babybig

Ok so I live in Anchorage, Alaska. I had my surgery in Mexico by DR. Almanza on April 15, 2011. I decided to seek out a group for people who have had my surgery or something close (sleeve) I called the only bariactric surgury clinic in town and wanted to know about there groups, they said I had to be a patient. I set up an appointment with the doc, which by the way his office is like an assembly line of ppl waiting to be seen. Anyways after i waited well over an hour past my appt time, he then sat with me... and said he refuses to see me because I had my surgery in mexico. I told him I just want to be part of the groups, and he said absolutely not. DONT TELL ANYONE TOO HAVE SURGERY IN MEXICO, TELL THEM TO COME HERE AND WE CAN DO PAYMENT PLANS. GO BACK TO YOUR OLD HOSPITAL AND IF YOU HAVE A COMPLICATION THEY WILL CALL ME THEN, UNTIL THEN I WONT SEE YOU! He was rude! He belittled me. said alot of other hurtful things.... HAS ANYONE HAD A SIMILIAR SITUATION HAPPEN TO THEM???? Im so upset. This is my only rescource here.....I do not reccomend anyone ever have surgery by this guy. If im correct he performed surgeries in the 80's and his first 10 or 20 (i dont remember) DIED on him. My mom is one of the few survivors still left. Besides that..... all I wanted was to be part of the group meetings.... and I was refused. Lost 85 lbs since april 15, 2011

Thanks for telling me this.... It at least makes me feel a better knowing im not alone. I dothe same thing. I see my primary care doctor for labs. Nothing ever comes up abnormal and i feel great after the surgery. My feelings are that this guy prob didnt want me talking about cheaper options during group meetings. Spreading any rumors about cheap surgery. Whatever to him. He has all of alaska for himself. I hope he gets competition soon!

Is anyone else having this problem with Milk, Soy milk, Protein drinks (Ive tried tons, with and without dairy) even hemp milk, and almond milk? If I drink a tiny little sip I am ok.... but even one 8 oz glass will get me sweaty and nauseated for about an hour. I would like to add some more protein into my diet but i can't seem to add it with a Protein Drink. At first i thought it was just sensitivity to milk, so i tried soy and non dairy products and still got sick. cheese yogurt, and cottage cheese do not bother me at all. Any suggestions, ideas?? Anyone just having the same problem would be a relief to know. I am 6 months post op and have had this problem since i was able to drink these products.

if it makes you feel better... i lost 8 lbs since surgery (more pre op diet) and im on week 7. also i have been tested for thyroid problems and everything is normal.

Im in Anchorage, Alaska and was sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on April 15th 2011. Looking for local support.

I also stayed at the ticuan, it was very nice! One secret is to ask the restaurant downstairs for JUST broth, they have THE BEST broth i ever tasted in my life! I think it cost me 4 bucks for a huge bowl so be ready to bring some back to your room. The drivers kinda forgot about me during some trips so you have to remind them your there lol! overall i wouldnt have done it any other way!!

Wondering if anyone else is having this problem of gaining weight. I am only 19 days post op! I lost about 25 lbs then gained 5 back. Getting worried.

No you are right, I am not following it exactly. The chilli is pureed, and the mac n cheese is really soggy, not exact reccomendations but still soft foods. I guess if i could follow a diet perfectly I wouldnt need this surgery! hehe. I am trying to stay mostly within guidelines, Its funny the mac n cheese goes down good, no pain or anything, but cottage cheese hurts a little. WEIRD. thanks for the advice, I will try harder to stick with reccomendations AND, Just to add to the confusion, i got one post op paper from almanza for diet recomendations before my surgery, one after, and now what you are posting. THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT! Now I am confused lol

This is what i am currently trying to do! Im just glad to hear im not alone. It's less scary then.

Im doing good! Are you going to havethe gastric sleeve surgery then? Insurance paying or self pay? I paid out of pocket and went to Mexico, so far im happy with that.

Well, I am not going in June, I went in April. You have a long time to wait! I was going to go in July but the anxiety of waiting was so bad i moved it to April. I have to say it would be alot easier if you are bringing someone with you, if not you will be fine. Its just scary being in an unfanmiliar place, alone. Dont be scared just because your going to Mexico, Ive heard horror stories from American hospitals. Problems can arise in any country, but they are rare! I think you will be just fine

I am not tracking much of anything, just listening to my body i guess. I will try to track and drink more water. Right now im getting about 60 oz a day which isnt enough i don't think. I do know that before this surgery i would eat two boxes of mac n cheese, vs now eating 1/2 a cup! That itself is weird to think of.

My doc said I need to eat 6 times a day. I think reccomendations vaary. I mean eating three times a day only 1/2 cup isnt going to give you much nutrition. It could have to do with the size your doc made your stomach too? I think mine was a 32 bougie which sseems to be smaller than most on here but I am absolutely not a professional lol. Thanks

No period for another two weeks, I havent been watching my salt intake either. Been having stuff like cottage cheese, steamed veggies, yogurt, Protein drinks, chilli, mac and cheese, popsicles (not sugar free, but 80 calories at about one a day) eating about every two hours (around 6-7 times a day) slowly, about a 1/2 cup of food. I am so used to failure, so scared of being fat forever, I am just worried about this! I dont FEEL like i am gaining weight, but the scale says so.

With pain meds i was ok. I felt sick only the first night, then by the second night i was out shopping (in mexico, may be different then here). I heard someone in the room next to me throwing up all night after the same surgery... so i think it varies alot, saw her the second day and she kooked better than me...