cajun

Read more about the program at

http://www.mexicalibariatriccenter.com/

and

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Alberto+Aceves+lpc.html

You pay your flight to and from San Diego. His driver picks you up at the San diego airport, drives you to mexicali (about 2 hour drive). He takes you directly to the hospital where you have lab tests, ekg, chest xray, meet with Dr Aceves, the cardiologist, the anesthesiologist and the internist. Then the driver, (Ernesto) drives you to the lucerna resort hotel where you spend the night. He picks you up the next morning to take you back to the hospital for the surgery where you stay for three days. You get a leak test during surgery, and two leak tests during your hospital stay. Then Ernesto drives you back to the airport on the fourth day. A companion can come with you, and the companion pays for his/her own meals (there is a cafeteria). All you pay for is airfare, and your dinner the night before the surgery at a local restaurant of your choice. Everything else is covered, all doctors, tests, surgery, and your "meals" in the hospital, which amount to Clear Liquids. Their program works like clockwork and they are easy to work with. The bedside manner of the doctors is awesome, unlike any I have ever seen in the USA and the hospital is cleaner than any I have ever been in. Your companion has a couch in your hospital room, where they can sleep if they want. If they want to go back to the Lucerna hotel to sleep they would have to pay for their room except for that first night when you are there...that first night is covered by Dr Aceves.

I got in on the summer special in September, 8700 dollars. If you don't get the special I think it is around 9500 dollars.

Heavier sleevers will lose more pounds. It is more accurate to compare percent of excess body weight lost.

But since you asked, I lost 63 lbs by three months out, and 78lbs by 4 months out.

Congratulations to all...great jobs!!!

So in my hunt to find a surgeon overseas I came across another one and it seems there are only a handful of surgeons here and most have performed between 30-50 VSG's....mostly doing gastric bypasses and BANDS....ALOT of bypasses and vsg's.

Is this a big no-no?

According to the research that I read prior to deciding on a surgeon, the complication rate is higher until the surgeon had performed 300 or more of a surgery. It is not easy to find one with the amount of experience that was needed to reassure me. The ones with the most experience are Cirangle and Jossart in San Francisco but I could not afford them since I was self-pay. I found Dr Aceves in Mexicali. His credentials were stellar. He's done over 700, and is FACS, president of Mexican Bariatric Assoc., and operates in a beautiful hospital with ICU etc, so I highly recommend him. He was also affordable. Many on this forum have gone to him.

You are smart to do your research. Good luck!

Of course the first one is after day 1. It is abnormally small from swelling.

Do you have one that is from about 3 months since surgery?

I think you're doing great. The only recommendation I have for you is that at 4 months post op, you should try to get in at least 800 cals on ALL days unless it's just a REALLY bad day food wise.

I agree. Thanks Josephine.

Sounds like a normal reaction to me...just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you will come out sleeved! Congratulations.

Was this nutritionist familiar with WLS - specifically vertical sleeve? If not, I would suggest finding someone who is.

The weightloss seems to be doing great for you, therefore, I wouldn't suggest a change. However, I would think you would have more energy. What is your treadmill routine? How much can you do & what intensity level before you get dizzy?

She seems right on target about a lot of things but I do believe she is not experienced in advising VSG patients.

I walk for 30 minutes three times a week at a moderate 2.5 mph pace. I don't always get dizzy, but when I do, I stop. I don't want to fall and break something at this point.

Thanks all for your replies. Unfortunately here in Canada I'm not able to get most of the brands you've recommended, but I'm happy to report that I've been getting much more liquid down & incorporating Protein into it all as well. Probably still not up to where I'm supposed to be, but I'm getting there & I'm no longer weak!

Thanks again!

You can buy the Jay Robb Protein Powder online and have it shipped to you. If you decide to do that order some individual serving packets of the powder first, to taste it. The whey powder is what I use, not the egg white powder.

I like the chocolate, but everyone has their own taste.

I saw a nutritionist for the first visit last week at the suggestion of my internist. She was shocked about the 600-800 calorie, 70 gm Protein, 30-60 gram carb recommendation for the first 6 months post VSG. She advised me on starting a training program with free weights, and cardio exercises, along with increasing intake to 1200 calories with more balanced version of the diet.

Here's my problem: I'm losing weight following my surgeon's recommendations, and do not want to mess with what is working for me. But I do agree that exercise is beneficial, however I could probably not sustain a moderately intense exercise program with the small amount of food, mostly protein, that I am eating. I do a little treadmill walking and do get dizzy often, and have to stop. I have attributed this to either not enough fluids or not enough carbs on board to sustain me. My plan was to use the treadmill as much as I can tolerate it safely, but wait on the intense exercise plan until after I reach goal, and am able to eat 1200 calories a day. Now I am confused.

I read some interesting information on the OH website at

Fluid requirements. How can I possibly add carbs? They are so filling. I am still thinking that the first 6 months I should follow my surgeon's advice.

What do y'all think?

Follow your doctor's orders. Mine did tests that showed what I was deficient in. No need to take what you don't need!

The hi Protein lo carb diet is famous for causing Constipation, so your question is a good one.

I've been using a tsp of metamucil clear in my morning shake since I became constipated when starting regular food. Am going to soon try flaxseed instead, as it is more natural...but the metamucil worked. Be sure you nip this in the bud so you don't get painful hemorrhoids, that could require yet another surgery.

Once you are on regular food, prunes work really well too, for some people. Hi sugar content though.

I dont remember where I saw it (I think it was here) but it said that Hospital Almater where, Dr Aceves is, was in the progress of being accredited by the Joint Commision.

Did the accrediation ever go thru. I couldn't find anything about it on their website.

Thanks for the info

last time I noticed their advertisement it still said "in progress". It takes a while to get that cranked up for the first time.

Millie, thanks for the legwork... I'm still sitting the fence but, I am hoping that as Kris mentions, once I see how things work there, I'll be ok with it. But I doubt it. And Joe, thanks for the stats, good food for thought there. ARGH, so completely indecisive on this one... Also, if you have a port (?) in your back and stitches on the front, how the heck are you supposed to get comfortable...??

I'm in the hotel in Miami as we speak, flying at the buttcrack of dawn tomorrow to start tests in Mexicali tomorrow. Surgery Monday. I'm hoping I get in early so I have the most possible time to recover. :ohmy:

Thanks you guys, hopefully I'll touch base before I become a loser!

Carol

The epidural line in the lower back is a tiny pliable plastic catheter about the size of a pencil lead...you don't even feel it is there. I slept on my back the whole time and slept fine.

It seems that if the gastrectomy was performed for benign ulcers or other benign stomach diseases is the common thread in all of the links provided.

If you have a healthy stomach lining which is where the adenocarcinoma forms, it appears that the risk is lower. All the patients observed developing some sort of cancer post-op, had other ulcerative or gastric issue prior to surgery.

NEJM -- Stomach cancer after partial gastrectomy for benign ulcer disease

SpringerLink - Journal Article

By the studies, abstracts, and other referenced material, they all report risk factor for developing gastric cancer to be less or slightly higher than 1%.

SpringerLink - Journal Article

SpringerLink - Journal Article

Meta-Analysis of the Risk of Gastric Stump Cancer: Detection of High Risk Patient Subsets for Stomach Cancer after Remote Partial Gastrectomy for Benign Conditions -- Tersmette et al. 50 (20): 6486 -- Cancer Research

Upon review of the listed articles, and other pages they all conclude that the cancer is due to the diseased tissue of the stomach from an ulcerative condition which changes the mucosa of the stomach lining. Also, smoking, dietary choices, and different social behaviors contribute to these factors.

None of the studies are based on healthy stomach resectioning, or partial gastrectomies without any history of benign ulcers. Most of the articles state specifically that the ulcerative condition changes and can cause cancer even after the gastrectomies.

While, I find it interesting, I am not sure that the risk is anything that I would put on my "con" list for having the VSG performed.

I agree with Tiff. I read a lot of research articles today and the major risk factors mentioned are:

cigarette smoking

high body mass index

helobacter pylori

gastric ulcers

alcohol

frequent red meat intake, especially bbq well done

retinol intake

hiatal hernia

I figure my risk has gone way down due to this surgery because I'll lose the obesity, my hiatal hernia was repaired during the VSG, and I don't have the other risk factors.

Yippee.

Thanks Cajun,

That's my main focus right now is to try to make sure I get the fluids in. It is indeed hard. I'm just sipping stuff constantly. Do you know if whey Protein mix can be added to clear liquids during the first 10 days of clear liquids?

I emailed my doctors office but haven't heard back. If I can, that will make it alot easier to get my Proteins and liquids in at the same time.

I was told I could have Isopure which is a clear Protein Drink, but not the whey powder that you mix in milk, it's not "clear". I couldnot tolerate the Isopure (isopuke), but I did make an effort to add just a little to each bottle of sobe life Water that I drank, to just get in a little Protein at least. After starting the full liquids I did fine with the Jay Robb chocolate whey powder in lactaid milk. Those first two weeks were the hardest.

I made homemade chicken Soup and strained out the broth...it was great. Froze the solid part for use later when on mushies, you can blend it with a little broth for a mush, and it's great too.

It appears that there are other links and source references posted at the conclusion of the article. I have not read them because I being post surgery, am not in a strong emotional state to handle anything that could add to the fear I am already grappling with. That said thank you for the post and continue to do your research.

I agree with you, you would best stop reading ANY posts that have any negative content because in your state, you just get more anxious when reading them. Avoid the complications posts, just read the positive stuff. I have not seen ANY EVIDENCE (research, proof) that what that poster said about gastrectomies and adenocarcinoma is true, and believe me, I have read LOTS of research about the sleeve.

If I told you the earth was flat, would you become worried? Or would you laugh? I hope you would laugh, or at least smile. It would just be my statement. Who am I, not any expert on the shape of the earth. So don't believe what you read just because someone wrote it. It might also help you to get a book of positive affirmations and read them daily.

How about the dog suggestion I made earlier? What do you think about that?

Hi everyone! Well, I'm a little more coherant today. We made the trip home last night. It felt so good to sleep in my own bed. I feel a little better as each day goes by. I'm drinking fluids just fine but having difficulty trying to figure out how to get the Protein in with it. My stomach is still very swollen but is getting better.

I imagine it will take me awhile to get it all figured out.

Just wanted to say thanks for all your posts (they cheered me up) and for all your prayers and thoughts.

More later!

Many of us could not get in the Protein the first few weeks, but just be sure you get in all the water/clear liquids...dehydration is the first problem that you need to prevent, as a priority, at this stage.

Once your sleeve is calmed down from the surgery, you will be able to get in more fluids and when you start the full liquids, then you can work on getting all the protein in.

Great to sleep in your own bed, I hear you. I felt the same way. Congratulations of your new sleeve!

It sounds like you are doing some things that will help you, going to meetings, the gym. Maybe it would help to go to the animal shelter DAILY, and pet the dogs...find one you really like and take him home with you! Research shows that having a dog helps people, and I know you like them because you volunteer at the shelter. Just a thought.

I have had really, really, really bad dry mouth for the last week. I had my surgery on Jan. 14th but I can't take this dry mouth any longer. It doesn't matter how much I drink, it doesn't help. I told my doctor about this & he says to drink more....well it's not helping.

Anyone else go through this or is it just me?? I'm going crazy!! :001_smile:

Dry mouth is common the first month or so, and it can be a sign of dehydration as well as just a common side effect of the PPI's (nexium, prilosec, etc.). Eventually it goes away. The medication is essential to protect your new stomach so don't stop taking it, please.

Just keep sipping fluids to moisten your mouth and remember that this too shall pass...

I'm 11days out & 26lbs down and up until now have been feeling great. Today however I am exhausted and so weak. I had to take 2 breaks just while blow drying my hair, as I couldn't keep my arm up. I've been trying to keep my liquid intake up, but I'm finding it so hard still, so I can't imagine I'm even close to the 64oz recommended. I'm also not getting anywhere near the sufficient amount of Protein in.

It's my goal as of tomorrow to pay close attention to my liquid/water intake and sip, sip, sip all day... but is there such a thing as a good tasting Protein powder? I've tried so many & gag with each sip. I just started full liquids today & thought making shakes with milk would be so much better, unfortunately my gag reflex didn't agree! :001_smile:

I love the Jay Robb whey chocolate protein powder. I mix it in lactaid milk, and add a splash of banana extract. It tastes great.

You need fluids first, then protein is the second most important, to keep up your strength. Sip sip Sip all day. I use Sobe Lifewater, which contains a lot of Vitamins and tastes delicious. There are a lot of flavors, so try different ones to find what you like best. At the beginning I liked apple the best, but now I like them all. If you still have a lot of spasms swallowing, warm it up a little, and it goes down easier.

Things will get better....the first week or so is just hard work! Soon you will be dropping pounds magically.

Hang in there!

Glad to hear your doing well, I'm back in San Deigo after being sleeved in Mexicali. Staying here tonight, then on home in the morning. I'm feeling ok, sipping and burping. The burps get stuck every now and then thou.

Brenda

I hear there was a huge amount of rain over there this week...did it delay your travel?

Glad you are making it home now, keep in touch with us and we will support you!

I guess my thoughts are different here than the other posters. I got my sleeve to help me with Portion Control, not as something to deprive me. I agree with Cajun's post, eventually we will be eating the foods we used to eat. To be honest at two weeks out I ate a tater tot from Sonic. I didn't die, nothing burst open, I didn't gain 4 pounds the next day, but it satisfied me and I haven't wanted one since then. The only things that are on my list that I will never be able to have are white breads and rice, and I guess my head is cool with that. But the other nice things in life I will continue to enjoy, just in a greatly reduced quantity. Granted right now with a healing stomach I don't push it.

I say, next time eat the french fry. It has been so processed and cooked to death there isn't much left that could hurt your sleeve. Savor it, remeber that used to have eaten a hundred of them and that didn't work out to well, then move on. And if you are going to eat it, might as well dip in some ketchup to get the full effect, I forgot to dip my tater tot in ketchup:sad0:. Next time I won't make that mistake. Oh yeah, and walk an extra 5 minutes to burn off that french fry.

Bill

The one thing I don't agree with in this post is to eat a fry, at ONE WEEK OUT. It's one thing to eat a fry once you are on solids in accordance with your surgeon's recommended diet advancement. But NOT at one week out...the sleeve staple line is still raw and not at all healed, it is not the time to be irritating it unless you would like to have a leak, and a hundred thousand or more in medical bills etc...

Once you are into a regular diet, if you are in serious need of a fry, go for it, just limit the frequency and amount as much as your willpower will allow you. You'll do fine as long as it is a minimal deviation from your diet. I'd bet there is no one who does the diet perfectly.