I'll start by saying that I am a registered nurse and hold a PhD in education. Given my medical and research background, you can be sure that I did a lot of searching before deciding on who I would allow to operate on me.

Because I was a self-pay for the VSG revision (banding was via insurance), I looked into Mexican surgeons. The three U.S. surgeons I explored wanted $22,000 - $26,000 and that only included the surgery and one night in the hospital.

I wanted a surgeon who was certified in bariatrics, one who had done over 250 revisions, one who operated out of a clean hospital with an intensive care unit in case I needed that level of care, and one who insisted that the people taking care of me post-op were registered nurses. I also looked into complication rates and talked with others who had used the surgeons I was considering. Finally, I wanted to be sure that when I left Mexico, I would be safe to carry on with my life in the U.S. That meant making sure complications were prevented.

Dr. Aceves met my criteria. He did 3 different leak tests to make sure all was fine and kept me in the hospital for 3 nights. I had a chest x-ray, an EKG, a urinalysis, and blood work prior to the surgery and a complete unfill of my band after a barium esophagram. I was seen by Dr. Aceves, his assistant surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and a medical MD all prior to surgery.

My experience was text book and I have no regrets. If you're considering going to Mexico for surgery I highly recommend Dr. Aceves and his team.

Edited June 2, 200917 yr by Elisabethsew

I am so sorry you're having such issues Alice! Prayers and hugs to you...

Today I am exactly one week post-op and have lost 18.2 lbs =)

I am having a lot of GERD problems. I wake almost every more choking and throwing up bile. I never even had heartburn before the surgery. It took me 3 weeks to convice my husband that something was wrong and I needed to see a Dr.; this only after begging to go to the hospital since the week after surgery.

The only problem I had before surgery was Lactose Intolerance. When I was able to go on Protein shakes and stuff everything said whey Protein Isolate which should be lactose free and even bought products that state they are lactose free. Through my research I found that even some who are lactose intolerant can't handle Protein Isolate or even Whey Protein Concentrate. I don't know if this contributed to my acid reflux issue. I have called a nutritionist to make an appointment to go over these types of questions.

Friday I saw a bariatric surgeon and he has me set up with an upper Gi to see if I have a stricture. I am trying to make the appointment today.

I called Dr. A's office, but they are 6 hours away and I want to try and have a regular followup doctor here in Tucson. They were very willing to help me get there.

Friday Dr. Welle (Tucson surgeon) put me on Carafate 4 times a day to coat my stomach and then I am still taking 60mg of Pantozol and Gaviscon as needed.

Today is three weeks and I haven't been able to move past stage 1 comfortably. I saw a bariatric surgeon in Tucson as a follow up and he is sending me for an upper GI to see if I have a stricture. I am really scared and frustrated. I am totally regreting my decision of this surgery the last week or so. Hopefully, once they get my sleeve figured out, I will feel better.

Alice it took me longer to move past stage one as well and even when I did it wasn't comfortable. My friend who had the DS had a stricture and she was unable to keep down even Water so hopefully that's not it. I will say that eating post op was never comfortable until I was 6 months out or more. Drinking/eating very very slow and over chewing helped.

I just gat back from Mexicali yesterday and I paid 10,500 for lap band to sleeve revision. Dr Aceves is amazing. I can't say enough good things about those people.

I am so sorry you're having such issues Alice! Prayers and hugs to you...

Today I am exactly one week post-op and have lost 18.2 lbs =)

Blondeej, did you leave Mexicali on thursday? were you among the 4 ladies waiting for the driver to drop you off at the airport..just wondering.

Blondeej, did you leave Mexicali on thursday? were you among the 4 ladies waiting for the driver to drop you off at the airport..just wondering.

YES! You must've been one of the ladies I met when we were leaving?? I was the TALL platinum blonde one!

YES! You must've been one of the ladies I met when we were leaving?? I was the TALL platinum blonde one!

Yes...your blond hair gave you away haha!!!. you are very tall too. Yes, I am one of the ladies who talked to you guys when you were leaving. I enjoyed the chicken Soup too

Yes...your blond hair gave you away haha!!!. you are very tall too. Yes, I am one of the ladies who talked to you guys when you were leaving. I enjoyed the chicken soup too

Girl, I was SO READY to get out of that hospital and home, I apologize if I was a little glazed over!! lol How are you doing??

Girl, I was SO READY to get out of that hospital and home, I apologize if I was a little glazed over!! lol How are you doing??

I'm doing great just hungry and tired.

I've been doing more research about the possible stricture. Well, just by what I have read, it seems like I might not have a stricture, but just a ton of inflammation.

I think that I might be one of those people who can't handle whey Protein in any form. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery and kept it under control with digestive enzymes and Probiotics (which I guess I will still be able to do - not right now). Post surgery, I thought everything I bought was lactose free, but most contained whey protein isolate (not concentrate - different and more painful). If I can't handle the protein isolate, then this is what is killing my esophagus. My body is trying to digest Proteins that I can't, and I keep throwing more on top of them.

Headed out to purchase all new protein liquids. Everyone is recommending I don't move forward, just stay where I am with liquids that are comfortable. If anyone has any ideas about Protein shakes, pea protein or soy protein that they like, please share. I will also post a thread under the food/protein shake topic too.

I am so glad to hear everyone is doing so well. If it wasn't for my darn allergies to food, I would be feeling better. I have great energy and the weight seems to be falling off. Today is 3 weeks and I am down ~20 pounds and down over 27 inches all over. My husband is starting to see physical changes. I can tell my clothes are looser.

Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers. Oh my how the prayers! I don't think I could get through this without you guys. Your strength, strengthens me.

Alice, I never did protein shakes but I did strain a lot of soups and drink the broth. You can get veggie soup and take out the big chunks of veggies and eat the soup portion. Black bean soup and chew really well. BOTH of my kids have whey allergies so listen to me when I say GOAT'S MILK is your best friend. It is amazing and when you get further out they have cheese as well. Taste almost exactly like cow's milk but very easy to digest and is very close to human milk in make up. Our walmart carries it in a purple/white container with the refrigerated milk. Don't get low fat, go full fat. With that you can mix in bananas and a scoop of cocoa powder and if you have a health food store get goat's yogurt too. Try to up your fats, limit your sweets since your capacity is so low and just go at the pace that is comfortable to you. Good luck lady and congrats on your weightloss!

Thank you everyone for all your wonderful feedback. I am going to try your recommendations.

Yesterday I cut out anything even made from milk and I am already feeling better. Definitely allergic to whey Protein in any form.

Lesson I learned: READ YOUR LABELS AND KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN