Sleeve_Me_Alone

I had VSG in Tijuana, Mx. at HospitalBC with Dr. Illan, so I can only speak to my own personal experience. I did about 200 hours of research before my surgery and based on that research, finances, and other personal considerations, decided to go the Medical Tourism route and have been very happy with that decision. These hospitals ONLY do bariatric surgeries and are geared towards medical tourists. They run a VERY well oiled machine from intake to discharge. The process was so smooth, I was completely confident going alone. The surgeon I chose is highly accredited, has done thousands of WLS procedures, has relationships and mentorships with some of the most well known US bariatric surgeons for continuing ed, is board certified, etc. He is just as qualified, if not more so, than many of the bariatric surgeons in my area. The reality is, there are amazing surgeons in the US and just as many in Mexico and other places. Conversely, there are terrible surgeons here and everywhere else. There are pros and cons to each, and every person has different needs. Ultimately it boils down to doing your research, finding a surgeon you trust, and a program that fits your needs. Definitely check out the Mexico & Self Pay forum for helpful info!

I'm so sorry you're struggling, but you are absolutely not alone. We all pass through seasons of difficulty, deal with emotional upheaval, slip into old habits, face regain, etc. It sounds like you've identified it and are actively getting help, so be proud of yourself for taking those first steps! Maybe focus on ONE habit you can re-establish to help get your back into alignment with your goals? Are you getting your water in everyday? How about your vitamins? Do you regularly hit your protein goal? Again, you don't need to do ALL of these things, pick just ONE and work on making it a habit. Then once your feel like you've got that under your belt, pick another one. Small changes add up! You've got this!

I do not have EoE, but my son (15) does. I don't know what impact it may have to surgery eligibility, but I would think at minimum they would want you in remission either by way of food elimination or medications. EoE can lead to esophageal strictures, scarring, and even has some correlation to increased risk of certain types of cancers. Its great that you're not symptomatic, but it should still be addressed before the disease progresses.

Welcome! Glad to have you!

Day 1-3 were the worst for me. By day 4 I found a routine that worked and my body settled in. I had a very strict 2 week liquids only, which was ROUGH, but I survived and was really proud of myself for being compliant. Agree with others - use the calories you're given! Don't skimp. It'll be over before you know it!

I am on the Depo shot since 2017, so its been yearsssssss since I had a period. Surgery did not change that for me. However, those few weeks post-op, maybe 6-8 weeks, I was extremely emotional. I was tired, crabby, sad, and overly sensitive. Thankfully, I knew to expect it and had given my family a heads up. They gave me lots of space and I took lots of naps. Since then things have leveled out and I feel like myself again.

"Cheating" aside, the idea that you had to "skip" a meal to pay penance for your slip up is extremely unhealthy. You likely had bariatric surgery to break free from the cycle of dieting, restriction, and your unhealthy relationship with food. This behavior is a HUGE red flag and indicates you still have some mental/emotional work to do. I'd suggest 1) getting into some counseling -and- 2) sticking to your eating plan. As others have said, you are on a plan for a reason, at this point primarily to heal from major surgery, and you aren't doing yourself any favors by going off plan so early.

I have a pair of Brooks and a pair of New Balance - both high quality running shoes. I prefer the Brooks, they are more supportive and comfortable, but I do think the New Balance are a little more structured and my hold up a little longer. I agree with others that the best thing you can do is go to a good shoe store and get fitted and let them help you find a quality shoe. I wore subpar, off the shelf, whatever-fits-is-good-enough shoes for YEARS and when I started exercising regularly they absolutely killed my feet and caused shin splints. Having well made, well fitting shoes for working out has made a HUGE difference. (Full disclosure: I ONLY wear shoes when I workout. I am barefoot or in flip flops 100% of the time. I despise shoes....)

I didn't have any GI testing prior to surgery. Its really up to the Dr. and whether or not it is part of their protocol - some will do an endoscopy, xrays, or other testing, some do none at all. Unless you have reason to believe or have been diagnosed with something that may impact your surgical outcome, then its really not necessary. The primary thing they look for is hiatal hernias, which if found, can be fixed during the bariatric procedure, but it typically doesn't impact eligibility or surgical process.

Same here. My PCP put me on 6 months of Actigall and it seems to have done the trick. I'm 10 months out now, 4 months off the med, and no issues. From what I've read, it is VERY common to have gallbladder issues post-op, usually in the first 6 months to a year, during the most active loss. I haven't seen anything that indicates it impacts or inhibits weight loss, but it is often incredibly painful and if removal is necessary, it obviously requires another surgery.

Agree with the above - with that much water, its very likely that you are low on electrolytes. You can supplement with potassium & magnesium in the form of sports drinks (Powerade, Gatorade), water flavoring additives (Mio, Liquid IV, ZipFizz), or just taking them in pill form. A quick fix is also pickle juice!

Elevated cholesterol immediately post-op and through the most active weight loss period is very common. Mine went up as well, and my PCP is not at all concerned. If it were still elevated once I reach maintenance, which she highly doubts it will, then we can address. Do some research on it, there are several peer reviewed studies out there about it, and then decide. Adding in a prebiotic fiber supplement like Just Better Fiber can help, as can exercise and time.

The only thing it really offers is connectivity to your surgeon. My surgeon gave me a code to link to their office so the nutritionist can see my food logs, weight entries, etc. I don't recall if MFP has a space for measurements or not, as I never took them until surgery, but Baritastic does have that, which is nice. Weights, food tracking, measurements, etc. are all in one app.

I was a MyFitnessPal user before surgery and really like it. My surgeon uses Baritastic, so I switched to that and, though I don't like it as much as MFP, it does the job and I've gotten used to it.

ProCare 1x daily capsule and the ProCare calcium chews.

The primary functions are 1) to allow time for your surgical wounds to heal (this was MAJOR surgery, you don't want to push it) 2) to slowly integrate foods to prevent sickness/overeating 3) to allow time for you to learn your new body and adjust to your new eating habits. That being said. every surgeon has their own pre- and post- op diet requirements and there is no use comparing one to another. The ASMBS does not have hard and fast recommendations on the food plans, so surgeons are left to devise their own and they can vary wildly. Mine were both extremely restrictive, with the pre-op lasting 2 weeks and post-op being 8 weeks. Regarding the WHY of what you can/can't eat and when, reach out to your nutritionist and see if they can provide some insight on what they recommend what they do. We could all speculate, but ultimately, that guidance is coming from your team an thus the justification should as well.

Are you taking or being given any vitamin supplements? Flush is very common with Niacin (B3).

Surgery was on Tuesday, I was discharged Thursday. That being said, I had surgery in Mx, which often includes a longer hospital stay than in the US. Additionally, after being discharged to a hotel, a doctor came to do a quick check up and wound care that evening.

I am 10 months out. For me, it started at 3 months and has only just recently slowed down. It happens to everyone to varying degrees, it is temporary, with WILL stop and the hair WILL grow back. There really isn't anything you can do to stop the loss, you just have to wait it out (its called telogen effluvium). Make sure you are getting your protein and get your labs done to ensure nutritional deficiencies don't make it worse. Collagen and Biotin can help with regrowth, but won't do much during the loss.

I had VSG, but I know my surgeon does the MGB. I used Dr. Illan at HsopitalBC and HIGHLY recommend him. He works very closely with Dr. Rutledge, who championed and perfected the MGB, and has performed them for years.

Do the INTERNAL work first, and don't stop. Counseling, books, support groups. Do whatever you need to so that you are in a healthy place mentally and emotionally BEFORE surgery and then keep going because you WILL need it after. I did a ton of work before surgery and felt like I was in a really good place, but I didn't keep up with most of it post-op and really struggled for a while. The hormonal changes, body changes, and lifestyle changes all add up and suddenly I didn't recognize myself or my life anymore. this is a lifelong process, you will be a WLS patient for the rest of your life, and making sure you are taking care of your WHOLE self is so, so important.

I would highly recommend counseling for sure. Getting professional help in managing those feelings, learning new coping skills, and addressing the underlying stuff that is driving those feelings and behaviors is life change, hard, necessary work. The surgery can only get you so far, it is just a tool. The more tools you have, the better. I would also suggest a support program, something with REAL people that you can interact with (this is just a message board, its pretty one-sided). Personally, I am a member of BariNation and LOVE it. It has been a game changer for me. But there are tons of other options out there. Your surgery center might even have support groups. Regardless of what/where, it can be incredibly beneficial to have support in a group setting with real people.

I take the ProCare one a day capsule, and 2 of their calcium chews a day. I'm ~10 months out and labs are great! I tolerate them very well and have never had an issue taking them.

I'm with some of the others, the SF stuff just doesn't do it for me. They taste off, leave me wanting, and are generally full of all sorts of bizarre ingredients that make them less food and more science experiment. I have learned to portion control the "regular" stuff and fully enjoy it. If I am eating 100g of pulled pork for instance, I really only need a very small amount of BBQ sauce to get the flavor I want and to be satisfied. So I might as well go for the good stuff, in appropriate amounts, and fully enjoy it vs. using more of the replacement and walk away still wanting more. All that being said, seems to me that G Huges is a fan favorite. That's what I've seen most frequently recommended in bariatric circles.

I'm ~10 months. I don't use portion control plates or containers, but I do frequently weigh/measure foods. Not always, maybe 50% of the time. It helps keep me accountable and helps me understand my own hunger & full queues, eating habits, etc. I typically will only portion out what I think I will/can eat. If I eat it all and feel like I need a little more, then so be it. But that is rarely the case. My husband has become a garbage disposal for my onsie-twosie left over bites. I do however still track EVERYTHING I eat. I know myself, and this is what works for me, though I know a lot of folks do not track. At this point, I could probably eat a whole bagel, but it would very likely upset my stomach. I've never dumped, but if I eat a carb heavy meal, especially one with very little protein, I get nauseous and often develop the dreaded foamies. With something like that, something considered a "slider food" its very easy to eat around your restriction. If you are mindlessly munching on it one bite at a time, its going to pass more quickly than something with lots of protein & fiber, so you'll be able to keep eating a bite at a time without ever really feeling full. Remember, restriction is different for everyone and can even vary from day to day. The surgery is just a tool, but with enough work (or not enough, as the case may be), you can absolutely circumvent it. All that being said, it was just one meal. Now you know to be more mindful going forward. Use it as a helpful bit of data and move on.