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The organizational expertise of the staff was very comforting. When I notified the coordinator that my connecting flight was missed due to weather, Monica immediately rearranged my hotel stay, ride to Mexicali, preop labs and surgical time so that I knew everything would be fine once I arrived . What a MAJOR relief that was! When I first arrived in my room, Dr Aceves brought all the other pre-op gals in for a group session, and he gave us a lot of information and recommendations on how to make this a successful journey toward healthier living. His kindness, willingness to listen/answer questions, and obvious commitment to help us be successful was so very comforting from the very start. He loves his life work and it was so obvious. After surgery, the frequent visits by Dr Aceves and Dr Campos and their prompt attention to all of my concerns was so very reassuring. There was NO delay when I needed pain control, and it was offered even more than I needed it. Having other sleeve sisters there to visit and help each other out was also very, very comforting.

Yep, your message is on the forum. We are all cheering for you, and I know you will do great. I had my VSG done there 6 days ago and am feeling great! Best of luck to you, and keep us updated on your progress!

Suz, I am so sorry you are having to deal with this roadblock. Don't let it stop you. Many, many insurance companies issue a denial the first time an application comes in. The key is to reapply, and give them even more evidence that this will save them money in the end because many of your comorbidities will likely fade away after this treatment. Read the article at SpringerLink - Journal Article It might help.

Things that I did to help prevent blood clots were: 1. Keep well hydrated, 2. wore support hose on the flight to and from San Diego, 3. walked, walked, walked both before the surgery, during my flights (as much as possible) , while I was in the hospital, and now that I am home Others have already mentioned that Dr. Aceves gives gives patients an injection of Lovenox (a blood thinner) just prior to surgery, and applies a pressure device to the legs during the surgery to prevent clots. They also give you plenty of IVs to keep you well hydrated until you can drink enough on your own. I've had no problem and you can be reassured that the incidence of clots is very, very low with this surgery...it is such a brief surgery, which helps too.

Mountain_lover Welcome! We are here to offer support so if you have any questions, meet any bumps on the road, want to share your successes, or just need to talk, let us know. We are happy to have you on the forum.

Judy, You can see Dr Bellanger's statistics at Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Drake Bellanger, M.D. It looks like he has done over 300 lap bands but no VSGs are listed. Maybe it is not an updated list and you could call and ask for more information. That's all I know.

Just passed my third leak test with flying colors. Will be home by tomorrow night. Feeling good. Will write more later.

On Easter we have a tradition at one of my brothers', he cooks grits and griades for brunch...(not sure how to spell that), but it's buttered grits covered with rich strips of very tender liver or venison or other wild game meat, in a hearty, dark brown gravy. It is delicious and totally not on a VSG diet I am sure.

Before surgery I bought some different baking extracts, like banana, mint, cherry, coconut, to add to things that I don't like. the banana flavor made the Jay Robb chocolate shakes taste really good when I was testing them before surgery. It remains to be seen if I still will like them once I start full liquids in 8 more days. 8 more days of clears. Small price to pay for all the pounds that I see melting off me.

I think that Josephine has some very important points to consider. If you want to avoid starvation mode, in which you totally stop losing weight due to not eating enough, you will have to increase your caloric intake a bit. Stop taking any fluids with meals. Take only dense proteins at mealtime. Avoid soups. Protein shakes are ok if they contain about 25 gms of protein per shake...mix them in the smallest volume possible. Drink your fluids between meals, never wash food down with liquids because they expand the food in your sleeve and make you feel fuller. Start inching up your protein-caloric intake, and gradually you will be able to eat more, and lose more weight.

Daisy, what do you think about Unjury? Have you ever tried it? I had such a horrible reflux experience after Isopure, and just received word from Dr Aceves/ office that they want me to try unjury. What's your experience?

I am glad that has been cleared up. I did not know, and am in day 5, finding that I can more easily swallow 3 ounces of clear liquid, and was afraid to do so. Now I won't feel quite so inhibited. Thanks!

Oh I'm sure he will have no problems in that category. Have a great time!

Tiff, I see you started a post but did not write anything. But I can guess what you will be doing...guess whose coming to dinner........?

I remember the OR Nurse wrapping gauze around my legs when I got to the OR, but guess I was asleep when they put the alternating pressure leggings on...I don't remember any of that, or any of the time in recovery room. When I woke up, I was in my room. Basically in la la land for a while... I think that I did walk some that first evening...can't remember for sure. I liked that Dr Aceves orders toradol most of the time for pain control. Druggy drugs make me feel like my brain is not attached to my body...really wierd and I don't like that feeling. I think they gave me Clonidine at least one time, and I was in a "brain fog". Ernesto came into my room to say he would be picking me up at 7 AM the next day for the drive to the airport and I said "and who are you?". I can laugh at it now, but it is really a wierd feeling. It still makes me wonder how drug addicts can think it feels so good. The bottom line is, I received really good pain control which makes recovery so much easier.

Nexium. Works like a charm. Dr Aceves gives his patients a two week supply, plus a prescription for more which I purchased at the pharmacy next to the hospital. Very cheap in Mexico....1/5 what you'd pay in the USA.

AJW AWESOME! What a great feat! Keep on keeping on!!!!

Sounds big to me. Mine was a 36. I guess about 4 ounces. I am happy with that.

Judy, Welcome to the forum! I can totally relate to all your comments, and am newly sleeved, less than one week. Already down six pounds since the surgery and feeling great. I hope you continue to come to the board and read as much as you can. I learned a lot of things that helped me prepare well for the surgery. It made me so confident that I was not nervous at all, and am able to deal with what ever challenges crop up along the way. You will too! Best of luck to you!

You GO GIrL!!! Awesome weight loss! Isn't it wonderful to do it and not feel like you are starving! Sleeves are a miracle!

I was really glad to have the penrose drain up until the night before I left Mexicali, because it was taking out a lot of fluid that I think might have caused me some pain if it had stayed in. It may be considered a more conservative approach, but I like that about Dr Aceves. He is very, very careful. Three leak tests may not be necessary but he does them and it was comforting to me to know that I passed all three!

They gave me two gowns, one frontwards and one backwards, to cover the vital areas nicely. that worked fine. The day after surgery I changed in to my own PJ's. More comfortable like that. Makes you feel less "sick" and more like you are just "on the mend".

I'd like to hear more thoughts on this. It has seemed to me that switching back and forth from a low calorie to a moderate calorie diet might really work to "trick" the body and prevent it from shutting down in "starvation mode", ie, plateau mode. Does anyone know of some research on this concept? Alex, do you know of any research on this subject??? Thanks.

BoB Hey, sleeve brother! Good news, bad news...Restriction is the whole point of the sleeve, so choosing the sleeve is choosing restriction. In your case that is bad news because you are having a hard time adjusting to the change. The good news is....you are losing a lot of weight, which is the main goal of this surgery. More good news...you have undoubtedly made many changes and adjustments in your life for various reasons. If you can just talk your head into looking at this as one more necessary change/adjustment in order to reach your goal of outstanding weight loss, it will get easier. Support from forums, family, friends, where ever you can find it will assist you. Don't give up and don't fight your sleeve...find a way to work with it! If you want to watch a really funny movie that parodies the dilemma that you are in, rent the video entitled "What About Bob?" It is a riot and tells the story quite well!

Another good outcome from eating Protein rich breakfasts is you don't have the rebound rise in insulin (which drops your blood sugar and makes you weak/hungry) that you would have had if your Breakfast contained carbohydrates. The protein satisfies hunger a lot longer too. It takes longer to digest than carbs, so gives you energy all morning.