TheBearguy8

I am 9 days oit *apologies to all for posting wrong, cross posting, or whatever. I'm grateful for this app...but I've been members of forums for years, and this one is near impossible to learn, read, reply, keep up with.

I am 1 week post surgery and feeling no restriction. Eating week 3 creamy foods, and had a protein bar and just ate the entire thing as though I never had surgery. Feels like I never had surgery. Haven't lost any weight in a week. Urine normal, fluid consumption fine, bowel movements fine. What the hell? If it wasn't for the x ray I'd assume I'd been scammed.

I am here to vouch for surgery in Mexico. You worried about horror stories ? I've got some horror stories for you....American insurance companies years of torture and requirements, only to shoot you down right when you are ready. Not everyone needs a psychological work up like a transgender person having to prove their worth as a stable human. 6 months of pre surgery dieting? Seriously? If that were possible, who needs surgery. Nutrition College degree? You should get a bachelors for all the hours required. Self pay 20K? Try 4K. Get on with your new life. Do research on your choices. Take responsibility.

Happy to report, crushing Ambien helped, and early nights with pain, and odd sleep patterns ...the Ambien got me on track pretty fast

Surgery with Almanza went GREAT. 1 week out....I assure you, practice does make success I guess. 3 men and 3 women in my surgery day group with him. Of course it's 2 days of pain then it gets better. This man is respected, and not only did everything go well for me and those around me...we passed a new hospital being constructed that will supposedly be for his patients and putting his practice under one enormous roof. 8 stories high. I also want to report that after 2 weeks of obsessive searching for the "horror story " sources, I kept mysteriously coming up at dead ends....almost as if a very few incidents were blown way out of proportion, and anonymous individuals were trying to hurt his practice. My only complaint? Super confident, and clearly a little over practiced in the routine, forgetting each new group of people are probably a bit terrified and need a little hand holding. The best surgeons are all supermen and they know it, so it's not unusual. Look at Ben Carson.

It's officially an urban legend. They don't help. Get off your Ass and walk, walk, walk.

I am one week post sleeve, but 5 years post major,dietary life changes. Your post worries me. You need to read and read and keep trying to,stick to what the surgery requirements are. Of course food you "want" isn't going to be all the fun and satisfaction it was before. We wouldn't have cut our bodies up if we had the mental abilities and discipline for this up front

I'm just going to share an unusual thing that was unexpected and kind of freaked out myself and everyone in my surgery group. I am someone who when cutting onions gets really really serious eye burning and I guess the gas from the mask putting me under general Anastasia ran out leaking and got in my eyes I was petrified upon waking and I could not open my eyes for many hours it was Burning and unbelievably painful I had to do cold compresses finally to get through the night. It also contributed to my blood pressure shooting up through the roof also not helpful

After 3 days of searching the internet, I ordered from Walmart...and they sent me GELS not strips! In my worried rage I was determined to drive to every Walgreens in Miami....(they were out of stock on their website)... the first stop I made....last two boxes in south Florida apparently

I hear you - but I've been through them all. Trazodone caused bizarre sleep hallucinations like a psychadelic making sleep into night terrors. I've got some unusual neurology. To avoid dependance I tried cutting pills, and it's a fine balance. I used to take 2 pills until the FDA issued that warning based on women lightweights driving etc - and as an overweight man I was pretty angry because 1 pill didn't work and I had to add Klonopin an hour before. I don't like the idea of Klonopin, but sleep matters. I lost 45 pounds in a year once I started sleeping, got into REM.

I'm really scared. I'm 10 days until surgery, and I've already made so many important dietary changes over the past 6 years, I'm not intimidated by the discipline it will take with food....pretty much a nightmare for my entire life. I am very ready for this. I am scared that I cannot sleep without Ambien, it saved my life, and a regular sleep and workout schedule helped me lose 30 pounds...BUT, I am one of those people with an occasional case of night time unaware sleep eating, which is why I'm excited for the surgery on one hand...but petrified I could hurt myself with a night eating incident. The frequency seems to be increasing as surgery day gets closer, it's gone from once a month to twice a week.definitely stress and anxiety related. Is there ANYONE with insomnia who takes Ambien out there? I woke up this morning to find an entire sleeve of Crackers I ate during the night. Very worried.

One.Word.Mexico

3 days until my surgery with Almanza, my head is spinning with too much obsessive researching. Please, anyone... email me any thing you are willing to share italbare4now@gmail.com

I take Ambien for 7 years literally to LIVE, and sleep. I am very nervous about taking it after and sleeping. I am a CHRONIC INSOMNIA diagnosis with a racing mind syndrome at night. I have another post about this waiting for answer from anyone post op taking Ambien

Scroll down to see my reply, I put it in the wrong place because I replied to a reply instead of to you, AND this app doesn't allow cut and paste on an iPad 4. Ugh. My email is italbare4now@gmail.com

Yes yes!, same day! Tiajuana! I'm so nervous going alone! Dr Almanza, flying to San Diego May 10... I am new to this site....how can we communicate? This community forum seems soooooo confusing to use, I can't skip to groups I like (men's and LGBT), and I can't tell if posts and replies are new or 5 years old. Please reply! Let's get through this together!

I am also sad to report suspicions about ALM denials here...I was offered contact to speak with a male since I'm finding men's experiences seem to be quite different with BGS. I got an invalid email address repeatedly, was told I would be contacted to discuss ALM as an option for my upcoming surgery. I gave my number, waiting to be called or email a week ago, and nothing. I will be sticking with Almanza for my next week May 11 surgery.

Hernia (hiatal or umbilical cord). It covers a multitude of logical potential side effects, post op situations, scars, -and even some weight loss

How about really being helpful, not being vaguely frightening and actually state: 1. What's the name of the hospital in Juarez? 2. what's the name of the surgeon? Names of any of this list of people who don't wash their hands? 3. What are your issues with your own hospital in Roseburg? That might be helpful for us to know what your standards are. You are really just fear mongering otherwise. Inciting fright, while not allowing anyone to really solve anything because all we know is "Juarez".

Thank you for writing! Big help - I cannot find "realSelf"..where is that?

I'm so desperate to find the hidden gay men in this forum . . .and this thread . . come on guys! Speak up!

I think the idea that providers are blurring the facts is so dangerous. I have been paying attention to weight loss surgeries since 1992 when my mother had an early very invasive rearranging of internal organs version. Yes, she lost weight, but now at 77, she is in a nursing home suffering from terrible malabsorption and osteoporosis. I can only afford to go to Mexico since I'm not "fat enough" to be deemed medically necessary, and being gay, there's another issue I'm not comfortable disclosing on the day I join. There are so many more people saying positive things about specific places and surgeons, but I'm from South Florida and becoming terrified some comments about Dr. Mario Almanza, but I am a person who studies hard not to be sucked into an "Alternative Facts" universe. Finally I have hope, but now I'm seeing some real horror stories - but we don't know details, some reports do seem very shady. My head is spinning trying to decide now what to do. I have friends who swear by Medical Tourism, and have success stories from Mexico, and have gone back for more surgeries and are thrilled. This board now seems like an arguing place between providers and shakes a newbies confidence about the posts.

I'm confused - I think this is the LGBT group and I'm desperate for information to calm me down about fears that just aren't easy to bring up. I am a GAY MAN, I am versatile, but being on the bottom, well it's very important, and I can't get answers about the issues regarding anal sex after surgery. It's not just the obvious, it's fears of elimination patterns being so inconsistent (ahem) and gassy, there have to be gay men reading this who can comment. I'm a guy who added significant fiber to his diet on a regular basis so as to be having healthy and well formed bowel movements. I think you get it and I'll stop TMI right now - but this is my only real fear going in 3 weeks for surgery. I'm 38 BMI, very active lifestyle, I even like my body generally speaking - except for the belly where I look about 6 months pregnant all the time. It's all right there. I just want to communicate with gay men in this "position" .....ahem....us "situation".