MarinaGirl

Many hospitals have a strict policy of releasing patients to an adult to drive you home after surgery and especially when you're on pain medication. There's a possibility they could cancel your surgery if you don't provide that info during registration. And they usually bring you directly to the car and driver (in a wheel chair) that will be driving you home. I recommend you contact the hospital for their specific policies on discharge. You may look into cabulance service in your area for non-medical emergency medical transportation. Does your insurance cover it? Something to investigate.

Good luck on Friday (9/1/17)!!

Be patient, which may be easier said than done! Make sure you're following your surgeon's plan and you'll see results. And try not to compare your rate of loss to anyone else's. Many things influence weight loss; VSG patients may lose slower than RNY patients and lite weights often lose slower too.

A symptom of dehydration can be nausea so make sure you're getting at least 64 oz of fluids a day.

I found that after WLS surgery I had issues with sugar alcohols (i.e. artificial sweeteners ending in -itol, such as xylitol, sorbitol, etc.). These are common ingredients in chewable vitamins and made me puke post-gastric bypass.

Where did you hear/read that recovery is longer for RNY patients than VSG patients? I did not experience that and I was not told that from any bariatric surgeons I spoke with pre-surgery.

Dumping is not common post-Gastric Bypass. I do not suffer from it. It's avoidable if you stay away from food that causes it, typically sugar-laden desserts, which aren't good (nutritionally) for anyone. What is more common is foamies, which may occur if you don't chew your food well or you eat too much. These are preventable if you follow recommended eating habits post-WLS. And taking vitamins and staying away from NSAIDs is true for VSG patients, not just RNY patients.

If you have a pre-existing condition of GERD (aka acid reflux) than you should seriously consider Gastric Bypass over VSG. Please discuss this fully with your surgeon next month as it is crucial for determining the right surgery for you. I also disagree with the previous poster's statement of "so many fewer complications and long term complications seem better." Not an accurate assessment of RNY versus VSG. Again, work with your surgeon on getting the facts for your situation. Good luck!

I'm so sorry you're having a tough time. Are you going to a bariatric center or just a wellness center? If you're not getting anywhere with your current WLS practice have you considered going to another surgeon or surgeons for a consult? You want to work with a center that gives you excellent service/care pre & post surgery as this can be a challenging journey to embark on. Regarding issues losing weight right now, I recommend using an app (e.g. MyFitnessPal) to track everything you consume each day and weighing your food. This will tell you your exact calorie count and help with proper portion sizes, and are crucial tools to utilize post WLS. Good luck!

I had surgery at Hospitale Angeles in Tijuana earlier this year and was very happy with the high level of services and medical care, and my surgeon, Dr. Ramos Kelly.

Which procedure does your surgeon recommend for you?

I also have an intense desk job. I took 2 weeks off work (surgery was on a Monday) and worked from home the 3rd week. I did not tell my manager, peers, or direct reports what kind of surgery I was having. I had zero complications.

I crossed on Sunday morning and it took at least 1 hour, even in the medical line.

CONGRATULATIONS! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful NSV! Your pics clearly show your progress! Keep up the great work and have an awesome semester!

No, I did not have any food funerals prior to WLS. Instead, months before surgery I started implementing lifestyle changes of a successful bariatric patient. Enough was enough. I had treated/rewarded/comforted myself for too long (decades) with food. There wasn't anything that I hadn't consumed plenty of already. Plus, the idea that there is food you can NEVER have again is false. Once one is in maintenance there may be food that can be reintroduced (in limited amounts) if it doesn't trigger binge eating. Commit to developing a healthy relationship with food and good habits before testing your limits and going back to your old ways.

Pepcid is not a Proton Pump Inhibitor like Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid, or Protonix. They work very well so if you're not getting relief with Pepcid you may want to switch to a PPI.

Are you taking any PPI's (e.g. Prilosec, Protonix,...) post-op? If not, you may want to talk to your surgeon about prescribing one.

You need to start to follow your pre-op plan immediately. The main purpose of it is to reduce the size of your liver so the surgeon can move it aside to access your stomach. If you don't comply there is a chance the surgeon won't be able to complete your surgery or non-compliance can lead to increased risk of complications. Try not to panic. Take a deep breath and know that your surgeon will be doing everything s/he can do to keep you safe. Trust in the process and commit to follow all instructions going forward from today. You can do this!

Are y'all taking PPI's (e.g. Prilosec, Protonix...) to help with reflux, et al? Getting your fluids in is the most important thing right now for your recovery followed by protein intake. Dehydration may be one reason why you're experiencing so much nausea. Some people do better with hot beverages and others with cold beverages. Experiment and figure out what works best for you. Good luck!

No, I did not eat solid food earlier than recommended. I followed my surgeon's plan and did not have any complications.

Resetting your pouch is a fad diet and is not something that is recommended. Instead, you need to focus on the basics: 1. Eat dense protein first followed by non-starchy vegetables 2. Limit snacking 3. Don't drink your calories 4. Don't drink during meals (stop 30 mins before and 30-60 after) 5. Use an app like MyFitnessPal (or journal) to track everything you eat in a day to monitor total calories consumed 6. Make sure you're drinking at least 64 oz of water a day 7. Don't eat slider foods and if you're eating sweets, stop, go cold turkey so you can end the cravings; it may be difficult but stay the course and it'll get better Good luck!

I had surgery in Tijuana in early April 2017. I went alone and had a great experience. I was treated very well, received excellent medical care, and have experienced no complications post-op. Make sure to do your homework and select a surgeon (and hospital) with top notch credentials and don't use price as the main deciding factor. There are many well qualified bariatric surgeons but some are better than others, just like in the States. I arrived in San Diego on a Sunday morning, was picked up by my surgeon's driver, was driven across the border with a couple of other patients (that I hung out with periodically during the week), was taken to the hospital for pre-op testing, overnighted at a great hotel in a safe part of TJ, had surgery the next day, spent a few days in the hospital, stayed 2 more days at the hotel, then was driven back to San Diego. I spent a week there total, which gave me adequate time to rest and recover. My surgeon visited me twice a day in the hospital and once a day at the hotel. I told very few people my plans so I didn't have to deal with their bias or misinformation about surgery in Mexico. I found a lot of my time that week to be enjoyable and relaxing , like a mini vacation from my normal life, crazy as that may seem. One thing I suggest is to be completely honest and transparent on your medical questionnaire so your surgeon can recommend the right procedure for you and properly prepare for your surgery.

I had a low BMI prior to Gastric Bypass along with some comorbidities. I lost a bit of weight before WLS so didn't have too much to lose. The great news is 3 months after surgery I went off PPIs and my GERD was resolved, as well as other health issues.

I was in Paris 10 weeks after Gastric Bypass surgery this summer. I did fine but I've lived and visited there many times so I spent my time visiting friends instead of walking around to all the sites. I noticed on this trip that it took a lot more time at the airport, especially in Paris, so that would have been hard 2-3 weeks after surgery. I think for this amazing trip you should delay your surgery until you return. Bon Voyage!

I have not experienced dumping and I'm more than 4 months post-op. I have experienced mild "foamies" twice when I ate too fast & too big a bite.