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Hey y'all!

I am completely new, so bear with me! I was planning on going to Dr. Q but after reading some posts here I am somewhat freaking out about that choice (it is booked but they do not require payment so it's only my flight that is an issue at this point). My bff told me this horror story of how her mom's cousin got kidnapped and murdered when she went for a breast augmentation in TJ so now I am terrified, but I do not know if that woman was driving herself, walking around, or what happened. I felt fine about it before she told me that. Please reassure me that you had safe experiences!

Who did you choose, and why? Were you happy with your pre/during/post op experience? What was your hotel stay like? Did they pick you up? If you had a sleeve done, what was your package cost?

I would like to research all your recommendations but any information is appreciated! :)

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Personally I would recommend a bariatric center of excellence close to home. Proper pre-op and post-op care are just as important if not more important than the surgery itself. I realize some people have no choice but to go to Mexico, but it wouldn't be my recommendation at all. The notion terrifies me tbh. Is this a last resort?

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I am going to TJ using BariatricPal Team MX. My sleeve to Mini Gastric Bypass cost is $5399. Their cost for sleeve is $4399. They will pick me up in San Diego and will be with me for the whole time until I am returned to the SD airport. I do not have any fear. I have all my questions answered by phone, through Facebook, FaceTime or Skype. I have spoken to my surgeon Dr. Illan and asked all my questions.

Contact Bill@BariatricPal.com if you want more information.

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Personally I would recommend a bariatric center of excellence close to home. Proper pre-op and post-op care are just as important if not more important than the surgery itself. I realize some people have no choice but to go to Mexico, but it wouldn't be my recommendation at all. The notion terrifies me tbh. Is this a last resort?

Yes. I just cannot afford it state side, and I am worried about my health. A lot of women in my family are diabetic, and I am almost 36. Over the years I have yoyo'd so much weigh wise and I feel like this is what I need to help me take control of the situation.

I have been heavy all my life. I lost a lot of weight in 2004 by doing Atkins, and got down to 156, my lowest weight (even lower than when I was a teen) and then I stopped eating low carb and woosh. But that's the way it works, and I have found that my inflammatory response is so great with sugar and gluten that I gain FAST. The past 12 years I have gone on and off and stayed around 210-230, but a few times I was up to about 250. Two years ago I was 250 and started eating ketogenic and lost 35 pounds in about 5 months, and since then I have maintained it, gained a little, lost it again, so I've been around 215-220.

I was 218 on April 7 when I got married, we went on the honeymoon and I literally gained 10 pounds in 5 days. Two days ago I was 242.8 and I panicked and ate low carb most of the day but had dessert because I hadn't been 'ok, I'm going to strict low carb, just calm down say no to bread and starch today (but I did have a small ice cream serving after dinner)' and then yesterday I ate low carb all day and am down to 238.4, so that's something.

My problem is, I have such a hard time sticking to the low carb All the time, but when I don't, all I eat is horrible-for-me foods, and a lot of them. I have food obsession and will eat even when I'm not hungry because I like to eat. Some friends of mine have had the surgery and had the same problem, and after surgery this impulse eating went away for them. I feel like this surgery will help me in multiple ways. The pre and post op diets are basically low carb, which I already know how to do, and I KNOW I will get results. I'm glad I know I like Isopure shakes already. I also know that if I do want to have some carby foods now and then down the road, they're only going to be a few bites because that's all I can have, so I will be less likely to gain AS much weight at one time, and that it will be easier to reset if I need to.

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Gotta love those friend's mother's cousin stories! There is little to fear in traveling to TJ for surgery. Can bad things happen there? Probably. There's crime in every city in America too! I have been to TJ twice for surgery and both times I felt 100% safe 100% of the time. The real "danger" in going to Mexico for surgery is just choosing the right surgeon. There are MANY highly skilled and qualified surgeons there, so do your research and make sure you choose one you are comfortable and confident in.

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@@aster

I have lost weight successfully doing every diet under the sun, and Atkins was by far the best of the bunch. I also achieved my lowest weight that way by 20 pounds (except for the total starvation diets - stupid stupid, do not do that) and managed to keep most of the weight off for 4 years. Most successful diet in my history. Then I decided to eat bread.

Now that I am sleeved and fully healed, I have put myself back on Atkins. The low fat diet after surgery while fine during recovery, had me feeling hungry all the time and I was stalling out constantly. After 3 weeks of no weight loss, I switched to a low carb/high fat (induction level) diet as an experiment, my stall broke in 2 days and I promptly dropped 7 pounds in a week and a half. This past week I started adding back a few carbs.. mainly fruits and veggies, and not only did I stop losing, I gained a pound. As of today I am back to nixing the carbs entirely.

My point is that even with the surgery, if carbs are a problem for you now, they will likely still get in your way later. And things like chips, pretzels, crackers and such, are the easiest foods to eat and still feel like a bottomless pit. The benefit now tho, is that if I can control myself long enough to eat Protein and fat first, I get satisfied quickly and have no room for anything else. :)

Best of luck!

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I chose Dr. Illan and was sleeved on 3/8. I can not recommend anyone but him. I had a ton of preop and post op support. My friend was sleeved in the US and doesn't have access to her doctor directly. I have access to my doctor and my nutritionist at anytime, by phone, email, or Skype. My friend also didn't have any post op with her nutritionist. She was sleeved at Baptist hospital in Little Rock, AR and comes to me for help. I highly recommend my doctor in TJ Mexico. It was the easiest recovery time of any surgery I have ever had.

I too had a problem with carbs but now... I just can't eat them. They make me overly full and my weight loss stops. I had a sweet tooth but now I can't take more than one small spoonful of anything sweet because it makes me feel awful. Please please please talk to Bill at Bariatric Pal. You will not be disappointed.

I also had a friend that used Dr. Q. She had a good experience but she now wished she would have went with me. Her post op support has stopped and she has to research for answers. I know nothing personally about Dr. Q just a friends experience.

Please feel free to email me with questions. I would love to help. chasitylane34@yahoo.com

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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@@aster

I have lost weight successfully doing every diet under the sun, and Atkins was by far the best of the bunch. I also achieved my lowest weight that way by 20 pounds (except for the total starvation diets - stupid stupid, do not do that) and managed to keep most of the weight off for 4 years. Most successful diet in my history. Then I decided to eat bread.

Now that I am sleeved and fully healed, I have put myself back on Atkins. The low fat diet after surgery while fine during recovery, had me feeling hungry all the time and I was stalling out constantly. After 3 weeks of no weight loss, I switched to a low carb/high fat (induction level) diet as an experiment, my stall broke in 2 days and I promptly dropped 7 pounds in a week and a half. This past week I started adding back a few carbs.. mainly fruits and veggies, and not only did I stop losing, I gained a pound. As of today I am back to nixing the carbs entirely.

My point is that even with the surgery, if carbs are a problem for you now, they will likely still get in your way later. And things like chips, pretzels, crackers and such, are the easiest foods to eat and still feel like a bottomless pit. The benefit now tho, is that if I can control myself long enough to eat Protein and fat first, I get satisfied quickly and have no room for anything else. :)

Best of luck!

I honestly I love a lot of low carb foods, so I think it will be easier for me to maintain that lifestyle if I am sleeved since I will get full fast. I will need to address the mindless eating separately with counselling, but I feel that I will be far more in control and aware of my eating and what I am putting in after having this done. :)

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 2 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
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      · 0 replies
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    • BeanitoDiego

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      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
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      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
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      · 0 replies
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