krazypisces.momma

Congrats on your upcoming date. It'll be over and you'll be home recuperating before you know it.
It is hard to believe that even though it hasn't been quite 4 months yet, I am almost to my goal weight. The good part is that acceptance has kicked in and the head hunger has eased. All in all, I don't think that things could have been any easier.
Be sure to stay in touch with me and keep me posted on how you're doing.

Hi everyone. I thought I'd take a moment to pop in and see how things are moving along for everyone. I am now about 8 days from being 4 months post-op and the scale is still moving. Thank goodness. I need to update my ticker but for the record I am now down 62lbs. I am just a few pounds from my goal weight. I wanted to post some pics but I can't figure out how. LOL
If anyone would like an update on what is going on, please take a moment to check out my blog if you haven't already. You can find it here.....https://chrissygallegos.wordpress.com/ I am adding topics as I get requests or things actually come up on my journey that I figure could help others out.
I also just wanted to remind anyone who may have questions to know that I am always available to help out in any way I can.
Happy Friday

Anyone interested in having surgery, this is the best place, hands down.
Everything is NEW!
It is right next to the plastic surgeon, Dr. Victor Gutierrez, and I hear he is the best plastic surgeon in Tijuana.
Long Term VSG is the BEST! Dr. M talked to me and my wife and explained everything. They tested me thoroughly before this surgery. If there was something wrong with me, there is no way they would have done the surgery.
Don't let the price fool you.
I have already lost 8 pounds in 7 days since my surgery.
I am very happy!

I got my date y'all!! Hoohoo! Deposit paid. I'm going through all the feelings about this thing I'm purposely having done to myself. I'm at the point of retiring to the facts now. I am believing that ALL will be well through this entire event in my life. I will make the changes required to be healthy and this tool will help me along the way. My surgery date is July 14th with Dr. Maytorena at Long Term VSG in TJ. Wish me luck! Prayer is even better. Lolbvs ..Thanks!

It is NOT a clinic, it's a surgery suite. All they do there is surgery, so they are highly trained. The care they give and u will recieve is top notch and very individualized. At a hospital, one nurse has 10 patients! The fact that this was a surgery center actually made me feel 100% more comfy with choosing LongTerm, and I work in the medical field, in NY!

Long term VSG!! I am using them!!! They are very nice and they have a great price. I live here in Baja and met with Dr. M, and checked out the clinic very adiquate . I am having mine on the 29th and it is 2999.00 .

Well, price isn't the only factor. There is a lot to consider when picking a surgeon and facility. There's the old adage, "you get what you pay for." And while there are many qualified surgeons doing VSG for very reasonable prices, paying a little more for a surgeon and facility you are 100% confident in is worth the peace of mind.

My experience: I left home at 3am and drove to Groome Transportation less than a mile from my home for transportation to the Atlanta airport. Although I arrived at the airport an hour before my flight I only boarded 5 minutes before takeoff. Atlanta airport is big and confusing and to top it off one of the escalators was broken so climbing the stairs with luggage had me sweating profusely when I boarded. I was sitting with two gentlemen and luckily I had the window seat. I had a layover in Charlotte and this time had an aisle seat with a tiny older couple. I slept most of the trip to San Diego.< /p>
Upon arrival, Lizette ( wife of one of the owners) picked me up from the airport sidewalk outside of my baggage claim area. I was expecting Annette, however she had taken a day off and Ms. Lizette came instead. She found me rather than me finding her. She drove me and another girl, Tiffany to the clinic in Tijuana. The ride was pleasant in her White Mercedes. Crossing the border was a breeze. In fact we didn’t even stop in the medical lane We just drove straight thru.
When we arrived at the clinic, Lizette left and the nurses took over. They spoke little English, some more than others, but enough. We immediately undressed and put on a gown. We were in the room together but there was a curtain between us. They took our blood and hooked us up to an IV for fluids and later for pain and nausea meds. I was really quite surprised at how quickly this process was. They put stockings on us that were really tight but that’s the point. We just rested for a couple of hours and then it was surgery time. I went first. I volunteered to do so. I figured the sooner the better so I could start recovering.
They took me to another room for the procedure. The anesthesiologist who was very nice then gave me anesthesia. It took a few minutes and then I was out. I remember waking up with two nurses sitting in the room watching me. I guess they were waiting for me to wake up. I was then taken back to the original room. I had to use the bathroom a lot which was a pain due to the IV but I still went. I actually felt pretty good and was up walking around very quickly after surgery. The next day, however I felt bad. I was feeling the gas pains (thankfully I brought the Gas X strips) and just felt nauseous. My stomach hurt pretty bad and getting on and off the bed was painful. That afternoon we changed into our regular clothes and was taken to the recovery house. At this point, I felt bad and it hurt to walk to the car. The ride was bumpy as well. It was nice at the Recovery House though. We had our own room, furnished with a flat screen TV, recliner, desk, and bed. They also have free Wi-Fi. The best thing was the remote to the air conditioner. I had gotten hot at the clinic so it was nice to be in the nice cold room. I spent a lot of time sleeping and time on my computer. I watched a little TV. I felt hungry and ate some broth and drank some Gatorade provided by the nurse.
After a while I realized it was the pain meds that were making me nauseous, so I refused any more. I wish I had taken liquid or chewable Tylenol with me.
Day 3 I woke up feeling much better. In fact I was able to shower and wash my hair which made me feel even better. Before leaving we bought meds. They will give you Rxs that you can stop at a pharmacy and fill or you can buy from them. I chose to buy from them as the prices were good. I did not opt to buy the blood thinner it was $100 and I have had no issues with this before. I did get some pain meds (which also made me nauseous), B12 shots, and the antibiotics. I didn’t buy the nausea meds or the acid reducer because I had the same meds at home already. We were taken to the airport and dropped off right where we needed to be. We did have to stop at the border this time and show our passports. We were also asked if we were bringing anything back, including meds. We showed the meds and were told it was fine if they were for personal use. I arrived to the airport much earlier that my flight because Tiffany’s flight was earlier. This was fine with me though because she was afraid she would miss her flight and I did not have this worry. While waiting I got a pedicure and massage at Be Relax inside the airport. It was a nice treat. The flight home seemed long but it was not painful. I did get up to use the restroom so I could stretch my legs.
I had some pains in my stomach for about a week but then all was well. I returned to work the Monday after my surgery, so about a week off. My job is primarily a desk job though. I am 15 days post op and doing great. I am eating Soups, Jello, smoothies, and Protein Shakes with no problem. I don’t seem to have a problem with getting liquids in. I am one of those that can drink a lot in a short period of time. I have also tried some potato salad and ice cream with no issues.
I would highly recommend Longterm VSG for having the gastric sleeve. The price is amazing but so is the quality of care. In fact, I had conversations with Dr. Maytorena, the cardiologist, and the anesthesiologist the day of surgery. They will answer any of your questions and actually have time to talk to you. I am very happy with my decision.

So far waiting for my surgery, they took blood, I peed in a cup, I have my IV. The clinic is small but very efficient. Everyone is so nice.

Hi my name is Kiki im a RN im having my surgery July 13 with Dr. M at LTVSG

Yes! Apparently all of the surgeons are going to a conference that week or something like that. My sister talked to her boss and 2 people changed their vacation plans to accommodate July 13th! Amazing!!
So we're all set as of 8pm last night. Now the planning has begun - figuring out our new eating (or lack of eating) regime when we get home, using up the foods that will spoil before we can have them again, etc!
How are you doing? Any strange discoveries about what you can and cannot stomach? How much have you lost (if you don't mind me asking)? How are you feeling?

@@kelley74 @@Paulina Green
Thank you for the recommendations! It's really nice to be apart of such a supportive community, even as an online forum.
We checked out the other surgeons at Long Term and they seem to have incredible surgical backgrounds as well. @@Chrissyg - I think you're absolutely right! They seem very selective of the surgeons at this clinic.
Being from Canada there are a few pros and cons. Of course we have free healthcare which means I could go through the program and have this surgery done free of charge but the downside is that free healthcare = long wait times. In Calgary, it's 3-5 years and I would have to drive 3 hrs to Edmonton to get it done. That's why we've opted to pay for it ourselves and then claim medical expenses on our tax returns to recover some of the cost. With the Canadian dollar doing poorly right now plus the cost of flights and a hotel, we really needed a cost effective option. Long Term is just that and with surgeons who could do sleeves in their sleep and have lovely personalities, I thing we're pretty set on this clinic.
I'm feeling really excited again and hopefully we'll hear from Ruben shortly about which surgeons we'll have!
Some people may not realize it but the simplest post can be the turning point for a total stranger. This is a life-changing decision and knowing that anyone could be the catalyst for another person's journey is a pretty powerful concept!

I've been looking for a good surgeon in Tijuana and a person who was a patient of Dr. Maytorena recommended that I call him and find out for myself, I talked to Ruben and he gave me all the details of my surgery. I haven't decided if I'll have my surgery with Dr. Maytorena yet, but from what I've read and seen, he seems like an experienced doctor who specializes in different bariatric procedures. 

For those on the fence about Long Term, especially if it has to do with price, don't be. I was one of the first ones and am doing fabulous. I feel good and am learning to enjoy the foods I love just in a smaller version. You won't regret it and I am going to be making multiple videos on YouTube of how my new life journey began with all of the what, where, why, and hows.
Once I get them all posted, I'll come on here and share the link. Long Term is the way to go.

I also am a single mom with three kids. I was sleeved in march and regret nothing! I do not miss out on the fun aspects of eating out with friends, I still do it. Instead of stuffing my face I have one chicken wing and I'm good to go! I am saving soo much money by going out with friends now! Lol

I was at Long Term VSG last Monday (5/18)
Wow what an incredible experience
For those of you worried about the price v quality worry not. This is smart marketing for the "slow season". If you prefer to pay more Dr Maytorena performs surgery in Mexicali and charges $7000 there!
Everything was fabulous.

I also am a single mom with three kids. I was sleeved in march and regret nothing! I do not miss out on the fun aspects of eating out with friends, I still do it. Instead of stuffing my face I have one chicken wing and I'm good to go! I am saving soo much money by going out with friends now! Lol

I am really nervous and excited too. I am scheduled for June 2nd...less than 2 weeks away.I am a single mother to 3 kids and that's the scariest part for me. I pray everything will go smoothly.

My sister and I are both booked for July 9th with Dr. Maytorena... Terrified and excited all rolled into one. I keep having bad dreams that I'll regret not being able to eat for enjoyment anymore (because I'm familiar with how that feels when dieting). What I'm not familiar with, is feeling healthy, fit, energetic, and attractive. I suspect I'll prefer the latter and so will my son and husband.
Did anyone else feel like this was really surreal and like other people get WLS but not you???

I am feeling pretty good and the weightloss has slowed but the scales are still moving in the right direction so I am glad for that.
Finding the right food when it comes to solids has been a trial and error thing for me. Some of the things I try to eat don't work with my tummy but I was prepared for that. I think that it will vary from individual to individual. I also believe the most important thing is to take it day by day, food by food, and listen to your body.

Good morning everyone. Just to give you an update: my dad recovered super fast, there were no complications whatsoever. Very, very soon we'll expect to see changes... How are you doing?
I was reading Long Term's Facebook fanpage and I found this:
https://www.facebook.com/longtermvsg/posts/422351131280976?comment_id=423128507869905
Bibi Maal I invite you to verify his board certification in bariatrics by searching the Mexican Council of Surgery for the Obesity and Metabolic Diseases by going to its website http://cmcoem.org.mx/?q=cirujanos-certificados. You have to really research before choosing your doctor. Good luck.
Bibi Maal For less than $3000 you should be asking if he is using FDA approved supplies, staples, equipment. Almost sure they are using black market staples :S That is scary.... Before surgery on my father was performed, we did all research possible. My dad, a doctor himself, wouldn't risk anything by no means.
Dr. Maytorena is not a member of Mexico's Council of Obesity Surgery and Metabolic Diseases. But honestly that matters next to nothing. My dad understand that that's internal politics among surgeons and has nothing to do with the quality of the surgeon himself. Dr. Ariel Ortiz, Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and Dr. Rodolfo Wilhelmy are three of Mexico's hotshots at weight loss surgery... and they are not certified by that very Council. As for the staples and equipment, everything is of the highest quality. If it weren't, disaster would follow and we would've known from starters. Thankfully we have all of our reviews. We understand that in order for this program to be sustainable, Dr. Maytorena needs that people spread the word. That's why, in gratitude, I want to share whatever I know about Long Term VSG. The person with those "questions" seems to be someone working for another surgeon, btw...

The facility is small but organized and very clean. The doctors are very attentive and knowledgeable. The recovery center is fabulous, comfortable, clean and a nurse there 24/7 and a doctor there all night.

I was sleeved by LTVSG yesterday & everything has been awesome.

@@César Faz thank you for sharing!!! Im a nurse and so far I like what I've read about them and what they've said. Dr Maytorena's resume also states he was a trauma Dr for Red Cross for 3yrs... Which is pretty awesome!
Again thanks for sharing!!

Hi, everybody. I personally know the staff at Long Term VSG. My dad, who is also a doctor, just had surgery under Dr. Jorge Maytorena and we couldn't be more pleased. Yes, at first the price may sound a bit weird... After all, $2999 all inclusive? Most surgeons offering bariatric procedures at that price are either shady, dangerous or simply not board certified, which is equal to "scary". But we did our research and found out that these guys are aiming for something truly inspiring: to offer a chance for people that can't afford it. And yes, they do make a profit by cutting costs on unnecessary items and by performing the procedure in an outpatient surgery center. That doesn't mean that you are not getting high quality care... it just means that you're not paying for stuff you actually don't need. Surgeons also are ok with their cut being lower... they are still getting the fair share due to the high workload, even if they are not making as much as surgeons who operate at double or triple price.
Having said that, I don't know why would someone opt for any other bariatric program. This is the real thing. My father wouldn't have put his life at risk by no means... as I said before, he is himself a doctor and he could tell from starters that Dr. Maytorena and his staff were the real deal. Give them a call, you won't regret it.