KatInFL

This: Maybe you won't lose any more, maybe this is as good as it gets. Have a cupcake/ice cream bar/movie popcorn because it doesn't matter...you won't get to goal no matter what. Argh! I am trying to ignore it...some days are better than others. ~Kat

I don't know about how it would affect your insurance approval, but it's not terribly uncommon to have your gallbladder removed at the same time as the sleeve being done. I think some doctors also like to do it because it is a preemptive strike against gallbladder issues down the road, which is really common for WLS patients. I already had my gallbladder out when I had my sleeve done, but a couple of people I know had their gallbladder out at the time of the sleeve surgery. It took them a little longer to recover and they described a little more pain that people who had the sleeve alone, but otherwise, they haven't had any issues. Good luck! ~Kat

Eh, I don't think you're wrong but everyone has to work their journey in a way that works for them. Honestly, you can be concerned and express concern, but people will do what works for them in the moment. Does that mean it's what will work long term? Not necessarily. But you will hear a lot of the "I didn't do this to have to diet for the rest of my life" opinion here, too. And it just might work for them long term. There's a website that I frequent that has the sentiment: you work your pouch/sleeve, and I'll work mine. Sometimes, you just have to let it go...even if it comes from a place of good intentions..because people perceive you as being self-righteous. Having said that, I'm not the girl that can eat fries and junk food and a cookie without wanting more. That doesn't mean everyone has my issue, just means that I know for *myself* that I need to keep a tighter rein on what I eat. I track everything I eat, even when it's stuff I shouldn't...it just means I build it into my day. ~Kat

I'm not sure that is exactly accurate, either. After all, without all these "crazy people" would you know that Mexico was an option? Would you have found your surgeon/coordinator/hospital? There's nothing wrong with taking what people say with a grain of salt and determining on your own what works for you. That's certainly not the same as thinking that everyone here has an ulterior motive or is "crazy". ~Kat

No one can tell you what is right for you. You chose that Dr for a reason, right? Do those reasons still exist? Do you still comfortable with those reasons? The reality is that we all go into surgery knowing there are risks. We don't like to actively think about them, for sure, but we know they exist. Keep in mind that for every complication, including death, there are people who get through surgery just fine....and statistically, those people are a far greater number. I was willing to roll the dice, based on the research I'd done, and I'm happy I did. I say trust your instincts and you'll be able to make the right choice for you. ~Kat

I'm 4 months post-op. I recently upped my protein intake and my goal is 90 g of protein and around 750 calories a day. I struggle to get that many calories in, so on the days I go over, I don't worry about it. I try to concentrate on my protein intake. ~Kat

Oh, yes, good luck! I hope by now you may already be post-op! I hope you are feeling well. ~Kat

It's unlikely Susan knows all of the details about who charges and what. My suggestion would be once you've done some research and determined some doctors that might be a good fit, contact them and ask. Then you might be able to narrow down your list of viable doctors even more, based on what meets your needs. ~Kat

I think it's possible people don't post about all of their complications. I would imagine had I ended up in the hospital for an extended period of time immediately post-op, my first thought wouldn't have been about posting. There are, though, a lot of people who have shared their experiences with complications..both US and Mexico patients. I think that you did hit the nail on the head with the thought that not many post specifically about outcomes. I mean, I have posted when people have asked for opinions on my surgeon and I have PMed even more people who've asked about my surgeon. However, I don't routinely post that I'm feeling good and the only issue I've had post-op is kidney stones...which has absolutely nothing to do with my doctor or even WLS, but rather weight loss in general. ~Kat

I think Laura says what other people often think...which is, if someone has a clear bias against a coordinator or doctor, it makes it hard to distinguish between perception and fact. If you were interested in sharing facts, the thread wouldn't have been titled in the form of a question but it would have been a statement. Yes, the information is important...but I believe how the information is shared is equally important. For someone who is new to these forums or is doing an internet search and just happens to land here, they may not yet have the information to research for themselves. If you are truly interested in sharing the information you said you had to begin with, then in the future you should just come out and say it.....not only the coordinating company, who has nothing to do with the actual surgical procedure, but the doctor, hospital, and the rest of the pertinent information. Blaming Laura for people being unwilling to share experiences is ludicrous. People are individually responsible for what they choose to share. The same way people are responsible for researching and determining which coordinators and doctors are the best fit for them, whether it's in the US, Mexico, or elsewhere. ~Kat

I'm glad you shared your experience! I am a big believer in trusting your instincts. Maybe it wasn't the right time or place or doctor or whatever, but it's important to honor that intuition you have. As for regulation of the industry, that seems near impossible as each country has their own guidelines and standards. Finding apples to apples comparisons will be something that is always an issue, I believe, for those of us who choose medical tourism. I hope that if you are still hoping to continue with a sleeve that you are able to do so in a way that works for you. Best of luck! ~Kat

It really is nerve wracking. I think it's important to trust your instincts. At the end of everything else, YOU are the one who has to live and work with your sleeve. I think that in order to not regret it, you have to know going into it that you are doing what's right for you. Having said that, there's nothing wrong with getting there and deciding it's not the right time, right doctor, right situation for you. I think that there's an element of being nervous that is *normal. I was nervous at the point I was being wheeled back into surgery, but no more than I had been for any previous surgery I've had. Being a single parent myself, it's terrifying to think of the potential worst possible outcome from *any* surgery and leaving my baby motherless. I am glad, every day, that I made the right choice for me and had my sleeve surgery. Does that mean it's the right choice for everyone? Nope. But please know that every element of this journey is yours and yours alone. From the research to the actual procedure to the living with it...you can take in what other people say, you can draw support from others, but you have to be able to filter it, too, so that in the end you are doing what works for you. ~Kat

I didn't learn how to ride a bike until I was an adult. I don't know if it was easier because I was an adult but it wasn't as terrifying as I thought. One of my mini goals is to buy myself a new bike. ~Kat

It is a really overwhelming and sometimes confusing process, choosing a surgeon. I made a spreadsheet, added surgeon names then varying features/information like operates in a hospital, uses an in-house coordinator, uses outside coordinating companies, recovery is in a hotel, price, complication rates, etc. From there, I figured out which things were a priority for me personally. I was then able to narrow down to a few doctors that I personally contacted. After I contacted doctors, I mulled it over and was able to make some decisions. It helped me to mix anecdotal information and facts I found in my research. Having a plan and approaching it in stages made it feel less overwhelming. ~Kat

I appreciate your thoughts. However, I'm not looking for "catharsis" in sharing my experience with people in general. I want to be on this journey and work it in a way that works for *me. I don't presume to tell other people what works best for them and my point is that I would appreciate the same courtesy. ~Kat

At 3 months post-op, I could eat fairly "normally" although in much smaller quantities. You didn't mention what type of vacation you are going on and that will make a difference. Theme park type stuff is still hard for me to manage, just bc you are on the go all day long and there aren't a ton of good choice food options. I make sure I have a Protein Drink in the am and a decent dinner, often followed by a before bed protein drink in those settings. If you are going to be in a hotel or vacation house type setting, it's fairly easy to plan in advance to bring your protein drink of choice, some easy to prepare lunch stuff (canned or packet tuna, etc), and Snacks like beef Jerky. Eating at a restaurant will be Ok, too. I tend to order seafood and, if I can, off the kids menu. I think that by 3 months post-op, you will find you have a decent routine down and will be able to take that with you and modify it. I was eating chicken, beef, and seafood at that point. Some sat easier but I could eat any of it. As for not telling people, it's up to you. I still have a lot of family and friends that don't know and I have no intention of telling them. Only once have I been asked how I've lost weight and I told them I'm on a high protein, low carb diet... like a modified South Beach kind of diet. Everyone else just days I look great and asks if I am feeling better. As for eating habits, no one really notices what I eat and when. I thought they would but truthfully, most people have been more concerned with their own plate than mine. Just try to plan a week or so ahead (you'll have a good idea of what you can and will eat then), and you'll do great! ~Kat

I've said it before and I'll say it again. My decision to not tell everyone I've had VSG has nothing to do with shame or embarrassment. Honestly, I get resentful that people automatically assume the reason I choose not to share is based in embarrassment and shame. I AM proud of the work I've done to lose nearly 60 lbs. That doesn't mean I am willing to be some sort of poster child for WLS nor does it mean I want to explain to people I'm not particularly close to the ins and outs of what is going on. There's a difference between it being a secret and it being private. I actively choose not to tell most people I had VSG just like I don't think they need to know I had emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy or a hernia repair and ovarian cyst. For me, its private information. If that's not the case for you, great! More power to you. I am sure you are making the right decision for *you. But a little appreciation that I'm making the right decision for *me would be nice. Not to mention not labeling your rationale for why I've made that choice with negative emotions without knowing how I feel or even attempting to understand my position. ~Kat

I couldn't agree more. I'm always a little suspect when people only contribute in one place on the forums or are posting for the first time and it's some sort of review on a surgeon. But I'm always a little suspect when people ask for or share private information with no relationship or extended interactions, too. Maybe I'm just cynical and cautious by nature. ~Kat

You might have good luck finding more information by doing a search of this forum. Dr Kelly is a frequently reviewed and discussed surgeon. ~Kat

It's the exact reason I prioritized a surgeon with an in-house coordinator. I guess it works, as a great deal of doctors do work with more than one company. I just wasnt comfortable with it. ~Kat

It's why I always tell new people they are better off making a list and researching doctors based on what is a priority for them. Not just based on anecdotal information....because that's important, but not all of the information needed to make an informed decision. At the end of the day, I do think it's the ultimate leap of faith. Choosing a surgeon in a foreign country where the standards don't exactly translate apples to apples is difficult and overwhelming. You hope you've done enough research and are making the right choice. But that right choice isn't going to be the same for everyone and it would be presumptuous of me to tell everyone they should choose the surgeon I did. I'm happy to share my experience, but that doesn't guarantee my surgeon will meet the needs of someone else. I don't know that there's a way to keep people who are providing information on surgeons based on some sort of bonus from posting here. (Although shame on them...) I think that keeping out solicitation and advertisement in posts is probably the best that can be done. But this forum is one of the best resources I found to start researching surgeons and coordinators. It's not a perfect system but it's far beyond anything else I was able to find when I was looking. ~Kat

I tend to agree with this POV. I never complained about your presence, personally, nor do I really think any real solicitation was involved. I do think that you walk a fine line, though, even offering services for free. I also wonder about people who "need" a companion and a source of information after their helper or companion are gone... have they truly walked the experience on their own enough to make proper use of the tool that is WLS? Also, I think that saying one person has had dozens or more experiences with one doctor and can say with certainty that is the right choice, without someone doing the research and making the determination on their own, is a little concerning. As for hitting someone in the wallet, I think that statement is ludicrous. If that were the case, Alex would be limiting reviews and conversation on surgeons and coordinators. I've never seen that happen, in my year of lurking and over another year of posting. ~Kat

Worth repeating! I am in love with PB2. ~Kat

My PCP was really supportive. He found a local bariatrics practice that was willing to treat me, should any complications arise. He's been happy to do routine follow up care (blood work, etc.). He also told me at my last appt he mentioned to another patient that he had a patient going to Mexico for WLS (me) and the other patient also decided to go to Mexico. I'm lucky we have a long term relationship so while I was nervous, I knew he would ultimately be supportive. I don't think he was crazy about the idea of my going to Mexico but he knew my mind was made up. So he just worked to support me, knowing I was determined. ~Kat

Congrats! You look fantastic!! ~Kat