christina@MIA

Before my VSG Pepsi was my coffee or drug of choice. =) I had to have it first thing or I couldn't function. Last night was the first time after my surgery I tried a sip and it was nasty.

I was like that my first two weeks but now I no longer have pain until I over do it. And the puking is weird...It doesn't come up all at once. I sit there and it comes up little by little. Its not good =(

Im 24 days out and have lost 23lbs. Im really not getting my Protein in. Just the smell of the Protein Shake makes me ill. I drink about 32oz of Water and push myself to get that in. The things can eat are: 1 slice turkey meat, small amount of egg whites, chili, cheese stick, rice and black Beans. All in small amounts, but soon after Im hungry again. The other day my son had the hash browns from Burger King sitting on the table and I just went crazy eating them. I ate like 8 and started puking. I've over done it a couple of times because I don't know Im full until its too late.=( I think about food way to much.

I'm 38, but always say I'm 29! Most people think I'm much younger so it works. =)

I used to take One a Day Multi and it made me sick. I now take two Gummie Multi and I love them. I bought them at Wal-Mart.

Hello All,

The date is September 8, 2010. I am considering a Lapband revison to a VSG procedure/surgery. I will fly from Travel from the border at San Diego California to TJ Mexico in the next few weeks after i get a date confirmed with Mt. Zion Medical with Dr. Almanza.

Has anyone out there had this exact thing done and how did it go ?

Has anyone out there traveled ALONE ? I am working with melissa and she is saying they pick you up at the airport and take care of everything. You stay at Recovery Homes with other patients and nurses 24hours to 48 hours after your revision/surgery and then they return you to San Diego Airport.

I am so fearful of doing this alone.

I need to know if anyone has feelings about Mt. Zion or Dr. Almanza ?

Pleeeeeze let me know,

peace and blessings to all of you,

jl

Hello Sara, Melissa was my Pt coordinator also. I had the surgery done 3 wks ago on 8/18. I also traveled alone and everything was fine. They pick you up at the airport and bring you to the clinic. The driver takes you to the recovery house and any where you would like to go. At the recovery house they have a phone that you can call anyone free of charge. Bring some movies or a book. It gets warm in the house because no ac, so bring cool clothes. Severo works at the house at night and is very nice and speaks good english. The day shift does not speak english. The house is in a gated community so I did alot of walking up and down the street for gas relief. Dr Almanza speaks enough english to tell you what will be done. He has Dr deborah who explains anything else you need. Lapita is the nurse and is very sweet. Not good at english but knows what you need. Tell her you have pain or gas and she will take care of it. Now for Mt Zion..it is just a small clean clinic and that is it. Not a hospital. The first wk and a half is tuff but it gets better. Good luck with your journey.

I am looking at having VSG with Dr. Almanza in Tijuana but I'm worried about the safety of travaling alone. Have any of ya'll traveled alone?

Hello jaytxmomma, I had my surgery with Dr. Almanza 8/18. I went alone and everything was fine. The clinic picks you up from the airport and brings you to the clinic. After surgery the driver takes you to the guest house. If you want to go shopping the driver goes with you. You are safe! If you have any questions PM me. Best wishes.

Hi All,

I feel like complete poo today, AWFUL. I feel dizzy, tired, hot and my temp is 100.4. I'm completely freaking out!! I just want to cry and crawl into a ball, I'm on the verge of an anxiety attack thinking I'm having a leak or something.

Is this normal for 4 days out? what do I need to watch for for a leak? I'm so FREAKING scared because I had such a hard time with the recovery in the hospital. I'm dreading that it could be a leak and they may have to operate again.

I know shoulder pain but how do I know when it's just gas or more? fast heartbeat...well I'm freaking myself out :confused::confused:.

It is possible that I cought something on the plane home as I was FREEZING and shivering the entire time!!

Someone please help, I'm not looking forward to having to go to the local hospital and tell them about my surgery in Mexico!

Help!

Thanks!

I also had a low grade fever on days 4 and 5. I took my childrens liquid Motrin and everything was fine. Day 9 I felt very weak and faint so I had some very milked down cream of wheat. liquid was not enough for me. I was told if you have leak you will buckle over in pain and the fever would be higher.

Carrie, I undersand how you feel I am only 13 days post op and still have bouts of depression. The first week I would cry for no reason at all. They call it Post Surgery Depression. Its caused from the Anesthesia. The second week has been better. Now I just get a little depressed because everyone around me is eating yummy food and I just watch. I cant promise it will be better because I not at that happy point yet. I am just greatful I can go to these post and find people who understand me. I hope you feel better soon.

I've been taking my pills whole since 4 days out. I feel no pain and haven't had any problems from taking them whole. If it is large break it in half. But everyone is different.

So I know that eating bread is difficult for a while. That being said, how long usually until a VSG'r can have pizza again? Will I at least be able to eat the toppings any time soon? I am one week out.

Of all the foods I thought I'd miss, I didn't think pizza and toast with butter would be at the top of my list.

AniO

OMG, This is exactly what Im craving too. I don't even like pizza that much.

I love my George Foreman 360 grill and crock pot. If you'd like, I can toss some of my tried and true recipes with the tweaks that I've made to increase the Protein, cut the fat, and carbs. I just don't want to inundate you with stuff that you may not be interested in eating.

Also, if you'd like me to share let me know if anything is an absolute "no go". Certain flavors, or any specific type of food. For example, if you don't like Asian food, or if you don't like mushrooms etc etc. I can definitely help you out.

For me, the George Foreman grill makes chicken perfectly moist, and I am able to eat it more comfortable than I am baked, pan seared, or from an outdoor grill.

Toss me some please! Im gonna need the Protein.< /p>

OH my gosh!!! You lucky duck :biggrin0: First no gas and now 30lbs. You must be smiling ear to ear. YOU GO GIRL!

Yay - You have A date. I also went alone. I didn't want to feel like I had to keep my husband company while I wasn't feeling well. The flight was ok, a bit cramped. I returned on the 4th day post op. Best wishes on the pre-op diet. It sound like you are already doing good.

Hello my fellow South Fl friend, Congrats. I'm glad to here you are doing well. Can't wait to see the pics. Take it easy :biggrin0:

You will do great! Just remember to walk for the gas pains. Congrats!

I also couldnt get it to work so i just copy and paste. The link crap wouldnt work for me.

Tell us what you are currently eating. That way we can get an idea of what your intake has been. I was sleeved on 8/18 and I feel I'm not getting enough in. I have read that gas and heart burn pains can mask as hunger pains.

This is what my intake has been....

1 16oz bottle of Water all day

Jello cup for Breakfast takes about 1/2hr

2 to 4oz broth for lunch

2 to 4oz broth for dinner

Today I had a few spoons of very milked down cream of wheat. It was yummy.

I'm only a week out, but I have read try doing Protein liquids for a week and start weights. They say it will kick it in to gear the next week.

Did you tell the people who work at the gym when you signed up? Maybe someone is a big mouth.

Globetrotter- You are too funny! Do you want me to send one in a box of Cookies....lol

Tiff- Thats my choice...He's hot!

OK guys I start my liquid diet tomorrow yikes!

Best wishes. The first day was really hard for me. Keep busy.

You won't get in trouble. I think thats just something they tell you. My husband and all the rest of the guys he knew had a stack of porn in Iraq they shared. He was there for 18mo. so he had to do something!! They buy them boot leg. But good luck with that...lol:tongue_smilie:

Amazing. Congrats:thumbup:

So, I'm post-op day 6. The gas has been exhausting. The lack of regular sleep has me exhausted. I can't get more than an hour or 2 in any given position, and cannot lie down fully, because of the gas bubbles. Ditto the sudden sternal pain. Yes, I'm taking Gas X. My husband has pointed out that my tongue is green.

I occasionally (when lying on my left side) get a ripping burning pain to the left of my belly button that makes me need to get up right away. I am like a miserable zombie.

I have lost 5 lbs since the surgery, but it feels like 10 lbs of life-force. I don't want my calorie count to get any lower. I'm taking some Omega 3-6-9 oil and today I ate 5 olives (pureed) and loved every second of them. They went down great and felt like life itself. They were also the first non-sweet/ non-fake-sweet thing I've ingested in a week. I'm definately adding a couple of olives to my daily regimen. That aside, It's a battle to get down the Protein shakes and Fluid I need. I feel like I'm getting the minimum in, but the effort it takes is demoralizing. It was literally easier getting the olives down (and less painful) than just some Water.

I had some definate "buyer's remorse" yesterday, and couldn't even give in to crying, because it's too hard to get liquid in to let it go in tears and snot.

My husband has been very supportive, but he's worn out with not having enough time to decompress himself (encouraged him to go to the movies this morning, and he's at the gym now).

I went to the ER yesterday, because I have a gradually spreading patch of redness on my belly that is unassociated with the incisions. It started like a weird bee sting post-op and is red, puffy, and itchy as all hell. They gave me hydrocortisone cream and a heavy antibiotic (that is really fun to swallow crushed, twice a day, and is supposed to be taken with a lot of fluids- HA!). The red patch is just getting gradually bigger. Great.

So, I see my doc tomorrow and am counting the minutes. I'm wondering if I need to go back in-patient to receive IV antibiotics and hydration so I can beat this infection/reaction I'm having. Being a nurse is both a help, and a hinderance. Meanwhile all I can do is outline it in permanent marker and date the lines, so I can chart it's growth. That's what they'd do in the hospital.

Bottom line, I'm bummed. Isolated. Hurting. I know that most of this is 'normal,' but I still feel like I've irreversably mutilated myself because I'm too weak-willed to get my ass to the gym and eat better. Whether or not this is or isn't true, it's how I feel. I feel pretty depressed. I'd rather be healthy and fat, than malnurished and miserable. Granted, I wasn't healthy or getting any healthier, but so far, this just sucks.

Sorry if I'm too pooped to shake my pom-pons right now. This is the reality for me right now. Hopefully I'll be posting a more up-beat reality this time next week.

Thanks for listening.

I feel you Pcindy, I'm not happy to hear you are suffering. I am happy to see Im not alone. I have several of the things you mentioned. The first few days I slept sitting up. I now can drink without pain, but the Jello hurts in the sternal area. I feel weak. The depression is letting up a little. Did you have a BM yet? Not to sound nasty, but it let alot of my gas out.