sheila2050

Tuesday evening: Doctor's wife picked us up from airport. Gave the doctor his cashier's check. He answered my questions about surgery. Doctor's wife took us to hospital. Signed permission docs. Answered medical questionnaire with on-call doctor and then again with nurses. Wednesday: Hooked up to IV. Visits and questions from various doctors: on-call hospital doctor, cardiologist, anesthesiologist. Pee in a cup. Blood draw. Chest x-ray. More doctor visits about the results and what to expect. Several hours later, I went to surgery, which took took 38 minutes. Woke up from anesthesia about one hour after return to room. Excruciating pain between my breasts; I didn't know there was an incision there. I jumped up and started walking, thinking it was gas pain. Asked for pain medicine but they thought it was too soon after surgery. Got a shot that lasted about an hour. Got a morphine shot that took the edge off the pain, but it still hurt too much too sleep. Got some sleeping medication and finally . . . relief. Thursday: Continue on IV. Turned out I had a bladder infection and they were treating that as well. My stomach is bruised and swollen. Looks like someone stabbed me several times. Except for the chest pain, which was much lessened, there wasn't any pain. I was getting regular pain medication thru IV and also on request. No nausea ( I was getting nausea medicine, too.) Walking. Spirometer. Nurses coming and going, putting stuff in the IV. More doctor visits. Long visit with the surgeon. Last night at the hospital. Friday: Checked out around noon Went to another facility to get "leak test." I could see the barium on the monitor passing through my tiny stomach. Pass. Now I can have clear liquids! Doctor's wife took us to hotel and gave us jellos, juices, waters, and Gatorades. Walked to restaurant and had fish soup broth. I couldn't believe how good I felt: not just physically but mentally. I wasn't hungry and I wasn't obsessing about food. My sister was afraid I was going to go manic on her because "it always starts" with my feeling good. Patient coordinator picked us up from hotel around 5:30 pm and we went shopping, to Caesar's restaurant (home of the famous salad, which "smelled" good lol,) then casino. Lost ten dollars on slots I couldn't understand. Went to Walmart. Saturday: Weather was fine. Sunny. Spent time by the pool! Coordinator picked us up and took us to restaurant that served excellent broth. Yum. Went to pharmacy to buy stuff I can't get without a Rx in the States. Got our legs waxed (Sister and me, not the coordinator!) More shopping, this time in a strip mall. People watching. Last night at the hotel. Had dinner in hotel with coordinator. Sunday: Check out. Doctor's wife picked us up. On US side we stopped at outlet mall where I found some good deals at Old Navy. Then to airport where I spent MONEY on some liquids. I didn't want to take a chance on not having nourishment. Long flight home. Husband and daughter picked us up at airport. So glad to be home!! Post-trip: feel great, no pain, only restrictions are no lifting & shower only. Wounds are already closed. Using triple antibiotic to keep them soft to lessen scarring. Walking ten minutes morning and evening. Looking forward to Wednesday when I can have a protein shake!

Day 5, feeling fine. Last day clear liquids. Haven't lost a ton of weight, don't care, didn't expect to. I am more concerned with how I feel. I don't want to get in the red zone with food by not having it when I need it. Been spending big money on Naked Green Machine drinks. Whatever it takes. No physical problems. My incisions itch too; I think that may have something to do with healing.

If you do believe in God, praying for the right choice would work. Best of luck. For what it's worth, the trauma of the surgery, the whole ordeal, only lasts a few days. So far my tastes haven't changed with surgery. I look at is like this: I'll get through this day and worry about the rest of the days later. I feel more peaceful like that.

I agree with the others. Focus on the outcome (new life) and just get through the surgery process as best you can, positive or not. I think accepting that you're scared and giving yourself permission to be scared might help. I think you might feel a little more in control accepting yourself right now however you may feel right now.

I was sleeved last Wednesday, also! That makes us sleeve buddies? Best of luck. I enjoyed your post.

Yeah, I can relate to a lot of what you're saying. I decided I was fat, had been fat for a while, and didn't want to be fat anymore. Seeing people in motorized wheelchairs because they're too fat to stand made me think, hey, why wouldn't they (i.e. ME) get a surgery and possibly a solution instead of being impaired. I think this surgery is a miracle treatment. It's a little push in the right direction with a lot of help from the body. They actually cut out the part of the stomach that makes grehlin, a hormone that makes you hungry! Getting full easier, enjoying being full sooner, that's all good. It's like my appetite has been altered and with it, my mindset.

I've decided to weigh only on Mondays. That way I can measure progress without tormenting myself over fluctuations. Tomorrow I'll start all liquids. Looking forward to yogurt in the morning. Made chicken stock tonight. Haven't done that in a while! Got through the whole day without a nap. Really tired out, though, in early evening. I'm taking Juven (wound healing powder) twice daily per my sister's instructions. She's a registered dietitian at a hospital. Taking these expensive vitamins she gave me: Juice Plus, which she says work better than regular vitamins. They're gummies and I love having something to chew. Even the yucky flavor tastes good; at least it's different for the palate. I'm taking regular multivitamin, per sister, twice daily. Continuing antibiotic for UI. Haven't had any trouble taking my psych meds. Take them all at once without discomfort. Reading Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength: Willpower. It's not a motivational type book in the cheerleader sense. It talks about -- so far -- practical things like impulse control being affected by glucose uptake. That made 6 small meals a day make more sense to me. It's been a very interesting read, and I glad I shelled out the 16 bucks for it. I believe there are things I can do, easy things, which will make lifestyle change less difficult. It's really everything you ever heard but it explains the why part, which makes the healthy habits more of a "will do" than a "should do." I can't believe how quickly my incisions are healing. Except for one, they are all thin lines, the smaller ones even being a little hard to see. Taking it day by day. Not going to compromise on shoes anymore. I had bought a pair of tennis shoes 1/2 size too small because they were on sale and I had a coupon; but they squished my toes together and now the thrift store is going to get a like new pair of tennies. Kind of tired, but I really enjoy blogging.

Martha, it's too much to ask for me to e-mail you off-site. I'm sorry. You never know when you're going to get a bug from an unfamiliar online encounter.

You can call Omar, too, at 619-395-5347. They're doing surgeries (all-inclusive without travel) for $5200 in October because they have openings. After that new bookings are going up to $5700, I think. He's real nice.

Thanks LadyK and Candyman!

I am 3 days post op with dr Kelly and feel wonderful. The way he does the sleeve you don't need a drain because you don't leak. He staples, sews, and then tapes the stomach closed.

I wasn't comfortable with my sister going by herself . . . major surgery alone in Mexico? No. So I went with her. That was July. I was so impressed with her experience I went back myself (sis went with me) for the surgery! It really is too good to be true; but they can do more with less money in Mexico. My advice is when you settle on a dr., start reading everyone's experiences. chances are your experience will be similar and you'll know more about what to expect.

No, I didn't have to buy any meds related to the surgery; that's all provided. I bought thyroid medicine, viagra, things you can't get here without prescription.

Thank you, anayortiz. <i wish <i had known ahead of time about the terrible sharp pain. But que sera... <i appreciate your support. <i really feel like this is going to be the turning point for me.

Yes. Hotel is included. It's the Lucerna in Tijuana. Like a vacation.

Night before is hospital, then 2 nights more hospital...then 2 nights beautiful hotel and the coordinator treats you like a friend and you can go to beach, out to eat, Mexican pharmacy with their 32 percent discount, shopping, casino, whatever you want that he has time for. Yesterday I treated my sis and me to leg wax. $36 for full leg, which I thought was pretty good. We even went out to eat with the doctor.

In Mexico now. Dr Kelly's still here! I had a great experience.

I see the hallmarks you were talking about, the contours in your shoulder and neck area. Your face looks much younger too. Great job!

Hang on! Your success will be all the sweeter after you do adjust.

good luck, good luck, good luck to both of you! (I'm Wednesday)

You're doing so good! congrats!!

Today and tomorrow are the last days I will be able to eat whatever I want. My surgery is 9/26 and I should have started pre-op on the 12th, but I mistakenly had my mind set on ten days' pre-op so I am sticking with that. The psychological willingness to do this seems very fragile to me; i.e., not the surgery itself, but my part in changing my lifestyle. I am a compulsive overeater, addicted to food, seeking comfort. I don't see how surgery is going to change that; yet it is a last ditch effort. I quit drinking; I quit smoking; I don't want to die addicted to food. I don't like being a slave to it. I want to get out from under this addiction, and that is the hopeful goal of my surgery. I know that once established healthy habits become the norm and preference; at least that's my past experience with it. So, there's all that. I am counting on prayer to pick up the difference between what I can do and what I must do. That's how I got through drinking and smoking withdrawal, which can be and were for me lengthy and torturous. Or, you could just say, I was a mess, felt like I was losing my mind. God got me through it ODAAT. But I have a family . . . and spending this money on sleeve surgery instead of having my son's tonsils removed or a down payment on a new truck my husband truly needs for work seems terribly selfish. We are hoping that once I have the surgery I will lead the family into better eating habits. No junk for me, none for you. My son has issues with his weight and while he's too old for me to dictate, we hope that healthier foods at home will help him. So, it;s all about me. Of course, I look forward to the hoped for personal evolution weight loss can bring--new energy, ambition, freedom of movement, clothing, desire to go out, dress up, etc. I particularly miss yoga and hope that I will find joy in that again. If you read this and want to comment, please do. I wouldn't write it here if I didn't want to share how I feel.

Thanks, mokee. But I'm not strong; God helped me! Let's do stay in touch!

Today I had kind of a large supper -- by recent standards -- of salad and fish. I've been reading about salad being disagreeable after WLS, so I wanted to eat it while I still could. Seemed so slow while I've been waiting for my surgery; now, seems it's approaching quickly. Today is Thurs. I'll start liquids Sunday; fly to Tijuana Tuesday; have the surgery Weds. A week from now, I'll have my sleeve. Excited. Scared. We bought a lawn mower so I've been mowing for exercise. It's funny, I feel so tired just walking around; but when I'm doing something, I don't feel as fatigued.

Wonderful!