Edavidson

I understand that there are those who have to pay themselves to have the surgery in Mexico and have read many wonderful stories. The only reason I gave my opinion was that my complications came two months after surgery. I was so grateful to be able to go to the ER where I had my sleeve. All of my records were there and they knew what to do to save my life. Had I gone to Mexico I would not have survived a chat with the surgeon through skype or a telephone call. I had to have emergency surgery on a Sunday night. Most people do great with their surgeries here in the states and abroad. But complications can and do happen, maybe not that often but the threat is there none the less. If you have a PCP who knows what you are doing and a surgeon lined up here in the states to handle an emergency then it wouldn't be a concern. I just felt that it would be good to get my story out there. I apologize if I have offended anyone who has or is planning on Mexico.

I think we all have fears of gaining weight after the sleeve. When you have been over weight all of your life and you finally lose the weight you get paranoid. So many things in our every day lives can stress us out and most of us use food for comfort. It is hard to keep our eyes on the prize of being our ideal weight. We will probably all gain and lose a few lbs. after the sleeve we just have to remember to not lose site of where we were and how easy it would be to get there again. If that makes any sense at all. It takes a long time to heal from surgery, at least six months. Don't beat yourself up just go back to the beginning and be strong.

I have a terrible fear of going back to my old eating habits. I am a stress eater as well and I take care of my 87 year old mother. I stay stressed all of the time and I want to eat all of the time. I have to fight everyday. I am so proud of you for sharing your story, "I Can and I Will". You will be able to get back on track and this site is the best place to get encouragement. I hope that I will be able to get to my goal weight. I still have 50 lbs. to lose and the end of my journey seems so far off. If I didn't have this site to go to I don't think I could make it. Welcome back and stay strong, you did it once and you can do it again. Good luck.

You will all be fine, they have perfected this surgery. If you are in good health other than being over weight you will be in and out before you know it. The hardest part is getting out of bed after the surgery but that too shall pass. You will feel so much better when that weight comes off.

It is all normal and you will feel better as time goes by. Walk, walk, walk. The more you move the better you will feel. It it doesn't go away within a few weeks you might want to see your surgeon.

I am just giving an opinion here but how is 2 years follow up via skype and phone with the Surgeon and Nutritionist going to help the patient if he has critical complications they have flown back to the states. They would have to go to an emergency room to get the medical attention they need. I am not doubting the physicians credentials and I have heard a lot of good stories from patients that go to Mexico. I was only stating a concern that I would have going out of the states to have any kind of major surgery with my co morbidoties. I had one of the best surgeons in this state and I had problems. I am so glad that I was here with my surgeon or I could have died. Things can and do go wrong with surgery. Again, only my opinion and I don't think that my thoughts would keep someone from going to Mexico if they were determined to do so.

I know it has not been done for that long. When I went to the seminar that my surgeon has a couple of times a month he stated that Dr.'s actually did the sleeve first on super morbidly obese individuals and then they later did the gastric bypass. They realized that the sleeve alone worked for a lot of people so they began offering the sleeve alone. I couldn't go through the gastric bypassI was too terrified.

The web has a multitude of information regarding complications with weight loss surgery. It is up to the individual to decide if they want to take that risk. My biggest concern was not having information of the long term effects of the gastric sleeve. I was determined to have the surgery because I was losing my fight to live. However, I would have never gone to Mexico. Not because I feel the surgeons are not competent but I would have no followup. I know a lot of co-workers who had the surgery and they never had any problems. There are just those few and there is no way to know if you are one them.

It is very important to have extensive tests done before having any gastric surgery. I have a concern about those who go to Mexico, there is no followup with that Dr. if something goes wrong two or three months into post-op. I had to have two more surgeries within two months post op. After five months I am finally feeling like myself. I don't blame my weight loss surgeon because my health had been going downhill for years due to morbid obesity. Anything can happen when you go under the knife. Anyone like myself with comorbidities should really do their research and no that you are taking a risk. My heart just breaks for that person who died. I was terrified when I went under, I was not surprised when I started having problems. I don't regret my gastric sleeve. I am down 81 lbs. since December 10th and I am doing things I haven't been able to do in years. I wish nothing but the best for anyone who is trying to have a better quality of life by weight loss surgery.

What a wonderful story to read on Friday morning. So happy for you, the weight loss is awsome. You are truly an inspiration to us all.

I went to the store yesterday and bought the Omeprazole and I am having the best day since my surgery. It really does work, at least it has for me. I was able to eat soup today without suffering.

May 10th will be five months for me and I still get the bubble in the throat, even if I just take a big gulp of water.

I feel very fortunate. I went to a seminar regarding the sleeve that the Dr. has twice a month for anyone considering the sleeve. I made an appointment with him the next week. I had to go to a psychiatrist once, a nutritionist once, and get an approval from the insurance company. From the time of the seminar to surgery date was 2 1/2 months. It happened so fast I didn't have time to chicken out. However, had I gone through more testing I may not have suffered as I did. I think that anyone considering this surgery should have extensive testing. This surgery changes your life in a big way.

newbeginning77: You will be fine as well and when the weight starts falling off you will be very happy with your accomplishment.

Good Luck, we will see you on the other side of your journey

You will probably be one of those people that breeze right through the surgery. Don't get nervous or decide to quit. Anything worth having is worth fighting for, especially your health. If you are obese then you really should jump in and have it done and over with. I am not sorry about the surgery even though I was one of the unlucky ones. My age and bad health from years of obesity had taken a toll on my body. I was shutting down when I went through the gastric sleeve and I believe that is why I was so sick. I don't know if you are young or old but if you are young, take a stand to be happier and healthier through this miracle procedure. We will all be here egging you forward.

I hope my heart burn goes away. I am feeling so much better than I was even a month ago. My only complaint is the heart burn. I will try the prilosec and see if it works better. Thank you again.

I keep tums in my purse for emergencies. They do help...

I know what you mean by the lump in your throat. I four months out and I still get it. It feels like something is lodged your throat, it was so bad night before last that I threw up. It is like you have to burp but it will not come out. I know that sounds gross but that is what it feels like. I wish there were long term studies regarding the effects of the sleeve. I know they have not been doing this type of surgery for that long. I have so many strange things that happen. Has anyone had to go back and have surgery again or have hernia's.

BLERDgirl: does prilosec work better than zantac? if it does I will stop on my way home and pick some up. I suffer every day with the burning and hurting. I would take anything at this point. I can pick some up after work and get my Doctor to prescribe some for me so that my insurance can pick up the tab. Thank you so much for your advise. I promise to get some today

The one thing that I have learned through this wonderful website is that we are all different. What works for one may or may not work for the next person. I think that we all have to learn how to live with our new life the best way that we can. What has encouraged me the most is knowing that I am not alone with my symptoms after the surgery. At first I felt that I was alone but listening to others experiences I have found a way to balance my new way of eating and living. We are all becoming different people. Becoming smaller has had its pros and cons. I can't keep clothes on my back. I am so happy for everyone on this website and beyond for taking the first step to become a new and better person.

I am so shocked that your surgery was done as an outpatient. OMG, you must be in some kind of pain.

Smokinjoe: You have really done well at 68 lbs. in two months. I hate to hear about the sick feeling when you eat. I don't know why some of us do so well and others stay so sick. I am 4 1/2 months post op and I stopped throwing up constantly about three weeks ago. But, now that I am eating more I have heart burn really bad. I taking BLERDgirl's advise and asking my Dr. for PPI. I really hope you feel better soon and the nausea goes away. At least you have lost a lot of weight. I have lost 81 lbs. since my surgery. I know I lost weight fast but now that I am feeling better I am happy about the weight loss.

There are two reasons they want you to lose weight. 1) to prove to them that you are capable of losing weight on your and 2)they want to shrink your liver to prevent them from possibly damaging it. You can still gain your weight back with any weight loss surgery. It still takes will power to lose weight and they need to know that you are committed to this new lifestyle. Of course at first you will not gain weight because of the surgery but if you fall back into your bad habits the surgery was for nothing. I am, after 4 1/2 months able to eat food. I still fear I might gain weight even though I can't eat much at a time I still stay hungry and I want to eat. I have to remind myself not to do bad.

I am going to my PCP next month and asking her for something for my heartburn. It hurts so bad I can't hardly breath. I thought everyone had it after the surgery. For the past three weeks I have been able to eat a little more since I had the surgery. I feel like I am gaining weight but the scale does not say that I am. I am terrified of gaining my weight back. I don't think I could deal with it. I will starve before I gain all of my weight back.