Andrea Barnes Douglas

I'm 8 weeks out. Everything was perfect till 1 week ago. I started getting pain under my left rib the next day it was down my left side right to the tip of pubic bone. I ended up going to my GP last Thursday. He sent me straight to the major hospital. I had my surgery in Mexico and am living in Canada. So the Medical team ran a CT scan X-rays blood work and it was all fine. They wanted to admit me however being Easter Weekend I wouldn't see a surgeon till today. I said if it's absolutely necessary I will stay, but if not I'm only 20 mins away so I chose to go home. No fever norm blood pressure no prob eating or drinking urine fine bowels fine. Just very very tender abdomen and I can't stand very long. I called my surgeon in Mexico he says it could be inflamed stomach. I tried to explain the pain but I don't agree with that. Needless to say the med team said that the gastric surgeon at the hospital will prob do a barium swallow and a scope. I'm scared to death as this is getting worse each day.

I also suffered depression and anxiety.. Invested in some relaxing music and meditation apps found they helped a lot.

My GS surgery was 2/4 . I lost 16 lbs before surgery. Day of surgery I was 202. For 3 weeks pre op I went down to 187.. Then the dreadful STALL!! Please to say as of March 13 I weighed and was down 5lbs!! Wooot stall is finally over for now. Very excited to be 182... I'm on reg foods now or what I can tolerate. It's still a struggle but learning foods I loved no longer sit well which is fine by me. How has everyone else been doing ? I would love to hear

So glad I saw this! I ALWAYS drank my water with a straw pre surgery. 6 weeks post op and I'm having a terrible time getting my water in. My NUT says no straws !! I will definitely be using one tomorrow !!!

Thank you twest! It sure felt like a roller coaster with lots of bumps! But all is very well with me and it will be with you also! Good luck to you and see you on the losers side!!

Sent you a msg Jen

I had my surgery at the OCC with Dr A Ortiz.. I'm Canadian NEVER traveled and suffer anxiety and panic attacks along with depression. I'm 47 years young and this had to be the most TERRIFYING experience of my life! I was accepted for gastric bypass Twice here in Ontario, however the closer I got and my research into the PRESTIGIOUS local hospital made me back out. I found Dr Ortiz thru a friend. Her mother traveled to Tijuana scoped the place out and booked a surgery for herself.. Then her daughter went down. I still wasn't in no way shape or form prepared to travel to Mexico for surgery. I have also a few friends that had the bypass done locally ( I wasn't impressed by the Drs) .. Then I started my research ... Calling emailing reading etc.. So one night I thought I'm going to do this!! It was just before Christmas I called and sent my deposit.. Then I ordered their vitamins( I wanted it all done by the book) in January hubby told me he couldn't make the trip due to work.. I was scared to death however a few days later he informed me he could whewwww!! So I booked our tickets.. Well hubby didn't have a passport so we got that all done.. Then ... I look at his passport and he decided he was going to remove the JR from his name!!! Not a problem????? NIGHTMARE!! I had to call the airlines buy another ticket for him without JR. On it.. Thank heavens they reimbursed me for the other ticket... Well it didn't stop there.. I realized I hD to fly to San Francisco with a 2 hr layover and he gets a direct flight to San Diego ! Being a suffer of anxiety and panic attacks I felt all these bumps was someone or something telling me not to go.. The day I sent the balance of my payment was my meltdown.. I called up my patient coordinator and cried and cried telling her how scared I was.. All she did was reassure me and calmed me down (2hr conversation).. I don't know what I would have done with out her. ( wasn't the first time talking to her, however first meltdown). Well the day we left for the airport February 4 2015 it was a wicked snow storm. Got to the airport and panic set in! Couldn't feel my legs couldn't breath throwing up etc hubby said we could go home.. I pulled my big girl panties up and said nope I'm doing this. ( very familiar with surgery had a auto accident many years ago and constant operations) Off we go our separate ways. Flight was good the wait in sAn Francisco was good. Then I get to San Diego .. Met hubby cried and cried I did. Got our luggage and then our driver was waiting! Wow Omar was Awesome!! Told us about some sites and what to do when we got to the border.. EASY!! It was late when we got in so we just went to our hotel the Marriott . Weather wS beautiful. We unpacked and I wanted to see some sites. So a driver took us on a 2 hr tour it was amazing! I never opened a door once while I wAs there lol Thursday morning day of surgery! Panic set in big time couldn't breath etc we get to the OCC and met the lovely ladies. Talked to the nutritionist then went and had my test done. All while my nurse was with me ????when they did my blood work , gloves we worn everything was going so smooth.. Then I met Dr Ortiz .. I explained and cried to him. He was so comforting ( not like any surgeon here in Canada I've had and trust me I had a few) he talked with hubby and I and he even said if I really wanted to back out I could. I was just scared.. However he explained everything to me and I felt very comfortable. Surgery DONE! Few aches nothing serious nurse kept coming in and out of my room hubby was there.. I didn't need pain meds so passed on those.. My nurse got me up to go pee brought me extra blankets.. Hubby left about 7 pm I don't remember much kinda in and out. Slept all night.. The next morning hubby was there first thing.. I was already up since 6 walking the floors lol.. They came in and checked me asked me how I felt and said I could go back to the hotel if I was feeling good! I saw no reason to stay I was in Tijuana!!! My hubby told me Dr Ortiz sat with him for an hr after I came out of surgery telling him what he did what to expect etc I was so grateful for that. Hubby don't listen to me that well lol.. We got back to the hotel and I had a little rest then I said I want to go shopping!! We got a driver and that's exactly what we did! I didn't overdo it .. So the next few days were amazing. Saturday morning I went and had another leak test which was kewl to see how small my stomach was.. I talked to Dr Ortiz ( he's so good looking lol) then back to the hotel.. We had an amazing time the staff were super!! The hotel staff were super!! I felt I was taken care of like a queen! Not just another surgery case!! I just wanted people to know wherever you go for your surgery has to be your choice! I've had no complications ( other then the runs lol and hemorrhoids lol) now that I'm eating thicker liquids everything is stating to bind up ???? gas wasn't much of an issue as I made sure I moved around even my arms .. My experience at the OCC was FABULOUS ... Dr.Ortiz called me after 1 week out to check on me which was awesome.. I also called to speak to a Dr when my runs wouldn't stop lol they assured me I would be fine however suggested I see my Family Dr to bring my mind at ease . Which I did. All ended up turning out just fine ????.I hope everyone that has been there can relate ❤️

Oh my I couldn't be more thrilled with the weight loss!!! Woot wouldn't change anything!! Love my Drs to pieces!! They are definitely the BEST of the BEST! Not their fault my bowel is being uncooperative lol guess it's just the SHI*** side of it all lol

47 12 days post op and LOVING it

I hand in my sample tomorrow morning so she said I should have back by Friday or Monday at the latest. She says everything seems fine no fever BP normal may just be a irritated bowel. Can't see that but I'm not the dr lol so side my diet hasn't changed in 4 weeks except now I'm on creamed soups. Maybe the meds they sent us home with is causing it? Who knows ... Just one heck of a sore butt!! Hubby says he's just going to tie me to the pole outside lmao

Thank you everyone!! Sorry for the late response internet was down ????.. Anyway I did go to my family dr he scheduled me to go get a stool sample. No fever feel great other then these major blow outs!! Trying to stay hydrated on cream soups now just seems everything is running thru me.. Still hasn't improved.. Cramping is gone just constantly going to washroom and rarely making it ???? . 12 days PO but only 9 days with this.. Then HEMORRHOIDS from hell!!! ????

@@VegasOne congrats!!! Your doing awesome!! Can't wait to be there alongside of you ????

Well I was doing awesome!! As far as surgery goes I think I still am.. HOWEVER these loose bowels are getting the better of me. Yes I got Imodium and gastralite ( spelling) everything is fine till I move around then OMG I hardly every get to the washroom in time ???? I'm day 8 post op. It didn't start till day 4. It's literally made me house bound, not to mention hemroids TMI I know.. I called the surgeon he said it will pass.. I started yogurt in the mornings an I will be starting cream soups tomorrow. I'm getting at least 1 protein shake in a day along with broth and Popsicles. And water.. It's just everything I consume is coming out as fast as it goes in!!! Please help!! Has anyone experienced this? I wrote on a few other forums but not getting any replies... #housebound

Congrats Jamie!! I'm 1 week post op today !! So glad to see this topic back also.. I felt so lost got my first call today from the OCC asking how I am.. I'm doing great event went back to work today( non physical) went thru 2 days with severe allowed abdominal pain before bowel movements.. Thought I was going to deliver something lol.. Got thru it and now I feel fantastic! Still doing the liquid but Sunday I will start with cream soups etc.. Little struggle getting in the liquids however I'm still working on it.. Just the sipping I find very hard as I want to gulp..

Definitely going to get this!!!

I'm heading back to work Thursday. 7 days since surgery. I still have gas pain not to bad tho. My job isn't physically I'm my own boss .. So if I start feeling off or out of sorts I will just come home. I guess it depends on you.. I'm not one for sitting still lol .. My gf had 3 weeks off but she needed it so yes it depends on you. Only you know your body ????

Omg me to!! I'm not hungry at all however all I can think about is sucking on a piece of bacon!! It's actually driving me crazy! 6 days since surgery!!

Hi everyone!! Well I was doing awesome till I got home I had my surgery for the sleeve on Thursday feb 5.. No pain other then gas. Haven't been sick etc. I had me sleeve done in Mexico. It was a 5 hr flight back. Brutal!! Anyway as of last night I started having very loose bowels. Some I didn't even make it to the washroom . It wasn't a big concern. However today I'm experiencing waves of pain above the pubic area . Taking my breath away. I'm currently waiting for a call from my surgeon but I'm scared to death. Being in Canada I'm afraid .. I'm hoping others have experienced this and it's normal total of 7 movements!!Any input to put my mind at peace would be great! On that not I will revise this and I did talk to the surgeon he didn't seem concerned. I went to my family dr and she said wounds were great but told me to get some pedialite to help with staying hydrated.. The pain gets so intense I have to breath thru it like labour pains

How are you doing Holli?

Hi I had my surgery for the sleeve on Thursday feb 5.. No pain other then gas. Haven't been sick etc. I had me sleeve done in Mexico. It was a 5 hr flight back. Brutal!! Anyway as of last night I started having very loose bowels. Some I didn't even make it to the washroom . It wasn't a big concern. However today I'm experiencing waves of pain above the pubic area . Taking my breath away. I'm currently waiting for a call from my surgeon but I'm scared to death. Being in Canada I'm afraid .. I'm hoping others have experienced this and it's normal .. Any input to put my mind at peace would be great!

Well I went to my family dr today because the bowel movements and pain were just to intense. I refuse to take painkillers( meditation) .. She told me to go get pedialite for dehydration. It seems to have settled down some . She also said it could be a lot of gas in my bowel causing the severe cramping in the lower abdominal. I literally have to breath thru the pain like labour pains.. Ughhhhh just wish this would pass. Hoping more people have some advice ... Devastated ????

Thank you Mary Beth .. Having surgery in Mexico is awesome but it also has its disadvantages. Not being able to see your surgeon .. I'm still waiting for the call back.. I've experienced this type of pain before my sleeve. Usually was something I ate or a plugged up bowel lol.. It's very intense and takes my breath away and I end up breathing like I'm in labour. It usually happens when I'm heading to the bathroom or after I went.. Crossing fingers it's all going to be good

Thank god I saw this! I been 5 days post op and can't get to the bathroom fast enough.. Hoping it will subside soon.

Had it done yesterday !! Feeling AWESOME!!

I'm here!!! Omg I was so scared of the flight and border crossing! Anxiety was really high !! All for nothing!! Tomorrow morning is the DAY!!