WASaBubbleButt

Hey! I know you! You are Sonia's Mom! It's really good to see you over here. I'm impressed with your weight loss. Clearly you are doing everything exactly right. How's the head part going for you? Are you struggling there? Wanting to eat when your stomach doesn't really want it? Wanting bigger quantities that fit in there? Any of that stuff?

I really thought that after I was done losing weight that TOM would be back in full force. Not so. TOM has happened maybe every 5 months or so? I'm okay with it. ;o) (Looking to Mother Nature and kneeling before her - thanking her.)

Nooooo, not the 60gms carbs, that's like a 3 day supply of carbs in one sitting and with less protein. The idea here is not to get in as many calories as possible, the idea is to get in as many grams of protein as possible. You don't want or need the extra empty calories, you need the protein to heal from surgery. The first six months is the easiest time to lose weight. You don't want to fight that, you want to take advantage of that. You are looking for the 0gms carbs/40gms protein. I wouldn't buy a lot until you know if you like it or not.

Just because the US does things one way does not make it the right way. We are sending new moms home long before they are ready, this is putting especially the baby at risk. We used to do a good job of monitoring patients, we don't do that anymore. It doesn't make it right. When the doctors in Mexico are charging fees that cover hospital stays, etc., but sending people to a hotel by themselves because it affords them a bigger paycheck, it's just not acceptable in my book.

Is that like Red Bull or some such product? I've had one in my frig for ages, I really need to throw it out. Are those just caffeine or something? I've never even bothered to look at the label. Heck, I'm not even sure where I got it.

I remember what his coordinators did to you on the boards, exposing your full name and medical information (HIPAA violations that you can still act on, btw) and all the other horrible things they did to you. I can't believe the man is still in practice with all the people he has killed or harmed. (

Well, it is relevant when you explain he was your first choice. He wasn't your first choice, not by a long shot. Had your bank not messed up you wouldn't have had him do your surgery at all. I don't care if it was down the hall, if nobody was checking on you every couple of hours, taking your vitals every shift, checking on you when you were asleep, doing all kinds of monitoring then it is not the same as basic hospital care. It's a cost savings measure and that is all. Not one I agree with. I do not agree with having someone in a hotel in Tijuana after major surgery. There are times and places to save money, basic basic basic medical care is not one of them. It isn't an issue of respect. I don't care where you go for surgery, makes no difference to me. I don't respect or have a lack of respect for a surgery you had a year ago. You burned a lot of bridges in the past. To expect others to just forget it and move on... probably not going to happen without some major changes.

Well, just that he really wasn't your first choice. Your first choice was another surgeon and the only reason you didn't have surgery by him was because of the bank screw up (which would have made me angrier than angry). Thing is, sleeves are not like bands. The risk for complications is a little bit greater. It's always wise to cover you bases, if you spring a leak in a hotel in Tijuana, that isn't the ideal place to have a complication. That's why it is a safer bet to actually be in a hospital instead of hotel. I just don't like the cost saving measures some doctors use. I don't agree with recovery in a hotel for anyone having just had major surgery. Just my opinion.

Sounds like you have done a fantastic job! I know what you mean about how good it feels to have control over food issues. It's a great feeling! Congrats to you!

Weren't you originally scheduled with Arturo Rodriguez? Isn't the only reason you didn't have surgery with him because your bank messed up the loan paperwork and when you got to Mexico there was no money? Didn't you return home to straighten out the bank error and then you decided on your current surgeon? Or am I thinking of someone else? It's too bad he uses a hotel for recovery. Perhaps if he continues giving good service he'll create a better rep for himself.

I am getting more and more disappointed in Zapata. I've always been a fan but I don't like some of the stuff happening lately. The bogus claim of 600 sleeves, charging for the basics, those things. It's not really a single cut, it's more of a single stitch. They can be bigger and need more sutures but if it is too large it is not uncommon to have the WLS done later. I knew he charged but I guess I didn't know how much. I suppose with the economy the way it is doctors are getting hungry. I'd expect this from Almanza, not Zapata.

I have to admit, this is a situation I would have enjoyed. I would have taken great pleasure in giving her a bit of attitude (okay, a LOT of attitude) and a bit of education. I would have gotten right back in her face and explained how it all works and I would have explained that I did not want the path she clearly has chosen. I would never dream of being insulted by her behavior, I would have enjoyed the pleasure of watching her back down. ;o) But, that's me. Again, I wouldn't have thought twice about telling her the price. Plant the seed, you know? All of us have issues to work through, including nurses. The only people that have ever been that way to me are obese people who have had WLS and are not overly successful with it. THOSE people are brutal. When I was so sick with a band and needed a revision before I was so ill I would no longer be a good surgical risk I had a few that insisted that if I didn't have the band removed, gain all my weight back and THEN have a revision then that meant I was anorexic. It was weird, 100% of the time the only people who were on my tail about getting a revision without waiting to regain everything back were WLS failures, people who were not able to do it with surgery. Those that were doing well or at goal they were 100% supportive. I have a hunch that nurse was going through her own stuff. I'm not sure I'd write a letter to the hospital, but I would contact her and let her know how she made you feel and take it from there. See what her response is. THEN go to the hospital if you are still not happy. We all have our demons, that's why we needed surgery.

No, that is not what you told me at the time. You told me you were using the bullets for protein. 50gms is not the end of the world, using a crappy protein source is the end of the world. You went on to tell me that you were going to start using a better quality protein and I was thrilled that you were doing that.

I prefer veggies over protein. I prefer steamed veggies and eat them all the time. Yum!

Arizona is a bit different from other states. We had a proposition a couple of years ago that the illegals and do-gooders got together and sued over that. The prop was that you had to be a US citizen to vote in our elections. They didn't want that prop going before the voters. They lost, but the point is they tried. It's normal here. I'm a little shorter fused (is that a way to use that phrase! HA) than I probably would be if I was a little further East, like ... New York. The problems are very bad here. Seriously bad and they aren't getting better. Just worse.

Yes, we disagree. I live in AZ and this state is the worst state for illegals. The stats are amazingly high, our state is on the verge of bankruptcy. Our social services is stretched to the max. People come here illegally, get free medical care, and then they decide that isn't enough, the medical care has to be in their native language. India is the 2nd biggest population of illegals, each state in India speaks a completely different language. Which one is the major language? Noooo, our county hospital has to provide in person translation for each states language. We could be using that money for medical care. Instead, they lost the lawsuit, hired the staff, and raised our property taxes to pay for the county hospital. It just gets old. Now, don't misunderstand... I'm all for people coming to the US! I think it's great. But I think it would be nice if the folks moving here would do so legally. If they come here illegally they are already breaking the law so it doesn't show a great deal of respect for our country. The statue of liberty does suggest coming here. It doesn't say come here illegally, break many of our laws, demand free housing, free medical care, and free education for your children. That was never the concept of the great Lady.

They do have someone in the hospital to translate at Almater. Heck, even Dr. Campos. He works in the ER most nights (sleeps, is on call) and he's available. But I disagree that they should learn to speak our language so we don't have to be bothered learning theirs while in their country. I also do not think that when the same drug is given every six hours they need to have someone come in and explain the same thing over and over again. Just my opinion. I really do think that it is simple manners to at least learn a bit of their language before going to their country. Americans are kind of used to being catered to in too many ways. We tend to want everyone else to please us instead of us doing what we expect of them when they come to our country.

I don't think collagen based protein is controversial at all. They are a poor quality of protein. Weren't you on those and ended up in the hospital?

Heh.... You made me smile. ;o)

Ditto to what Elisabeth wrote. Dr. Aceves did my band and then revision to a sleeve. I think he's the best. He is a true revision surgeon, his stats are fantastic, and he is the president of the Mexican College of Surgeons so other surgeons must agree since they voted him into that position. ;o)

I totally agree. I think it is beyond stupid.

Can you return it? I think it is Netrition.com or .... I can't think of the name of it. One of those nutrition product places on line won't even sell the stuff because it's not a good quality product. Allstarhealth.com? I can't remember. Isopuke is one of the better quality Proteins out there. It's just a bit of a challenge to get it down. ;o)

Perhaps you should learn some of the language before going there. ;o) This is admittedly a sore spot for me. In my county we have a county hospital. Our county hospital was sued by the illegals here because they don't have someone to translate every stupid language of each person. The thinking was that mostly illegals go there (for their free medical care) and most of them do not speak English. So they sued the hospital and won. Every hospital has a service where they can get someone to translate on the phone but noooo, that wasn't good enough. They wanted people standing there translating for them. Do you have any idea how many languages there are? A TON. Now my tax dollars are going to translate so the illegals don't have to learn English or pay for their own medical care. I feel the same way about when we go to Mexico. English is not their primary language and they shouldn't have to learn it. If they want to, great. But they shouldn't be required to speak our language in their place of employment in their own country. If they want to come here and work, by all means... they need to learn the primary language. But in their own country? Not so much, it is OUR responsibility to learn THEIR language. I understand what you are saying, I just think it should be the other way around. Dr. Aceves can't be expected to make sure all the nurses in the hospital speak a language other than their own. His own staff? Sure. The hospital staff? Nawww.

I don't know, since my original banding that TOM hardly ever happens anymore. Not... that I am complaining!

I was quite the protein guru at one time. Syntrax, makes of Matrix 5.0, nectar, etc. offered me a job as the International Medical Sales Manager about a year ago. Before I decided if I would take the job I seriously researched their products, other products, how it all works, what is done, 3rd party testing, the works. While Syntrax makes fantastic quality protein products I learned a bit more than I wanted to know about some issues. I declined the job, btw. It is a great company but I would have had to battle for commissions.