PagetNic

Hi JG, Have had a similar experience. You should see your Dr & nutitionist. Food intolerance can creep up on you slowly. Consider lactose intolerance, or wheat, decreased fat absorption . Can you link certain foods to your symptoms ( gas, bloating, diarrhea etc.) ? For me too many veggies / fiber is a problem. Bile reabsorption probs. can lead to pale stools. Get blood work done! I didn't realize I had mild anemia & low vitamin D levels. Prebiotics & probiotics can help. Our gut / digestion has changed...so think your situation is common.

Hi Suzie, I had Dr Cabrera for gastric sleeve & all went well. Had 100 lbs to lose, & im 60% to goal. Since you have 200 to lose, you might want to consider gastric bypass or mini bypass for better results but check with the Dr especially since you had lap band complications. Had excellent care in Mexico & travelled on my own. Treated myself to flying 1st class on return flight for a more comfortable trip. Good luck on your journey!

Hi Shannon, I used Medical Tourism company with no problems. My surgeon was Dr. Cabrera. They are a smaller company in comparison to the others in TJ arranging bariatric surgery. Don't know your Dr. or hospital. I prepaid via credit card since I didn't want to risk anything going wrong with a cashier's check since my bank is Caribbean. My company rep was Regina & she was helpful, however-- she was based outside of USA, Phillipines I think! What I found interesting when down there, was the number of local Mexicans also having surgery & paying less than what foreigners were charged. Hope all goes well for you.

I take Celebrex a few times a week with no problems, & ok'd by my GP. This NSAID has less gastric side- effects than ibuprofen, voltaren, naproxen, & others. But I try to take as few as possible.

What supplements / diet work for you in perimenopause? No night sweats or hot flushes here-- it's all estrogen surge with inflamed fibroids, tender boobs, bloated, & got to add bitchy! Never expected all this-- it's like PMT that never ends, & revs again right after a period. Ugh! Have tried: progesterone cream, iodine, & calcium d glucarate ( hard to find sometimes) with just enough relief to not go insane. No joy or difference with phytoestrogens , soy, black cohosh or no dairy. Any one find if birth control pill helped at all? Any advice welcome!

Hi Blues, Try not to stress too much. Your body is in complete shock with only being 3 weeks post-op, & all the hormonal rhythms get disrupted. It's all normal to experience. I am not a steady weight loser --seems to be normal for me to not lose and then boom next week 5 pounds down. I always feel it in my body first before I see it on the scale. Clothes might feel loser or I can feel my ribs for the first time. Just keep going with the diet and give your body time to heal.

I had my gallbladder out 6 months before my VSG. My surgeon had said once your gallbladder is giving you symptoms, it never really recovers, just slowly gets worse, like its worn out. I had no stones either, but had sludge / silt, & unpredictable, colic attacks at night. Doctors talk about "F"'s of typical clients: female, fat, forty / fifty, & often fair skinned! My smooth recovery from gallbladder made me realize I would likely be ok with VSG surgery, and got me over my fears. If your having symptoms, I would get the gallbladder removed. Good luck!

Also taking so much fish oil & evening primrose oil, I should have gills! It helps...

Thanks Suse! Happy to have company. The progesterone cream helps, but I find it hard to dose properly if cycle all messed up, since only supposed to use for half of it.

Your coordinator should uphold the ethical guidelines for the whole team--surgeon, company, hospital etc. I have to disagree Irish & Ivana, coordinators do have significant power over your situation, and therefore should keep work & personal life separate. You are relying on them to pass info to your Dr perhaps, get meds, help with follow up, translate and get you back across the border safely! All in a foreign country as well--you need to know you have a professional to rely on. Bad blood could cause significant stress & problems, with no quick fix of getting them replaced in a hurry.

I am not being obtuse. This, from Ivana, is exactly what I have been getting at, so thanks Ivana! Omar has no power over anyone and can have consensual sex with whoever he wants and it needs to remain private. This thread is threatening the doctors rep, not that of Omar.

Hi Ladies, Any suggestions for one piece swimsuit for all the post weight-loss loosey goosey skin and droop? Really want something supportive to hold me all together! I'm overseas & need to order online, & don't have the advantage of trying suits on. What has worked for you? Thanks in advance for your suggestions! I'm eager to hit the beach for some fitness swims!

Hi Mickey, It's a global world now, so I find that very short-sighted for your Dr to have that view! Many people are moving to/ from Canada all the time, & are not refused treatment because they were living somewhere else! I work in healthcare & people come with all kinds of issues that need to be sorted. I am Canadian & currently live abroad--& when I eventually move back home, I would not tolerate being discriminated against! I expect I might have to search for the right fit physician depending on what I need. If you cannot get what you need in Canada for surgery in a timely manner & cannot afford Cdn private fees, I would look overseas. I had my sleeve in Mexico with no problems, but do your research & good luck!

Hi Travelmego, I saw the same thing when down there! I don't know if the infection rates are any different because of it. I thought not covering the nose may have been due to the temperature / humidity and better comfort with nose free. I have experienced a surgery in North America where my anesthetic Dr removed his mask & even walked away to look out the window! I had conscious sedation, so was awake. But he was not right over the surgical field. The Dr's also all wore cologne, & smelled nice, if you aren't sensitive to perfumes. All in all, I had a good experience. Good luck on your journey.

Thanks Princess, PinkB, & ChavaB! Plenty to choose from. Roll on Summer!

I also had Dr. Cabrera and no real problems at Mi Doctor. Only trend I have noticed in following comments from Mi Doctor clients--quite a few of us had IV stick issues including me. Lab lady that took my initial blood work was excellent with her needle stick. Nurse who put my IV in had to do it twice, & my veins are good with no problems with other times it's been done. Post-op it was kinked and relocated to my opposite hand. A problem again the day after and I actually took it out myself ( well it was half falling out anyways) and would not let them put it back in! I was feeling ok though, and got my meds ( antibiotic & pain) with a shot in my butt. Mi Doctor could benefit from a good IV nurse. Ask for a supervising nurse if they can't get it done well on the first go.

Hi Bonniedog, I had one long haul flight followed by a shorter one the next day with no problems. It's important to stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water. You can also wear the compression stockings you will get for surgery during your flight. And walk around during the flight as best you can. I paid a little more$$ to fly executive class on the return journey and the extra space was well worth it. Blood clots (DVT's) take time to develop, and not likely to cause problems until after the flight. Watch out for post flight pain, swelling or redness in your legs. They are a frequent medical problem, so your island should have the means to treat it. Let your surgeon know if you have had clots before or been on blood thinners. You have to get home somehow--so don't let the flight discourage you. Good luck!

Pepto has an ingredient similar to aspirin in it, so may not be so good for your tummy.

Sleeve Sept. 2nd. Mexico--Mi Doctor. Highest weight: 245 Current: 210 Can eat anything except salad for some reason. Toothpaste makes me gag! No acid reflux, often forget 2 take my PPI, but pain if lift too much at work & definitely feels like my stomach & not overlying muscles! Anyone else have this? Otherwise I'm a happy bunny with sleeve, slow but steady loss but need to add more exercise.