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Most everything is covered here in this thread. I live alone in a rural area, so I made sure I had all my supplements, vitamins, protein choices, drink options, etc. before I left. But really, after reading these boards I didn't have any surprises. I'm doing great with my sleeve. Dr. Ortiz/Martinez make a pretty tight sleeve, so be prepared to transition through stages very slowly. At 3 months out I'm just starting to feel normal. I can eat anything, just very slowly and very small amounts. Liquids were hard for a couple months...had to sip ALL DAY. Now I can take pretty big gulps but still have to think about having something to drink on hand at all times. As for followup, of course we can't just run to OCC for a checkup, but they have been pretty good with postop email and phone calls. Dr. So and Dr. Martinez have both been available when I've had questions. Good luck! You will do great. I was actually bummed to leave after surgery because I was having such a good time.

I did a bunch of research before narrowing my list to 3 surgeons... 2 here in Idaho and 1 in Mexico. The patient coordinators of the two in Idaho were arrogant bitches who wouldn't answer any of my questions until I set up appointments with them first. I explained I was over 3 hours away from them, and just wanted some basic info (how many VSGs has he done, what's his complication rate, what are the pre and post op requirements, etc) but they refused to help me. My contact at the Mexico office was extremely helpful and exchanged dozens of emails and phone calls answering all of my questions. After more research, I discovered my Mexico option was by far the most experienced with a complication rate 1/100th of the US average, so that's who I went with. The best decision ever...great care and great results.

I've always been a B..... so no change here

I had severe Achilles' tendon pain. Could barely hobble around by the end of the day. It is totally gone. I do have bone spurs, but the right shoes helped with that even before surgery.

So I used up the last hole on my smallest belt. As a reward, I bought my first new post -VSG piece of clothing...a beautiful new belt. I'm down to just 2 pairs of jeans that fit now, so those will be next

I'm sorry you are having such problems. Your surgeon sounds like an incompetent (or just mega arrogant) asshole. I've had better followup and concern for my well being from my surgeon in Mexico! I would call his office everyday until they send your records. Ask to speak with the office manager and/or head doctor if that's not your surgeon. Inform them you are having complications that they refuse to address and your attorney has advised you to seek medical care else-wear. Hopefully your new surgeon can figure this out.

32 with oversewing the staple line.

I had a bad headache 1st five days of preop and I had switched to decaf 2 months earlier, so it may or may not be the caffeine. As for caffeine, I started drinking 1/2 caf for a couple weeks, then did 1/2 caf one day, decaf the next, and gradually went all decaf.

Muscle milk has a strawberry creme and banana creme. And I'm a big fan of adding PB2 to any vanilla shake.

Yeah! Congrats! I became overweight last week. It's a nice feeling.

Here's some tidbits about the chemicals in cigs that I learned in a 40 hour OSHA asbestos inspector course I had to take for work (past life/previous career).... There are certain chemicals you could be exposed to at work if you are in a factory/manufacturing/industrial job. These chemicals have an 8 hour permissible exposure level (PEL). If you are exposed to anything above the PEL in a typical day, you are required to wear respiratory protection or other safety gear. Smoking even one regular cigarette exceeds the PEL of at least 30 of these chemicals. Compared to asbestos exposure, cigarettes are way worse. The funny thing is the instructor for the course took at least 6 smoke breaks everyday . This isn't meant to be a bash on smokers....just some trivia. I used to be a "smoke when I drink" gal, but I haven't done either since at least a month before surgery.

That's really interesting about the anesthesia nausea coming from the same place as motion sickness. I get super car sick, even worse seasick, and can't go on any carnival rides (I've thrown up on a Ferris wheel before) I was extremely nauseous when I woke up from my cervical fusion surgery. I warned the cardiologist and anesthesiologist about it when I had my VSG. They pumped me full of some anti nausea drug preop, and it worked like a charm. I was very pleasantly surprised to have no nausea when I woke up. And I'm with you, I'd rather hurt than be heaving!

99ajax. Let me know if you are interested in any...I could pull them off eBay and do a fellow BP discount

I had a bunch of 18, 20 and 22 jeans on eBay. The 18's are all gone and a couple of the others sold, but here's what I've got left if you're Interested... Wrangler Q baby Tuff Buck 20Wx34 (minor wear good condition) Wrangler Cash 19/20x34 (good condition, one ripped belt loop in back) Cabelas casuals 20 long (good condition, one ripped belt loop on side) Levis Silver Tag Baggy cream color corduroys W38 L30 (excellent condition) Wrangler Q baby Tuff Buck 22Wx34 (excellent condition) Wrangler Q baby Tuff Buck 22Wx34 (some wear, fraying on bottom cuffs)

You're so right about different levels of pain tolerance. I had my surgery at 3pm, was in my room by 6pm, and discharge at 9am. I too, was up walking around (Tijuana, not Vegas) less than 20 hours after surgery. And I had NO narcotics on board. I had a sublingual NSAID to take if I needed, but I was in no pain. My stomach muscles were sore like I'd done a bunch of sit-ups, and I felt very bloated, but that's it. I had a drain in for three days but that was more of an inconvenience than anything. I feel so grateful after reading all the posts of people being in so much pain after this surgery. Maybe it's just my tolerance level. I had 2 vertebrae fused in my neck several years ago at the University of Utah and I was up walking around and discharged by noon the day after surgery. ( I did go home with narcotics that time!) but I was still back at work in two weeks.

Nicey2u, so far so good. I want to lose 80 pounds total. I lost 20 pounds on my 16 day preop diet (no cheating) and another 40 pounds in the 3 months post op. Down 3 pant sizes and feeling good. I feel good about my weight loss rate... Not too fast so I feel like it will "stick". I had a month stall where I only lost 2 pounds, but that's normal. I like eating normal without a lot of fuss. Yesterday I had brought a protein bar and Greek yogurt to eat during the day but instead the "tamale guy" was at one of the places I went to and I bought 2. Ate 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for late afternoon snack, and I've got one to eat today or tomorrow. Not the highest protein source, but then again, I'm not on a diet! I do always get in at least 1 large protein drink (30g protein/20-34 oz) every day to make sure I'm getting a good start in the protein and fluids categories. The rest I play by ear.

My "3 week stall " didn't happen until I was 6 weeks out. Ironically it was when I was so sick from medication I was taking to try and clear a bad Clostridial infection that I could barely eat or drink. I was probably only getting 400 calories/day. I was dehydrated almost the whole time and needed IV fluids 3 times. This lasted a month and I only lost 2 pounds! As soon as I felt better, I doubled my calories and fluids and started losing again...about 3 pounds/week. As for coping, it was no big deal, I didn't even worry about it. I knew stalls were common and it wouldn't be my first one. I only weigh once /week anyways. As a matter of fact, I felt so crappy from the medication I was making deals with the universe that I didn't care if I ever lost another pound as long as I would start feeling better.

Congratulation! I've got a bunch of size 22 and 20 jeans listed on eBay that you will be "shrinking" into soon. If you are interested, I can send you the list and I'd pull them off eBay if you want them.

I had VSG. My surgery was Friday at 3pm, I was back in my room by 5:30pm. Discharged Saturday around 9am and went back to the hotel with my sister. I walked to the Walmart plaza (about 6 long city blocks round trip) twice that day. Walked to Walmart again the next day before going back to OCC for a drain check and dressing change. Then went shopping at Revolucion market area and more walking. I had almost no pain and there was no reason to be lying around in a hospital bed. Drain removal and fluoroscopy barium swallow on Monday before flying home.

I was the last of 5 surgeries that day and was solo in recovery. They took me back to my room as soon as I was extubated. I kind of remember lying on this inflatable pad that they blew up around me. They used this to transfer me to my bed. Then I remember my sister asking me if I was cold because I was shivering...I don't remember being cold, Then I woke up 3 hours later and texted my sister to let her know I was awake and OK. (She had left to go back to the hotel). She said our FaceTime conversation at that point was pretty entertaining because I was so loopy (I remember the call but not the conversation)

I don't plan meals. I'm single, live alone, hate cooking and I've always been a deli take out kind of gal. Postop I'm pretty much the same. I try to keep a lot of Protein staples in the house...eggs, cheese, tuna fish, deli sliced meats, canned Soups (that I add unjury protein to), Greek yogurt, milk, avacodos, refried Beans, Syntrax nectar powders, Premier Protein, etc. One of my best finds was Tyson frozen grilled chicken. Comes in a resealable bag and I can just grab a couple pieces and throw them in the microwave. The only real "prepping" I do is make mini burger patties (I get 8 out of a pound of ground beef) and freeze them individually. I also keep frozen veggies around and drink V8 and 100% no sugar added juice everyday. I usually have a big Protein shake for Breakfast and I travel all day for work, so I keep Protein Bars, string cheese, mixed nuts and Jerky handy to snack on all day. When I go home at the end of the day, if nothing at home seems appealing, I swing by the store and pick up whatever looks yummy. Whatever it is usually lasts several days before I'm over it and give the rest to the dogs. I really haven't stressed about food prep or planning....just eat what I'm in the mood for, protein first, then veggies, carbs last and rarely.

I turned my phone to airplane mode. OCC and Marriott both had wifi, so I could communicate through Skype, email, FaceTime, and iMessage (for those that have iPhones)

I stayed 1 night. Had phone, ipad, chargers, toothpaste/toothbrush, and change of undies. Wore same clothes home that I wore there. They provided gown, slippers, compression stockings, water, ice, TV and remote

A Super Walmart, GNC, Starbucks and several restaurants all together about 3 blocks up the hill. There is also a "Walgreens-type" chain store and several other stores in a strip mall (Didn't pay attention to what they were) the other side of the street about 1/2 way between the Marriott and Walmart plaza. My sis and I went to Walmart and Starbucks twice a day...me for the walk and her for the tall skinny latte We also had the OCC driver take us to the Avenude Revolucion area for "tourist" shopping, but had to take a a cab back to the Marriott from there.

I started using mine three weeks before surgery. (Got it from Amazon for like $10). I had suffered from a bad cough and bronchitis for 6 weeks a month earlier, so I wanted to make sure my lungs were "healthy". I was actually able to increase my lung capacity from 2 liters to 2.5 liters before surgery. I took it to OCC with me and used it daily for at least 2 weeks postop. Easy thing to do to help prevent clots, emboli, etc.