KellyL

Oh my!! Sounds scary but I am so glad you are getting it taken care of!! Sending you lots and lots of positive healing energy and praying you get well very soon. Please keep us updated!!

I have also heard that it can be the temperature of the liquid. Sometimes cold water will make ur stomach spasm. Try something warm.

I found these today at Wal-mart. They come in 3 flavors; strawberry-kiwi, pink lemonade, and ice tea. They have 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving. You add to water. I thought these might be good for both pre-op and post-op to help get the protein in during the clear liquid pjase. Has anyone tried these, and how did you like them? They were in the diet and nutrition area near the pharmacy, not with the crystal lights or other drink mixes. Thanks, Kelly

I am pre-op and have just recently started on Vitamins, not just cuz I am having surgery, but trying to become healthier. I am taking calcium 1200 mg Vit D3 1000 IU Magnesium 400-600 B12 sublingual 2500 mcg. Biotin 5000 mcg Vit C 500 mg chewables. Multi-Vitamin. I am fairly certain I may have been low in Vit D and Magnesium. It blew my mind how much Magnesium helped me immediately. Since beginning it, I haven't had IBS symptoms, constipation, muscle tension, spasms, cramps, muscle twitching, eye twitching, panic attacks, general anxiety has improved, and more. One of the symptoms of deficiency is chocolate cravings. I've started giving it to my daughter for PMS tension and cramping. I didn't mean to turn into infomercial, I was just surprised at what all it helps and it's cheap lol.

I can relate, and what's bad is, these will be the same ones who will complain about the way we choose to lose weight or that we don't eat the right foods or that we're losing too fast or too much. Cause you can't please some people no matter what you do!!!! So don't worry bout it cuz we all been there done that too. It's time to please ourselves!! Kelly

A lot of drs are different about these things, and I've been wondering about them too. Especially coffee?? I knew a lot of them said to wait a while on alcohol and I had also heard about it hitting you faster and harder. This is the first I've seen mention of never drinking either again. Hmmm. I will have to ask my dr too. I rarely drink alcohol but I love my coffee! Kelly

OMG I bet you feel so amazing right now!!!!!! Congrats girl, I am truly so happy for you!!! I am the same way, haven't seen a 1 in front for a verrrrrry long time. So I will be ecstatic when I hit Onederland! Buy something beautiful! Kelly

Haha love the pics and you're both so dang cute! Sorry bout that nasty acid. I had a lot of heart burn with my pregnancies. Glad all the testing went well for Little Sprout and thanks for the update! Kelly

Congrats on your weightloss! I am not sure how many grams of protein all that is, you might wanna plug your food into myfitnesspal or a different one so you'll kno if your getting the minimum requirements of your post op diet. 38 lbs is awesome!! Kelly

Omg, I can't believe this is finally gonna happen!! I've been waiting for this for 7 yrs. Finally everything is kinda magically falling together. Unexpected funds showed up, 2 different times, and happens to equal almost the exact amount that I needed for surgery. I guess maybe it's true that what's meant to be will happen in it's own sweet slow time lol. I am alternating between extreme joy and excitement, to actual terror. But I am so ready to be a Sleever!!! 5/16 can't get here soon enough!!! :hippie:

Congrats!! Lots of 5/9 folks!! I am not far behind, 5/16!! And my mouth is watering for some of that cake! Haha I am diabetic so I've been doing pretty good on my eating for awhile now. I've lost around 35 lbs since I started limiting carbs and sugar and cutting my portions down. I am not really going crazy eating like I thought I would once I got my date, but I am hungry for Olive Garden!! I may go and just eat a half a portion of something. I could split a plate I guess. Good luck y'all!!

It sounds like you're doing great! I am hoping to avoid situations too, but I don't start pre-op till the 6th. Congrats on the 9 lbs, that's awesome!! Good luck! Kelly

I have the same worries too. Most of us that self-pay do worry. But if they told you that your insurance covers complications of an uncovered procedure, then it sounds like you are gonna be covered. Because a leak would be considered a complication of the sleeve. You may want to confirm and even get it in writing and get the persons full name that told you this. It may even be in your insurance policy. You are lucky, a lot of self payers have no Ins. Also the possibility of a leak is low, like less than 1%. You can also check on your drs stats as well. Good luck!!

I've also tried the greek yogurt with sf cheesecake pudding and some milk mixed to make protein rich cheesecake but I am pre-op. I couldn't get past the weird bitter taste either? Maybe because post op and our tastebuds changing, I will like it better. Maybe it makes a difference on the brand. I tried Fage when I did this.

Kelly I am not till 5/16, it's Kerry who is on the 9th. So y'all gotta save me a spot on the bench! LoL. Congrats to you, and let me know how it goes!! Have you noticed there's lots of Kelly's on this forum?

Thanks everyone! @Kerry, i know the feeling about family, I try to hide my fear too, and only speak with total confidence. I've got y'all on this board to cry, whine, and complain to lol!! Lucky y'all. I am going to TJ Mexico with Dr Ramos-Kelly. Wow you're on the 5/9?? Just a little over 2 wks!! Congrats! Update me how it goes. Which dr are you going to? Kelly

I think that does change over time, although a part of me wishes it wouldn't. It would help me stay away from bread/carbs. But early out, you don't have much room due to swelling. Also when bread gets to the tummy, the bread itself swells and can cause discomfort.

Oh, and another thing, I spoke to Surgeons who perform both VSG and DS like Dr Baltasar, who is well known for doing DS. I was trying to decide which wls. He told me by far the VSG was superior when it comes to the quality of life. That is the most important thing to me! ETA: on #6 above, I was referring to Protein grams--sorry haven't had my coffee this morning! Also all the above info came from my research and was found on OH on the DS board.

I totally feel your pain!! It's wonderful that there's so much info out there. But I have definitely suffered from info overload a few times. My personal reasons for NOT going with the DS is 1) I have IBS. 2) DSers absolutely have to be compliant with taking 10-20 vitamins, and NOT the cheap ones. They spend anywhere from $50-$100 a month on them. And I've seen even the compliant ones become deficient and have to struggle to maintain correct levels or have to have iron infusions via IV. 3) I don't like the risks of complications with ANY malabsorption wls short term but especially long term 4) they say it's superior but I see many struggle to reach goal or never reach it, and some have actually gained back. 5) bathroom issues and smells--yes most will deny this problem and say it's a myth, while a couple posts away, someone is posting of this exact problem. So a lot of them that are able to control this problem, do so by taking Flagyl/Fish Zole/probiotics. Yes 3 or more addional pills to take in addtion to their already 10-20 vitamin regimen a day. 6) they love bragging about how much they get to eat compared to us, but I am pre-op and I struggle to get in 60-70 gr now. They talk about having to get way above 100 gr a day to prevent protein deficiency. They like to brag they can eat carbs, but if they don't limit them then they have to deal with additional bathroom/smell problems and/or stalls. 7) constant lab work can be costly without Ins.

I have not found any kind of reports of people being harmed, killed, or missing that have gone to Mexico for this surgery. They all have pretty much the same system of picking you up at airport and transporting you around. Then returning you to the airport. They know what areas are safe. I don't plan on going anywhere by myself and/or walking around. Some people choose to go for the money savings. Some would not even get to have surgery at all if it weren't for the cost in Mexico. But as someone else posted, once you start looking into some of these drs and their yrs of experience and their skill, that is what is really impressive. A lot of them have done thousands, where a lot of the US drs have just started doing VSG. I am planning to be sleeved and later have plastic surgery in MX. The total cost for all of it under $15k

Again, this thread is about coordinators, hospitals, and hearsay bs. It should not have the title Dr Kelly and is very unfair to this dr and his past, present, or prospective patients. I find it interesting however, that even Dr Kellys enemys and rivals can't even say anything negative about his skills as a dr. That speaks volumes to me. If a particular hospital is more important to you, that's fine. There are other drs at your facility of choice. But why come here stating "confirmations" as if they came from anyone of importance? She is a disgruntled employee as far as I am concerned, who wants you to use a dr and hospital in which she can get her cut. Of course she wants to steer people to benefit herself. I was never interested in using a coordinator that was anywhere but in MX with Dr Kelly. How can a US coordinator help me get around there? Anyway, i am confident in my choice of surgeon. He has done a high # of procedures, lots of experience, low complication rate, great caring bedside manner, trauma training and background, gives you 2 nites in a hospital, 2 nites in a hotel where he comes to visit you, and does 3 leak tests. There may be much better facilities, but not necessarily cleaner. Theres other Mex Drs that use older facilities as well. Some of them charging $2000-$3000 more. Unless you've had surgery with Dr Kelly and have an actual true experience, then why contribute in posts about said surgeon unless you have ulterior motives? It just looks like you're doing damage control for the ignorant and racist post that Beachbum left, which didn't fool anyone as to her motive.

You've done extremely well, congrats!! I am sure it's a wild ride. Looking forward to joining you! Kelly

Congrats, you look great!!! You're doing awesome!

Wow congrats!! You look fab!

I think we all struggled with this to a degree, I know I have. I have gone ahead and told a few people in my family. After my surgery I will probably tell more. Let's face it, people are going to talk. I'd rather the truth just be out there, than for people to discuss how I did it, or wonder if I have cancer or if I'm on crack. And there is a possibility it will come out anyway and I don't want to be caught in a lie or for people to think I am ashamed of what I did. I am doing it for my health. I don't owe anyone an explanation for taking care of myself. I have researched this surgery, and a lot of them haven't, so if they say something ignorant, I can choose to get my feelings hurt and let them make me doubt my decision, or I can tell them I've researched it and I feel very comfortable in my decision. If they ask for more info then I will educate them. When people see the changes in our appearance and health, it won't matter how we did it. I want the info about wls, especially the sleeve, to get out there so it can help more people. If I discovered the cure to cancer I wouldn't keep it a secret and just save my own life, yanno? I am thankful for this gift and I wanna pay it forward. I have found that the more confident I am in my answers about the sleeve, the less people doubt my decision. But this is truly a personal decision. Kelly