hills&valleys

I also had my surgery on March 3rd. I am feeling great! I was basically out of it for 12 hours after surgery but by the night of surgery I was up and running like the Eveready Battery Bunny. I have had no nausea and only slight muscle soreness similar to if I had been doing sit-ups. I have been able to get my liquid down without issue, which includes 3 bottles of Premier Protein Clear daily so I can get in at least 60g of protein, So far, so good....I am very pleased. How are you doing?

I had surgery in Mexico on 3/3/23. I did not go to Tijuana, having heard too many negative reviews of the Bariatric groups in that region. I went to Dr. Alvarez at Endobariatrics. Dr. Alvarez's EndoHospital is across the border from Eagle Pass, TX. I was self-pay so money was an issue but not at the expense of my health and peace of mind. Dr. Alvarez's fee is substantially less than in the USA but more than the average cost of most of the Mexico bariatric centers. The old saying "you get what you pay for" could not be more apropos. Dr. Alvarez's credentials are most impressive and his memberships in American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) highlighted his expertise in the field of bariatric surgery. Dr. Alvarez's facilities incorporate the EndoHospital and the EndoHotel in a beautiful state-of-the-art building. Dr. Alvarez is very accessible to his patients and the staff is professional, personable and attentive to the patient's every need. All personnel are fluently bi-lingual. Off-site, the EndoSpa provides additional pampering. I am only 5 days out and feel great. I have had no nausea and only slight abdominal discomfort similar to muscle soreness experienced from exercising. The day after surgery, I joined the guided sight-seeing tour, had a HydraFacial and a massage (yes, I was able to lie on my stomach) at the EndoSpa, and finished my outing with a visit to a restaurant for a delicious smoothie. I have heard many complaints from others as to hidden fees from some of the Mexico bariatric groups....basically holding the patient hostage until they are paid. Dr. Alvarez's fees are all inclusive with exception to any optional spa treatments the patient choses to enjoy. My words of praise seem inadequate to my experience with Dr. Alvarez! I wish you the best in your quest. As self-pay, cost is a factor; but be cautious of placing pricing over health and safety.

Good luck and congratulations on taking steps to improve your health and quality of life. I am less that one week post-op (3/3/23) from VSG. I feel great. I have had no nausea and the only pain I have experienced is similar to a muscle soreness as if I had been doing abdominal exercises. You got this! **my saving grace during the pre-op diet was kosher pickles**

Whenever we lose a lot of weight in a short period of time, a substantial amount of the weight loss is actually water weight not fat. To lose 21 pounds of fat in two weeks, you would have to burn at least 5,500 calories in addition to what you consumed that day. A stall is nothing more than our bodies rehydrating to normal levels. As you are regaining depleted water weight, you are actually losing fat pounds even though the scales are not moving. Don't get discouraged. Once your composition levels normalize, the scales will start registering the fat loss again.

https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Cubbisons-Cheese-Crisps-Parmesan/dp/B071WWFKB7/ref=asc_df_B071WWFKB7/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=406160142441&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11023441672899566516&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014471&hvtargid=pla-847819159336&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=85590002326&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=406160142441&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11023441672899566516&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014471&hvtargid=pla-847819159336

These Parmesan Crisps aren't loaded with protein but does have 3g, 0 carbs and only 40 calories per serving. They give you an alternative to no-no chips and are delicious. https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Cubbisons-Cheese-Crisps-Parmesan/dp/B071WWFKB7/ref=asc_df_B071WWFKB7/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=406160142441&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11023441672899566516&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014471&hvtargid=pla-847819159336&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=85590002326&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=406160142441&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11023441672899566516&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014471&hvtargid=pla-847819159336

My pre-op was strict compared to most but was only 7 days.....liquid only with exception of the Doctor's recipe of homemade vegetable soup. I rarely consumed more than 400 calories a day. In lieu of the vegetable soup, I ate Claussen kosher pickles.....the crunch, savory and tartness was so satisfying that I wasn't tempted to cheat. My surgeon had no issue with my "vegetable" substitution. The pickles were also a welcome change from the sweetness of the shakes. For protein, in addition to the shakes, I drank the Peach flavor Premier Protein Clear.

Before moving forward with a bariatric procedure, you might want see a gastroenterologist to get to the root of the problem and see what treatments are available and which WLS would be best with your history and condition. Dr. Alvarez has done over 20K VSG surgeries and is a Master Surgeon of Metobolic & Bariatric Surgery but he focuses strictly on VSG, which may not be the best option for you. I can feel your frustration when reading your posts and my heart goes out to you. Please move cautiously and seek the proper specialists so that your GERD is not worsened. Once the cause is identified, a plan of action can be devised to address both the GERD and WLS. Best you you.

Same...March 3rd. Have been doing a modified liquid diet for several days (my choice) but the doctor required 7 day pre-op diet stared today. Wishing all a speedy recovery and great success.

GERD is often caused by a hiatal hernia. If during VSG surgery a HH is discovered, most surgeons will repair. GERD is also more common among people who are overweight and can sometimes improve or completely disappear with weight loss. I would suggest forwarding your medical records to Dr. Alvarez, specifically any pertaining to your Upper GI issues so that he can review and then tele- consult. Have you had an upper endoscopy? I am currently at Dr. Alvarez's Endohospital (Endobariatric.com). I have met Dr. Alvarez a couple of times since arriving earlier today. He is most impressive! It is not exaggerating to say the facility is like a Luxury Resort Spa. My surgery is scheduled in the morning and after talking to several patients one & two days out of surgery, I know I have chosen the right surgeon. I hope you can find the answers you are seeking.

"The pooled mortality rates by procedure type in ascending order were: 0.03 per cent for gastric band, 0.05 per cent for sleeve gastrectomy, 0.09 per cent for one-anastomosis gastric bypass, 0.09 per cent for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 0.41 per cent for duodenal switch (P < 0.001 between operations)." Cited from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34297806/#:~:text=The pooled mortality rates by,P < 0.001 between operations).

I just learned of this trick to alleviate nausea...."Smelling rubbing alcohol can quickly help relieve nausea, usually when you smell a soaked cotton pad or ball." It may not be a permanent solution but when instant relief is needed....grab some rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. https://www.aliem.com/trick-trade-isopropyl-alcohol-vapor-inhalation-nausea-vomiting/

I am obese. I also have severe hypothyroidism resulting from emergency surgery of a life threatening Hot-Toxic thyroid in hopes of avoiding a stroke at the age of 20 due to advanced Grave's Disease. My hypothyroidism is so extreme that even with being constantly monitored and regulated with medication by specialists, my numbers have unexplainably plummeted and I have spiraled into a myxedema coma on several occasions. My BMR is ridiculously low at 830 calories a day. I had no choice but to accept the limitations and circumstances I was dealt. Through extreme deprivation and avoidance of carbs, I stayed slim until a head injury in 2012. The TBI shifted my focus and I found I was unable to maintain the tight control of my consumption that I had previous mastered....I gained 80 pounds in 4 months plus a few more over the next decade. I truly understand health conditions and their effect on our weight and metabolism.....I have battled it for 40+ years. Knowing there is no cure for my health issues, I have to adjust my life to live within its constraints. Health conditions can affect the amount of calories we can burn but obesity results from consuming more than our bodies burn. Removing and lessening the desire of food allows many of us to regain the control necessary to avoid the wrong foods and excessive consumption to achieve our goals and improve our health.....eating for need not desire.

My pre-op is basicly liquid only with the addition of fresh vegetables in broth. Since cucumbers and vinegar are allowed --> voila, pickles! Kosher pickles are my new best friends!

Same...March 3rd. Have been doing a modified liquid diet for several days (my choice) but the doctor required 7 day pre-op diet stared today. Wishing all a speedy recovery and great success!

Would these be allowed during a clear liquid diet as long as you do not chew and swallow the hard candy? After surgery, your mouth is dry, throat is sore and stomach is queasy....seems like a good option to address all issues. The only objectionable factor I foresee, might be the sugar alcohols causing more gas but one or two pieces shouldn't contribute unless a person is highly sensitive to sugar alcohols. Any experience or opinions would be appreciated.

"I am eating around 900 calories per day with 30 minutes of exercise. Is this enough or do I need to revamp my calories down?" You might be experiencing an extended stall. Often when a person loses a substantial amount of weight in a relatively short period of time, we have reached a set point and our bodies need to catch up to the loss before restarting the next losing phase. If the stall continues much longer, I would definitely talk your doctor.

Are you talking about Georgia? If you have private or company insurance, that depends on your plan. As far as the State's Medicaid plan, you will need to contact them directly to get the specifics and their criteria. Not all bariatric surgeons will accept Medicare or Medicaid patients because of the extreme discount rates of assignment. In general Medicare and Medicaid pay less than half of what other insurance companies pay.

Does anyone have a good miso soup recipe?

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but all it takes to find out the surgical procedure is a basic Google search. Just type "CPT" (Current Procedural Terminology) and the procedure number; example: CPT 43773 is "Laparoscopy, surgical, gastric restrictive procedure". The CPT # will most likely have a modifier added to differentiate the various restrictive procedures (Band, VSG, ESG, Duo-Switchn etc.) HR should not have access to HIPAA protected medical records submitted to the company's insurance provider or division. The Healthcare provider/Surgeon and facility should be filing the insurance claim directly which would bypass the HR Dept.