AmyInOrlando

I'm really relieved that my Doc will keep me in the hospital for 2 nights, especially since he's in Mexico and I will be returning to Orlando. Any post-op issues will have to be managed at home. My PCP will be seeing me 6 weeks post op. If anything goes seriously wrong, I'll have to go to the ED. Dr. Alvarez will send me home with a operative report, so I'll have documentation of exactly what was done. I'm anticipating a smooth uneventful recovery... but I have to be realistic too.

Mederma... was on the list from my Doc. You have to wait till the wounds are healed first. Don't use it while the steri strips are still in place.

I called Susan and she sent me the book in the mail. (I got it a few days later). I read it in a couple of hours. I wanted to leave it with Dr. Stine, but it's really written for the layman, not a Professional. She did write down the name of his web site. She would have done my pre-op labs but I told her they'll do them when I get there. She did my EKG and faxed it to Susan. She's awesome. Dr. Sandra Stine (Internal Medicine), Orlando, FL. I'm a RN, so I'm pretty picky about my Dr's.

As you can see by my pic I've got the same issue. Kaity's gonna go go nuts when I get home. I'll just keep a pillow on my tummy whenever I lie down on the couch or my bed. Other then that... I think she'll be fine.

I saw my PCP yesterday. I brought Dr. Alvarez's book with me. She copied the page with the necessary post op blood work I'll need, and scheduled me for a follow up appointment 6 weeks post op. She's 100% supportive, doesn't anticipate any problems, and believes I made a good decision based on the issues I had with my insurance denial. I didn't ask my insurance company if they'll cover post-op complications, but they won't be pre-existing conditions, so I don't think they can refuse to pay. And I don't think having the surgery out of the country will be reason enough for denial. I'm not anticipating any problems, but if they occur I'm prepared for a battle with HealthChoice. I couldn't argue with their policy that I be employed with the company for 24 months, but I wasn't going to wait another year for the surgery.

I've chosen Dr. Alvarez as my Surgeon.... hope it was a good decision. Surgery is scheduled for August 1, 2013.

I think that's an old rumor... after all, Mexicans drink water.. LOL. If you're concerned, I'm sure they have bottled water everywhere you go.

I'm back... I had to call Susan to get the fax number. My Doc was great !!! She's behind me 100% and I scheduled a follow up appointment with her 6 weeks after my surgery just to touch base and make sure everything's OK. She doesn't anticipate any problems as I'm going into this without many of the co-morbidities that many people have. I gave her Dr. Alvarez's web site information and she's going to check it out. I'm so relieved. It's good to know my Primary Care Dr. is behind me 100%.

I'm so glad you're doing so well. I'm in my Dr's waiting room. I have to get my EKG and tell her about my surgery. I think she'll be supportive, but maybe a little apprehensive because it's in Mexico. crap... I just remembered I have to fax the EKG to Susan. I've got to ca. And get the fax number.... Later...

I've heard there's a side effect of having Surgery in Mexico...... You wake up from anesthesia craving, chips, salsa, guacamole and Margaritas..... and instead of walking.... you do the Merengue... Ole'

Good morning.... How was your first night? Did you sleep well? Any pain? Any gas? Did they start you on ice chips yet? Keep walking.... and keep us posted.

WOW.... I'm impressed. Yours was the best review I've read in a long time. I'm so happy things are going well for you. I'm really looking forward to the surgery, and pray it goes as smoothly for me. Continue to keep us updated. Welcome to the loser's bench !!!!

Buy 2, get one free. I haven't tasted them but.... In a 20 oz bottle there is 160 calories, 0 fat, 50 mg of Sodium, 60 mg. of Potassium, 0 carbs, and 40 grams of protein. Sounds perfect for the clear liquids 1 week post op.

You sip, wait, sip and wait. You don't drink it all at once. It's 40 -60 grams over a 24 hour period, not all at once. My instructions say never drink more than 4 ounces in a 15 minute period for the 1st month. I also can only have clear, thin liquids for the first week. So... no shakes. I'll be using the Isopure liquid and Unjury chicken broth to make sure I get all the protein in... along with SF jello, SF popsicles, and plain water.

I don't have their $15 discount card, so I paid $43.12 for 12 bottles. They are $5.39 each (without the card), so I saved $21.56. If you have their discount card, they're $4.85 each. I thought buy 2 get 1 free was a pretty good deal. I think the sale goes on at GNC for the rest of the month. I heard the Vitamin Shoppe will have them on sale next month, but I'm not sure of the cost. I do know their regular price is $4.99 a bottle. If I like them, I'm going to stock up when they're on sale

I just checked the web site, it says I should be getting my passport card on or by 7/17/13, Yeah!!! but good to know if anything happens I'll be OK with just my driver's license and birth certificate. Had I known that before, I could have saved myself $46, for the passport card, picture and registered mail postage (that could have been a new pair of jeans

The reason gum is not allowed the first 6 weeks after surgery is because of the risk of accidental swallowing.

I would say to wait till your sleeve is completely healed and check with your Doctor first. You don't want those little seeds getting stuck between the staples. My guess would be 6-8 weeks. They're a good source of Protein and fiber, but don't risk any problems... ask your Dr.

I'm thinking the liquid diet is going to be easy for me because many years ago I did Opti-Fast. I lost and gained 100 pounds the same time as Oprah did. I did nothing but shakes for 6 months. It was great. There were no choices, food was not an option. The first 3 days were the hardest, and I lost weight so quickly it was motivating. With this said... I'll probably be whining like most people when I have to do it the week before surgery. It may not be as easy this time.

I've got 55 years experience in dieting... We are all "Professional Dieters". I could write books on diet and nutrition, I can tell you off the top of my head how many "points" are in any given food in any amount. Having the VSG is my last resort, certainly not my first choice, nor is it the easy way to deal with my volume / binge eating disorder. I will have to be extremely conscious of everything I put in my mouth for the rest of my life. The sleeve is a tool, not a cure. My Insurance wouldn't pay for my surgery either. After lots of research on Dr's and facilities, I've decided to go to Piedras Negras, MX with Dr. Alvarez. Check out your options if insurance is not an option.

I purchased two of them yesterday. Playtex Coolster, twist and click with a leak proof seal. It holds 10 oz and it's insulated. One is blue with a grey top, and the other is pink with a neon green top. Although it says 12+ (indicating safe for 12 month olds.. LOL), it doesn't look like a baby's cup. I figured I'd get one for water, and one for protein drinks / soup. I haven't tried it yet, I'm waiting to start my liquid diet.

OK, so here's the question... I keep reading about all the gas they pump us full of during the surgery. Now... that gas has got to come out somehow. I'm going to be flying home 3 days post op. Trapped in a seat, probably surrounded by others for 3 hours. How embarrassing is this trip going to be? Is it gonna be noisy, foul smelling, or both? Just wondering if I need to put a bag over my head when I board the plane. Will Gas-X work? Should I sip water during the flight? I just want to know what I can expect. Thanks

Frankly, I feel safer knowing I'm going to be in the hospital for 2 nights. I think if there are going to be any major complications, they're going to occur within the first 48 hours. My Doc also gives antibiotics prophylactically so there is less of a chance of infection.

A pound of muscle is 16 oz. A pound of fat is 16 oz. Muscle takes up less space then fat. Think of it like a pound of feathers vs. a pound of marbles. You could probably fill a room with a pound of feathers, and fill a jar with a pound of marbles. Get it? So if you're building muscle you're going to replace the fat and your measurements will change. Also, muscle burns fat, so the more % of muscle you have in your body, the more calories your body will burn, and you will lose weight faster. Also when you exercise, your fat cells fill up with water, then your body sheds the water, which is why you sometimes see the scale go up when you start to exercise. I'm not an exercise Physiologist, these are just things I've read, and they make sense to me.

I'm going by myself on July 31st. I emailed the coordinator and asked her to send me the email address and phone number of the other Patient being sleeved the same day. I'm coming from Orlando, She's coming form California. We spoke on the phone for over an hour. I feel like when I get to Mexico it's going to feel like I'm meeting an old friend. I can't wait to meet my "sleeve Sister".