pnw218

VV2010 ~ it is hard when family or friends probably think they are being supportive and giving you good advice, but unless they have done the research and are heavy themselves, they aren't going to understand. My opinions below - I don't have any stats : ) It seems alot of people have this surgery every day. If there were tons of complications, we would know about it. The clinics in Mexico depend on US citizens for their income. They want you to be healthy and happy as much as you do. Americans have been going to Mexico for less expensive medical and dental treatment for years and years. I have not researched the insurance issues - however it would seem odd if they can turn down complications from any elective surgery whether you had it in the states or not. Also, if you walk into an emergency room, don't they have to treat you?? I guess I should read our policy and find out tho. I travel alot internationally and came very close to having my gall bladder removed in either Belize or Honduras. Now that would have been scary! LOL My primary dr will run any tests/blood work I need as a followup. She also removed my stitches when I got back. She is not educated about the sleeve tho so can't give me specific advice. So far tho, all is good and I really don't anticipate any issues at this point. Good Luck! You will be happy you had the surgery! :001_smile: ntvtxn ~ you should ask your surgeon what happens with complications during surgery. It seems the clinics in Mexico don't charge anything extra. Several people have commented that their surgeon found and fixed a hernia and didn't charge them more.

Mashed potatoes have been one of my favs after surgery! For lunch, I will top my potatoes with a few small pieces of grilled chicken, some veggies and cheese. A minute in the microwave and it is great! Congrats! Sounds like you are doing great!

congrats Cajun!! it is so amazing to read so many success stories!

I think we should sign up a few guys just to try it out ..... my dh "bravely" had a vasectomy (a story in itself) and then I found out 2 months later that I needed a hysterectomy! He was not a happy camper! LOL and yes, I was up and around faster after my surgery than he was after his little office procedure!! :thumbup:

LOL You are probably safe unless he or she is Chinese. And then you had better double check! However, I have acupuncture fairly regularly and it has worked better for some issues than medicine. Never did try it for weight loss tho. And not so sure I would have trusted it 100% for a vasectomy!

You are probably money and stress ahead by cancelling the lapband! : ) It was my first choice also, mainly because it is supposed to be reversible. I have my doubts tho now after everything I have heard and read. I am just 2 inches taller than you; similar weight. My true weight problems started in the late 1990's/early 2000's. I had always been able to keep it in check before that. I totally get the tired of being fat feeling! I didn't meet my insurance's guidelines and wouldn't have had the patience for their one year pre-op program anyways : ) I figure that even with the $5200 for surgery and $300 for airfare, I spent less than what my deductible, co-pays, etc would have cost. I told very few people before the surgery. I figured most of them would have lousy attitudes about the surgery in general and go balistic over surgery in Mexico! Most friends and family have been supportive; only a few have been difficult. We also own our own business as well as I am a Broker for a real estate branch office. I had surgery on Thursday, flew home on Sunday, went to work on Monday. I was able to work shorter hours for the first week and was back to full time the following week. Other than being tired, it really wasn't an issue being at work. Seems alot of people hit stalls around the 5th week or so. I may be at one now but I also took a few days off from logging every single thing I am eating or drinking. We had alot of company over the past week, had a party at the house, etc. Its not like you can overeat quantity wise, just quality : ) So far it seems very possible to me that I will lose at least 50-60 pounds. I would be happy if I get in the low 140's or 130's. 128 would just be a bonus. It is hard to tell what is reasonable. I followed the Cornell University Sleeve Diet Guidelines. Worked better for me but everyone is different. Keep an open mind and adjust as you go along. It truly is amazingly easy. I wish I would have known about it sooner!

Well, I haven't lost enough yet to know exactly how he is going to react. What I can tell you is that when I started going to curves last summer, and was actually going on a regular basis, he started swimming 3 times a week. Of course, he lost more than me - darn guys anyways. I did run into some recurrent back issues that totally sidelined me in the fall. He has been focusing on losing weight alot since January. I didn't even start talking about vsg until mid-January! lol He does compliment me often about how well I am doing and he can see changes. So there has been some competitiveness but not horrible! It probably also has a lot to do with someone's overall personality also tho. We have never been jealous in our relationship (married 17 years). We have maintained friendships with people who were friends before marriage. I am thinking that he could become more jealous down the road. He is 10 years older than me ... if I do get down to a small size, who knows. Talk about it as much as possible : )

I would be glad to answer any questions - if I know the answer, or just share my experience with you : ) I live south of Seattle. I met a gal thru work who had the sleeve surgery a year ago. She has gone from a size 22 to a 6/8. Just amazing! Good Luck with your plans!

Hello! It is a big step to take but I don't regret it. I will share my personal experience with you. Will send a private message. 1. I had surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday. I did work shorter days because I could (self employed) but could have done longer than 4-6 hours if I needed to. I was back to regular full time hours after one week. Have you had surgery before? Any idea how you will do afterwards? 2. You might try a credit union to get a personal signature, unsecured loan. Or do you have a car or something you could use as collateral? 3. I'm not at this stage yet - I think most people have said it happened at about 3 months? Seems it also grows back. I have very thick hair but still don't want it to fall out. supplements might help? Good luck with your research!!

I have been ok with tortillas, I just put cheese in them tho : ) I haven't tried alot of Beans . . . kind of afraid to! lol I don't know if popcorn counts as a basic food but I miss it! It was one of those things I forgot to have during my last week pre-op. A bag of buttered, salted popcorn with diet pepsi was often a quick dinner!

Anna, I loved popcicles at that stage! Was easier than ice cubes/chips and really helped with the thirst issue. I am drinking decently now, if fact there are times I have to remind myself that I can't drink the entire glass at once : )

My hardest night was definitely the 2nd night post op. I was at the recovery house by then and had alot of anxiety. Try to relax, use an ice pack on your head, the back of your neck and on your abdomen if there is pain there. 20 minutes, then take it off or move it somewhere else. A liquid pain med might be better, like Lee said. Swallowing pills was a challenge. It really will get better quickly every day.

Your photos definitely show your success! Congrats!

My stomach still gurgles like crazy when I try something new. Made me nervous at first but now I expect it : ) There are definitely times that I feel hungry. Not often but it does happen.

Congrats Michelle!! The first week is the hardest for sure! Yes, dilaudid is my favorite! I was down with a bad back for 6 weeks over a year ago and it was a combo of dilaudid and some other good stuff that actually kept me in bed for three weeks! The scars will go away. The ones I had from a prior lap surgery were hardly noticable. I totally agree about the fluids and the mental. I have taken a few days off from logging everything I eat or drink. Just needed a little break. Sounds like you are doing great tho! Congrats again!

I sent you a private message with more info; the short part is below .... After having a gall bladder attack on a cruise ship, I had my gall bladder removed in November 2006. The way I understand it is after having your gall bladder removed, the bile in your system is no longer controlled and many people start seeing digestion issues. They often are food in, food out. It is not nice at all. After several months, I was able to get into a specialist who suggested Cholestyramine. It is a powder that can be mixed into juice or Water. That worked for several years. This past year, my dr switched me to Welchol which is a much easier med to take. It is a tablet and doesn't have to be scheduled around meals and other meds like the powder. The bonus about Cholestyramine is that it also helps to maintain your cholesterol. I had never had any issues with cholesterol before having my gall bladder out. Now, after being on Welchol for 6 months or so, my cholesterol is a little elevated. My doctor believes that it will go down since I am losing weight and eating better. She will recheck it three months post op when she does my other labs. Also - since having the VSG surgery, I have been able to quit taking the Welchol. Any issues I had with bile have resolved themselves.

sure! : ) and it is amazing what the Chinese can do with needles (the 2nd NSV) .... lol

Around here I believe it is for a Non Scale Victory. In the medical world it is No Scalpel Vasectomy. lol

Very exciting Lynda!! I am down one+ size in jeans. Almost ready for the next ones but agree, they are just a bit tighter than I would prefer. I bought a couple of danskins type pants and wear them to work too. I like the stretchy material and tie waist band. Congrats! Sure makes it worth the changes!

Congrats Andrea! Glad you are done with that part of it! You may just be swollen from the surgery. I didn't think I would ever be able to take a real drink again and I was sooo thirsty. Popcicles really helped. You will feel better each day. Relax, sleep and let it pass. You will be very happy soon!

congrats!! I am very impressed! and I will have an oreo to Celebrate with you : ) I went to PT. does that count?

Still laughing over Lee's commando status! I had those disposable panties once. Don't remember exactly when or where, but it might have been with my ERCP last August. No catheter tho. They made me get up to use the bathroom and it was highly annoying since they were "forcing" so many liquids thru my IV. lol

Seems like I am breaking all of the rules!! I agree with everyone else that it is uncomfortable to drink too much right before, during or after a meal - however I do take little sips during meals, depending on what I am eating. Especially Peanut Butter toast. That just requires milk : ) As time goes on, I have been able to experiment and see what works. Sometimes it doesn't tho and it takes 30-60 minutes to feel better!

My primary doctor put tape over my incisions after she took out the stitches. She said to trim the tape as it became loose. All of my tape has fallen off now; I do have a couple of incisions that are still more scabbed that others, and after a shower they might look a little oozy?? I think it is just the scab. I agree with the others - and would add if the area around the incision isn't newly red or sore, you are probably fine. The surgery clinic sent home spray to use on the areas to keep the infection away. Seems I heard gels like neosporin weren't suggested because they could hold in bacteria. Maybe you could even dab a little hydrogen peroxide on the incisions? Not sure how medically correct that is but I put it on everything. LOL

I didn't need anything that strong, to me it wasn't very painful either. Other then my lungs and chest (from being tubed and inflated during surgery), there really wasn't any pain. I quit taking pain meds after my flight home on day 3, and I took it that day as a precaution. Get a heating pad & a refillable reusable ice bag and you might be surprised how much those help. I think the only downfall of the heavy meds is that you sleep alot more and feel groggier - so you walk less and eat/drink less. I feel better when I am not taking them. If I had to tho, it wouldn't be vicodin! Makes me hallucinate after about 24 hours!!! LOL Dilaudid is so much better :thumbup: