dml77

so exciting, I'm a Tijuana post op sleever. I had my surgery Sept. 26th 2014. I started at 217 pounds and weight in at 135 pounds. I have lost 82 pounds total in 10 months, and could not be happier. You will love your results, the journey is stuff not gonna lie, but it is so worth it.
Good Luck and CONGRATS!!!!!!!

There is always that person who will tell you to 'just stop eating and do some exercise'. If only it was that easy. I wish it was!!!

Im scheduled with Dr. Altamirano November 21. Super nervous but excited at the same time .

I told everyone about my surgery. The only person who generated negative comments was my mother. Even after all the weight loss, she was still negative. I suspect the reason why was because she was dependent on me for help in her old age and didn't want anything to interfere with that.

That's a tough situation right there, Karl.
They have their reasons for feeling the way they do......and you have your reasons for going through with the surgery.
Your reasons trump theirs.
Your long term health is your motivator.
Tough situation but I'll bet it is a temporary one. Once they see how healthy and vital you become, they will have to support your decision.
Many people see our desire to have surgery as a "short cut". For most of us, though, it's a tool that we came to employ after a lot of hard work and effort on our part, only to have difficulties continue.
Even with tons of family support.....or lack of this support......to a large degree it's a battle we have to fight on our own. Se have to reach the point where we decide to have the surgery. We have to be the ones to hold ourselves accountable each day...before and after the surgery. Sure it helps to know folks are in your corner.....but it's you that's in the ring.
I think that in many ways, you are more destined for success than others may be. Some of us decided to pursue the surgery based on support (pressure) from our family members. It's not until the 11th hour of the process that we have that gut check.....is this what I want. No, you've made your call on your own and are committed to it.
I'm betting they will come around. Your health won't be compromised by their lack of support now, though.
Best wishes, Karl. You got this !

My dad and step-mom are totally against it. They just think I need to stop eating and exercise. If only it was that simple. Hang in there and just make a decision what is best for you knowing the risks that go with that decision. I'm going Mexico for my surgery.

My dad and step-mom are totally against it. They just think I need to stop eating and exercise. If only it was that simple. Hang in there and just make a decision what is best for you knowing the risks that go with that decision. I'm going Mexico for my surgery.

So I have made it through surgery and the first week of post-op. It hasn't been all sunshine but the worst of it is over. I go into a little more detail on my blog The MGB and Me.



Thanks everyone for the well wishes and I look forward to hearing and sharing as I go along the path to my new life.

Just got the call from my surgeon's office-I got approved!!! They just received the fax from the insurance company giving approval. I will coordinate with the scheduling office within a week. I just got the butterflies in my stomach. I'm nervous as heck, excited, and terrified all at once. In the back of my mind, I was just waiting for the insurance company to deny, as I have a BMI of 38, but with comorbides(high blood pressure and type-1 diabetes). I am so happy that I get the opportunity to use this wonderful tool that will help my path to becoming healthy!!!!

@@dml77 I too went to Mexico as a self pay. Good luck.

Hello I am a Register Nurse (17 years Dialysis RN) I want to share my pre op experience so far, I filled a form through Bariatric Pal to get information regarding the surgery and process, I was interested in Dr. Carlos Alatamirano Cano, in less than an hour, Dr. A wrote back and asked if I want to skype or face time so we can talk about the process ( at that point I haven't give any $ or said I would do anything) he spent like an hour with me and was very professional and knowledgable. I booked my surgery with him 2 days after our conversation, after that we exchanged a few emails and FaceTime also, I feel very confident that the care I will get there is going to be excellent, so confident that I am going by my self...don't get me wrong the process is nerve wracking but, I will be nervous even if the surgery was in USA. I feel sad for those that died and their families, unfortunately we are all at risk of death when we are going for any type of surgery, even with small and simple procedures. I wish all of you getting surgery here in U.S. or MX best luck and health.

Temple, Tx. Self-pay. Going to Mexico. Dr. Altamirona.

Got my surgery on Monday the 6th it's the 8th now and get out of hospital today. So looking forward to starting my new life and lose wgt to live a better lifestyle. ..

The WLS Cookbook for Dummies lists the following vegetarian recipes: fresh spinach salad with
roasted corn, garlic and herb tofu salad, tabbouleh with avocado, smoked gouda stuffed peppers, tofu mexi-corn quiche, easy cheesy navy bean bake, hearty moussaka with Beans, portobello
burger, and black bean veggie burger. There is also a vegetable side dish section. I assume
that you can not eat some of these due to the food phase that you're in but let me know if you want any of the full recipes. I'll copy and send them to you.

My name is Briana and I'm new here. I've been having some hard time coming up with vegetarian recipes that don't hurt my pouch. I had roux en y on March 16,2015

@@nervous nana. At least i know im not the only one feeling this way

Okay, it sounds cute, but it’s a serious question. If you want to lose weight or keep it off and get healthy, you need a plan. The old saying, “Fail to plan, and you plan to fail” could have been intended specifically for weight loss surgery patients. Fail to plan after Weight Loss Surgery (WLS), and you’re planning for plateaus or regains and possible complications.
What should you be planning? You don’t want to become fixated on planning, but there are a few key areas to be aware of. These are some of the questions you might ask yourself to make sure you’re planning enough. Each question is followed by the pitfall you might fall into if you don’t think ahead.


Where are you shopping, and what are you buying?
Possible pitfall: Finding an empty fridge and opting for McDonald’s or pizza delivery, or going to the supermarket without a list and buying whatever looks good – which usually doesn’t include lettuce and chicken breast.
A solid answer identifies when you’ll shop, and it includes a list of Proteins and other essentials, such as vegetables, fruit, healthy starches, and healthy fats. Check the list to make sure it has enough healthy foods for the meals and Snacks that will get you through to the next shopping trip.
What are you having for Breakfast tomorrow?
Possible pitfall: Being so rushed you grab a pair of Pop-Tarts on your way out, get a bagel at the coffee place, or get to work so hungry you sneak in a doughnut from the reception area.
A solid answer is realistic, so if you know you’ll be in a rush, it doesn’t involve a lot of preparation. You may want to get your breakfast ready the night before, even if it’s as simple as putting some cottage cheese and a few slices of turkey in a portable container with a tight-fitting lid.
What are you ordering for lunch?
Possible pitfall: Going out with the gang and ordering what they do…anything from a burger and fries to Pasta primavera.
A solid answer considers where you’re likely to find yourself at lunch and what’s on the menu. Identify your source of Protein and a vegetable beforehand and stick to your pre-made decision when you order. If you end up going out unexpectedly, look for salads, grilled chicken and fish, and sides of vegetables and fruit.
What are you making for dinner?
Possible pitfall: Ordering in or getting take-out, or falling back on a high-calorie, low-nutrition quick fix such as macaroni and cheese or taco kits.
A solid answer identifies your source of protein and vegetables so you can figure out what you need to buy and how much preparation is necessary.
When, where, and what is today’s workout?
Possible pitfall: Running out of time if you haven’t scheduled it into your day, or chickening out of the workout if you haven’t quite made the commitment to a specific exercise.
A solid answer says when you’ll work out, whether you’ll do it at home, at the gym, or somewhere else, and what clothes, shoes, and other equipment you need to bring with you, if any. Your answer should also include what you’ll be doing, whether it’s 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill plus 15 minutes of lifting weights, going to a Zumba class, or pulling weeds and sweeping the driveway.
What will you snack on at the party?
Possible pitfall: Eating whatever happens to look good, and ending up with not enough protein, too many calories, too much fat and sugar, and possibly nausea or dumping syndrome.
A solid answer doesn’t depend on what the host may serve. Your plan may be to bring some hard-boiled eggs or beef Jerky for yourself, plus a large green salad, vegetable skewers, or fruit salad for you and the rest of the guests to enjoy.
How will you answer your mother when she offers you a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie (your favorite) or the entire batch?
Possible pitfall: Feeling guilty for refusing or being caught off guard, and accepting the cookie or batch.
A solid answer includes a polite refusal, possibly with an explanation, such as, “No, thank you. My doctor has advised me not to eat cookies.” If you can’t avoid taking the batch home as a “gift,” don’t be afraid to throw it out. Nobody likes to throw away food, but if you’re going to, better to throw it away in the trash can than in your body.
How are you going to feel at the end of the day?
Possible pitfall: Let doubt creep in, and you may be setting yourself up for bad decisions with eating and exercise.
A solid answer is positive and confident with no room for self-doubt. At the end of a day of good eating and a bit of exercise, you may be tired, but satisfied, proud, and a little lower in weight. Staying positive and optimistic sets you up for good decision making without even thinking about it.
You always hear about the importance of planning for weight loss surgery success, but that advice may seem confusing if you’re not a natural planner, or even if you’re just not used to thinking so much about your WLS-related habits. Know the answers to these questions, and your planning skills can help you lose more weight and stay healthy.

Is your weight loss history standing between you and your current success after weight loss surgery? If you’re not getting the results you want, there’s a good chance it is. In Part 1 of the series, we brought up the idea of learning from your past, not running from it. Now, we take a look at a few more ways your past might have brought you down, and what you might be able to about it.


Problem: Depending on Others
This one’s not always so obvious, but it may be keeping you from reaching your full potential in weight loss and, frankly, in life. Of course, it’s normal and healthy to depend on others for some things. Maybe you rely on your spouse to pick up the kids from school, and you depend on your parents to parents to take care of your house when you’re on vacation.
But what about the important things? What about your health? Do you take full responsibility for it? Or do you do what you did as a kid – depend on someone to make sure you had the food you needed and expect your parents or the doctor would make you better if you got sick or hurt?
You’re still living in the past if you have not taken control of your health. You are the one who needs to purchase and prepare healthy food; set aside time to work out; eat the right foods to avoid complications from surgery. Others can help, but you need to be in charge.
Problem: Looking for the Quick Fix
If you look for a quick fix, you’ll probably find one. You can lose weight quickly using any number of strategies, and you’ve probably used them all from juicing to low-carb to low-fat. The problem with quick fixes is they’re quick to break, as you’ve found out when you went off the diets and gained the weight back. After WLS, don’t look for the quick fix. Be patient, and know you’re in it for the long haul.
Looking for the quick fix can be something obvious that you recognize in yourself, but it is not always. Looking for the quick fix can be as subtle as subconsciously thinking of what and how much you eat as a temporary diet or thinking of your exercise program as something with a start and finish.
You may be subconsciously looking for the quick fix if you’re unwilling to sign up for a long-term gym membership, or to invest in a kitchen scale or bariatric surgery recipe book. If you feel these things aren’t worthwhile, think about why. Is it because you don’t honestly see yourself needing them for long because you’re not really invested long-term into weight loss surgery success?
Problem: Not Building Your Support System
Many obese people struggle with late-night eating. Even if they are able to make it through the rest of the day eating reasonably healthy, night-time binges can strike furiously. If you weren’t able to overcome them previously, it may have been because you did not build enough of a support system.
This time, don’t underestimate the power of your support system. Include people, such as friends and family, as well as alternate plans. You can set up many layers of protection against late-night overeating. Don’t store junk food at home, and don’t drive home past trigger spots like drive-through burger joints. Have two or three friends or family members whom you can call or talk to if you’re about to make a bad choice, and choose a pre-determined activity to do before eating, whether you decide to blog, sew, or take a walk. Also, have plenty of ready-to-eat healthy food around so it’s easier to grab than any junk.
Problem: Lack of Self-Confidence
Have you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? You think something will happen a certain way, so you act as though it will happen that way, and then it does.
For weight loss, that can be a bad thing if you let it. “I know my diet’s going to fail, so I’m not going to bother weighing my food.” Then, guess what – you don’t lose weight! “I knew I wouldn’t lose weight.”
But self-fulfilling prophecies can be just as positive as they can negative, especially if you have self-confidence. “I know WLS will work for me, so I’m going to hit my Protein goals and weigh my portions every meal.” When you don’t even let doubt creep in, you can be more empowered to follow the behaviors that lead to success.
Weight loss surgery can be a fantastic tool for weight loss, but it’s only as good as you make it. To make it more powerful, don’t run from your personal history. Recognize your past, identify what went wrong, and fix it. Make sure this time really is different.

Hi Everyone,
I just got my stomach sleeved a week ago. I'm in phase one of my post-op diet, having crazy "head hunger" issues, and I thought I should do something productive instead of thinking about food I can't eat. So I'm going to explain how I got the sleeve in Osaka, Japan. This might be of interest in case you are (like me) a foreigner living in Japan, or if you are interested in how the Japanese pre-op procedures differ from those in other countries.
Finding a Bariatric Surgeon (Nov, 2013)
This was a hard part. If you've ever been to Japan, you've probably noticed that most Japanese people don't have significant weight issues. Obese Japanese people are very rare, as are foreigners in general. Because of this, I always assumed that if I were to get the sleeve surgery, I'd have to go to another country to get it done, which seemed really cost-prohibitive. Although I've wanted the sleeve for years, I labored under this impression (been in Japan almost a decade), but it turns out that's not the case. There are surgeons here who do the sleeve procedure.

My employer mandates an annual physical, and every year the doctor told me useless things like, "did you know you are overweight?" and "have you tried taking 20-30 minute walks each night?" I don't blame the doctor--average checkup doctors simply don't encounter fat people very often, and they probably haven't studied up on options to help obese people. But because I knew that I'd be told these things again at the annual checkup, I googled "gastric sleeve Japan" and found an obscure article about a team of bariatric surgeons doing the procedure in Kyushu. I printed out the article, and before the doctor told me to try exercise, I gave him the printout. "I want this," I said. He looked at the article, told me he'd research it and get back to me. Less than a week later, he told me that, right here in Osaka, there is a bariatric team that does the sleeve. He gave me a referral, and a week later I had my first appointment.

If you live in Japan and would like to find a surgeon, that's the way to do it. It would seem that living in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyushu would be easiest, but if you live elsewhere you might still find a bariatric surgeon near you.

Meeting the Bariatric Team (Dec, 2013)
I went to Osaka University Hospital in December to meet the doctors. I had no idea what to expect, and I tried to lower my expectations by expecting disappointment. The surgery will be too cost-prohibitive because everything in Japan is expensive, or, They won't be willing to work with me because my Japanese ability will interfere with vital communication. Turns out I was wrong about both of those things. The head of the bariatric team told me it'd be possible, but only after a long wait--Osaka University Hospital mostly uses its Operating Rooms for severe cancer patients, and would-be sleevers often get their surgery dates abruptly postponed.

As for the costs, I was told that my insurance would cover the medicine and hospital stay, but wouldn't cover the surgery. This was disappointing to hear, but when I asked him what the surgery would cost, he told me they generally charge about 500,000¥ (~$5000). That's not too bad, I thought. I also learned that the surgery cost could be split up into monthly payments, making it even more manageable. This was really encouraging news.

Next I had to do an exercise test (to see how quickly my breathing rate would rise), a spirograph lung capacity test, a pee test, a CT scan, and countless blood tests and x-rays. They also weighed me at 168 kg (370 pounds). This was an issue--their medical machines are only safe for people weighing a maximum of 150 kg (330 pounds). This was a depressing irony--I was too fat to qualify for a surgery for people who are too fat. Instead of giving up on me, they gave me an appointment with a local nutritionist and told me to get my weight down.

Working with the Nutrition Doctor (Dec 2013-March 2014)
The NUT did an ultrasound on my heart, revealing that the veins and arteries of my heart were more swollen and large because of my size. He gave me a dieting book (to add to my collection of diet books) that he did primary research for when he studied nutrition in America. Although I was happy the book was in English, I wasn't terribly impressed by its insights--nothing revelatory.

But the NUT also prescribed me Sanorex, an amphetamine designed to suppress my appetite and stimulate my metabolism. This pill was very effective--instead of getting hungry, I'd just get agitated and jumpy, but small salads left me full and my carb-cravings went way down. Unfortunately, the laws in Japan prohibit doctors from prescribing Sanorex for a period longer than three months in order to prevent people from getting addicted (three months on, three months off, three months on = OK).

I didn't want my weight yo-yoing with some diet pill while I danced my way closer to 150 kg, so I worked hard and, by the beginning of March, got my weight down to 154 kg. The bariatric surgeon thought this was close enough, and on March 19, phoned me and told me my surgery had been scheduled for March 26.

Surgery Preparation (March 24-26)
My brother who lives in America also got the sleeve two years prior, with very good results. But from conversations with him, I knew that the typical procedure in America is to fast for two weeks prior to surgery. I thought this two week fast would be used in Japan, but nope. Perhaps this is the way all over Japan, or perhaps it's a policy of Osaka University Hospital due to their occasional postponement of sleeve surgeries in favor of more serious cancer surgeries other patients have.

What I did have to do was admit myself to the hospital two days prior to the surgery. The American way of doing this procedure with just a night or two in the hospital is something that Japanese hospitals don't. They prefer much longer hospital stays--this could be an effort to get more money, or it could be due to extreme risk-aversion that is a characteristic of Japanese culture. They wanted me there two days before the surgery, and seven days after. I was willing to do two days before (especially in lieu of a two-week fast), but seven days after seemed a bit excessive to me. They agreed to shorten the post-op time to four days.

I checked in Monday morning on March 24, and they hooked me up to an IV which "fed" me for the next two days. During that time, I did more X-rays, more blood tests, and an attempted gastroscopy which the doctor aborted because I couldn't stop gagging on the camera, even with heavy anesthetic. (I asked if they were going to try the gastroscopy again with heavier anesthesia or possibly even sedation, and the doctor said "nah," leading me to wonder why they even tried in the first place.)

They also took me to the OR, where they tested me on the table. Turns out they weren't kidding about a 150 kg weight-limit. The table was designed for smaller Japanese bodies, and they had to do lots of adjustments so that it would accommodate my frame.

Finally, the night before the surgery, there was a big "informed consent" meeting, with the head surgeon, anesthesiologist, head nurse, several other doctors, and a NUT. They even brought in a translator who worked in a different hospital two hours south. During the meeting, the surgeon explained the risks of the surgery and the NUT went over my post-op diet instructions. He also gave me a choice of bougie--36 or 40. I picked 36, asked a lot of questions, signed a bunch of forms, and that concluded the meeting.

Afterward, back in my bed, the nurse shaved my stomach, gave me a potent laxative and, after my eventful bowel movement, a sleeping pill. I woke up the next morning around six. The nurse gave me an enema (first time for that--hopefully the last time). After that, I was escorted to the OR, where they strapped me onto their modified table and sedated me.
The End (of the beginning…)
And that concludes my epic account of the events leading up to my gastric sleeve surgery in Japan. Tomorrow, when I feel similar "head hunger issues," I'll probably write a similar recap of the week following the surgery, only I'll put it in the "post-op" section. I realize this post was likely too long and too detailed for most people, but hopefully some people found it interesting and informative. Perhaps others were able to use it to help fall asleep. I confess to being self-indulgent: writing all this down helped me stop obsessing about the food I won't be able to eat for a long time.

if you haven't--start using My Fitness Pal and track Protein, carbs and sugar. That has helped me stay on track. I'm at almost 1 1/2 years out. I can tell when I haven't been as diligent as I should so I log back into my fitness pal and get back on track. I don't track calories, only Protein, carbs and sugars.
I think exercising helps me stay focused as well.
You can do it!

God willing, getting sleeved on August 17th!

Hang in there..you can do it.

IT is extremely unfortunate there are doctors like this in Mexico (but I am sure they are everywhere) who are tarnishing the reputation of ALL foreign doctors. Mexico has earned their spot on the map for Medical Tourism and have their industry drug through the mud because of one selfish surgeon is unacceptable.

I am currently 6days pre op. I had a hernia repair as well as the VSG. I have only been tolerating Water and power aid zero with Carafate (for my reflux) for the last few days. I have been really tired and irritated because nothing is going as what I had planned....Went to smoothie King today and picked this Protein Powder up because a good friend said it was one of her favorites. Put two scoops with 8-10oz of water with ice and blended it up....omg....she wasn't kidding!!! This tastes like chocolate cake batter...I have seen this on line where you can order it off Amazon but this is REALLY GOOD! I think I have found my heaven in a cup for today! (Actually had to stand up and I could get down 6oz of it!!) Just wanted to share!!

I chose the sleeve because I didn't want all the cutting and rearranging of my insides. I also didn't want malabsorption issues. With the sleeve, they removed a significant portion of my stomach and the portion that made me hungry. I haven't had any malabsorption issues, my GERD is gone and I don't have dumping issues. I'm losing slowly (about 3pounds per week). And I'm happy with that. Hopefully I won't have to have a Tummy Tuck because of all the loose skin.