projectionguy

So I decided to pull the trigger last week and do VSG in Tijuana through BariatricPal and dr. Ponce de leon at INT. Overall a good experience. I am a 35 year old male relatively healthy but I have been carrying an extra 100lbs for over 10 years. Flew to San Diego last Thursday morning and was doing Pre-Op tests by 3pm. Surgery was delayed until about 7pm. Discharged Saturday afternoon from Hospital and stayed 1 night at the BariatricPal recovery condo. Flew home Sunday (which turned into a foggy mess in Chicago). Ended up getting home 2am late Sunday night/Early Monday morning. Pain has been OK. Had a lot of gas the first couple days. Still have that acid reflux feeling. Still not very hungry (only getting about 6oz apple cider, and 6 oz of broth in per day). Drinking about 50+ ounces of Water. Every day my weight is down another lb (love it!). I started my 3-day liquid only diet at 277, SW of 270, current weight of 261. I am sure a lot of this is water weight and/or will slow down as I add more soft and solid foods, but it is exciting none the less. Few questions... Is sugar free Jello allowed in the first 10 days? Diets seem to be all over the place on here, but cannot find anything talking about jello. I cannot wait for Sunday as I will then move on to soft puree foods (day 10-20). Thanks for all the discussions on here. So many positive stories. I hope soon to become one of them.

So I haven't checked in for a while, so I thought I would give an update. I had surgery with jaime Ponce de leon on Nov, 20th, 2014 in Tijuana (booked through bariatricpal). I am now aprox 10 weeks past surgery. I have lost almost 50lbs and still losing. What an awesome thing to do through a season we most always hide from the scale. I wanted to share some experiences with me over that time. Like many of you I gained weight over the years, topping out at almost 290lbs (I am a 6'1" male). When I looked in the mirror, I always saw the same me no matter what weight I was. It was the pictures of me I would see that made me say "Am I really that big?". I think we all go through this denial (even though it was almost every picture I saw that made me think it). Over the last two months I have had the weight falling off, but similar experience in front of the mirror. I still see the same me (one that was 50lbs heavier a little while ago) and do not see the weight loss. I know I am losing (I buy pants that last 2-4 weeks before I need something smaller) but I do not see that change yet. I am curious if others go through this? I guess it only makes sense that I never saw me gain weight in the mirror (so how could I lose it). Still a weird experience. I had a business trip this week for the first time. I usually dreaded coming home and finding out how much I have gained eating out every day (and some drinks at night). I am happy to report that I actually lost 1.5lbs during my trip! Drinking has been tougher (but ultimately better for me). I was one that tended to drink to get drunk (I know, that sounds bad). I have a hard time getting to that buzzed stage because of the slower rate I can intake. I have not had a soda or beer since pre-op (and maybe never will). If I am headed out to a bar for a night out, I usually keep a lemonade mio in my pocket to mix with a vodka and Water. Once in a while I have a bloody mary, but I am a little more sensitive to acid drinks. I just overall drink much less (which is better for me and my goals anyway). I can still eat very little. My hardest part has been eating slowly (or you pay). I start each day with a greek yogurt and 30mg Protein supplement. lunch is usually either another yogurt, a Soup, or salad. I tend to snack more (beef jerkey for some reason is really easy on my stomach and is my snack of choice). I also grab those yummy wasabi almonds! My goal having this surgery was to be able to enjoy food, but not have it control me. I have dieted many times in the past with me always over indulging when the diet was over. I think part of that is my compulsive and ADHD traits. I did not want to feel like I am in a diet, where I will only return to my bad habits at some point. To help with that I eat what I want to eat. If I have a craving, I eat it (within reason). The good part is the qty you eat is so much smaller, that you suffice the want, without killing your progress. I do not feel like I am on a diet, and that is the best part. So here are some pics of me before surgery and today (10 weeks later). Still more to go, but happy with where I am today.

I am 5 weeks post-surgery, and just ran out of my medicine from the Mexican Pharmacy. I believe this is some sort of heartburn, acid reflux/antacid type pill. It has worked great (I take every morning and I can definately feel the acid reflux when I wake up until I take this pill), and I am hoping I can find something over the counter to replace it. Any suggestions? Maybe a prescribed pill (I have to see dr again soon anyway), and something over the counter that I can go buy today without a prescription that has worked well for others. Thanks in advance for the advice, and everyone have a Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays!

I am ready to book a package, and curious why I see no reviews or discussions about the 4 TJ doctors that BariatricPal pushes? Dr jaime Ponce de leon Gastric Sleeve $ 4299 Dr Sergio verboonen Gastric Sleeve $ 4199 Dr Juan Francisco Zavalza Gastric Sleeve $ 3899 Dr Jesus Lopez Gastric Sleeve $ 3799 Obviously the price looks great, but this is one of the only cases I would rather spend a little more if it meant better. Any experience with the above doctors? Sounds like I should also strongly consider Illan and Quinones?

Glad things went well. I am 23 days postop with Ponce. Already all my clothes are baggy (some unwearable). Such a nice feeling!

No problem. Glad I could help. It is definitely a lifechanger and I am happy to be on the other side. Today was a real test, and made it through the large meal being like "egh". I will be happy when I can go to some cream Soups and yogurt in a few days. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

I found the surgeon excellent. He does not speak english, but his Asst Surgeon and Nutrition person both do. I heard many comments how this surgeon just does it fast and right. I have a video of my surgery, would it help if I uploaded it to youtube? (I still am not sure I have the stomach to watch it). =) Care at INT was fine, not great but fine. Only about 30% of nurses I had spoke English. It is a different setting than the USA hospital system but never was I scared or threatened. I think people just have to think about a USA hospital 10-15 years ago. I probably had the wrong expectation coming in. My decision was very quick (was going to do it between Thanksgiving and Christmas), but decided what the hell... being healthy a month sooner is not a bad thing. So Monday I made a decision to have Surgery Thursday. They all laughed at my quick decision (but it really has been weighing on my mind for 10 years, probably like the rest of you). I used BariatricPal as the coordinator. It was OK. I went alone and liked the idea of a recovery condo better than a hotel so I would have others to heal with (hear a lot about "sleeve sisters", and I wanted that). I never met or talked to another patient at the hospital or the recovery condo because of my timing of doing this a week before Thanksgiving. I am sure my experience would have been a little better had other people been at the condo and the hospital that I could bond with. Especially with traveling by myself. I remember on the day of my discharge from INT that they gave me this blue drink (the leak test), and I was like "This isn't bad. What were all those people complaining about!" The blue drink is first used to see if the blue leaks into your drain. The actual drink for radiology is clear and you drink that while in Radiology doing the leak test (you watch the liquid go down on screen, which you also get a video of). That clear drink is HORRIBLE!

So I am ready to book my surgery. I am 35 years old and have 3 little boys. My wife is on board with me going to Mexico, but is unsure of me going alone (my Mother also just had colon surgery here, so my wife cannot leave 3 boys). So a few questions. Is it a big deal for a grown man to go alone? It seems many talk of growing close with fellow sleevers while they are there, and is it safe to say that will become part of my support system down there? Or do I need to put it off a few months when my wife can join me? Second, my parents, coworkers, and others all think I am crazy for the Mexico thing. I am sure you were all in the same boat with people close to you. It has gotten to the point that I think I will just be off for a few days so I do not have to go with the hassle of listening to them all tell me I am crazy. It makes me mad that everyone is quick to offer their opinion without any research at all. I also dislike fit people telling me I should just eat less and workout more. In the last few years I have ran a triathlon, 5 - mile run, and warrior dash. All while being 100 lbs overweight. I want less hunger (I can eat, and eat, and eat), and hoping this is the spark to really change my life around. Appreciate any advice.