biginjapan

Are you drinking ready made shakes, or are you making your own from powder? I've never liked the ready made ones, although I could tolerate them pre-op. Post-op, no way. However, I make my own shakes with Protein Powder, and they are so much better! FWIW, I'm using Syntrax powders, both vanilla bean/chocolate torte for regular shakes made with unsweetened almond milk and either unsweetened greek yogurt or half a block of tofu to thicken them up and add some extra Protein. I also often add PB2 powder to the chocolate shakes because yum. I use a variety of their "juice" type nectar powders that mix really well with Water. I'm 2.5 months post-op, but I've had no problem with my handmade shakes either pre- or post-op.

Fantastic! You look great and I love your new haircut!

@I'm Changing 4 Me
I created a spreadsheet to help me figure out what I wanted. Personally, I contacted each and every one of these companies/doctors. How are you going to know if you like them unless you deal with them directly? I think in reality, you have to go through some kind of coordinator. Do you expect your surgeon to be dealing with email and phone queries all day? (In fact, out of all these doctors, the only one I was in contact with was Dr. Illan - and while he seemed very nice, the wi-fi connection was so bad I have no idea if he actually answered any of my questions). So, while it would be nice to talk to them, it's not always possible. However, in some cases the coordinator will contact the doctor if you have any specific questions.
This is far from a full list, but based on this, and other sites, I felt that these were the most consistently well-regarded companies and surgeons. As I've mentioned in other posts, I think the biggest reason for price differences are the reputation of the doctor, the hospital used, and the hotels used.
Unless otherwise mentioned, all these doctors are in Tijuana, and these are quotes I got for a Gastric Sleeve (prices may vary depending on your personal health conditions):
Bariatric Pal Team MX: Dr. Jalil Illan ($4399)
Endo Bariatric (in Piedras Negras): Dr. Alvarez ($8900)
Mexico Bariatric Center: Dra. Louisiana Valenzuela ($5500) and Dr. Ismael Cabrera ($4995)
Obesity Control Center: Dr. Ariel Ortiz ($6500-$9000)
Pompeii Surgical: Dr. Sergio Quinones ($4500)
Ponce Bariatric: Dr. jaime ponce de leon ($5000)
Tijuana Bariatrics: Dr. Fernando Garcia ($4250)
WLSC: Dr. Ramos Kelly ($4870-$7710)
Another option seems to be Trinity Medical, also promoted by a pretty active member here, but unfortunately I didn't come across that company until after I had made my decision.
In my particular case, I live in Japan so unlike most of you in the US and Canada, I have some pretty long international flights, and my pear-shaped bottom can no longer squeeze into a 17" economy seat. I might have done that one-way, but I definitely did not want to be squeezed in for 14 hours after major abdominal surgery. Knowing that I would have to buy a business class seat on an international flight meant that I couldn't afford the more expensive doctors - so anything over $6000 was out. I did not like the way I was treated with Tijuana Bariatrics - all I got was a form letter "you've been approved - send money" - and all requests to speak to a coordinator or doctor were completely ignored. In the end the surgeons I was most interested in were Dr. Q, Dr. Ponce, and either Dr. Valenzuela or Dr. Cabrera at MBC. What swayed me the most was how well I was treated by the coordinator, and the amount of information they could give me about the operation, hospitals, etc, how many surgeries the doctor does daily (some doctors work out of more than one hospital, so make sure you find out the daily total and not the hospital total), and finally the price. Oh - and whether or not the surgery could be done on a day that was most convenient for me (for some reason it seems like a lot of the doctors will be away or on vacation or are already booked in February).
I know in the beginning it seems overwhelming, but the best thing to do is bookmark the sites you like, fill out the forms, and see what happens from there. I started with 3 different companies, but over time I expanded my search a little. That said, the problem is the paradox of choice: the more options we have, the more difficult it becomes to choose. Keep it small for now as you get your feet wet. Ask questions. Do research (other bariatric forums, Facebook, etc.) It should get better as you go along.
My surgery is less than 6 weeks away, so I can't tell you how it went, but I'm confident enough that I will be treated well. Anyway, I hope this helps.

What powders are you using, and how are mixing them up? All my "thick" shakes go in the blender - I've never had a problem with clumping. Similarly, the nectar powders go into a Blender Bottle. I never drink the (nectar) shake immediately after mixing - there will always be a few lumps. But if you let it sit for 10-30 minutes and shake it a few times then the clumps disappear and the foaming is almost non-existent by then too.

My lowest adult BMI was 23, which I was at for barely 6 months. I was a healthy overweight person most of life, active in a lot of sports and eating fairly healthily. So yeah, I'd like to get back there. My goal is to hit 24 BMI, cause I can't imagine myself any thinner, plus, it gives me some wiggle room in case I do regain a little with the "bounce back". But who knows - I may change my mind if and when I get there (which will admittedly be quite a while from now).

The question is not about losing weight - it's about keeping the weight off. I think everyone on this site has had plenty of experience in losing weight, but the fact is, most of us cannot keep the weight off permanently. If you try to lose weight through exercise and diet alone (diet is more effective) you have a less than 5% chance (in some studies it is less than 1% chance) of keeping the weight off permanently, whereas permanent weight loss is much higher (at least 85%) after bariatric surgery.
Here are some reasons why bariatric surgery works (in comparison to diet and exercise):
VSG/GP - removes the part of your stomach which produces the hunger hormone gherlin. Although some form of hunger will come back eventually for most bariatric patients, not having to deal with real hunger issues as you lose weight is very helpful in the first year after surgery. Also, removing this part of the stomach seems to have an impact on bile production and other hormones, which almost always positively affects other metabolic conditions like diabetes. Diabetes often goes into remission, and people have a reduction in meds for cholesterol or high blood pressure, etc. These improvements are not necessarily due to the weight loss (as first thought), but due to the surgery itself. Your metabolic rate will change as well. Trying to lose weight through diet and exercise alone can actually screw up your metabolism - look at what happened to the "Biggest Loser" contestants that they studied recently - their metabolisms (even for the ones who kept the weight off) were much worse after losing weight than before they started. Your body has a "set-point" that it likes to stay at. Basically, it likes where it is and will fight you tooth and nail to stay where it is. So if you start eating less, your metabolism will slow down so you don't lose weight. If you start exercising more, your metabolism will slow down so you don't lose weight. This is built into our bodies to prevent us from starving when times are lean; unfortunately most of us never really have to worry about not having food available to us 24 hours a day, so we are always well-fed. Weight loss surgery is not a quick fix. Basically, it takes away all the handicaps your body has set against you for losing weight. So you get about 1-2 years where you can diet and exercise AND lose weight AND keep it off without fighting your body every step of the way. But if you want to be successful, you still have to eat well and exercise. If you go back to your old habits, you will gain back the weight. The surgery acts like a 'reprieve', giving you a real chance to lose and keep the weight off. This surgery (especially sleeve) is not any worse than having your appendix or gall bladder removed. All you are doing is decreasing the size of your stomach with additional metabolic effects. I've learned a lot about this from many different resources, both online and in books. Unfortunately I can't find all of the resources online (I may not have bookmarked them all), but here are a few links:
Why You Shouldn't Exercise to Lose Weight
Why Weight Loss Surgery Works When Diets Don't
Bariatric Surgery Misconceptions
The Mechanism of Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery
Mechanisms Responsible for Excess Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery (this link just takes you to the abstract and resources, but the resources are very good, plus you can read the full article if you like)
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Walter - when all is said and done, it's up to you. If you are not ready for the surgery, maybe you should wait. In the end, it should be something you do because you want to do it, and because you know it's the best option for you. If you can't say yes to either of those, then maybe you should talk to your doctor about other options.

What powders are you using, and how are mixing them up? All my "thick" shakes go in the blender - I've never had a problem with clumping. Similarly, the nectar powders go into a Blender Bottle. I never drink the (nectar) shake immediately after mixing - there will always be a few lumps. But if you let it sit for 10-30 minutes and shake it a few times then the clumps disappear and the foaming is almost non-existent by then too.

I went to Mexico from Japan by myself and have done the entire process alone - it's been fine. No complications, no help needed. I didn't fly back home until a week post-op though, because at the time I booked everything I was afraid of complications flying on a long-haul flight across the Pacific so soon after surgery, even though the doctor said I would be fine (and I was). I also had a plan in place in case I did need the extra help - like informing hotels in advance, having extra money for taxis, booking a business class seat, etc. In the end, the extra time and effort was unnecessary, but I'm glad I did it - if I had to do it all again I wouldn't change anything. Plus, it gave me a chance to explore San Diego, which I loved.
However, I've been single for a long time, and am very used to dealing with things by myself (including being sick in a foreign country, multiple times). I guess for most people the emotional support is important, but even if you are by yourself, you'll very likely have support by those around you. When I had my surgery done, every person on the recovery floor (including the nurses) helped others as they needed it - some were in real pain, some needed someone to talk to, some needed encouragement to walk around - we all helped each other, regardless of whether or not the patients had companions or not.

It's a pretty great community, I agree. I came here planning to suggest you enlist a friend or different family member to be your support person through this, but everyone beat me to it.
Your husband sounds a lot like my dad was up until mom's health deteriorated to the point where she needed round the clock care, and for what it's worth, he's admitted that his previous approach was self-protective because he wasn't ready to address his fears.
I'm glad you're taking care of yourself in spite of his struggle. My mom didn't, and I can tell you the result is not even remotely a happy ending.
In conclusion: go you for reaching out and reaching for what you know you need to get healthy!

I'm going to chime in with pretty much the same as you've gotten so far. Your husband is against elective surgery, and that's his opinion to have. He's said he'll be supportive, but now it almost seems like you're setting up ways for him to fail you in that support. My sense, from the other things you've posted about him, is that he's doing the best he can in a situation where there's no 'win' for him. Give him a little space and don't place a lot of expectations on HIM...this is YOUR choice, not his.
Look around your WLS support group, your close friends and/or your extended family, and try to find people there who can be the things your husband can't. But a word of caution...going into this thing requiring help/support/affirmation from others is not a great idea. You need to be comfortable enough with your own decision and strong enough to get through it on your own before you have the surgery.

If he ever lived with someone with those undesirable diseases, he'd sing a new tune. My FIL has insulin dependent diabetes. His medication costs for a year (after good prescription insurance coverage) are $3700. He is on 27 medications, all relatable to metabolic syndrome. He became diabetic in his 40's.
My husband understood the risks, and was willing to support me too. Even so, while he was driving me to the airport, if I said I'd changed my mind, he so would have turned that car around.
Now, I'm a month postop, and he shared his most tender section of steak with me. Lol.

I think that for whatever reason (and you may never know why, exactly), your husband is not going to meet your expectations for what you feel he needs to be doing for you regarding the surgery, your post op care, or your post surgical life. He does not support what you're doing and you need to accept that. You need to move on from having any expectations at all from him regarding the surgery and find your support elsewhere. In time and once you've recovered and your lives reach their "new normal," (in terms of your diet and nutrition), this too shall pass. In the meantime, you need to forgive your husband for what he can't give you and you need to start organizing your support now. If you want hospital visitors (think through this one carefully -- you may just want to rest), tell people that. You may need help at home the first few days after you come home from the hospital -- set it up now. Don't rely on or make assumptions about what your husband "should be doing," for you once you come home. Arrange for a friend to stay over, so they can make your evening "meal," bring you your fluids, and do the same thing for you in the morning and afternoon too. Arrange for your own care post-op and again, have zero expectations of your husband. Let him know well in advance who is coming and when, but don't be snarky and don't say things like "This wouldn't be necessary if you were on board." Let it be. Allow your husband to be uninvolved and allow him his feelings, whatever they are. You are on your own in this, your husband has been very clear with you about that, I know you're hurt but again, this too shall pass. You need to let this one go.
Bunny

All great points!!! Thanks everyone. While I don't know how my recovery will be I have had 2 c sections and the second one was a breeze and I was up walking within 6 hours so if it's anything like that or similar I'll be ok. The point about boarding too early is a good one especially since I'll be in the aisle seat and getting up and down for the other people in my room won't be fun. I have a weekend bag that fits under the seat so luckily I don't have to worry about the overhead bin. I'll plan on not having one but won't hesitate to ask if I do need it. It won't be international (flying into San Diego and then flying back to Alaska) so I don't have to worry about customs.

Biginjapan is exactly right. I felt fine, like nothing had happened and was working on Day 4 after surgery. Others are down for the count so you'll have to wait to see how yours goes. One shake in 6 hrs is plenty. You can only sip anyway.

I wanted to go with Dr. Valenzuela but she wasn't available for the dates I needed, so I went with Dr. Cabrera instead. He was very nice, as were the staff and nurses at Mi hospital. Others who were there with me had Dr. V. The hospital is small, so you end up doing a lot of laps of the same small hallways, but it was okay. Most of the rooms have a second bed that the companion can sleep in, and if not, a comfortable recliner. I went alone so had what was probably the worst room - a very small room right behind the nurses station with nothing extra in it. But it was okay. I was kind of in the center of all the action and got to know a lot of the patients and nurses there.
The hotel you stay at pre- and post-op is very nice - it has a fridge and a kitchenette (with microwave), not that you can use it for anything much. The hotel has chicken broth, popsicles, and Jello available for you. I used the stove in my room to heat up the broth because depending when you get it, it might be warm or cool. I also loaded up on jellos (you can get 3 a day) and kept them in the fridge. If you like herbal tea, you might want to bring some with you, as it is soothing for the stomach and something different than broth, Water, and sugar-free stuff that they give you. The hotel is near a large shopping center/cinema, which provides something to do for you and/or your companion. There is a driver that takes you to and from the hospital (Art), but I didn't like him much. He's kind of arrogant and touched me way too many times to be appropriate. He also failed to show up to give us a tour of the city as promised. So if that's something you are interested in post-op, I would organise it yourself.

Yes I did. I'm now 12 days post-op and have lost 6kg/13lb since then. I've felt really good since surgery, including the day of, with no gas pains, no nausea, and little restriction with liquids. And since about day 4 or 5, 3 BMs a day (a little TMI, but a lot of people suffer from Constipation post-op). However, I was the only one on my floor like that - everyone else had one or more of the common issues. However, I do find that I am having more restrictions with liquids now, so I have to spread out my drinking and "meals" (still liquids) to be smaller but more constant throughout the day.

Everyone is different - just because others had no energy, doesn't mean you will too (and vice versa). You have no idea how you feel until you are post-op. I had a ton of energy - I ended up walking over 15,000 steps after they dropped me off at my hotel on day 3 (I didn't fly home right away). The next day I did over 20,000. At the same time, the other solo woman in my group who got dropped off at the airport on the same day was in terrible shape - and she had been the entire time post-op. We all had to help her at the hospital, in the van, and even at the airport (where she finally got a wheelchair). Maybe it's something you (or a friend/family member) can arrange quickly if you don't feel you can get around by yourself. Also, take a look at airport maps and see if you can find out how long it is to the gate/transfers, etc. As I recall, Seattle is a pretty big airport, but maybe your connections will be close together. That said, walk, walk, walk. If you have the energy, don't sit down until you get on the plane (that's what I did). The aisle seat is good, it makes it easier to get up every 30 minutes or so to move around. Make sure you wear your compression stockings.
I flew out of LAX instead of San Diego, as it was a much cheaper flight to Japan. I had 14 hours of travel time. In that time I had two Protein Drinks - I brought 3 single serving packets of Protein Powder and a Blender Bottle and just filled it up at the airport (or got the flight attendants to do it on the plane). The rest of the time I drank Water (you need that too). It worked out well and I felt good (but jet-lagged) when I returned to Japan. Anyway, long story short, all of your plans seem spot-on to me.

Good to know! It seems I'm losing at a rate of about 12-13 pounds a month if I don't include the pre-op weight loss.
We started back at school this week and I just found out that there's a tweet going around about how "slim" I've become. Although the funny thing is, is that students in real life who want to congratulate me on my weight loss still stumble over calling me slim as it's clear that I'm not (I try to offer them the word "slimmer" but they just don't use it).
I have to admit that their excitement over my weight loss feels pretty good - even though (or because) they're young (19-20 years old) they're much more vocal, excited and supportive than my colleagues around me.

Are you drinking ready made shakes, or are you making your own from powder? I've never liked the ready made ones, although I could tolerate them pre-op. Post-op, no way. However, I make my own shakes with Protein Powder, and they are so much better! FWIW, I'm using Syntrax powders, both vanilla bean/chocolate torte for regular shakes made with unsweetened almond milk and either unsweetened greek yogurt or half a block of tofu to thicken them up and add some extra Protein. I also often add PB2 powder to the chocolate shakes because yum. I use a variety of their "juice" type nectar powders that mix really well with Water. I'm 2.5 months post-op, but I've had no problem with my handmade shakes either pre- or post-op.

If you are not eating or drinking and are feeling light-headed, you should talk to your doctor. The last thing you want is to be hospitalised for dehydration or any other issues. Dehydration is serious. Is the problem that you don't WANT to eat/drink or that you CAN'T eat/drink? If it's the former, you really need to set a schedule and eat and drink - your body NEEDS it - you are setting yourself up for problems if you don't deal with this now. I often don't feel like eating or drinking either, but I do it because I have to. However, if the problem is that you CAN'T, that's another story and you really should go see your doctor/nut and talk to them about it.

The only time I ever felt light-headed and about to pass out was when I was coming back from Germany to Japan. I hadn't eaten much on the flight because my low-carb meals ended up being nothing but carbs, but I thought I had had enough fluids. I guess not - I was ok at the airport, but on the train back home I started feeling really weak. When I got up to get off the train, I thought I was going to pass out right then and there (I was also incredibly shaky and disorientated). Luckily I was able to stumble to a nearby bench and I had a couple of bites of an energy bar I had packed for emergencies. That gave me enough energy to go get a drink (some veggie/fruit yogurt drink), and within 30 minutes I felt better. Researching it later I realised I had become hypoglycemic - I basically had every symptom on the list. I have to admit I didn't think that was possible - I had assumed that my fat stores could provide whatever extra energy I needed, but I was wrong. That really scared me, and now I make sure I am always prepared for my next meal or drink, wherever I am. Anyway, I hope you can figure things out and start getting the liquids and nutrients that your body needs.

I rode my sons bike today at the park. I have not been able to ride a bike due to obesity for over 20 years!!! Looking forward to more 'firsts in a long time.' What are some of your 'first times in a long time??'

I think this is an extremely important fact. Accountability is the most important thing I have learned since surgery. My wife used to make me huge plates of food and I would eat it so she wouldn't think I didn't like it. Or my parents would want to feed me whenever I came over and I felt obligated to eat it. Now I know that it was my choice and I should have said no. At first, I told them I just couldn't eat because of the surgery. Now I tell them that I really just don't want something because I am taking responsibility for what I put in my stomach.
On the subject of treats, I still have them. The only difference is that now I only pick something that (to me) is truly a treat. candy that is available at any gas station is not a treat. They are as common as dirt. But a homemade Tres Leche cake? Hell yes I am having some. A 16 year old scotch? Yep, I'll have a little of that too. Someone is making prime rib? Count me in!
My point is simple, we should not deny ourselves food that brings us pleasure. But don't settle for a slim jim and a baby ruth; make sure it is something actually special.

Good to know! It seems I'm losing at a rate of about 12-13 pounds a month if I don't include the pre-op weight loss.
We started back at school this week and I just found out that there's a tweet going around about how "slim" I've become. Although the funny thing is, is that students in real life who want to congratulate me on my weight loss still stumble over calling me slim as it's clear that I'm not (I try to offer them the word "slimmer" but they just don't use it).
I have to admit that their excitement over my weight loss feels pretty good - even though (or because) they're young (19-20 years old) they're much more vocal, excited and supportive than my colleagues around me.

Good to know! It seems I'm losing at a rate of about 12-13 pounds a month if I don't include the pre-op weight loss.
We started back at school this week and I just found out that there's a tweet going around about how "slim" I've become. Although the funny thing is, is that students in real life who want to congratulate me on my weight loss still stumble over calling me slim as it's clear that I'm not (I try to offer them the word "slimmer" but they just don't use it).
I have to admit that their excitement over my weight loss feels pretty good - even though (or because) they're young (19-20 years old) they're much more vocal, excited and supportive than my colleagues around me.

Good to know! It seems I'm losing at a rate of about 12-13 pounds a month if I don't include the pre-op weight loss.
We started back at school this week and I just found out that there's a tweet going around about how "slim" I've become. Although the funny thing is, is that students in real life who want to congratulate me on my weight loss still stumble over calling me slim as it's clear that I'm not (I try to offer them the word "slimmer" but they just don't use it).
I have to admit that their excitement over my weight loss feels pretty good - even though (or because) they're young (19-20 years old) they're much more vocal, excited and supportive than my colleagues around me.