slt77036

Hello,
Thank you for sharing your experience, my surgery is on Sept 7 with Dr. Illan also and I am getting jitters. I'm also going by myself so I'm concerned about that. Is there any advice you would have for me? Anything that you wish you would have brought with you or packed? Sounds like you were up and able to walk around shortly after surgery, did you have very much pain? Do I need to bring food or anything like that? I feel I have so many questions so I appreciate any advice you may be able to offer.
Thank-you

I'm September 7th but I am self pay having my surgery in Mexico with Dr Illan. Is anyone else traveling for surgery?

Hi,
My surgery is also scheduled for Sept 7th, may I ask where you are having your's done? Best wishes

Cleveland clinic

Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I was with Dr, Illan and the Oasis of Hope on 8/10/17. It was one of the best experiences of my life.... Tell your family and friends this is not a nose job or breast implants.... your making a last ditch effort to save your life... I actually had friends and family tell me I was okay being obese because they were use to it and it made them comfortable ???
Take half of everything you packed and throw it back on the bed ... you don't need it..
I went alone and I have heard a lot of ladies saying how empowering it is to go alone.. So you're only taking care of yourself , not someone else. And like everyone else says with all the valets and drivers you are never alone...

I am a sugar addict but I am treating it like alcohol,addiction...just like an alcoholic cannot have just one beer, I cannot gave just one candy. So I go day by day. I am on day 41 now. Yes once or twice, I did give in and had a piece of candy bug the next day I started over and go day by day. That is the only way I am able to do this. To reconize that each day is z victory. I am also off of bread , Pasta, wheat and rice.
One day at a yime, one step at a time. My surgery is July. I Want the change...I want the freedom from sugar.
It's a conscience choice, to tell myself not that I can't have it but that I don't want it.
Sugar addiction is hard to break but it can be done...one day at a time. If alcoholic's can do it. I can do it!!

I just returned from Tijuana yesterday. Honestly, I don't think that Tijuana is the best vacation get a way location. However, when you travel for surgey they keep you pretty confined to safe areas. If you were traveling for vacation, I'd say pick somewhere else. However, especially with the doctor you chose they will keep you in safe areas. Good luck to you,

I just went to Mexico on the 20th. Dr. Illan.

I thought I would just be lounging around the hotel room for 2 days after surgery. How wrong I was! The valet had us out walking (optional) both days. I was out for 5 hours the first day, and 8 hours the second.

I brought too many pjs and not enough real clothes. The real clothes should have a stretchy waist, as your abdomen will be swollen.

Good walking shoes are a must.

I did notice the virgin sleeves had the easiest recovery. Bypasses and revisions are harder.

Don't know what it is like with other surgeons...

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.

Travelled alone. Amazing experience. There was someone checking on me every hour, I truly never felt alone. The hospital has netflix so I binge watched all my favorite shows. Even after the surgery, there was someone who was assigned to me who took me out to the city for sightseeing and walking off the gas to feel better. I felt safe, taken care of and extremely satisfied. I was really supported by the BariatricPal staff and Dr. illan was amazing. He came to see me before the procedure to put my mind at ease, and the nutritionist was very helpful too.
In short, don't be nervous about going alone. I did, and I would highly recommend this and do it again.



Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I traveled alone and didnt have a single issue. When I left the hotel I took my luggage with me. There was a safe in my hospital room but I ended up not locking anything up. Everything was right where I left it when I came out of surgery. The companions of the other people that had surgery the same day as me checked on me just as much as the staff did. Throughout the whole experience there was never once a time that I thought I should have brought someone with me.

Ditto everything Marinagirl said. I was happy to be alone so I wasn't kept up by my hubby's incessant typing on his laptop. He would have been so bored at the hospital, and somehow things would have been about him. Finally I got to have 4 days to just myself, and it was all about me.

I traveled alone and had no issues. I brought my carry-on rolling suitcase with a luggage lock to the hospital. My private hospital room had a safe in it so I kept my wallet and electronics in there when I was in surgery, walking the halls, sleeping, showering, or just away from my room.
I'm glad I traveled by myself so I could just focus on my recovery and sleeping. It worked out wonderfully - no regrets.

You're right, she won't last 2 hours..she's going to last 8!
I have surgery Thursday and back to work Monday. Every case is different, job, movement, empathy from employers etc. I'm also in a situation where if I don't work I don't get paid. There are no replacements for my position that can "take over" while I'm gone either. My mortgage isn't going to pay itself. I won't feel guilty if I make it home and spend all night on the couch/bed, but work has to be done or I wont have a couch/bed to heal in, feel me?

I'm a desk jockey like you. Surgery was on Tuesday, released from hospital Wednesday. Back to office Monday, but worked a reduced schedule in the office. ( I can work from home). So those first two weeks, I split three days in office, two days at home.

I took a week. I have a desk job and not a big office at all (a few steps here and there), but even in the week I was pretty tired for two or three of those days. All the walking you will be doing is great, but have expectations of possibly being very tired. Blessings on your journey!

Dr. Illan has a nutritionist that saw me briefly in the hospital and gave me a bag of goodies (mostly clear liquids), and a printout of the post op meal plan.
The plan was very easy to understand, and had a page for each week (up to 8 or 9 weeks post). There is a list of approved foods for the week, as well as a sample daily plan, including target food weights.
I was concerned pre-op by the 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, etc. This plan does it much better: 2oz cottage cheese, etc. I found it easy to follow, as much as I wanted to follow, or make it my own (sticking to the approved foods list, of course).
I kept that paper in my purse for the first 2 months, reviewing it several times a week.

Hi,

I had MGB surgery in Tijuana, Mexico with Dr. Illan. I went through BariatricPal MX. I had my surgery in a full service hospital (Oasis of Hope) with a full medical staff and surgical staff. The hospital doctors, nurses and staff were very attentive with me, coming in my room seconds after I pushed the nurse button. Not a speaker conversation, they came to my room to see what I needed. They took my vitals every few hours and changed my bandages frequently. I never had to wait on any of my meds. The hospital was cleaner than in the US. They cleaned it at least a couple of times a day, including the walls. The BariatricPal MX valets were attentive and made sure that myself and my companion were well taken care of.

I stayed in the hospital for three days, then once approved for discharge, was taken to Pueblo Amigo Hotel & Casino. My companion and I stayed in a junior suite with a mini fridge, microwave, safe, coffee pot, two double beds and a sitting area. We stayed two days there.

I paid $5400 for myself and my companion, three-day hospital stay, two- day hotel stay, and we received a 'gift' package from BariatricPal MX that included fluids and Protein I would need and a book that talks about bariatric surgery. We also received vouchers from the hotel that allowed us to get some broth from downstairs.

Dr. Illan does only four surgeries a day, if that many, so you know he's not trying to rush you through. And whenever I have a question, I can email him and he will reply. He's the best! He is certified and as of now, is an international member of the ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) He will take care of you.

I found BariatricPal MX by accident actually. I was looking online at the BariatricPal Store (store.bariatricpal.com) and a chat popped up and I clicked on it and saw it was about BariatricPal MX and how much they charge for bariatric surgery. I started chatting with them and set up an appointment with the coordinator, Bill Yanez. The rest is history.

I am more than 8 months out from surgery and have lost almost 100 lbs since surgery. I couldn't be happier!!!

Kristi,
I just had VSG surgery in Tijuana 3 weeks ago, and understand your concerns. This was a very big decision to make that I researched well. I went back and forth many times before deciding to go with dr. verboonen.< span> I was looking for someone who was very experienced and had good reviews. I also talked to a distant relative who had the same procedure with this doctor a couple of years prior and she told me that her only regret was not doing it years earlier. Before making the decision, I read all of the information on Dr. Verboonen’s website and talked with his patient coordinator, Sheri, who was available to answer all of my questions. I was required to submit my health information via questionnaire to get approval and then paid a $675 deposit to schedule my surgery. The total cost (except airfare) was $4500. It included transportation from San Diego, 2 nights in the clinic with a family member and the 3rd night (last night) stay in a nicer hotel. I couldn’t find anywhere in the US for anywhere close to this price. I arrived and had surgery the same day that I flew in. Before surgery, they did blood work, an EKG and an X-ray. It was a busy day, I believe there were 7 patients that received surgery that day. They have lots of staff that seems to have the process down well. I met with the doctor and other health care workers prior to surgery but was busy enough going through the process I didn’t think of many questions or have time to get too nervous. I am not going to lie, it was not the medical environment that I was expecting compared to hospitals in the U.S., but I would do it again. It is more of a clinic environment that is located in the heart of Tijuana. The buildings are older, the doors have magnetic locks for safety, but it was clean. I had never been to Tijuana before so it was a little bit of a shock to me. The recovery/pre-op room and operating room are directly next to each other. As I was waiting to go in, there was someone in a bed in the same small room that just came out and another in the operating room. Like I said, this was a busy day and people were being rotated into the procedure one after another. The first 2 days after surgery were the roughest for me. My stomach was sore and I think I woke up every 15 minutes the first night. The hospital bed I stayed in wasn’t the most comfortable but I don’t think many are. One thing that helped a little was getting up and walking as soon as possible to try and get rid of some of the gas that is used to inflate the stomach for surgery. I didn’t feel like doing much the second day but felt quite a bit better by the third day. This was the day we could have a popsicle for the first time and it never tasted so good. Before leaving I had to take 2 leak tests that both came back clear. Since leaving, I haven’t had any complications so far. I am now 3 weeks out and just starting to be able to eat mashed potatoes and applesauce in addition to broth.< span> I have noticed that it doesn’t take much food or drink to feel full. I know it is going to take dedication and commitment to reach my goal weight but I feel like this is going to be a huge help in getting me there. I am looking forward to connecting with and hearing from others who are going through the same journey. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I had surgery on 8/7 with Dr. Illan in Tijuana. I too was worried about gang activity and safety. I can say that we experienced no violence or gang activity at all. We did see a heavy policy presence,...Some with assault rifles. This made me feel safe. My companion walked the streets during the daytime with our valet to go to restaurants. I walked to the store across the street from the hospital after I was discharged. Everyone was really nice.
Lots of people actually jog the streets. I would watch them from my hospital room window. I never heard gunfire or saw anything that looked suspicious. After we checked into the hotel, we went shopping in the shopping district. Everyone wanted to sell us something of course. The locals seem to genuinely like Americans. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Your valets will take good care of you and your companion.
As an aside, Oasis of Hope Hospital is along the border, and you don't have to take any back streets to get there. It is also in a higher class area. There are brand new homes being built nearby from the 200s. The Pueblo Amigo Hotel and Casino is right across from the border crossing area.

My BMI was 36 and I weighed 212 at surgery time. I weigh about 151 right now. I am one year and one week out . It's been very successful to me. I am not that interested in food which is pretty magical. People told me - well you only have 50-70 pounds to lose you can do it- and I tried- for almost 30 years ( I am 40) - and it didn't work. I am very happy I did it .
I have about 1200 calories a day and work out at least four times a week.

Hello Everyone,
As the day of my sleeve looms closer and closer I wondered if there are any of you living in the Omaha Area who have had gastric sleeve surgery? If so I'd love the extra support. Also do you know of a good nutritionist so that I can stay on track after having the surgery? I am having it in Mexico and I want to make sure I have systems in place to succeed once I arrive home.
Thanks

1. Yes! I feel full, like I ate a house, after just a few bites (depending on what I eat, of course). The further out I am, the more bites I can eat before I feel full, but full feels the same. STUFFED, ATE TOO MUCH is uncomfortable. I try to avoid that feeling.
2. Handicapped... not at all. I mean, this is a Your Mileage May Vary thing.. some of us become lactose intolerant. Some of us can't digest bread or breading or anything wheat based. Some of us have a hard time with dry meats, like chicken breast. One of my friends can no longer eat any form of potato, sweet or otherwise. Strange, since she had zero issues before now and she is over 2 yrs out. Then there are people like me who have zero issues, sleeve wise. I watch my carbs and sugar because I am pre-diabetic, just like before surgery. I have no food or drink issues. I drink coffee and soda, some sweets on occasion, though my taste for them has completely changed! I have loved discovering the nuances of my sleeve. It's like a whole new being with a personality all it's own, so much so that I named mine. Her name is Jelly and Jelly is the boss of me! ;D
3. I can drink a glass of water... it takes some time. I have never been much of a Water drinker. In the beginning you want to sip because your sleeve is swollen and you don't know your capacity. Too much and you'll be very uncomfortable. As time passes, our capacity grows. You probably won't be able to chug down a bottle/glass of water any time soon. But a glass of water should be no problem, months out. Though, I normally have to wait 30 mins to an hour to drink anything after eating.
4. Awhile back, I was thinking about my surgery and what type of mind I had to be in to think that this would be the answer for me. I concluded that I was absolutely positively NUTS. I went to Mexico and had a surgeon stab me five times and amputate an organ. And you know what? I'd do it again 100 times. Quality of life? BETTER THAN NORMAL. Life isn't perfect-- weight loss doesn't solve all of our problems, of course-- but I LOVE seeing the changes my body has made. I love wearing sizes I have NEVER worn before... I went from kid sizes to plus sizes in the blink of an eye. I did my 2nd 5K yesterday and it was no big thing. I have fitness goals and I STILL LOVE FOOD... I just get to be really choosy about what I eat now.
Life is fantastic post surgery. Look forward to the New You, your New Normal... it's BETTER THAN NORMAL.

I am a sleeve patient myself and I'm really intrigued by the balloon!
I think you made a great choice and I wish you lots of success! I would do it all over again for sure. One thing I thought I should mention is that the magic of the sleeve is temporary. I'm three years out and have gained back 30 pounds, and I have met literally thousands of people online that have regained a big chunk of their weight after a few years--many have regained all of it. You get about one year's grace, and then the old-fashioned dieting/workout plan is the only way to keep your momentum.

I'm sorry you're scared. I've never met a gastric surgery patient who wasn't scared at some point.
Ask yourself what's scarier: Giving up your "drug of choice" or continuing to gain weight? Rather than focus on what you won't have, focus on what you will have. Good luck!