MamaOf8

Sleeved July 23 and down 66 pounds!

Sleeved 7/23 and down 57 pounds since pre-op diet 2 weeks before sleeve!

I am scheduled to be sleeved on July 23rd, 2012. I am SO excited, but recently read a bunch of stuff from people who have been sleeved for about 3-6 months on average that worries me. They are all talking about losing about 20-30 pounds total in that 3-6 months after being sleeved and that seems VERY low to me. I am hoping to lose far more than that in 6 months! Am I being too optimistic or are the people I read about just not doing something right? I can lose 20-30 pounds in 6 months without a sleeve and a life altering surgery. Please help - am I doing the right thing to lose weight, right?

Okay… Don't blow any smoke up my butt here, but I need to know something. Has anyone ever not lost weight after the sleeve? Is it possible to fail?

I don't get it - I have administrated on other boards before and I'm not totally new to all of this, but I cannot get my darn tickers to behave. I made a new one and it shows at least 3 times in my signature. Old ones that I have deleted show as "X"s with an empty box. How do I get rid of all that stuff and make it so they work for me? Is there some secret? THANK YOU.

I just had surgery at Jerusalem Hospital within the last 2 weeks. I can tell you plenty. I believe that Dr. Almanza is a gifted and competent surgeon, HOWEVER.... The post op care at Jerusalem reminded me much of a house of horrors. There were 8 of us done that day I was done. Almost all were moaning, crying or yelling out in pain. We suffered horribly. Nursing care the first ***ht consisted of two very young male nurses that spoke VERY little English. I wonder if they were even really trained nurses...? They had ZERO compassion for the patients suffering there and we found out that they were giving about 1/4 of the pain medication every 6 hours that we should have or would have had in the US. I have given birth ten times without pain meds ever and this surgery was HORRIFIC. I wasn't sure I was going to make it that first ***ht and I know several others including a grown man were in the same boat. The "nurses" were playing some kind of ball sport in the halls outside our doors and they did nothing to ease our minds or pain. I felt very alone and desperate. It was NOT a good experience at all. The next morning we were given 15 minutes notice to get dressed back in our clothes to go to either the hotel or recovery house. We were given our meds to take home, which included a very mild anti-inflammatory (not really pain meds) and Cipro for an antibiotic. We were not given the promised antiseptic spray for our incisions, or any gauze or tape for redressing them for our flight home. The recovery house turned out to be more for patients who whined and complained more. Those of us who were walking and doing as told were shipped off to pay for an unexpected hotel stay with our guest. Once at the hotel, we were given pain meds only by a driver picking us up (always late) and taking us over extremely bumpy roads for the 15 minute drive back to Jerusalem ONCE A DAY (obviously nothing near adequate for lap abdominal surgery). I got home safely thanks to my guest walking the streets of Tijuana to find me gauze, tape and antiseptic spray for my trip home feeling seriously a bit traumatized by the whole experience. Am I happy it's done and I am healing well? Absolutely! Do I wish I had gone somewhere else? ABSOLUTELY. Much needs to be improved before I would ever recommend Jerusalem to anyone.

The first few days are definitely the worst. I too have been getting a nightly headache, but you must remember the PRIZE at the end of this! Just keep right on doing it - this is only for a short time!!

What is the actually carb count difference between potatoes and cauliflower? I didn't think it was that much..?

I am right after you on the 23rd with Dr. Almanza! I look forward to hearing how it went for you and any suggestions you might have for things to bring.

Best wishes for a smooth surgery and very speedy recovery!

I'm glad it's just antibiotics and then you will be fine! Good luck to you!

I am wondering how I will feel on the plane flight home after surgery in Mexico. What have you all experienced? Is there anything to bring for certain to make it more comfortable? My trip home is only 2.5 hours so it's not too bad, but I want to know what to bring.

Patrick, I still don't see or have access to the July FB group and I would sure like it!!! Am I just being a techno-tard here?

By the way, Chimera, WAY TO GO on such a nice big weight loss! You are doing great!!!

I started on Atkins this past Monday (June 18th). I have already lost TEN POUNDS and I am SO excited! I need to lose about 33 pounds before surgery on July 23rd, so I am cooking right along. I plan to do Atkins until July 9th when I must start the required 2 weeks on a liquid diet. I am still really nervous about the boot camp feeling of liquids only for two weeks, but after seeing the scale tonight, I have some new confidence and determination! I CAN DO THIS! Interestingly, I already know that my Gall Bladder is FULL of large stones. Atkins and the rapid weight loss is certainly stressing my GB and I have been having some pain here and there. I wonder what the chances are of my doc removing my GB while he's in there? It's a snip!! Anyone experience that? My doc is Dr. Almanza in Mexico.

FANTASTIC information! Thank you for posting that!! I have lost 16 pounds on Atkins so far, but I am really frustrated as I have hit a plateau and I haven't lost anymore. I am not taking in anymore than about 5-10 grams of carbs per day! I think I will take it back down to the basics again for a few days before starting the liquid diet to jump start myself again. I am being sleeved on 7/23 and I want a nice little liver!

Wow!!! You are one great loser now! Congratulations on your surgery and sounds like you are recovering well. Keep you chin up! Can't wait to see how much weight you have lost at your follow up visit!

Is it $3.49 per shake and each shake is one meal? I think the calories sound a little high too, but you are sure getting a great amount of protein!! If it tastes good and you can get it down, then that's half the battle! I will be starting my pre-op diet in 3 days and I am always interested in hearing about things that people love and that work! Best wishes to you!!!

Best wishes to all of those recently sleeved in July! I hope you are all healing quickly and smoothly! I am on pins and needles waiting for my turn this month!

That sounds good! I know you can do it!!

Nina88, if you want to do Atkins, I would ask your doc just to be sure it's ok, but on Atkins you can't have juice of any kind. You eat meat, eggs, cheese, etc. NO fruits of any kind. You can have up to 15 grams of carbohydrates a day, but that's barely anything. It's best to not have any. Read labels or eat only whole foods (meat) and you will be ok. It takes some shopping ahead, some meal prep and some boredom with food, but you don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. You basically eat when you are hungry, and ONLY protein. I don't think it's the healthiest option for a long period (I was on it for 2 years a few years ago and that was tough) but it works. Check your protein shakes - they are probably full of carbs. Best wishes!!

From what I have read, I agree - you will be ok, minus the move. Be very careful and don't do too much. You will definitely have to go with the "back is out" thing. I applaud your tenacity to get this done and I would have done the same thing in your shoes!! I will be having my surgery down in Mexico on the day you are leaving to come home. I will be thinking of you! Best wishes!!

I don't know as much as some might because I don't watch the news, but I would probably skip any shopping or outings. Just stay within the hospital and recovery house and you should be fine. The good thing is that even creeps who do those horrible things understand that medical tourism is important to MX and my hope is that they wouldn't want to mess with that.

Very good information! Thanks so much. I am being sleeved on 7/23 with Almanza. I am grateful to know that I should have a firm pillow with me. Were you able to get liquid pain meds from your doc here in the states to take with you? That sounds like a good plan.

I know my BMI with 16 pounds lost is now 49. I don't need to look it up, but thanks. What I want to know is if your BMI pre-op is lower than 50, do most surgeons recommend 2 weeks on the liquid diet still, or less?