hills&valleys

I am pre-op and one of the most concerning restrictions of VSG for me is the 30 minute before and after rule of drink/eat. I have always been a constant sipper and my husband & I have a lot of "wine & dine" business/social engagements. I had assumed the drink/eat rule was due to filling up in liquid and then not having room for food.....wrong. After researching the mechanics behind this rule, I discovered the reason why. The video below shows how we can easily sabotage ourselves by breaking the rule! https://youtube.com/shorts/oNdeGkkwqlw?feature=share

Could you share your pre-diet with the group?

Shallow microneedling would be a waste of time and money. To have any effect on scars, elasticity and collagen stimulation requires a minimum depth of 1.5 mm (for thin skin, example: inner arms) to 2.5 mm. (thicker skin, example: stomach & thighs). At a depth of1.5 mm to 2.5 mm, I highly recommend a pharmaceutical grade numbing cream. Dr Pen is superior to Derma rollers. Not only do genetics and age determined the skin's ability to "shrink" but also how long you have been overweight. Microneedling has the best results on crepey skin rather than excess skin.

I know this thread is closing in on 3 years old but I am assuming you are referring to Dr. Guillermo Alvarez @ Endobariatric in Mexico. Dr. Alvarez is an active International member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), an active International Member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and a Member of International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO). His accreditation, affiliation and membership in American Medical Associations should negate any policies of not taking patients who had bariatric surgery in Mexico. If a US Bariatric surgeon refuses to treat you, I would register a complaint with the above Medical Associations (which the US Bariatric surgeons are most likely members, as well.)

There are a lot of variables to consider. IMO, BMI is flawed....the formula is based on an average body composition. It does not take in consideration frame size, bone mass, muscle mass, large breasted vs small breasted (boobs are heavy!), body shape (ectomorph, mesomorph & endomorph). If you were overweight in your youth and/or the majority of your life, your bones had to accommodate more weight so therefore are most likely larger and heavier than someone who has been slim most of their lives. Thirty years ago, the general rule for women was a baseline of 100 pounds for a 5 foot woman and 5 pounds for each additional inch. That is an average, but for me at 5'5", I am chubby at 125, where as; my daughter at 2 inches shorter, looks amazing at 135. Before the weight gain in 2012, my natural shape was hourglass (metomorph) with broad shoulders, heavy chested, small waist and slim legs on a small/medium frame. My daughter is rectangular (ectomorph) with broad shoulders, heavy chested, thick waisted, narrow hipped and thicker legs on a medium/large frame. My best weight is 112 to 117 but my daughter, even though she is 2 inches shorter, looks best at 132 to 138. Weight is a personal matter. You have to find where you are comfortable and a weight that can be easily maintained. Listen to your body and listen to your doctor but don't let others get into your head.

Kudos! You have made a lot of progress. I need to set up a spreadsheet like this. I used to measure myself frequently but intentionally lost my tape measure in 2012. Measuring, especially during stalls can be very motivating because frequently inches are lost even though the scales are not registering a loss.

Weight loss stalls are not exclusive to WLS. As with any diet, the initial weight loss is only about 50% fat, the rest being water weight. The more dehydrated you became with the initial weight loss, the longer the stall will last. As you maintain your initial weight loss during the stall, you are actually losing fat pounds as you regain the depleted hydration levels needed for the body to function properly.

I have been lurking for a couple of weeks and finally joined today. I have gotten a tentative approval for VSG. Final approval is dependent on heart health clearance via results of echocardiogram, which is scheduled mid-February. Hopefully, I can set up my surgery in March. I view Gastric Sleeve and all bariatric procedures, as tools to help, not as a sure fix....it is not the easy way out as some would claim! I have been severely hypothyroid since I was 20 years old after having most of my thyroid removed because of Graves' Disease (autoimmune hyperthyroid). Although, I take thyroid replacement, synthetic drugs do not work as well as your own natural hormones. For the past 40 years, my weight issues have been cyclical "hills and valleys". I would normally stay slim about 12 years and then would go into a gaining pattern but never topping more than 163, lasting 6 to 7 years before dropping the excess weight again. In 2012, I suffered a head injury and my weight exploded. I went from 117 to 212 in 8 months! The medical community is now starting to study the relationship of TBI's (traumatic brain injury) and weight gain. I can relate a definitive change in my food cravings and appetite. This time, I couldn't get the weight off even though I had a history of successful dieting. My resolve was as strong as ever but something had changed with the head injury. What this proves is the path to losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight is rockier and steeper for some than others through no fault of their own. The adverse changes to my health was the catalyst that motivated me to look into VSG. I recently had to start on HBP meds and have a been experiencing knee issues. I have always enjoyed an active lifestyle but the extra weight has elevated my fears of a stroke or heart attack due to heart palpitations and shortness of breath with even the slightest exertion. I am certain I will be asking lots of questions and am grateful for such a knowledgeable and supportive group.

My insurance does not cover bariatric surgery so I am self pay. I am pre-approved with Endobariatric with Dr. Alvarez in Mexico. Dr. Alvarez's fees are double the fees of most of the other bariatric groups in Mexico but his reputation and accreditations were the deciding factor. He is an active member of ASMBS – American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery & IFSO – International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders. He is a sought after speaker within the international medical community focusing on metabolic disorders and bariatric surgery. I am not criticizing other surgeons in Mexico but; I did my research and found the surgeon I felt best fit my criteria for surgery outside of the US. I see that you are also in CO and recently had your VSG. I would love to hear of your experience and any tips ior wisdom you can impart!

I am still pre-op so do not have first hand experience with the surgery/hair loss battle but, I wanted to pass along some info I saw on a video from a large bariatric surgery group concerning hair loss. The doctor said recent research has determined that excessive hair loss can be attributed to a deficiency in iron.

Since my insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgeries, I am also planning my gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico. I sought a surgeon in Mexico who was a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). I would check to see if your surgeon was accredited by the US medical board. if so, I would first point out the membership to your local doctors; if they still refuse, I would notify ASMBS that your local doctors are refusing to treat a patient of a fellow member.

What you are describing sounds like a high androgen level....."High androgen levels lead to symptoms such as body hair growth, acne, irregular periods -- and weight gain."