michellemartin961

My insurance didn't cover any form of Bariatric surgery so I paid out of pocket $4250 plus airfare and went to Tijuana Mexico through Medical Tourism. Best experience ever! Michelle

My daughter and I had our VSG done in Tijuana through Medical Tourism and we had such a fantastic experience! My daughter went 2/26/14 and I did mine 5/26/15. The doctors and hospital staff were very gracious and took such great care of us. The liaison for Medical Tourism on both trips took us shopping and checked in frequently to make sure we had our medications too. I know there is a concern regarding personal safety in Tijuana but at both facilities we felt very safe as well as at the hotels we stayed at. It should be a really good experience for you and I wish you the best of luck! Michelle

Update... HW 250 SW 232 CW 190 GW 125-135 22 weeks out and lost 42 lbs since surgery and a whopping 60 lbs since 3/14/15 prior to surgery! How is everyone else doing from the May 26, 2015 sleevers? Michelle

I just had to post after reading this thread. I was engaged June 2014 after 3 yrs of dating. That ended Oct 2014. I had my surgery (sleeve) 5/26/15. I met my soulmate online 8/1/15. Our roadblock is he lives in New York, I in Texas. He plans on retiring here by 1/2017. We see each other every 2 months and are on the phone with each other every day for hours. We both know it will take work to keep our love strong and we will make it through this tough time because we are what the other had searched for all our lives! We know we are meant to be together and are planning on marrying next year. Don't throw in the towel but don't get trapped in waiting forever either. Distance does not have to be a death knell for your relationship but it will take effort on both your parts. I wish you the best and hope things work out for both of you. Michelle

All I can say is WOW!!!! Personally I think you are where you should be and don't need to lose even 5 pounds. I hope I look that fantastic when I hit my goal! Michelle

I'm at 22 weeks today. HW 250 March 14, 2015 SW 232 May 26, 2015 CW 190 October 26, 2015 GW 125-135 (May 2016?) That's 42 lbs since surgery and 60 lbs total gone for good! Terribly slow to be sure but I'm not unhappy about it because those pounds are gone forever!!!! Michelle

My name is Michelle. I'm 53 coming up on 54 next month. I had my sleeve 5/26/15 with a HW 250, SW 232, CW 190, and GW 125-135. I'm a divorced mother of 2 who have given me 10 grandchildren between them. I've been divorced 20 years and left the marriage weighing in at 115 but according to the ex was still too fat! Through the years and several failed relationships I packed on 135 pounds. I was a chunky child and my weight yo-yo'd through the years into adulthood. I became a nurse in my 40's and even became engaged last year which ended 4 months later. Needles to say my life has had its ups and downs but my decision to have the sleeve done came a bit over a year after my daughter had her's done. She went from 219 to 130 in about 8 months. I'm so proud of her!!!!! Now I am with a man who is my true soulmate! This relationship has its own trials as he is in New York and I'm in Texas. He flies out here every 2 months and will retire 1/2017. He loves me the way I am but is very supportive of my weight loss goals if it's what makes me happy. To those still in the process of approval don't sell yourself short....this decision is difficult but so very worth it in the long run! I wish I had done it sooner but to be honest it wouldn't have been for me back then but to make others happy with my appearance. Now it's for me, my health, and that's what truly matters. I wish each of you the best of luck in your own journey!

Slow progress for me too. Sleeved 5/26/15 HW 250 SW 232 CW 201-203 depends on the day GW 125-135 I hold weights for a couple of weeks then lose a few pounds then hold there a couple of weeks again. I get my Protein in but not as good with my Water. Oh well, better slow than not at all ????????

My daughter's surgery was by Dr. Cabrera when he was working with Medical Tourism. Wonderful man.....you are in excellent hands!

???????????? At first I was like whoa then I was like she is really out there then my last thought was oh this is "tongue in cheek" humor! I've seen and read your other posts so I knew you weren't being serious ????. To those who did not realize this wasn't intended to belittle WLS please check out other threads that Shustar had posted to and know she is serious about her journey. Michelle

Seana I had to chuckle at "How long does it take to eat 4 tablespoons?" For me it takes 1-1 1/2 hours when at work. At home the usual 20 minutes. I'm stalled again due to this as well as not getting enough Water in (worse at work better at home) and the daily vomiting when I eat soft foods. I'm working backwards to improved situation. Michelle

I'm 6 weeks out and on my 2nd stall so I hear you! Mine is probably due to not enough fluids due to my work and the stress of that on top of getting sick when I eat any soft food. Back to clear/full liquids especially at work to stretch my shrunken tummy out enough to hold 1/8 to 1/4 cup of food in a few weeks. My job keeps me from being able to eat over 20 minutes (usually takes 1-1/2 hrs to consume meals even yogurt) on top of the 30/30 Fluid rule so not drinking Water for 2-2 1/2 hours then it's time for my next meal. Going back to work has stressed me out and now I can't eat the way I'm supposed to equals nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, dehydration, poor nutrition, even smaller stomach, exhaustion, plateau, and more stress! I've been a mental basket case blubbering at the least provocation and full of rage the next second! Not what I expected at all but per posts here on BP, my daughter, and my best friend this is normal and will pass. I just want to be able to eat food not just exist on liquids forever and I too want to lose more than 16 pounds....I have between 81-91 pounds to hit my goal. Sigh.....this too shall pass! ???????????? Michelle

I'm right there with you and at 5 weeks out! A food goes down good one day then makes me sick another. I get sick at work which is awful because I'm s telephone triage nurse and when it hits during a call everything goes on hold. I'm so tired of it I guess I will just make Greek yogurt with added Protein powder my only food. It hurts to be constantly throwing up and drains whatever energy I have in the process. No I don't regret having VSG but I thought I would have an easier time progressing to regular food. Now I just don't want to eat and risk vomiting each meal....yogurt stays down no problem. Go figure! ???????????? Michelle

My NUT told me my goals are 1000-1100 calories daily. Carbs at 550 calories = 137.5 g Protein 330 calories = 82.5 g Fat 220 calories = 24g Water 64oz daily I hit my protein goals pretty consistently and part of that is adding a scoop of chocolate flavored protein to either Dannon Fit & Light Greek yogurt 80 calories or Yoplait 100 calorie Greek yogurt. Both are in vanilla no fruit added. Gives me a whopping 35-38g protein in one sitting! Now I'm on soft foods the remaining protein comes from seafood or chicken as well as legumes. Water is harder because of the 30/30 rule which in my case is more like 30/90 because I don't seem to digest very well and 30 minutes after a meal is guaranteed to make it come back up. I can only safely get in 1/8-1/4 cup of meat in each meal (I measure each meal with real meat in it because more comes back up ????). Funny, the yogurt never comes back up so that has become my go to staple when I have rough days! Hope this helps. Michelle

Wow that is fantastic!!!! 91 lbs in just over 5 months! What's your secret? I'm just 4 1/2 weeks out and down 15lbs from my SW 232. Just cleared with no restrictions but no abdominals until 6 weeks out. I'm working out doing cardio 4 days a week and 2 days strength training upper body. I'm 5'3" Michelle

I agree...I can't take in more than 1-1.5oz of soft protein at 4 weeks without it coming back up in most cases regardless of how slow I eat or chew. It hasn't helped that I'm going through a breakup either. Now food isn't my comforting friend (thank goodness!) but instead is only a have too for nutritional means only! Food commercials actually disgust me now! I live alone so don't have to worry about watching others eat or having to cook for other people which does help. Greek yogurt with added Protein powder is my mainstay at this point for between 35-40g protein dependent on the protein powder each serving. My daughter and friend tell me this is temporary (the inability to tolerate soft proteins). Like you, I have no regrets about surgery just worries about nutrition and getting my fluids in! Michelle

VSG 5/26/15. 5'3" 53 years old HW 250 SW 232 with 12 lb Fluid gain =244 CW 219 (6/19/15) GW 124-134 I stalled at 221 for 2 weeks but upped my Protein and lost the 2 lbs to my CW. Should be on soft foods but keep having episodes of vomiting so back tracking to full liquids. I manage 50-100g protein and between 32-64oz Water. Have had days of dehydration but did not have to go to the ER....forced fluids as I used to be an ER nurse ????. Hoping to be released for work and full exercise 6/23/15. Michelle

I'm going to ask my doctor the same thing Tuesday. I'm 4 weeks out now and my trainer is anxious to get his hands on me ????????????????. Of course it's back to basics and baby steps again since I haven't worked out with him as of 11/2014 but I want to get in shape, tighten up skin, and lose fat/lbs with my new little tummy! How is it going with you now? Michelle 6/23/15 update PCP said ok for cardio and upper body strength training but wait until 6 weeks out of abdominals other than plank or elliptical bike to avoid pressure to sutures and staples. Going for 4 days cardio and 2 days strength training starting this week!

My daughter (who has dropped 85 lbs s/p VSG 2/25/14) and my best friend (lost 74 lbs s/p VSG 10/14/13 and gained 25 lbs back) are my support and police my eating 26 days post VSG! I value the advice of the veteran sleevers on this site and understand the genuine concern each expressed knowing the original poster was eating food way too soon at 5 days post op. After all I have 2 people myself that pull no punches in their advice or brandishments! I hope you are able to follow your NUT's and counselor's recommendations so you can be successful in the use of this tool for your own weight loss @@justbeingme1972! Good luck! Michelle

I've been divorced 20 years. I lost weight to please my husband and it did not work. Was down to 117 lbs and he felt I should be at 100-105. Other men in my life freaked when I gained weight with them too. Moral of this story.....only do this for yourself....the man in your life should not make demands and "change" you in order for him to be happy. You won't be happy either, trust me! I made the decision to have the VSG after years of research and coming to terms with why I gained the weight. I don't want anymore knee or back pain. I want to get off Metformin, manage my asthma better, live longer, and be healthier for me! If someone in my life benefits from that....great! If not....oh well his loss! Please think about this and be very honest with yourself. That is the best advice I can give you. Michelle

I thought I was going crazy because food turns me off too at this point ????. Good to know I'm not the only one! I make myself eat in order to get my Protein in but I find if I ignore feelings of hunger a minute or two that feeling disappears. I worry more about when I go back to work next week....what will I be able to eat? I can't just run to the bathroom if it doesn't agree with me and throwing up in the trashcan next to my desk isn't appealing at all ????. I work nights triaging patients via telephone and often by myself so the fears are valid. No one said this would be easy but I hope it isn't more difficult than it has been with my inability to transition to food from liquids at this point! Michelle

My surgery was in Mexico and I have an open line of contact with my nutritionist, my surgeon, and my internal medicine doctor. If I have a question or concern I just email them or I can Skype with them. I don't know what company you went through or what doctor you used, but Try reaching out with your questions. Hopefully they will respond. Good luck! I do have contact information with both the doctor and nutritionist from my surgery in Mexico. I shot off and email to the NUT pending a response. I was just curious as to if anyone else had run into this issue as I want to really use this tool to best advantage when I go full force into training but keep within best guidelines per the experts in my medical team. There are so many conflicting views on this in the books on VSG, nutrition, and postings it's all confusing ????. Thank you for the reminder ????????. Michelle

I'm 5'3" HW 250 SW 232 CW 219 57 years old. My VSG was 5/26/15 so 26 days out. My daughter was 4'11" HW 219 CW 134 and is 34 years old. Her VSG was 2/25/14. Michelle

I'm using this app to track Protein and Fluid intake as well as carbs and fats. Met with my trainer to discuss when I can start back doing more than the treadmill and elliptical bike. He was very concerned about me getting only 500-600 calories daily. He feels I need over 1,000 in order to lose and not create health issues. Anyone else with this problem? I don't have any clear cut directions for this as my surgery was in Mexico. I will follow up with my PCP this coming Tuesday and ask her. Michelle

HW 250 3-24-15 SW 232 gained 12 lbs IV fluids (244) CW 219 Total lost 31 lbs (13 lbs from SW/25 lbs with the Fluid gain) VSG 5/26/15 5'3" 53 yoa