cajun
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Everything posted by cajun
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Dr Aceves also does THREE leak tests, which few other surgeons do. Cirangle does not do these any more. I am conservative, and want to be checked for leaks before I get on a plane to fly home. My personal experience having surgery by Dr Aceves was outstanding and I would do it again. The hospital was cleaner than any US hospital I have ever been in. The physicians check on you as much as three or four times a day, which is unheard of in the US. The nurses provide pain/nausea medication IMMEDIATELY and sometimes before you even need it, which is something I have never seen in the US. Any concern that you have will be taken care of right away.
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I have been a nurse for over 30 years and so I was very skeptical about going to Mexico at first. But I did a lot of research on the surgery, medical journals, the surgeons who do the VSG, and the places where they are done. If my insurance would have covered it, I might have chosen San Francisco, Dr. Cirangle, as he is the best in the world from what I can tell. I believe Dr Aceves to be the second best from my research. His all-inclusive fee is about half what Cirangle charges. And I even like some things about his program better than Dr Cirangle...I like that his program is one all inclusive package, they transport you from the airport in San Diego directly to the hospital, take you to a nice resort for the first night, transport you back to the hospital for the surgery, WATCH YOU FOR FOUR DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL (which no other program does from what I found), then drive you back to the airport in San Diego when it's all done.
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Hi Itstime
Dr. Aceves does thorough testing the day before your surgery, and this is all included in your surgery fee: EKG and risk evaluation by an internist, chest xray, complete metabolic profile (glucose, bun, creatine, uric acid, cholesterol, triglicerides, total, direct and indirect biliruben, total protein, albunin, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, ast, alt, ldh, ggt, calcium, phosphorus), a CBC, Pt/Ptt, HIV, Urinalysis. You will be evaluated by the anestesiologist for your risk level for anesthesia prior to surgery.
He also gives Lovenox prior to surgery and uses pheumatic sleeve compression on your legs during surgery to help reduce the incidence of blood clots. You will receive a triflow breathing exercise tool for use after surgery to prevent pneumonia.
If you are a smoker or have any cardiovascular problems, a stess test and pulmonary function studies may be needed and your local surgeon seems to be taking care of that. Dr Aceves does not do those preop. (contd)
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Bkfst: Jay Robb Shake Snack: Baby Bell cheese Lunch: Cream of Salmon Soup (canned wild Alaskan salmon, okios plain yogurt, chicken broth blended well. Snack: Hummus-on-a-spoon Snack: Cheese Stick Supper: Cream of Chicken Soup (broiled chicken breast, okios plain yogurt, chicken broth blended well) 20 oz sobe life water 40 oz water
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Look at this page...it explains all the types of bariatric surgery, with pictures: Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared
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I am so excited. By tomorrow I expect to be needing to loose less than 100 lbs. I LOVE my sleeve!!!!!!
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Hooray for you!!!! And Hooray for UHC, finally "getting with the program"!!! Who is going to do your surgery? I wish you well!
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TOM = Time of the Month
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I started having some of the same symptoms after rapidly losing weight during the pre-op phase and still have it sometimes. I agree, I think it is my BP dropping, and maybe combined with some days not quite enough fluids. That is enough to cause some orthostostasis. I'm watching my BP and will start breaking my BP med in half if the symptoms occur more often , and my internist agreed with that. Eventually I am counting on stopping it entirely...once I am down 100 lbs and more I expect to have a normal BP...am so looking forward to it.
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Very, Very inspiring, Ange. You have cut right to the heart of the matter. It's not just about losing weight. It's a whole, new paradigm. Thanks for your insights.
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I'm taking no solid pills for 3 months by recommendation of Dr Aceves. I crush up my thyroid pill and take it on an empty stomach with Water when I first get up. After 1/2 hour I dissolve my nexium in a small amount of water and take it. After another half hour I have Breakfast and take liquid Vit D and a sublingual B12, and dissolve my blood pressure pill in water, and take it with breakfast. I stopped the big horse pills preoperatively...multivit, glucosamine, and Calcium, because they taste so nasty dissolved that I could vomit. Am going to find an alternative for calcium citrate because it is essential I believe. (anyone know of an alternative to the pill? I drink Vitamin water all day that has some of the usual multivits in it...not as much as the pill but it will do for now. Dr Aceves gives his patients some sublingual Toradol for pain, and I have used a few of those...awesome drug. Also have used gas x lozenges. 3 months seems like a long time but I am guarding my sleeve to avoid any complications. So far, so good! Some of those horse pills are so nasty I can't imagine my sleeve being happy having them sit inside it for 5-10 minutes while they try to break up and melt. Yucko. For Protein in the clear liquid stage, try Isopure zero calorie. Various flavors. I add some to my vitamin water because I find it tastes nasty by itself. I get about 10 gms protein per 20 oz bottle of vitamin water.
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Lisa, It is so great of you to share your story, which I am sure will save many vsg'ers from repeating the mistake that you made...you might even save a life by sharing your story! I am so impressed by your courage. Congratulations on your continued progress too!
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Here's what I did. I have Cigna too. I knew that VSG was not covered, and I knew that it MIGHT be covered by sometime in 2010. However I also knew that once they covered it, they would expect you to wait 6 MORE months while you go through all kinds of expensive tests, psych consults, physician monitored attempts at wt loss, etc, etc, etc. I did not want to wait any longer. So I did a LOT of research and found an outstanding bariatric surgeon, Dr Alberto Aceves, in Mexicali, Mexico (who did sleeves on a lot of the members of this forum), and decided to just "get er done". I called his coordinator and a few weeks later was "sleeved" in Mexicali, on Sept 23...almost 3 weeks ago. It was the best decision of my life, and the best $8,500 bucks I ever spent! As a nurse for over 30 years, I can assure you that the medical care I received was better than any medical care I have been given in US hospitals for the three other surgeries I have had. So far, over 30lbs lost! It has to be your decision as you know. Just do your research, be sure your surgeon had performed over 300 of the surgery you have chosen, and that it is done in a full service hospital, not just a clinic. Read the post on "how to choose a mexican surgeon", which can be applied to any surgeon actually, not just mexican ones. It is major surgery and no surgery is without risk even with the best of surgeons. Take your time, be sure you are comfortable with your choice, and do it on your own timeline!
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3 Days post op and super happy.
cajun replied to Kikiphiasmom's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Absolutely possible. With a starting BMI of 47, you will lose more weight faster than those with a smaller BMI. Congratulations! -
Worried I'm not in the right place mentally for surgery
cajun replied to beautyqueen's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
It sounds to me like you have prepared well, and are just having the same last minute doubts that most of us had. Just keep taking breaths and put one foot in front of the other. Before you know it, you will be a "sleeve sista".:confused: -
Does this surgery speed up metabolism..not making reference to lower calorie intake.
cajun replied to snates's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I've never heard of that. But I do know that being in ketosis does seem to give people more energy. And we are definitely in ketosis if we are following the diet properly. Maybe that is what he meant? -
I returned to work on day 13 after surgery. I work in the emergency room and did feel a bit pooped out by the end of my 10 hour shift all last week. But I made sure to stop for a little nourishment every 3 hours, just a few ounces of warm soup...and that helped a lot. This week I'm sure I'll do even better. I think everyone is different. I was glad to get back to work and think it worked out fine.
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I make cream of chicken soup with broth, ricotta cheese and breast of chicken meat. Easy and delicious. 4 oz soup three times a day. 1/2 strength lifewater. Here's today's menu: 60 oz sobe life Water (1/2 strength) 4 ounces cream of chicken soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner (12 oz broth, 4 oz ricotta, 3 oz chicken breast, blended well) 2 Jay Robb Protein shakes TotaL: fluids 92 oz Protein: 95 Carbs: 39 Calories 613 Fats: 12 Sodium 1220 I watch this due to Hypertension
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If you will start your day with a Protein ONLY breakfast, I'll bet you won't be hungry until 11:00. Try it, and let me know if it works! NO CARBS at all!!!
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My personal onederland and stall broken
cajun replied to DownInSocal's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
WAY TO GO! I can't wait to be where you are! -
I'm finally doing it!
cajun replied to charitymarroquin's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
SUPER! I am excited for you! Keep us posted on your progress! -
Corn also has a high glycemic index, is a pretty starchy food, so is often discouraged in weight loss programs. Same goes for peas. One of my favorite corn products USED TO BE (PRE SLEEVE) Fritos Corn chips. I could eat a whole bag. Can't eat just one. I won't be eating those any more!
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I added 1/4 cup fresh papaya, blended to a fine pulp, in my Jay Robb chocolate shake. Tasted very good and my sleeve liked it. Promotes healing!
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check out this link Benefits and Risks of Weight Loss Surgery
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Absolutely. I did not even notice the ads. It is the diagram with benefits/risks that I thought would be interesting to pre-sleevers.