LiMurr

Any updates on BariatricPal offering a package deal for plastic surgery in Mexico? I'm ready to do this, hopefully early in 2017.

I had moments of anxiousness before the surgery, but in hindsight, I wouldn't change a thing. I flew to Monterrey on 2/13, met that day with Dr. Sauceda to go over what he was going to do and get my mark up done, had surgery on 2/14, stayed in the hospital for two days, then stayed at the hotel right near the hospital until 2/24. Dr. Sauceda's nurse (who is an absolute dream!) came in every day to help with bandaging, compression garments, bathing if you need help, etc. Having that 10 days of recovery before having to fly back to CT was exactly the right amount of time. I would not hesitate to do it all again.

Well, I went ahead and booked it on my own. I'm having a lower body lift, medial thigh lift, arm list, and breast lift/augmentation with Dr. Sauceda in Monterrey on February 14, 2017. He gave me a great consultation via email, and there's a ton of information about him on the Obesity Help web site. So excited to embark on the next phase of my transformation!

I'm 2 days post-op, and it still takes me about 15 minutes to drink a 30 ml cup of Protein Water, with several burps between each sip. The heartburn is fierce! I think I'm obsessing about not getting in enough liquid (I'm at 24 oz for today and suppose to have minimum 40 oz.) that I'm causing myself unnecessary pain.

Hi all! I was originally scheduled for my sleeve this past Monday, but due to the snow storm we had in the northeast last weekend, I got cancelled. My surgeon was at a conference in New Orleans, and his flight back on Sunday got cancelled. I was not a happy camper, to say the least. I've been rescheduled for February 1, and am now in week 3 of pre-op diet. I told my surgeon's assistant today that if I hear it's going to snow again this weekend, I'm picking him up personally and we'll camp at the hospital...no way is he getting out of it this time! On the bright side, I've lost 16 pounds in just this month...not a bad start!

Thanks, Kathy. Getting excited now!

Hey January peeps! After the snow fiasco that got my surgery postponed on 1/25, I've been rescheduled to Monday, February 1. So I think I'll head on over to the February group. Hope you all are doing well...see you on the loser's bench real soon!

Mine can't.

So, just got a call from the hospital. Tomorrow is NOT the big day anymore! My surgeon was at a conference last week, and apparently he had travel issues getting back to CT because of the snow we had over the weekend. I am so not happy right now! I won't know when it's going to be rescheduled until I call his office in the morning. Grrr!!

I'm in CT and getting sleeved on Monday (very excited!). I decided to self-pay because I have a relatively low BMI and knew that the insurance struggle would probably take a year, and I'm just not that patient. My surgeon's fee includes BLISCare, which is essentially insurance that pays for any complications related to the surgery. I would definitely make sure you have something like that in place. I considered going to Mexico. If I did, I was going to go through the Bariatric Pal program. Based on my research, I thought they had a good group of surgeons that were thoroughly vetted. The only reason I didn't go that route was that I was concerned about follow-up care. My PCP isn't completely on board with me having this surgery, so I wasn't confident that I could rely on her to help with the required blood work, etc. Even with having my surgery here, getting my medications switched to powder/liquid has been a real nuisance. My surgery is Monday, and I'm still trying to finish getting one of them squared away. My initial appointment with the surgeon was the last week in December, and my surgery is Monday, so start to finish it was about a month. In that time I met with the nutritionist and social worker on staff. The social worker was really great. Helped me get some really good insight into my relationship with food that I hadn't previously thought of. What I was pleasantly surprised to see was that when the surgeon, nutritionist, and social worker submitted those visits to my insurance, they were paid. I think what happened is that they were looked at as just regular office visits, not connected with the surgery, which my insurance company doesn't even know about. So there really wasn't an opportunity for them to deny the claims based on unapproved surgery. I don't know if I explained that well, but my point is that you might as well let them submit these visits to insurance and see what happens. Worst case, they don't pay.

I was allowed to have both. My surgery is on Monday. Good luck to you!

My surgeon said I can have coffee whenever I can tolerate it, but no cream or sugar (skim and Truvia are ok) and not too much. Reason for not too much is just to make sure it doesn't get in the way of getting in the things you need, like protein and water.

Last day of pre-op protein shakes/salads today, two days of clear liquids ahead, then the big day on Monday! I feel like it's almost Christmas!

I'm scheduled for next Monday, too. Can't wait! First week of pre-op diet (2 protein shakes, unlimited veggies) is done, and it went easier than I expected. The only tough spot I had was last night. Went to the Elks lodge to watch football, and it was really hard to not snack on the food they had! Pleasantly surprised at not being tempted to have a drink, though. Kept my water bottle with me and was fine there.

One week down on the pre-op diet, one to go! This time next Monday I'll be joining you all on the losers' bench, and I can't wait! I think I've reached the saturation point on researching, though. I'm finding myself worrying about things that I don't need to think about yet, like what I'm going to be able to eat on the cruise my husband and I are leaving for on April 1. One day at a time, I keep telling myself. By the time I get there, I'll know what I can and can't eat. One question I do have is about supplements. My surgeon and nutritionist really haven't given me much guidance. Lots of encouragement (you can do this! you got this!) but not a lot of information. Surgeon just has me taking Bariatric Advantage Multivitamins. Is that enough? Should I be taking more, like maybe B12 and/or Probiotics? Anyone else from CT on this thread?

Hi everyone! Happy to have found this thread. I'm scheduled for VSG on January 25, and I can't wait! I'm on day 7 of my pre-op diet, which consists of a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, and salad for dinner with 3 oz of lean protein. I've never enjoyed salad so much in my life, lol. I dig into that thing like I haven't eaten in a month! Looking forward to not wanting so much and not having that empty stomach feeling. Also hoping I have a relatively easy recovery, as I have to go to FL for a conference on February 8. Should be interesting, as I'll probably be in the "mush" stage at that point. Oh well, we do what we have to do, right?

Since you're self pay (like me), I recommend asking what all of the charges will be up front. This could include surgeon's fee, hospital, anesthesiologist, nutritionist, psych evaluation, program fees, lab work, any products you have to get from them, follow up care. Even though I was self pay, I was able to get some of it to go through insurance, like lab work and meeting with the social worker. Have them file the claim and see how it goes before you assume you have to pay for it all.

Hubby brought home my favorite pizza the night before I started liquids. That's love.

Got my date today! January 25 will be the first day of The Year of Me! Can't wait to start this life transformation!

Following. I'm pre-op, too.

May I ask who your surgeon was? I'm considering going to Mexico, but my main concern is not having the support afterwards. Sounds like the one you went to has that covered.

Not necessarily. My credit card has a lower rate than Care Credit, and if I can pay it off sooner, I will pay even less interest.

Nice!

I'm 51 and my goal is to lose about 90 lb. I'm currently 220, and I think I'd like to get to 130. Don't know for sure until I get there! Definitely planning on making exercise, especially weight training, a major part of my life. I'm hoping that helps with some of the skin issues.

Best advice ever!