geeky gal

Midwestgirl, so sorry about your loss. What a hard thing to go through and especially now. Regrets when all this has happened is normal and you are going through much more than surgery right now. My sincere condolences.

OMG, I hope you all feel better today. So sorry you had such a rough start.

I get a meal plan instead of liquids for one week for pre-op except the day before than just liquids. I am supposed to start on this Sunday (11-17 is D Day) but I started on this past Sunday for a trial run. It's not too bad, lower carbs, high protein and of course smaller amounts of food. I am supposed to have 1-2 protein shakes for either breakfast and a snack or for both snacks you are allowed during the day and you have to take 20 minutes to eat each small meal which really slows you down and teaches you to chew and enjoy what you do eat. You are supposed to not drink your water 5 minutes before your meal and not drink until after 30 minutes. It's to teach you your new way of eating, learn how to feel "full" and help shrink your liver. So far I have lost 1lb. A day! I even felt full yesterday!! I can't have fake sugars (cause severe headaches and they are not good for you anyway) so trying to find things low in sugar with no added fake chemicals at the organic supermarket that actually tastes good, LOL. The best news I have been losing 1 lb. a day doing this! Hope it continues!

Nov. 17 the for me too!!

My liquid diet post surgery is any liquid (except caffeine, carbonated or alcohol)--does not have to be clear! Soups are fine as long as there are no lumps and even yogurt if no lumps or seeds! They said you get more nutrients that way, you feel better and it doesn't hurt your sleeve.

I also work in a hospital and if I don't feel strong enough I am thinking of working shorter shifts for a week or two--they said if I want I can split a shift with the on-call!

I also found out that although I do have to have liquids only the first two weeks after surgery they do not have to be clear liquids! Non-lumpy soups, milk, etc. are OK! That sounds better to me too.

If I had to choose I would say the sleep study was the most annoying. sleeping overnight looking like an android with wires everywhere knowing you are being watched was not fun. It doesn't hurt, the nurse was great but I didn't get that much sleep. Your hair is gross afterward and you have to wash it several times (rinse, repeat, rinse repeat) to get the goo out. The EGD was easy although I was still quite spacey feeling a full day after the procedure. Everyone was extremely pleasant and helpful. My husband said he had to keep checking on me the entire afternoon after I got home to see if I was breathing as I slept straight through until the next morning!

Yes, I am interested! My date is Nov. 17 and with the pre-op diet plan coming up, my anxiety, preparing for THE day, etc., it would be wonderful to have support of those going through the same thing especially at the same time.

I am Nov 17th too! There are a few of us, maybe we an be surgery buddies!!

I am scheduled for Nov 17th too! We could be surgery buddies!

Not necessarily about Mexico, but my surgeon is one of the few who will see patients already operated on by other surgeons that have complications and need corrective surgery. He specializes in difficult cases (and non-invasive surgery) and therefore gets referrals from several surrounding states. Every one I have talked to who has had him have sung his praises with unbridled enthusiasm--and many were complicated referral cases. I am certainly not a difficult case but I chose him because of the fact that he so good he can correct other surgeon's problem (or botched) cases. He might be a candidate to see if you had surgery in Mexico and are having problems. He is in Oregon. I also wonder if they need to consider insurance liability in caring for a post op patient from another surgeon and perhaps more so from another country? It's not that it cannot be done, as mentioned by other posters but it depends on the risk your other doctors are willing to take and your history with them. I also believe a support program of NUTS, PTs, and psychologists are extremely important to give you the best chance to succeed. I wonder if a center like the one I go to that has these programs will accept someone who isn't having the surgery there?