Sleeve_Me_Alone

So incredibly proud of you for being receptive to his observations and taking the steps you need to be happy & healthy. And HUGE kudos to your husband for seeing it and saying something. That kind of love and care and support is truly invaluable.

My surgery cost included all meds at the hospital, all pre-op testing, the two nights post-op at the hotel, all my liquids including from the hotel (they had a special bariatric patient tray with an assortment of liquids), transportation to/from the airport, hospital, and hotel and of course the surgery. I chose to fly in a day early, so I paid for one extra night at the hotel (my surgery center booked it for me so I got a discounted rate) and I chose to purchase the blood thinner shots from the pharmacy. I brought cash for incidentals and tips for the drivers, but didn't do any shopping or sight seeing. My surgery center did a pretty good job of prepping me for what I might need money for so I was able to budget and bring cash with me, but of course every person will have different needs/wants. Some of the other folks at my center came in early and did tours or shopping, etc. I traveled alone so I stuck to the hotel.

Yep! I've gone down in length and width! It was shocking to fit into "normal" sizes as I've always had extremely WIDE feet.

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience. Its so disheartening when you finally work up the courage to take that first step and get met with such an uncaring provider. Your feelings are completely valid, I'm sure I'd have felt the exact same way. Do you have the option of seeking out a different provider? I know in some areas options can be limited, but if there is another surgeon you can see I would definitely recommend trying another one. You deserve a provider you can trust to hear you and support you, that you feel safe with. If another surgeon isn't an option, maybe stay the course for now and see what the other staff is like? From my experience, you'll deal more with the office staff, dietician, etc. than the surgeon directly. So if the rest of the staff is amazing, perhaps you can lean on them for your primary support?

Exactly this. Working with your team will always be your best bet.

The primary goal of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver so that the surgeon has a nice open operating field. If you are militantly compliant for the rest of your diet you should be fine. But you do risk having additional incisions if a liver retractor is required because the liver is still too large, or, if severe enough, the surgeon may have to reschedule if he determines he can't operate safely once he gets in there. A better question would be are you sure you're mentally & emotionally ready for surgery if you're not able to be compliant on the pre-op diet? It may be helpful to have additional time to work on some better coping strategies and do some internal work to make sure you're fully prepared. Compliance is important not just for success but also for safety.

I had to get a pillow for my office chair - it became unbearable. This, along with getting up to move/stretch frequently helps. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EBDV9BU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use Baritastic, but I don't use the recipe function. I just use an existing item that is as close as I think I can get (if I made soup, I search for that kind of soup and find on that looks similar, etc). I figure with as little as I eat, its not going to make a huge difference one way or the other, and the only thing I'm really concerned with is protein so as long as I'm hitting my goal then I don't worry about the rest. That being said, I think the cult classic, and likely most accurate, is MyFitnessPal.

I had VSG in Mx. at HospitalBC w Dr. Illan. I had a great experience and would absolutely recommend. They have a dietitian on staff who is extremely responsive (they had a lady before her who was garbage but replaced her due to patient complaints). They were great about answering questions before surgery keeping in touch after, etc. I have no complaints. Prior to surgery I met with my PCP, she was fully onboard and supportive. She pulled a full lab panel pre-surgery to make sure there were no concerns and does all of my post-op labs. She has been really impressed with my results and was pleased with the details of my experience. If there were complications, which are EXTREMLY rare with bariatric surgery, they more than likely would occur while still in Mx and the surgeon would manage IF anything went awry after you got home, an emergency room legally cannot turn you away and would absolutely have to treat you regardless of where the surgery took place. is there a possibility that if you needed to see another bariatric surgeon they would be hesitant? Sure. But you will never be flat refused medical care in the event of an emergency.

I went to HospitalBC in Mx and had surgery with Dr. Illan. I was very pleased with the entire experience and am happy with my results. I've written in more detail elsewhere, so feel free to look up those posts and I'll spare the duplication.

Same as others, I take the ProCare daily multi capsule. I was taking the one w 18mg of Iron but recent bloodwork showed my ferritin was high, so I switched the the iron free version. Have been taking them since surgery and love them. WAY more tolerable than the awful chewables. I also take their cholate bar calcium supplement. They only sell them during the cooler months, so they don't melt into oblivion in transit, so I stock up and take them year round.

I'm just over a year out and have maybe 15 more pounds I'd like to lose. My rings are dangerously loose, so my husband bought me some ring sizers and they help. I went in and had my finger sized just out of curiosity, and I've gone from an 8 to a 6.5! That just seems crazy to me. Anyway, I won't get them sized until I stop losing weight as I don't want to have to do it again later.

All of this is completely valid. I am right there with you. I have been dieting since I was 12 and now well into my 30s I weigh less than I did then. It is shocking and saddening. But also, I'm so, so grateful for my new life and this new body (even if many days I don't recognize it).

Mounjaro is a GLP-1 and GIP agonist medication specifically for diabetes treatment. It is not yet FDA approved for weight loss, though some doctors are prescribing it off label. It absolutely does NOT "reset" your pouch, there is no such thing. Your post-op stomach is what it is and over time the restriction will naturally decrease. However, the medication does work in part by making you feel fuller sooner and stay fuller longer by slowing gastric emptying. This is temporary though, and will revert as soon as a person stops taking the medication. Most doctors agree that for these types of meds to work their best (Wegovy Ozempic are similar), they need to be taken long term, if not indefinitely. They are NOT a quick fix for weight loss. That being said, they can be helpful in long term weight maintenance, blood sugar management, etc. If you're interested, I would strongly suggest speaking with your PCP and/or bariatric surgeon and make sure you understand how the medication works, what it does, what the side effects are (there are many and some are quite unpleasant), as well as what treatment looks like long term. Lots of doctors are seeing success in their patients with these new meds, but its really important that the patient understands them, they aren't a magic pill.

My surgeon does not use them but I did choose to wear a compression tank top (sort of like shapewear) for the first week or so post-op. Nothing super tight, just enough to help me feel comfy.

First of all, take a deep breath. Allowing yourself to fall into an anxiety spiral is NOT helpful to your healing and recovery. Next, TRUST YOUR TEAM. They are there for a reason, they are the experts. They have the knowledge and experience and education. I promise you, they have FAR better advice for you than a random bunch of strangers on the internet. Follow their guidelines - if they say 1 minute per 15, then that is what they want you to do. If you feel good and want to do 2 minutes, sure that's fine! But worrying yourself into walking for hours on end is not helpful or healthy. And yes, you need to be mindful of your hydration. Sit down, drink some water with electrolytes, and call your team if you have any concerns.

I had surgery in Mx at HospitalBC and was VERY happy with the process, staff, surgery, and outcome. I've posted a bit about it before, so feel free to read my previous posts. There is also a board here specifically for Mexico surgeries with lots of helpful info!

I was Dx with depression and GAD years before surgery. I was on an SSRI with great success, and thankfully, have not had any issues with medication tolerance/efficacy post-op. I will say, the body dysmorphia and head work required post-op has been tough tough. I am back in therapy, and will likely talk to my Dr about possibly upping my med dose, at least for a while. I've noticed that as I've gotten further along (nearly a year post-op now) less and less work is in my body and more and more is in my head. Get in to see your doctor and start on treatment. You deserve health, happiness, and wellness. YOU ARE WORTH IT.

I had VSG in Mx and this has not been my experience so I'm so sorry you're going through this! I would consider not telling them where you had it done, it truly does not matter and is not material to your treatment going forward.

As some others have said, there is some evidence that links WLS to dental issues. The current thinking is that most issues arise from 1) increased incidences of vomiting, and 2) vitamin deficiency. To combat these, make sure you are not eating foods that cause dumping, listen to your full queues so as not to overeat, take your vitamins, and maintain good oral hygiene. It is wholly preventable, but it does take some work on your part.

I made some soups for my family and thinned them out or blended them and avoided chunks (broccoli cheese, potato, beef stew etc.), lots of protein waters (Protein2o), decaf coffee with fat free half & half, flavored waters, sugar free jello (which I hate, but it gave me something with "texture"), and broth of course. It all gets old very fast, but thankfully it doesn't last forever.

As a side note, HospitalBC followed ALL US Covid precautions (better than most places here) and a passport is not required to cross back into the US on foot or by car. I also do not have one, so I took my birth certificate, SS card, marriage license, and drivers license and didn't have a bit of trouble. The bariatric hospitals in Mx. do this half a dozen times a day, so they will literally walk you through every single step. Tijuana is immediately across the border from San Diego, and HospitalBC is all of 20min of the SD airport. You really don't even feel like you're in another country.

I had VSG in Mx. with Dr. Illan. You can look at my previous posts for details, but I do know he does a ton of VSG to RNY/MGB revisions. I had a phenomenal experience and would absolutely HIGHLY recommend HospitalBC for anyone considering medical tourism. Don't let the US scare machine dissuade you.

Just popping in to say that counseling is so, so helpful. My husband and I have gone off and on throughout the years and its been tremendously helpful at times. Don't sit on these feelings, they just fester and turn into resentment but it absolutely doesn't have to be that way. Best of luck to each of you!

I can't stand the chewables either, they made me terribly sick. I take the ProCare Heath one a day capsule and love them. They never upset my stomach. I also take their calcium chews (sort of like a starburst) and tolerate those very well.