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Congrats on taking the first steps toward your new life!

Edited by JamieLogical

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Welcome, Mark.

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@@MarkX welcome. you will find lots of info and even more support on this site. good luck and keep us posted!

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newbie to the boards - consultation in 2 days!

@@MarkX

wonderful decision to have WLS :)

I'm biased - but i think the sleeve is the greatest :)

consult on thursday!!!

prepare a list of questions to ask the doc

its ok to ask him how many sleeve surgeries he's done

how many people are alive to talk about them!! :lol:

i'm sure you've done your research on the sleeve :)

but ask doc to explain the procedure to you so you get it from the horses mouth

he might say things you hadn't thought about

recovery time

how long will you stay in hospital

i've heard of some people staying anywhere from one to 3 nights (some even longer)

i stayed in hospital over night

pain/meds

meds you can take post op

you'll hear on the board many people saying "the one thing in common that we all have is that we're all different"

we're here to support you and everyone

do you have a NUT (nutritionalist)

her directions will vary from from other peoples NUTS

verify from nut about your stages of eating

time periods between each stage

Protein shakes

pureed food

mushy food

soft foods

solid foods

ask about measurements

maybe take notes - but sometimes they hand out a pamphlet

other questions that i can't think of (having a senior moment :D )

others hopefully will chime in :)

ask your questions on the board about peoples experiences, hear/listen to answers

we are all very smart - but we are layman - ask doc/nut medical questions

but at the end of the day ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS follow directions of your nut & doc

you are just starting on the road to a healthier, happier, longer life

ENJOY the ride :)

have "fun" at your consultation

good luck through the process

stuff to do before approval

jumping through all the required hoops of insurance :angry:

finally getting approval and then a surgery date and then.... ;)

kathy

Edited by proudgrammy

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Thanks everyone for the welcome. I agree that the sleeve is the best option! My sister had the sleeve about a year and a half ago and last she told me she was down over 110 pounds.

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Welcome, Mark!

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Welcome where are you having your surg

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I guess I'm not. Went to my consultation and I'm a great candidate for surgery. They are running a $3499 special (bill insurance for hiatal hernia) but was told my insurance wouldn't pay anything so I have to come up with $10,500. Not an option for us.

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I guess I'm not. Went to my consultation and I'm a great candidate for surgery. They are running a $3499 special (bill insurance for hiatal hernia) but was told my insurance wouldn't pay anything so I have to come up with $10,500. Not an option for us.

Are you open to the possibility of going to Mexico for surgery. There are many great surgeons there who do VSG for well under $10,500. My surgeon is on the upper end of the price scale in Mexico and still cost less than 2/3 that amount.

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I was open to Mexico until last night reading stories of botched surgeries where the people are happy until 3 or 4 years out when they had major complications

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I was open to Mexico until last night reading stories of botched surgeries where the people are happy until 3 or 4 years out when they had major complications

Where did you find these stories. I did pretty exhaustive research and only found one or two doctors with any significant history of taking shortcuts that led to problems years out. My surgeon has been doing surgeries for years and years and I've yet to hear of any complications arising further down the road. Just like in the US, there are good surgeons and bad surgeons. You need to do your research on specific surgeons, not just lump them all into one category because they are in Mexico.

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On bariatricpal. The main person who started the conversation is an administrator here and had been a coordinator and advocate for Mexico surgeries. She isn't anymore. Not to say that problems don't happen here in the US but at least here you have legal recourse and rights.

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On bariatricpal. The main person who started the conversation is an administrator here and had been a coordinator and advocate for Mexico surgeries. She isn't anymore. Not to say that problems don't happen here in the US but at least here you have legal recourse and rights.

I think I remember the thread you are referring to. I read that whole thing and it seemed to only indict one surgeon, Dr. Kelly. Like I said, it's not fair to judge an entire nation of doctors on the malpractice of one or two. There are many many many thousands of people who have traveled to Mexico for bariatric surgery and had zero complications and tremendous success. Of course, there's risk associated with any surgery no matter where you have it performed or by whom. It's up to you to judge whether the potential benefits outweigh the risks, but I would make sure I am accurately measuring those risks before weighing them against the benefits.

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I agree with you completely. For me, I can't afford to risk being in that small percentage if I have to recourse. At least here in the US if I am in that unfortunate group that has issues I can sue and have whatever needs fixed, fixed. That's not the case if it happens anywhere else.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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