shangefan

Wow! OK, that didn't help. I'm sorry you don't see the problems with your comments. That says a lot.
Good luck with your search. I've been sleeved, am happy with the doctor I chose and am losing weight.

Hoping2BSleeved, I thought I would share my perspective with you as well, regarding the "tone" of your post(s) so that you may understand why some of us may be reacting negatively.
The interpretation of who the "best" surgeon is, whether it be in Mexico, the United States, or anywhere else in the world, is HIGHLY subjective. Just a few of the influencing factors in people's decisions include:
- highest level of experience, regardless of cost.
- complication factors related to the environment (hospital vs. clinic) where that surgeon practices
- level of experience in their support staff (such as anesthetist, nurses, etc.)
- type and duration of post-op care and support
- exact surgical technique (drains vs. no drains, placement and number of incisions, experience with complex cases involving previous abdominal adhesions, etc.)
- some patients are revising from the lapband to the sleeve - not all surgeons have this experience and it can be tricky
and finally, for some, cost is an ABSOLUTE factor. This surgery can save their lives, but if they can't afford the most expensive surgeon, does that mean they shouldn't have it done at all? I don't believe that...and many people here have very successfully had wonderful surgical outcomes with less expensive surgeons.
Myself, I travelled from Canada. We have national healthcare, and if I was willing to wait long enough (5-7 years) and get the substantial medical backing that I would have needed to justify the surgery, I could have had it done for free here. I chose to not wait any longer (I'm already 42 and still healthy, but with a long history of obesity-related disease in my family). I chose a Mexican surgeon based on my own personal influencing factors. I too had a list of several choices and after exhaustive research here on VST and many other resources, as well as speaking directly with surgeons and their former patients, made my choice.
I am very happy with my experience and my outcome thus far. So are many many others on VST who made their own choices based on their own individual factors. At no time did anyone try to talk me into, or out of my choice. They simply provided information in an unbiased and factual way.
For example. For myself, based on my personality, I knew that I would prefer a hospital and hotel environment for my post-op time, as I tend to be a care-giver and would find myself trying to help others if I was in a recovery house. This was time for me to focus on myself, and I knew that it would best be achieved if I was more alone and introspective. Others find they do much better in a group environment and have the ability to share the experience with people going through the exact same thing as they are. That is why so many of us are here on VST! Those individuals would benefit the most from the recovery house experience.
Please try to remember that we are all here to offer assistance to one another, through all phases of the VST journey (planning, pre-op and post-op). Our individual choices and experiences are unique to ourselves and while we share much common ground in how we got here and how we're improving our lives with this surgery, NONE of us are better than the other. Not in our choice of surgeon, in the amount of money we spend or spent, in how fast we're losing, how long we've stayed at goal, etc.
We're all just walking this path together and we all value our lives, our families and our health.
Valuing your community here on VST in that same way will get you a long way towards more support and friendship here. Perhaps re-read your post(s) before you hit the "post" button, and try to read your comment through other people's eyes. It may help you "soften" your tone a bit and get you the help and feedback that you are hoping for, rather than the flood of "reaction" that you appear to be getting instead.

Wow! OK, that didn't help. I'm sorry you don't see the problems with your comments. That says a lot.
Good luck with your search. I've been sleeved, am happy with the doctor I chose and am losing weight.

OK, this is always a controversial topic, so I am going to say this as gingerly as possible. You definitely should make the decision that is best for you, but it would be helpful if you did not make disparaging remarks about the doctors whom you do not prefer. I and several other people have used one or the other of the doctors whom you subtly critique. Beyond that, most of us are happy with our experience. I find your comments a bit obnoxious.
That said, good luck with making your decision.

OK, this is always a controversial topic, so I am going to say this as gingerly as possible. You definitely should make the decision that is best for you, but it would be helpful if you did not make disparaging remarks about the doctors whom you do not prefer. I and several other people have used one or the other of the doctors whom you subtly critique. Beyond that, most of us are happy with our experience. I find your comments a bit obnoxious.
That said, good luck with making your decision.

Wow! OK, that didn't help. I'm sorry you don't see the problems with your comments. That says a lot.
Good luck with your search. I've been sleeved, am happy with the doctor I chose and am losing weight.

OK, this is always a controversial topic, so I am going to say this as gingerly as possible. You definitely should make the decision that is best for you, but it would be helpful if you did not make disparaging remarks about the doctors whom you do not prefer. I and several other people have used one or the other of the doctors whom you subtly critique. Beyond that, most of us are happy with our experience. I find your comments a bit obnoxious.
That said, good luck with making your decision.

OK, this is always a controversial topic, so I am going to say this as gingerly as possible. You definitely should make the decision that is best for you, but it would be helpful if you did not make disparaging remarks about the doctors whom you do not prefer. I and several other people have used one or the other of the doctors whom you subtly critique. Beyond that, most of us are happy with our experience. I find your comments a bit obnoxious.
That said, good luck with making your decision.

OK, this is always a controversial topic, so I am going to say this as gingerly as possible. You definitely should make the decision that is best for you, but it would be helpful if you did not make disparaging remarks about the doctors whom you do not prefer. I and several other people have used one or the other of the doctors whom you subtly critique. Beyond that, most of us are happy with our experience. I find your comments a bit obnoxious.
That said, good luck with making your decision.

Everyone is different but I had tons of energy by then. I was actually never tired after surgery at all. I would say to just prepare!
Maybe cook some meals and freeze them before hand so you can just pop them in the oven.

Glad your experience has been great. I was there last week and had a wonderful experience, too.

I am sorry you are having this experience, though. I do think the surgeons there would provide follow-up care if needed. There were a couple of people there on the day I was sleeved receiving follow-up care.
Also, I had a problem with a site, but it was not an infection. I had no problem having my doctor here provide care. Maybe you should try another US physician.

I do think this is common. I think it is partly about trying to have foods you are worried you will never have again and partly about turning to food (again) as a coping mechanism to deal with the very reasonable fears and concerns about the surgery. Before I started my pre-op diet, I found myself eating things even I would have found ridiculous beforehand -- like a dinner of hot dogs and french fries. Or corn dogs.
The good thing is the pre-op diet forced me back into line and since surgery, the restrictive diet (at the start) has obviously made all of that stuff impossible. But I also don't crave it any more. I think tastes do change, and the forced weeks of healthier eating also gives you such a break from the old unhealthy stuff that you get out of the habit of eating it.

I do think this is common. I think it is partly about trying to have foods you are worried you will never have again and partly about turning to food (again) as a coping mechanism to deal with the very reasonable fears and concerns about the surgery. Before I started my pre-op diet, I found myself eating things even I would have found ridiculous beforehand -- like a dinner of hot dogs and french fries. Or corn dogs.
The good thing is the pre-op diet forced me back into line and since surgery, the restrictive diet (at the start) has obviously made all of that stuff impossible. But I also don't crave it any more. I think tastes do change, and the forced weeks of healthier eating also gives you such a break from the old unhealthy stuff that you get out of the habit of eating it.

That is spectacular! Congrats on your amazing immediate success. I think you can anticipate things to slow as you get closer to your goal and as you increase your caloric intake, so I wouldn't worry too much about getting too skinny.

Yeah! Do well.

Are you staying on the strip, because there is Walgreen's on both ends of the strip that would would be able to get a few items at (most likely), the ABC Stores are everywhere too and carry some healthy refridgerated stuff (yogurt, cheese, fruit). Depending on where you are staying it might be walking distance.
If you are using your sleeve as you are supposed to, there is no reason to doubt yourself and bring your scale to "check". Plus, if you did gain because of bloating or something, it could preoccupy your thoughts and take away from the fun of your vacation. Let your sleeve give you some freedom and confidence with your food and the number on the scale!! Especially if you are flying, I once gained and lost 14lbs overnight because bodies and flying and altitude can mess a person up!!

I do think this is common. I think it is partly about trying to have foods you are worried you will never have again and partly about turning to food (again) as a coping mechanism to deal with the very reasonable fears and concerns about the surgery. Before I started my pre-op diet, I found myself eating things even I would have found ridiculous beforehand -- like a dinner of hot dogs and french fries. Or corn dogs.
The good thing is the pre-op diet forced me back into line and since surgery, the restrictive diet (at the start) has obviously made all of that stuff impossible. But I also don't crave it any more. I think tastes do change, and the forced weeks of healthier eating also gives you such a break from the old unhealthy stuff that you get out of the habit of eating it.

Glad it went well. Don't worry, you will continue to feel better as the hours go by.

I did that for a while, then ran out of steam. I nearly OD'd on soda and beer! But the foods you love... you aren't saying goodbye to them forever, just temporarily. Keep that in mind. And that you'll have to lose every pound you gain now!

I'm 14 days post op and am officially 37pounds down from when I started my pre-op diet. Woo-hoo! I weighed in at 287lbs on June 21st, on my surgery date July 5th I weighed 265lbs. Today I weigh 250lbs and am looking cuter than ever
I haven't been this size since my junior year in High School. I've gone from a waist size of 46 to a 40. I'm actually scared I'm going to get too skinny now Lol. I can't wait to get off this liquid diet, its absolute torture!

Glad your experience has been great. I was there last week and had a wonderful experience, too.

There are many excellent doctors performing the surgery in Mexico and you can't necessarily determine their value based on price. Do your research and go with the person with whom you feel most comfortable.

PKB, Use the search function in the upper right corner of the homepage and look for leaks. I believe that Tiffykins had a revision and a leak, yet she has done fabulously with her sleeve. She's pregnant now with her second post-VSG baby and rocking her sleeve still!
You should definitely discuss your concerns with your surgeon, but the leak risk rate is still very low. What are the chances that you'll have to have a knee replacement again if you stay at the weight you're at now? If that happens, you'll be in the same place as you would be post-revision with an infection. It "might" be worth the risk, but that's a decision only you can make.

I had a leak... one of my staples was rejected by my body. It was severe pain in my lower left flank (lower back) as my body took the leaking items and put it into my diaphragm and the pain ended up radiating into my shoulder. It's called an abscess then as it's your body's way of protecting itself (putting all of the leaked items into one area). I was a few weeks out from surgery and... I would do gastric sleeve again. I chose this surgery over lap band and bypass. I would still do it again.