helgaready

Today marks the one week mark since surgery. I am almost still in shock that the day has came and went. If not for my limited intake and the incisions on my belly and oh the weight loss (lol) I would not believe the surgery had taken place...Other than my own self induce discomfort, I have had no pain..My steri strips are beginning to come off now. The top incision just underneath my breast came off completly and the lowers ones are all peeling at some level. I am really surprised how tiny the incisions are and how unnoticeable they will be with a lil scar treatment. I overdid it a bit today shopping and running errands so my belly was a little tender from twisting, turning and bending. I took a pain pill and it has settled down. Yesterday, was my first day back at work and it went pretty well. I was able to get in the most fluids since the day of surgery. I had a couple of times where I rushed the next sip so there was some momentarily discomfort but really all in all the fluids went down well. I did work to get in 36 grams of protein as well...Need to increase that a bit more but overall I am feeling better about my ability to get my fluids in. I did notice today that I have yucky yellow-whitish tongue. After panicking for half a second, I realize that I both need to continue to push my fluids as I had did the today and yesterday as I was likely dehydrated and that I had also entered ketosis. Ketosis, is really a fancy word that means because my body starved of carbohydrates, it is using my stored fat for energy...Not a bad state to be in...I got a bit of energy reserve to spare...lol... I begin full liquids on Sunday...So I will have a better chance at getting all my protein in. And speaking of protein I highly recommend Unjury protein products. They are absolutely the best unflavored ones and so are considered clear and can be used during the clear liquid phase. I made my drinks with skim milk to give it an additional 8g of protein and a lil sugar free caramel syrup and it was super good. I am looking forward to having pudding and some cream soups...add a lil variety to my diet. And for the numbers Surgery Date 08/17/12 Height 5'8 HW 232 SW 227 CW 218 (Down 14lbs total)

I was sleeved with Dr Alvarez in Piedras Negras Mexico. He is one of the more expensive Mexican surgeon but I had a great surgery experience during the planning, the actual surgery and even after surgery...They are really only a phone call or email away... Welcome to the forum...It offers a wealth of information. Just about any question you have can be researched on this forum...It can become addictive especially the closer you get to surgery...

Short of going to see your doctor there is no way to tell whether it is a leak or gas. As others have said, I would suggest you follow-up with your doctor. I do hope it is only gas...I wish all my fellow sleevers only happy healings...steady weight loss and exciting new leases on life...Keep us updated. We are all thinking of you...

For me my left shoulder pain was trapped gas. I walked for about 15 minutes...walked again about half hour later about 15 minutes more...and it subsided. As I understand it, you need to release the gas back into your system in order to pass it. Gas X strips will not help the shoulder. Hope this helps.

Today I feel really good...I had an amazing surgery experience...I had my surgery with Dr. Alvarez in Piedgras Negras, Mexico. After waking up from anethesia, I did not have any pain. I am sure the IV meds helped with that but overall I have not any any pain other than my travel day. The walking the airport and the turbelent plane ride and sitting in the plane seat itself was hard on my incisions but after taking a pain pill that night, I woke up just fine. About day three, I had gas (air they pumped in me to see while performing the surgery) trapped in my shoulder and that was a little umcomfortable. However, I took a 15 minute walk twice over about an hour and it released and has been fine since. I am still struggling to get all my fluids in and have only been getting in about 30 grams a protein each day, thanks to the Unjury brand protein products. I also have fallen in love with decaffinated chai tea made with skim milk and sugar free caramel syrup. I am still amazed how full I am off so little. It takes me hours to eat one jello cup. And drinking 8 ounces of liquid, I could do that without taking a breath before surgery...Now, I am taking in a teaspoonful every couple of minutes. I was not required to do a pre-op diet but I did a self-imposed 5 day liquid diet. It resulted in me losing 5lbs pre-surgery. My healing is going well. I have five incicisions with my excess stomach coming out of the incisions to the left (in attached photos has 4 steri strips). All my steri strips are still in place at this point and the only incision that I still really feel is the largest one that they took my stomach out of and even it does not prevent me from laying on it. I had planned on going back to work today but decided to give myself one more day in order to manage my fluids more. I got a little light headed yesterday after going for a walk and then to the grocery store...I have a desk job so no physical labor involved. Normally, I will weigh in and blog on Friday's as my sleeve day was a Friday. However, in my FB August Sleevers group, we weigh in on Wednesday so I thought I would post my first blog entry today as well. And for the numbers..... SD 08/17/12 HT 5'8 HW 232 SW 227 CW 221.8

Go to your patient profile and scroll just under where you entered your weight and surgery information and there are panels that allow you to load a before and after photo....

As DDFinn says, CareCredit is unwilling to pay for any procedures not occurring in the U.S. My coordinator, said she has went around and around with CareCredit but they wont budge. You could try a local finance company, your credit union or perhaps Glamour Credit or MedicalFinancing.com. Both of the last two are higher interest but if you are really wanting the surgery and other financing is not an option, it is something to consider.

I had my surgery with Dr. Alavarez in Piedras Negras Mexico and I only have great things to say as well..I know the idea of having surgery in Mexico seems scary to most. However, my medical treatment with Dr. Alavrez was bars above any care I ever received in the states. My care was done with technology equal to that of the States, the experience to perform and the ability to explain the procedure to me was exceptional. The bedside manners of every one of the medical personnel I came in contact with was something I wish came common place in the states. They made sure my friend who traveled with me had something to eat, offering to take her out each night for dinner. The hospital was more reflective of a rural or county hospital but it was clean. My room itself was really modern with a nice big, tiled shower, hardwood floors, computer with wi-fi and sleeping accomondations for my friend. There was a phone to use free of charge to call back to the states as much as we wanted. And after being released from the hospital, I received a call from the medical coordinator, checking on me to see how I was doing. She said she would be routinely checking on me the first few months out to see how I was coming along. Very impressive...I could go on and on. But I will end just by saying everything from the coordination of the surgery, the surgery itself and the follow-up after surgery has been wonderful.

Congratulations lady...Go rock all those clothes you wanted to but never could...Show your true personality that you probably stifled a bit because of your weight...I may not know you but I am so happy for you...I can only imagine what this feels like... Stories like yours aided in my decision to have the sleeve and are encouragement for getting through these first months post surgery...

I love this forum...Every question I have had, I have been able to find ans answer here. I started having shoulder pain yesterday and first thought I may have slept wrong. After lingering for a while, I knew it had to be more so I got on the forum and this is exactly what I am experiencing. I am going to go for a walk here in a bit to hopefully help relieved the trapped gas and get some overall relief from the pain. Because otherwise my surgery has been textbook...no pain (other than day of traveling)...only a tad bit of nausea the day of surgery when I would get up and walk and then just basic gas that I was able to pass...

My surgery wit Dr A went really well...no.pain..no gas..lil nausea has subsided .. I really can't believe I had d surgery just one day given how well I'm doing ...

My surgery wit Dr A went really well...no.pain..no gas..lil nausea has subsided .. I really can't believe I had d surgery just one day given how well I'm doing ...

My PCP is doing my follow-up care. I am having surgery with Dr. Alavarez in Piedras Negras Mexico and when he takes the drain out before we leave...So when I get back home pending no complications it will be just making sure the incisions are healing well, during my weight checks and follow-up bloodwork... But I will say I did have a PCP doctor previously that did not believe in diet pills...wasnt too fond of the surgey and believe everyone on their own will could diet and exercise to achieve their weight goals. Needless to say I found another doctor that was more sensitive to my needs as that is not my story...Any weight loss I have ever realized through diet and exercise has came back with a serious vengeance...

I have surgery on the 17th as well...I am pretty much consumed with researching various topics related to the surgery...I am both really excited and really anxious. I am having my surgery with Dr. A in Mexico which makes a number of people nervous but I am very confident in my decision and look forward to it. I have a few inches in height on ya...I am 5'7 but I am also 227 pounds...

I have told alot of people either. I am not ashamed and do not neccessarily feel the need to hide it. However, I am not sure I am prepared to deal with all the questions. I had a previous surgery date about three years and when I told people I was having surgery, there were so many who came out against it. This time around I just want to get through the surgery without have to answer a gazillion questions while on the other hand I am still trying to wade through all my answers as well. My journey is made even more difficult as I am having surgery with Dr. A in Mexico so I get that "you must be crazy" to go to Mexico to have surgery along with the usual you dont need that spill...you can do it own your own...I know this person that had it and they had so many complications or those doctors do not know the long term effect of that stuff so why you want to be the text case. So I am keeping my decision to a select few for now...