, LOL. Never really liked the taste of lettuce and for the dressing calories I'd just as soon have chicken!