TheBearguy8

I'm going with Dr Luis Cervantes at hospital Guadalajara in Tijuana. I've verified his credentials and the hospital is a full hospital not a clinic. Big things that I've learned so far is, choose the hospital first,verify the surgeons and that they are board certified in bariatric surgery. I regret not trying to contact the surgeons or hospital directly instead of using a coordinator to save some wasted commission $. But I talked to one of the staff today about my preop plans and she answered my questions. I. Scheduled in March and I wish I could do it sooner. Don't use dr Almanza or altamarino cano. They have lots of bad publicity.Sent from my QTAIR7 using the BariatricPal App

Update: things have been very successful. Sometimes it's weird mixing Constipation issues with watery.....whatever....and a growling stomach...but doing ok, and doing it a lot

Just an update.....it's 4 weeks, and things seem normal,now...whatever was going on at that point physically and psychologically was bizarre.

Nice honest story. Thanks for sharing.
Broads on YouTube like to be dramatic for views. Period. Plus a lot of them are straight nuts. If you watch enough of their videos it is easy to figure out. Men have a stigma attached to looking weak, women don't. They whine and cry on YouTube and people baby them. The same thing happens here, people mess up and make themselves miserable with dumb choices and want other people to coddle them.
I don't have a YouTube channel but I have a high pain tolerance. I had a baby, no pain meds, 10 pushes, no screaming (I wanted my baby born into a calm environment). I had VSG surgery, stopped taking pain meds as soon as I got home 28 hours later. Drove my car on day 3. Did everything for myself because I live alone. I had no complications, little pain (it just felt like I did 1000 crunches, I used to do 1000 crunches a day in HS so I know the feeling), and I was back to my regular life fairly rapidly.
People that are happy and have few issues don't usually shout it, because no one cares and it also seems like you are bragging and rubbing it in to the people that are miserable. So the miserable people have the floor.
I think you are going to do great long term. If you aren't already seeing a therapist you probably should. You might have an identity crisis once you aren't a Bear anymore and you have to figure out where you fit in your world after knowing your place for so long. BTW the Bears are my favorite

I know everyone is different and have different circumstances but I find it hard to believe that anyone would go through the process of having a life changing surgery and risk it or sabotage there success by cheating on there diet when in reality your only hurting yourself. Not trying to be critical or almighty just my thinking and mho

Hw 325 cw 290 Sw tbd gw 190

Error, I'm 3 weeks out

I am Bearguy. In the gay community, bears generally need to stick with specific types of crowds, clubs, social apps etc. A majority of the male gay community is not only looks and body obsessed, they tend to look past chubby and fat guys as anything other than fun fat friends. I use the expression "gay fat" from Will and Grace because the perception is true, and the non gay community, and my fitness instructor community, to them Im just a big guy.

Through diet, spinning,and Zumba, I went from 280 to 228, then slowly crept back to 250 before my search for hernia mesh repair in my belly led me down the "sleeve" rabbit hole. I had no time for the torturous process insurance had to pay for surgery....I was 1 step from committing to an extortion level medical loan program....then I discovered the Mexico option...and had a 100% A+ experience I am willing to message about with anyone who needs information. I did trace two incidents ranted about on this forum to questionable sourcing, and that is related to what I do for a living.

I am not typical, I think. I was a dancer nearly all my life, had quite a bit of potential for disciplined behavior, and lost over 30 pounds through giving up most sugar, corn Syrup products, junk, all soda except home made seltzer and nearly all bread. I was petrified as it snuck back on from the stress of work. A male friend said they thought I was more ready for this than most because of the previous lifestyle. Every person who saw me was aghast...big negative reactions to me decision....."you aren't big enough", " you're just a big handsome bear type guy", but those people all consistently guess my weight at 10-20 pounds under reality. No one gets it right. My legs, calves, and butt are very muscular from cycling and dancing a lot. A lot. However, I have a nearly 50 inch sternum and belly measurement,, and only wear 42 pants because they sit underneath a belly that literally looks like a pregnancy on a man.

Surgery was a rough 24 hours, and allergies gave me a horrible reaction in my eyes from the gas anesthesia , I was pretty much only seeing blurs for 18 hours until a cold compress relieved the intense pain. Make sure the seal on your gas mask is super tight so gas doesn't flow directly into your eyes. In a room with 3 men, which helped and leads me to share an important .

My research of 100's stories and YouTube videos leads me to believe that men generally have a lot of different, and generally easier experiences at the surgery and subsequent weeks. It's not fair of course, but my anecdotal research was pretty consistent.

I'm only 2 weeks out, I'm NO EXPERT, just sharing experience and thoughts. Nausea passed within 2 days, high blood pressure many days finally returned to a safe zone when home. Opinion: apple juice boxes, regular Jello, Powerade brand, and regular ice pops left me in a bad place for 24 hours until I found G2 in Mexico, real electrolytes, minimal sugar, and I felt better in 2 hours. Like miraculously better. No more sugary kids juices, or regular apple, grape, or regular cranberry. I had removed them from my life before, so didn't need them now. I am suspicious of how they are the first tests of eating.

No vomiting, and I'm 2 weeks ahead of the curve stages of food. Everything that goes in my mouth as a test gets a tiny bite and a 15 minute wait and see. I took 5 years to reduce all red meat down to special treats only once a month. I'm Jewish and deli meat, real high quality Boars Head was always a weakness. Yesterday I tried 3 tiny turkey meatballs slow and had a little nausea that passed fast.

Next controversy. I am able to take a small sip of Water with food (cue collective gasp now), and hit Protein and water goals easily. I got overconfident yesterday over the holiday and slowly drank watered down top shelf bourbon diluted in water. It was fine. Had another. Then, a little judgement impaired, I rationalized 1/3 cup chili, no beef, just bean. Promptly threw up while falling asleep first incident. It was stupid and I broke guidance rules as well as my own. Thankfully my fear of vomiting damaging me was overwrought, I am luckily fine.

2 week prep? I couldn't have done it. 4 days worked for me. Years of nutrition classes and psych evaluations I would have failed. I am bi-polar 2, and HIV+, never sick, 32 years, genetics beat it, so it's a miracle of sorts. I thought no doctor would touch me....you just have to be honest, no one batted an eye.

Pre-PreP weight 253, today, 20 days later, 229.2 - it goes up and down every morning so trying not to obsess. Goal is 185, although as a wide chested son of a body builder, I'm confused what my goal should be. Chart for BMI says 165.

My app for discipline is called "Lose It". It has my data stored for past 7 years. It scans barcodes and logs your food for you, you just pick portion...and it remembers it for you, and memorizes your previous meals and puts them up front.

Next controversy: I have been vehemently against all Gastric bypasses since 1992 when my mom had it and subsequent skin surgeries. She now is in a nursing home suffering from such severe malabsorption and osteoporosis, she has broken over 9 bones and elbow major reconstructions. Her height is so many inches down I can't bear to ask how much she has lost. She can't swallow pills. She had the major re-routing, highly invasive early version and I've been angry a long time because where is the long term research? When we are older and needs change will we be ok? With new methods, I believe, finally, yes. My mom likely would have died like her sister who was so big she slept in a Lazy Boy chair and died in her sleep of cardiac arrest. This maybe was best.

I started lower, so I expect a slower curve, but I'm stuck at the weight I weighed the longest in my life, my bodies comfort weight, 230. I will be patient.

Final advice? A dab of sugar free whipped cream on jello, applesauce, pudding, or smoothie....it's heaven and I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. I read that many people's boredom leads to trouble. Maybe that will help someone. Now the pics I have never let anyone see.   

I am 14 days out, and the lack of Protein is worrisome in your post. Gatorade G2 electrolytes turned me around day 3, in terms of energy most of all. We are all so different from each other, and my early posts I am in a very bizarre state of mind ...there have to be some trial and error solutions....for instance...it was all about the apple juice in the beginning at the hospital , and my instincts about how unhealthy modern apple juice is made...I made my own decision to sub the Gatorade for it. I also don't like Water without a squirt of something. I know underlying our fears on this sub group are problems with our bowels. I was terrified. The diarrhea for me meant SWITCHING THE ANTIBIOTIC. Cefalex is a disaster for me, it I can tolerate most others. The cefalaex was free so I was lazy to switch and it was a 4 day diarrhea disaster. I take a pill called "Pure" which is Fiber and I was back to new normal in 3 days. Just some thoughts

No one seems to post here, and there is mention of another password protected forum ...what's up with this? Where is everybody? I've searched as much of the organization of this app as I can handle (great and necessary app, terrible non-intuitive functionality) can't find it.

At only 9 days out, you are still on full liquids or purees, right? A lot of people don't start feeling restriction until they are on solid food.< br> The hunger is likely acid. See if an antacid changes things.
The scale will go up and down, that is part of the journey. The overall trend should be downward on a week to week or bimonthly basis. (Today is my 2 month surgiversary, and the scale has moved every week except one so far...touch wood).
We did hear about a patient that went under the knife, but apparently the procedure actually hadn't been done. May or may not be actually true. But no worries! If it happened to you, you'll sue the pants off everyone and get your procedure later! Win/win.
Just stick to your plan, testing your tummy can be dangerous these early days. Pretty soon you'll laugh about all these early concerns.

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.

9 days out

No complications

No pain

No nausea

No gas

No Constipation

No dehydration

You know what else?

No sense of any restriction

All foods small portion tested fine

No inability to drink and eat at same time

Gained weight

No hunger adjustment, hungry just like before surgery

Craving all foods, worse craving for sweets

If it wasn't for the x ray of my surgery and 24 hours of pain I wouldn't have believed anything was done to me.

I do NOT see anything like this experienced shared by anyone.

I was maybe a bit low BMI to have surgery, but was stuck for years at 250, with healthy A1c3 and blood pressure because I lost 35 pounds before via diet and exercise.

What the hell is happening to me!

5'8... 54 years old, 250 1 week prior to surgery, 245 on surgery day due to liquid diet, 239 today, 236 3 days ago,

All responses welcome

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.

Had anyone had their surgery in Mexico after being denied by my insurance I'm considering Mexico
Sent from my LGLS991 using BariatricPal mobile app

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.

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 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

5 hours ago, CaitlynR said:

Please consider a different sleeping medication. There are other options that work very well without the strange side effects, as well as risk of dependance, of ambien. You might consider asking your doc if trazadone or low dose doxepin would be appropriate. Another option is to find a therapist with an expertise in sleep disorders (not just a generalist). Good luck....I know from experience how hard insomnia can be.

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.

Ugh, Aetna denied me again. This is my 4th denial..... They want me to do the whole 90 day supervised thing diet over again.
I feel like I need to hit something. LOL

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

Hi had the sleeve April 28. Day 3 never had nausea. But definity pain. While the pain is subsiding I can't sleep. Has anyone taken ambien this early on

Anybody else out there going bout this same time?
Going solo and thought a buddy might be nice even if we just msg and share.
Kim