Designer Edit

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!

Cal-K (calcium potassium) can help a lot with headaches and leg cramps (which can form a few days in).

I'm new here and to all of this. I have a date scheduled in July with Dr. Maytorena. I stumbled across this thread a couple of weeks ago when I was just beginning my research. One thing led very quickly to another and blam! I'm booked!! I really appreciate everything people have posted on here about their experiences so please keep posting. It means the world to me!!

I think that's a good idea. I've really started to settle into the idea that I'm getting surgery soon. It feels less weird since I wrote that post and while I felt like it was ages between making the decision and actually getting the surgery, I'm glad I've had this much time to let the idea marinate. Now I'm just looking forward to the changes it will bring. I dream about having the energy to dance all night at my husband's Christmas party in Banff and not dreading those really hot days where shorts and a tank top are the only thing a reasonable person should wear. I took the stairs at my friend's office yesterday and was so embarrassed that it took me a solid 5 minutes for my breathing to normalize. I won't miss this body I'm lugging around everyday! I'll miss the food - actually, I'll miss diet coke and drinking with my meals the most but I think that will pale in comparison to wearing high-heals and sitting comfortably in a movie theatre and not wondering if I'll get stuck if I go down the slide with my son.
I've done a lot of research since making the decision and even finally had the guts to look up stories of botched surgeries and people who have regrets. I've watch YouTube videos of people during their weight-loss and now I know to expect loose skin and to look a little older. I'm okay with those things because I know they're coming. I would be disappointed if I wasn't expecting them.
Anyway, do lots of research. Read blogs on Pinterest, watch videos on YouTube... Do whatever you have to do to not only feel educated, but to feel like you know what to expect. It's made a world of difference for me!

I think that's a good idea. I've really started to settle into the idea that I'm getting surgery soon. It feels less weird since I wrote that post and while I felt like it was ages between making the decision and actually getting the surgery, I'm glad I've had this much time to let the idea marinate. Now I'm just looking forward to the changes it will bring. I dream about having the energy to dance all night at my husband's Christmas party in Banff and not dreading those really hot days where shorts and a tank top are the only thing a reasonable person should wear. I took the stairs at my friend's office yesterday and was so embarrassed that it took me a solid 5 minutes for my breathing to normalize. I won't miss this body I'm lugging around everyday! I'll miss the food - actually, I'll miss diet coke and drinking with my meals the most but I think that will pale in comparison to wearing high-heals and sitting comfortably in a movie theatre and not wondering if I'll get stuck if I go down the slide with my son.
I've done a lot of research since making the decision and even finally had the guts to look up stories of botched surgeries and people who have regrets. I've watch YouTube videos of people during their weight-loss and now I know to expect loose skin and to look a little older. I'm okay with those things because I know they're coming. I would be disappointed if I wasn't expecting them.
Anyway, do lots of research. Read blogs on Pinterest, watch videos on YouTube... Do whatever you have to do to not only feel educated, but to feel like you know what to expect. It's made a world of difference for me!

For anyone on the fence about this surgery and for those who wish to share my journey, I have created some YouTube videos which you can find by searching ChrissyG and I also created a blog which can be found here....I started a blog a few weeks ago about my surgery experience. Please share it with anyone who wants to know how my experience has been and continues to be. This is a journey and I want to share mine with anyone who wants or needs guidance. My blog is https://chrissygallegos.wordpress.com/
I hope that by sharing my journey I can help or guide people.

@@Tonileigh
Good to know!! Thanks for the info.

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.

You just have to put down a $300 deposit which is refundable until 1 week before the surgery. You pay the balance when you get there. My sister and I are flying in on the same day as the surgery and flying home 2 days later. The first night we'll stay at the surgical clinic and the second night will be at a recovery house!

Hey guys, going in later today for surgery!!! I'll let you know how it goes.

You just have to put down a $300 deposit which is refundable until 1 week before the surgery. You pay the balance when you get there. My sister and I are flying in on the same day as the surgery and flying home 2 days later. The first night we'll stay at the surgical clinic and the second night will be at a recovery house!

Yaaayyyy! Another surgical buddy!! My sister and I are getting ours around dinner time (you'll probably already have had yours done by then?) I'm curious if they just stick us all in the same room the first night!!

You just have to put down a $300 deposit which is refundable until 1 week before the surgery. You pay the balance when you get there. My sister and I are flying in on the same day as the surgery and flying home 2 days later. The first night we'll stay at the surgical clinic and the second night will be at a recovery house!

Yeah, I couldn't find it either side a bit, glad to see it's back to! @@Tonileigh yeah! So glad you are recovering well!! I've started my pre-op diet. And am so worried about craving things post op. Praying I can stick 100% to this diet so post op won't be so drastic! In going in next Friday!! Excited but also kinda freaking out that it's so close!!

@@Chrissyg wow!!! I'm so, so happy for you!!!! That's amazing!! Congratulations!!! Wow. Can't wait till I get to say the same!! My date is finally getting close!!! I'm going in for my surgery June 12th. Giving up coffee is worrying me too, cause without it I don't function well at work. Wondering if the low acid coffee would work. I think even Folger's has an option called "simply smooth" though others do too. Hoping it all smooths out soon!
@@Designer Edit, in so happy for you guys! How awesome is that, that your sisters coworkers changed around for her! That's awesome!!! And keep us all posted!!

I am so glad I found this forum. I am hoping to hear back about being approved so I can set up a date. I am still researching the dickens out of this place, but I am hopeful! I look forward to hearing all of the after stories!

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?

Hi Jamie and thanks for responding. Right now, I am dealing with nausea by just dealing with it. Once I am up and moving around the nausea subsides. Breakfast is an issue for me and always has been. I am not an early morning eater. Due to my thyroid issues, its meds first thing and then I have to wait at least an hour before I can eat. Blah for that. So I force myself to have foods in the early part of the day although I am just not hungry. Which sometimes aggravates my nausea because I am just not hungry. This mainly because being hypothyroid, it takes my body what seems like a lifetime to digest my dinner from the night before.
The good part is that my job requires lots of walking around the place in which I burn on average about 400 calories a day just at work. That is more than half of the calories I take in a day.
Constipation is a huge issue for me but that isn't due to my surgery it is due to my hypothyroidism. It has been a huge issue for 13+ years since I was diagnosed. Taking 3 thyroid pills a day is all of the meds I want to deal with. LOL
@@Designer Edit
I am really proud of my accomplishment with my weight-loss especially because I do have hypothyroidism. If only the surgery could have reversed that issue for me, life would be grand. Even with my surgery, weight-loss will continue to be a slow thing for me. I am okay with that. I am working on my video blog on YouTube and I hope y'all take the time to watch them. If all goes as planned, they should be up and loaded by the beginning of next week.
I have never worked from home before and to be honest, I didn't take enough time even after surgery as I returned to work within days of my surgery. I plan to continue to make videos and be as involved with the bariatric world in all of my spare time plus I go to school full time online as well. I hope I'm able to keep myself occupied in my spare time and prevent boredom.
In July about the date of your surgery, I should be almost 5 months post-op. I had my surgery March 18th. I hope to be closer to my goal weight by then. I have it set at 160lbs, but I will base it on how I look and feel. Goal weights are good but I am more into getting to a weight to where I feel good. I think I'll know it when I get there. LOL

@@Chrissyg
 
Ah-mazing!! You must be feeling happy about your progress. Being under 200 sounds like a dream!! I have many milestones set for my journey and under 200 would also put me under my wedding weight! After that, 180 so I finally weigh less than my tall, slim, fit husband!!! Haha!
 
Congratulations on your success so far. I'm sure you've worked really hard for this.
 
I will have to give up diet coke, wine, and binge-eating which will be very difficult. Like you, if I also have to give up coffee, I will struggle.
 
Nausea in the morning is hard. When I was pregnant, I woke up nauseous every morning but had the luxury of rolling over and grabbing a granola bar from my bedside table. Let us know if you're able to solve the problem with an earlier dinner or if it turns out to be stomach acid!
 
Looking forward to more updates! You'll be about 4.5 months post op by July 13th?
 
And working from home is great - so flexible. If you haven't done it before, my biggest hiccup is getting bored with working and turning to the fridge for fun. I guess I'll have to find other things that will make me happy!! But I guess that's the point!

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!

@@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!

@@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!

Thanks @@Chrissyg
That means a lot to hear you say that! We haven't heard back yet on availability but your vote of confidence in the clinic, as a whole, is very reassuring!!
I can't wait to see your videos and hear more about your journey. Your earlier posts on this thread are what convinced me to even consider WLS as a viable option!!