cajun

So far Cigna is not covering VSG. Their policy considers it "experimental". This may change once the AMA issues a CPT code.

Might suggest gastrografin instead of barium if you are having symptoms that suggest a leak...don't want barium leaking into your abdomen! Not for use if allergic to iodine though.

GOOD FOR YOU CAROL!!! I am 62 and just had my sleeve surgery in Mexico by Dr Aceves two weeks ago. Like you, I heeded the warnings of others on this forum and only told my 2 best friends, then told one sibling the day before I left. I did not need to hear negative and unenlightened reasons why I should not do this in Mexico. (even if it was because they just cared about me and did not want me to die in a foreign country!!!) I did all the research I needed to do, and asked all the questions I needed to ask to be comfortable...and that was a lot more than most people would ask. I'm a nurse myself and have very high standards. I read the research journals, studied various surgeons' credentials, considered facilities, and listened to forum reports. All of my research supported my decision fully, and the experience itself was outstanding. Two weeks out and I have lost 30 lbs. My knees don't hurt anymore. I am not short of breath. I sleep better. My Blood Pressure is coming down. I have ENERGY! I have to tell you, Ihave never received such outstanding medical care for surgery, and this is my 4th surgery in my lifetime. Dr Aceves' program made it so easy and it sounds like your doctor does too. The cost was affordable, about half what I would have paid i the USA, but that was not the most important issue for me. The quality of the care given was the primary concern. I don't think I could have found better care anywhere else at any price. I wish you the very best with your journey, and look forward to seeing your reports. It's your life, so don't worry what anyone else thinks.

Go to the Obesity Help forum and look under bariatric surgeons. You can select the states that you are interested in and research the physicians there. Research indicates that if a surgeon has performed at least 300 sleeves, they have much more success with less complications. Be sure you choose someone who is well experienced!

Judy, thanks for sharing your story. It is good to hear that everything went well.

Way to go, Mac! You are amazing!

I love milk and am also lactose intolerant, even before my sleeve surgery. I just chew about 5 lactaid tablets before the first swallow of milk or cream soup, and there is NO problem. I also use lactaid milk when ever possible, then there is no need to chew the ladtaid tablets at all.

Are you perhaps eating closer than 3 hours before bedtime the night before you notice these symptoms? It sounds like Gerd to me. Not something that I'd just let slide by unless it is real infrequent. Persistant acid in the esophagus can cause serious long term consequences. If this is persistant I'd be sure to stay on a good PPI, follow all the GERD rules, AND talk with my provider about an esophogram.

I've heard that if you do it too soon, there may still be some sagging that happens afterwards and then you want to have it done again. I'd wait until everything really stabilizes if I was doing it.

KyHen That sounds like a bad enough headache that I would suggest you call Gaby at Dr Aceves' office. Hope you feel better.

Sounds like the same things my surgeon would have recommended. Best of luck to you!

That's how it felt to me too, Rosebud. It sure was long! I understand that some surgeons don't use a drain. I 'm sure glad I had it, because it seemed to drain out quite a bit of blood-tinged Fluid every day, even on the day it was removed...I might be wrong but think it might have been uncomfortable to have that much fluid inside just waiting to resorb eventually.

Hi Christine, I just recently had VSG surgery by Dr Aceves in Mexicali, on September 23. I highly recommend him. My insurance does not cover the surgery so I was self pay, and heard about the more affordable options in Mexico, so I did a lot of research for several months on physicians and facilities there. His program was my choice for a lot of reasons. First, because of his extensive experience with this particular surgery, and the fact that he does other surgery as well. He has performed over 600 VSG's. There are very few surgeons who have done this many. The research that I read in professional journals states that once a surgeon has performed over 300 of a particular operations, they have seen everything there is to see and their complication rate goes way down. His complication rate is lower than national averages that are reported in the literature. I did not want to see a surgeon who was "learning" on me! Secondly, the number of years he has been operating in general was important to me. He has 0ver 18 years experience with laparoscopic surgery and 10 years with bariatric surgery. Third, the surgery takes place in a full-service hospital, not a "surgery clinic", which is the case with some of the Mexican surgeons. I am safety conscious, so in the event there is a complication, I wanted to be in a hospital that had an ICU, blood bank, full service radiology dept, etc. Fourth, Dr Aceves' program also provides an internal medicine evaluation, and he has an assistant surgeon who also sees you regularly. You are visitied MULTIPLE times each day by the physicians. I have never seen such attentive care by physicians in US hospitals, and I have worked in many of them since I am an RN for over 30 years. Dr Aceves and Dr Campos in particular were outstandingly kind and attentive. Fifth, Dr Aceves does 3 leak tests before you leave. These are tests to be sure there are no leaks in your new sleeve, which is one of the more serious complications that can have. Some physicians don't do this number of tests. Dr Aceves is conservative about this and I was glad to learn it. His post-op diet is also conservative compared to many, because a more conservative approach can help prevent post-operative leaks. Sixth, the program was so user-friendly. They assign you a coordinator at the beginning who answers all your questions via phone or email. Their driver picks you up at the airport in San Diego, transports you to the hospital where pre-op labs/xrays/ekg are done; they drive you tor a nice hotel room that first night, they transport you back to the hospital for surgery the next day, you stay in the hospital for 4 days and then are taken directly to the airport on that 4th day. All this is included in the fee, which is about 1/2 what you would pay in the US. You pay your own airfare. When I missed my connecting flight due to weather, I immediately called my coordinator and she re-arranged my pick-up time, transportation, hotel reservation, and lab schedule and took care of everything. It was so easy, I did not have to worry one bit. I found the hospital to be very beautiful, and cleaner than any hospital I have ever been in. It is a private hospital, and has decor more attractive than any I have been in here in the USA. The staff are very nice, most of them speak good English, and they are very kind and attentive to your needs. If you have any questions or concerns at all, Dr. Aceves is right there to answer them and he truly listens, as does his assistant, Dr. Campos. They are especially concerned about pain control after surgery, and I have to tell you, I had very minimal pain after the surgery. I've had 3 prior surgeries in the US and the kind of pain management in this program was the very best. I received spinal anesthesia as well as general, which is recommended in some of the research literature I had read prior to deciding. It truly was amazing for pain management. It is important that you do your own research until you are comfortable with your own choice, and you can read a lot about various physicians and facilities on this website and the obesity help website too. At OH you can research how many surgeries various physicians have done. Read, read, read before you decide, so you are really comfortable with it. Best of luck to you!

Right, the meat.

Gaby advised me that Dr Aceves prefers no whole pills until 3 months from surgery. I crushed mine this morning and swallowed them in some water. No problem. I would rather be safe than end up with a leak. or an ulceration in my new sleeve. My vit D is a capsule so am going to find out if it can be opened and taken in water.

The "pink stuff" washed right off with soap and Water in the shower, for me. Today I start the second phase of the diet, full liquids. Had a Jay Robb shake this morning and my sleeve feels a tiny bit sore after that...guess it is adjusting to the change. It sure gave me more energy to have a nice boost of Protein. I have not been able to get in the 70 grams the first ten days since we are only allowed "clear" fluids ...I could only tolerate a little clear Isopure in each bottle of sobe life water...about 10 grams of protein per bottle, and drank about four 20oz bottles daily. Also had some home made chicken broth. Maybe it's all in my head but I do feel better this morning after drinking the Jay Robb shake, that has 33 grams of protein (including the fat free milk). Was having a little bit of diarrhea the first week home, but nothing since then. My larger incision that had the drain in it has finally closed up, no more drainage so I removed the dressing this morning. Things are mending nicely. I am sleeping well, but much less than I used to before starting the wt loss. I think I have more energy because I have lost 30 lbs and am eating such low carb diet. Or maybe it is because I take a short nap every day. I also notice that I am not feeling "hot" all the time. I used to keep my AC set on about 70 at night but now I feel cold if it is set that low. I have migrated it down to 72-74 and am very comfortable. I guess my wt loss is going to reduce energy expenditures and help the environment too! Has anyone else noticed that side effect?

What kind of Protein shakes are you drinking?

If you also get rashes periodically under "the girls" that may help substantiate a case for insurance coverage to perk them up.

Me too. I find the software difficult to use, and the site is "fussy and not organized looking" in comparison to this one, in my opinion. Can't find anywhere to "post a new thread". It's probably there somewhere but I can't find it. I like to read posts though, like you. Some interesting ones there, just like here.

Glad you are feeling better. I had my sleeve by Dr Aceves on Sept 23, and am doing well too. I nap about once a day too...it's normal to have some fatigue after major surgery, and considering that our clear liquid diet is not giving us all the energy we need. This too shall pass, as they say! Keep working your sleeve.

Rest, sip, walk, rest, sip, walk. Welcome home!

"cannot have cream soups as I am lactose intolerant." Just get some lactaid tablets over the counter, and chew up about 5 of them before you eat any dairy products. This usually prevents any symptoms of lactose intolerance! Enjoy!

For me, the heating pad made me more comfortable when I had some gas pains in the hospital, and for the first few days at home too. I took gas x strip every 6 hours. Can't stand the isopure straight up, but I add some to my Vitamin Water now that I am home, on Clear Liquids. That way I am getting in some Protein at least. It does not taste too bad diluted in the vit water. I also prepared clear chicken broth before I left for Mexicali, and froze it in ice cube trays after straining it with a very fine strainer. This was the VERY BEST "food" I have had during my 10 day clears. In the morning, something warm seems to go down better than cold liquids. I froze all the meat and veggies that I boiled to make the broth too, and when I am start full liquids, will blend it with broth to make a think Soup...that will be yummy too. I'm a chicken lover, can you tell? I traveled light (are you going far, or local hospital?), and took only my crocks which I wore. I could shower in them, and walk the halls in them...no need for slippers. I did carry my own pillow and it was nice to have. Took my small "e-computer" too but never could get it to work in Mexicali.I also took a few packets of koolaid and some stevia, in case I got stranded somewhere and needed fluids. Tried the koolaid while in the hospital but it tasted nasty. Your taste buds may change after the surgery and things you liked before may not taste good afterwards. So don't invest in large amounts of Protein drinks before hand. You might end up throwing them out. Who is doing your surgery? Best of luck to you.

Ever since the surgery I wake up with a dry, dry mouth. Anyone else? What do you do for this besides keep water at the bedside?

awesome! keep up the great work!