LadyVSG

I booked my flight! I fly down to San Diego on April 5th to check in and get all my pre-op testing done, and then I have my surgery on April 6th. I'm heading down to Tijuana for my surgery, by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. One of my friends from nursing school is going to come to Mexico with me as my support person. She had her VSG done by Dr. Ortiz, and speaks very highly of him and his facility. Being able to bombard her with questions since she's been through all this at the same center has been such a blessing for me. I'm really excited, I can't wait for my new life to start!

I can't remember if I've posted to this thread before. My username is LadyVSG.

Went back to work yesterday. It was strange feeling so run down at the end of my shift, but I'm assuming that's due to still have 3 days left on liquids, I'm hoping I get my some stamina back once I start on purees/mushies and can start exercising a little bit. Overall, I'm feeling great though! Still have to make a conscious effort to get all my fluids in, but between my Protein shakes and Isopures I'm getting my protein in!

I took $150 in small bills, and came home with $75. I also stuck pretty close to the hotel, except from my walks to Walmart, so I didn't do any touristy shopping like I thought I might. Plus, Walmart took my debit card, which I reached for automatically instead of my cash.

@@JamieLogical Thanks! That's good to know! I walked up to WalMart on Sunday, but that incline was enough to get me wheezing & reaching for my inhaler, so I'll probably be sticking around the hotel instead today at least.

Just checking in! Surgery went GREAT this morning! Dr. Ortiz came in to do the pre-op spiel and I was completely unprepared for how attractive that man is in real life! Granted, all the staff here seem to be beautiful, so I guess I should have expected that. I got a breathing treatment before the surgery, and another afterwards once I was back in my room. When I went into the OR & got on the table, the anesthesiologist put something in my IV he said would make me groggy, and boy did it ever! As soon as he put the face ask on me I was out like a light, he didn't even get a chance to tell me to count backwards. I woke up in the recovery room around 1, I think. Dozed off and on until 2:30 or so, when I asked if I could go to the bathroom. They sat me on the edge of the bed for 10 minutes first to try & let me adjust, and then one of the nurses helped walk me to the bathroom. Went back to bed and woke up around 4:30. So far not having any pain really, my incisions are sore and tight, my throat is sore and raspy, mostly I just feel wiped out. But so far, so good! Oh, and the IV antibiotics the nurse gave me before the surgery seems to helped clear up whatever was making my sinuses hate me, so yay!!

Just got checked in at the Marriott, surgery in the morning! I know I get two free bottles of water every day while I'm here, but I was wondering if people found that sufficient? I'm by myself, so I have to check out tomorrow when I go to OCC & I don't want to have to lug a bunch of stuff from Wal-Mart around with me, you know?

I needed to lose 15-30 lbs. I did the recommended Atkins diet for 2-3 months prior to surgery, and lost 18 lbs. I started the pre-op diet yesterday. I'm using Premier Protein shakes from Costco, and the Celebrate ENS drinks for vitamins, since they were less expensive than the Vitaleph.

I ordered my Fitbit over the weekend, and it just arrived! It's charging at the moment, but feel free to add me! circeramone@gmail.com

I got my Fitbit Charge HR today! It's currently charging, but I'm so excited to start using it!

Is the wifi at OCC and the Marriott fast enough to stream Netflix in the rooms while I'm down there?

Carolyn told me that we would need to pay for my companion to stay at the Mariott the night I would be in the hospital. (Appx $75).

Did anyone notice a discrepancy between their home scale & the one at OCC? I've got 4 weeks left before my surgery, and I just hit my 5% weight loss goal, but I'm worried I'll get down there and weigh in heavier. Logically I know I'll continue losing weight on the pre-op diet, but my scaredy-cat brain can't stop obsessing. ????

Yay! Glad to hear you are doing so well!!

Just e-mailed a scan of my cashier's check to OCC! I think it's finally starting to sink in that this is for real!

Hi Jamie! I'm Kerry, from Oregon. I'm a new grad RN, currently working at the same LTC/Skilled facility I worked at as a LPN while applying to any hospital job I can find in the area. I am 33, and my current stats are: 5'7" 287.5 lbs (at surgery booking I was 301.8) goal weight = 150-ish My surgery is scheduled for April 6 with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. I'm so excited for my new life to begin!

I've been a RN for 4 weeks now (SO HAPPY I passed NCLEX on my first attempt, that test was exhausting!!), and my surgery is scheduled for April 6th!! I'm still working in the LTC/skilled nursing facility where I was a LPN, until I finish my BSN or otherwise manage to get my foot in the door at one of the local hospitals. But I am so excited for the surgery and to have completed my RN program!!

Hi all! I have kind of a weird question. My surgery companion and I are flying in from two different states, so my surgery coordinator at OCC explained we would need to coordinate our arrival times, because the shuttle will only make one trip to pick us up. There is a chance that my companion won't be able to fly in the day prior to my surgery like I am. Does anyone know if she would be able to take a taxi from San Diego airport to the Marriott? I tried calling the Marriott to ask, but it turns out my cell phone plan doesn't have international calling! (One more thing to do before April). Thanks!

If you have the tablets you can crush them and mix them into food, like Iowa_summergirl mentioned. Otherwise, liquid Tylenol might be your best bet.

HI! I'm scheduled to have my sleeve done on April 6th. How about yourself?

Yay, the thread is back!! Got my surgery coming up on April 6th. Starting weight was 301, and as of Sunday I am down to 290! I was really worried that I wouldn't lose the 5-10% pre-op weight, but I'm almost to my 5% goal! I also haven't told many people about my choice to have surgery. In fact, the only ones I've told are people who live out of state, lol! After I'm back and post-op, I plan to be very open and honest with my decision to have surgery. I just think that for me, with my family and friends, this is going to be one of those "easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" situations. Although really, I'm not asking for forgiveness OR permission! I am a grown woman, and this is my choice. I just don't want to deal with all the drama and lectures beforehand. In the same vein, once I really started focusing on eating the nutritionist-recommended low-carb diet, I told my local friends and family that my doctor and nutritionist collaborated and put me on this diet. It's the truth, I just don't correct their assumptions that my *local* doctor and nutritionist are the prescribers.

That is so awesome!! Congratulations!! I'm having my surgery there in April, so it's great to hear from other people who are having wonderful experiences with them.

I just booked my surgery with Dr. Ortiz for April 13, 2015! I know it's a ways away, but I'm graduating from my RN program right before Christmas, and I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to move back to Oregon, get my RN licensure, and find a job before the surgery. But I'm really happy I booked it now, because at least I know going in to interviews exactly when I'll need to take some time off.