Cody's mom

Wow, my surgery was easy, started eating real foods within ten days, drove after three, went back to work after a week (in a very remote locations far from any towns or my home), carried on with my normal life exactly as before. The only side effect I've encountered is hair loss, and it started around month three and now at month seven, it's still coming out. My weight loss has been slow, 60 pounds in seven months, but I only have another 18 to go. I drink pop when I want one, which isn't often but there are times I crave one, especially with pizza, but I stick mostly to sparkling Water with lemon as my choice of beverages (that and wine and ceasers). I don't eat a lot, but I enjoy what I eat (two yorkshire pudding the other night smothered in gravy was way to fatty and rich, but didn't get sick). I wish the cravings would go away, but I've just got to learn to fight them. I still think this is the best thing I've ever done, dispite the hair loss. To me, it was inexpensive and easy. I live alone, and went by myself, and never had a problem, never needed any help. Sadly there are others who've suffered a much different experience, but the six of us that all had surgery together have all managed about the same, no depression, no sadness, or anger, just happy to be losing!

@@JamieLogical, hey I'm interseted in going ot Mexico for plastics as well. You mention that you used a female, but I don't see the name (I could be blind). I'm interested in who you used. I've been researching it as well and have found Dr. Victor Gutierrez has great reviews, but am still looking around. Can you please send me the name of the female you used..

Ahhh the dreaded hair loss. I too have suffered greatly, I think so far I've lost about 50-60% of my hair, and can't wait till it stops. It started at about 2 1/2 - 3 months out, and I'm almost seven months out now and it's still coming out in clumps. I constantly watch people walk by wearing my hair on them somewhere. Washing it is the worse. I took Biotin like crazy, Mega red Omega 3, and every type of Vitamin I possibly could, and out it came. Then there's the person who didn't lose any, not sure why. This too shall end (or so I'm told), but until then, I'll just be happy for the weight I've lost and look forward to reaching my goal.

Stalls do happen, but don't get too discouraged. I stalled at week four for about two weeks then at week 12 for about a month, didn't lose an ounce, then the next month I lost about three pounds. Some times it's slow going, but on a positive note, you aren't gaining. It works different for everyone, one of the girls I had surgery on the same day with has lost 90 pounds, I've lost 50 in the same amount of time, and we pretty much had the same amount to lose, she's hit goal weight, and I still have a ways to go. Everytime I would get frustrated I would just think "at least I haven't gained". This is a tool, it's not a miracle. The person that lost the 90 pounds never followed the proper diet, but went back to her normal eating habits almost immediately, everything from cocktails to fast food, and has just kept losing. Another of the girls has done everything right, and has lost even less than I have and had a lot more to lose than I did. It's difficult to say why things work differently on people, it's like hair loss, some go threw a horrible time with hair loss (like I have) and others not so much. Good luck to everyone.

I had stalls constantly, one lasted two months. It's frustrating, but don't give up, this too shall pass!

Wow, looking for the cheapest is not the way to go. Look for a highly respected surgeon at an affordable price is what I'd be looking for, and the best place for that is Tijuana. I'm interested in having an eye lift done because of droopy lids, and when I went to the opthamologist where I live, he said when would you like to book in, it will be covered by health care. I informed him I wasn't interested in having it done anywhere else but Mexico, but was only seeing him so I could get a note saying it was neccesary so I could deduct the surgery and flight from my income tax. I'd rather have a world class surgeon do what I need done than a who's the cheapest. I saw scars from an upper arm lift done with a surgeon in the US and one from a respected surgeon in Mexico, and I can honestly say the poor lady that had it done was totally butchard in the US (probably from someone that was cheap).. Please be careful!

Had surgery Sept 14, 2014, I've lost 50 pounds and have another 20 to go, it's been slow going and at times very discouraging, but I'm not gaining so that's the upside, the hair loss is horrific though. No regrets at all, hair grows back!

I had surgery on Sept 14, 2014 and have NEVER had one drop of artificail sweetner. I can't even chew gum with artificial sweetners, I have always hated the taste. If I want a pop/soda I drink a normal one, I don't drink a lot of pop/soda, but rather enjoy carbonized mineral Water with lemon. I don't use margarine, I use butter, I don't use artificial sweeteners, I use sugar. This is just me, no puddings, popsicles, nothing with fake sugar did I ever eat or will I ever. I had a hard time drinking water out of surgery so I drank sweetened ice tea and Tang to get some fluids in, but never Crystal light or anything like that. You have to do what works best for you.

@@Mom0f3inOC, it's not risky in Mexico at all. I would choose them over any doctor here as I feel they are at least held accountable for their work, can't say the same for American doctors. I went alone, and met so many wonderful people. I plan to go back for a little renovation work on my giggly parts. There was not one second that I didn't feel safe, and there you get GREAT surgeons, to me peace of mind and to be able to do what I know needs to be done was important, not to have a buch of people decide for me what's important and what I need. Just my thoughts and opinion. I hope the insurance company comes threw for you as the sleeve is the most important thing I have done for myself EVER.

And if worse come worse, save up and go to Mexico, cheap, safe, and no hoops to jump threw. Best of luck!

I had my sleeve done Sept 14, 2014. Ten days after I was eating prime rib and brussel sprouts. I have not encountered anything I ate before that I can't eat now, but just in much smaller quatities. If I eat too fast, yup I'll puke, but not if I eat properly and not wolf my food down. This was the easest thing I have done. I thought it would be horrible and painful and difficult to live, but nope. I went out for pizza with friends, I had a slice of pizza and a small regualr coke, it was wonderful. I appreciate quality now, not quantity, and I eat everything I did before just a much smaller portion. I can't think of one thing I can't have, my only wish is that I could drink Protein shakes, but I can't, so I've eaten normal food right from the start. I had 75 pounds to lose, and as of today I have 20 still to go, if I ate properly I'd probably be at my goal, but I'm lacking in will power, and am on the road constantly and unable to make my own meals except for a few days a month. It has truly been a gift as far as I'm concerned, and wish so many more people would do this just to be happy!

I was never able to drink them either, the taste made me throw up.. I went right to Soups, and things and then solid foods ten days out. My first solid meal was prime rib and brussel sprouts, I chewed lots and it sat just fine with me. Have some Jello, some cottage cheese, pudding, that's what I started eating three days out and it was fine, I also had lots of soups, any kind I liked, and that got me up to where I could eat solid foods. Do not starve yourself, that will be so much worse, get some food in even if it's a few spoonfuls of tomato Soup..(I also had a few spoons of ice cream two days out and it tasted so good and didnt bother my stomach).

Oh I was was so sad when mine started to fall out. It's still coming out in clumps everytime I wash it, and handfulls the rest of the time, I see people I work with walk past, and see my hair hanging off them, they don't notice, but I do. I don't think there's any thing anyone can do about it, it's either gong to happen or it's not. I wasn't one of the lucky ones. It's still coming out like crazy, and I mean crazy. I finally went to get it chopped off to my shoulders, and my poor hairdresser screamed when she grabbed my hair, and was shocked when she combed it out. I've lost aobut 40% of my hair, and with no end in sight, I'm a little nervous, but this has not made me wish I hadn't done the sleeve, I will be eternally grateful for ever for it! I think I started around month three or four.

I drink carbonated mineral Water all the time, and love it. The body is a remarkable thing, the same enzymes that break up your food will break up the carbonated water, and the fluids in your stomach will dilute it as far as I'm concerned. I don't guzzle it, nor do I drink lots, but I'll sit down at night and have a glass over ice with lemon in it, it's so refreshing and enjoyable. Since my surgery almost six months ago, I haven't been a fan of water, so I do what I have to to get my fluids in. I think I had my first glass maybe a month after surgery. I'll also have a small coke when I go out for pizza, the two just go hand in hand. The cabonation has never bothered me. Everyone is different and everyone's bodies are different, what works for me, might not work for the next person..

Went solo, it was easy, most of us were solo!

I went to him Sept 14, 2014, and it was easy. Enjoyed the hotel we stayed in, and the shopping right after the surgery. It couldn't have been any easier I don't think. I have not had one single problem since surgery.

Can you not have a salad with some chicken (or any kind of protein) and a lite dressing. I had that for lunch and supper when I was on my pre-op and it really helped being able to eat something with substance. Good luck!

Some of us had our surgery in Mexico, so there was no post op check-up at all.

No post op check up at all!

@@kerioki, you don't need a travel card, or anything, just your passport. You will be picked up right at the airport and taken to the hotel in Tijuana. It's so much easier that you think it could possibly be. I recommend getting small bills ($1, $5, $10 US) to tip the driver, the luggage guy at the hotel etc. Shopping was fun, I got my heartburn meds at costco (along with several bottles of Bailey's Irish cream). You'll also need small bills for shopping when they take you. Don't pass up the ice cream when they take you, it was wonderful, I had it the day I was released from the hospital and the next day. There's a Walmart walking distance to the hotel, go do a little shopping. Really the entire process was so much easier than I thought it would be, I went alone, and had no problems, and it was nice to meet everyone that was there doing the same thing. Good luck and enjoy!

I have never done shakes, not since my surgery and not that I haven't tried, I've tasted many and never gotten past the first sip or two, I just can't stand them, and I've tried so many. I jumped right into regular food ten days after surgery, and had no problem (prime rib to be exact, with a little mashed potato and two brussel sprouts). You have to do what is right for you, I still to this day do not do Protein shakes or shakes of any kind, I wish I could, but I throw them right back up, I hate the taste of them all, and I've tried sooooo many different ones, I finally gave up. Each time someone would say "try this one, it's great" I'd go out buy it and totally GAG on it and that was it. I've tried pre mixed, powder, tasteless ones, everything.. So good luck, but really don't sweat it, you can still do this, where there's a will there's away! It is better if you can do the shakes, but don't let it stop you if you can't.

I read up on it as well and see through their lies. Thanks for the info!

I have used coconut oil in my hair for years, and it sure didn't help with my hair loss. The hair I have is heathy from the use of the coconut oil (not dry and crisp), but it still comes out in massive clumps.

Not sure why this happens, or at what stage. I started at three months, some start later. I don't think the Biotin helps at all as I've been on it since day one, anywhere from 5000 mcg to 10,000 mcg per day. If you could see the amount that comes out when I shower you'd wonder how I have even a strand left on my head. It comes out all day in small amounts but it's just horrific when I shower. I don't think there's a way to stop it, it just has to run its course be it six months or a year (hopefully not longer). Glad I wear a baseball cap everyday. Good luck everyone!

Not that it's any comfort, but I'm right there with you, it comes out and is absolutely EVERYWHERE, but showers are the worst, comes out in clumps.. I too ate Biotin like it was candy, and it didn't help at all. It's horrible and scary! Good luck.