journeyjen

I'm 2.5 weeks post-op. Feeling great! My wounds are healing nicely. Hit the gym for the 1st time today, was able to do some chest, arms and legs then 15 minutes of cardio before I felt like fainting. Don't have much of a sweet tooth. I mostly crave cheesy pizza and pasta. I found that a light babybel hits the spot paired with a RTD isopure. I have chocolate protein shakes in the am, but they do cause some dizziness. Gonna give some salmon and spinach a try tonight. Weight is steadily coming off. HW: 229 SW: 217 CW: 195 GW: 130 5'4" 38yo Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Orgain Organic Nutrition Choc fudge and strawberries and cream are delicious and light. With 16g of high quality protein. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey, sleevers! This is my 1st Post in quite a while. I had started a conversation last year at this time, regarding my decision to go for surgery in Cancun. But I postponed, bc I had a physical and ended up in the hospital with acute hypertension. 200/129! After changing my diet immensely and taking natural supplements I got my BP down considerably (but not my weight!) First I'll give you my stats then tell you all about MX. Surgery date: 9/23 HW: 229 SW: 217 CW: 201 GW: 130 Height: 5'4" Ok so....After lots of research, I opted for Sergio Verboonen. And at this moment, I super glad I did. But the whole experience wasn't without it's downfalls. I don't want to go on a crazy long detailed rant. So I'll give you a pros and cons list ending with a synopsis. Pros: 1. Dr. V was a pro! I read about people with their pain days later and not being able to function. Surgery area-wise, 100% pain-free! 2. The nurse staff at Victoria Medical. Went above and beyond to monitor my blood pressure before and after. It was quite elevated @ 160/90. They gave me meds and in the 48 hours I was there were so attentive, but not excessively so that I couldn't rest. 3. Private room was nice, considering I got up every 40 minutes to pee with my butt hanging out of my gown. You can have a friend or family member stay with you, but I told my BF to stay at a hotel. I really wasn't up for company. 4. Results! I've lost 28 pounds! Mind boggling! I've been dieting and working out for years. But, I stuck strictly to a liquid diet for 2 weeks. Super effective and it's melting away. 5. My incisions are friggin tiny! After I got out of surgery, Dr. went down to talk to my BF and explained that I only need 2 incisions, usually he needs a 3rd to pull the liver to the side, but my liver was clean and tiny. He still made the hole but didn't end up using it.... 6. Like most sleevers state, the gas pain subsided by the 2nd day. My BF put on a little jazz in the room so I would get out a bed and dance in place a do a little swaying to work it out. I've never been so happy to fart! Haha! 7. Transportation. Abraham and his driver was there for me every step of the way. I was picked up and dropped of for every step. Never having to get a cab anywhere. Such a relief. Pros: 1. In Stark contrast to Dr. V's obvious expertise, his bedside manner leaves much to be desired. But honestly, I didn't really care as long as he did a good job. But his general lack of interest in the pre-surgery meeting left a slightly bad taste in both mine and my bfs mouth. 2. Nursing staff was great, but there's def a language barrier. I'm actually pretty understanding of Spanish, I just really suck at speaking it. But we all got through just fine. Very minor con. 3. Gas pain was CRAZY! I got gas trapped in my neck and shoulders as well as my chest. It was unbearable and it was that day...the day of, that I had those regret thoughts. 4. Good and bad....I was constantly connected to a saline drip. Which was great, but it randomly through me so rapidly I had to get up 20 times a day and drag my iv into the bathroom with me. It was so annoying and I could not wait to become detached to that darn apparatus! 5. I opted for an upgrade in hotel stay, by staying at Beachscape in the hotel zone rather than Later Quinta in city central. Ugh, they suck! We arrived, I argued the room was paid for, but the lady insisted it wasn't. So I was super mad at my coordinator. Paid for the room. Got to the room and it was dirty. Like as in, not made up. Dirty coffee cups on the sink and in the shower. It looked like someone had been lounging on one of the beds bc the pillows were tussled and there was used soap and a used towel. Finally got in touch with my coordinator. Went and got my money back with serious stink-eye from the desk clerk. We decided to take a loss and stay at the Real inn on my last night in Cancun. Much more pleasant. 6. To make the hotel situation even worse and this also goes hand in hand with Dr. V mannerisms. My coordinator texts me after everything and says he forgot to charge me extra for Beachscape and that the doctor was mad at him for not charging the extra $200. So I had to text my CC # for a terrible experience and a night I didn't even stay there. 7. Oh yeah...reception at Victoria. You stink too. They are worst than grumpy Brooklyn baristas. I hope this answers some questions about the choice of Medical Tourism. Feel free to ask me anything!

Hey all! As I write the title, I realize it's a bit cringe-worthy! Someone that has already gone through so much bodily trauma, is going to another country for elective WLS outside the safe medical guidelines placed in the States. Sounds crazy, right? Maybe this will help me connect with some people that have gone through the same experiences or maybe my story will help other ladies out there struggling with their weight after early on-set menopause. Let's hope! A brief summary of my cancer story. When I was 32 (only 11 months after my previous pap) I found out I had a 7cm tumor growing in my girly bits and ended up going through 32 radiation treatments, 7 rounds of chemo, 2 cesium implants and lastly total hysterectomy. Before cancer, my weight was 170 (BTW, I'm 5'4"), post-cancer weight I was down to 140. After recovering from my surgery, I embraced the weightloss and started exercising like a boss! But menopause hit me like a brick! I started gaining weight no matter how hard I tried. It was so disheartening and I'll admit, after trying so hard for 2 years or so. I gave up the gym. My current weight is 215lbs. I'm in the service industry in nyc and spend 9 hours a day on my feet. With this weight gain, I'm literally limping home, my feet and ankles swelling out of my shoes. My knees and back aching. Ive developed awful insomnia and need both otc and natural sleep aids to get to sleep and when I do sleep, I snore....like really loud. Most recently, I developed acid Reflux disease which my doc associated with my obesity. I've changed my diet around and it's helped with that a lot. After much research, I've decided to take the leap towards the Gastric Sleeve to help me regain my health both physically and mentally. I've only been overweight in my 30s. I was normal weight most of my life. So, i feel the weight gain has been harder for me to embrace mentally than the change I will experience post-surgery. My insurance will not cover bariatric surgery, so I've chosen dr. sergio verboonen and will be going to Cancun in January. Has anyone out there gone through bariatric surgery after cancer and how have you fared? I'm so curious and would love to share stories. Also, I'm interested in joining a support group in nyc. Any New Yorkers out there? Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

Seeingme. How are you feeling? Did you have your surgery last week? Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

Just joined! Thanks for starting! Sent from my Z833 using the BariatricPal App

Mine is on January 13th! I'd love to join a group! Sent from my Z833 using the BariatricPal App

I am see dr. sergio verboonen with Bariatric Mexico. The total cost is 5700 and this includes 2 nights in a hotel and 2 nights in the hospital, along with all necessary tests. Not bad! I checked out the faculty online Victoria Hospital and it looks clean and modern. Cancun is definitely a better choice location-wise. Although, it's in town...not the beach. You can upgrade your hotel from the La Quinta in a resort on the beach for an extra $100. I have been pretty open about my decision. I told my family, my co-workers and a few friends. Mostly, everyone seems pretty supportive. If they think it's a bad decision, they haven't said it to my face. My significant other has given me a little grief. He's just concerned for my health. I'm determined to prove to him that's it a good decision. He thinks I'm just looking for an "easy" solution. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

My date is January 13th! I'll start my pre-diet Dec 30th. Seeingme, how exciting! Can't wait to hear how it goes! Where are you having your surgery? Caking0923, I'm right there with ya in Jan! Did you choose you Doc in TJ, yet? Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

Yes, guys! So glad to finally get some feedback! I'm a little scared of everything EXCEPT the surgery itself. Ha. I've got the pain threshold of a ultimate fighter. I just want to be sure that I get the right nutrition post surgery. If anyone has a good supplemental game plan. I'm all ears. Survivors let keep this chat going! My surgery date is Friday the 13th in January. On a full moon, no less. Haha. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App