Malaika

Hi Amy and welcome to VST. Congrats on your surgery with Dr. Aceves, too - you will LOVE him and his staff. It's great that your husband is so supportive. I agree with Tiffykins that if you have problems with depression, even if mild, seek counseling. I have lost 60 lbs. (last I weighed) and have gone from a size 22W to a 16 misses - and from 2x tops to L and I still don't feel thin or sexy - although my fiance tells me I am all the time. Keep us posted on your journey.

Maggie - Dr. Aceves is so awesome - you will love him and his staff. As for traveling along to Mexico - you'll be safe - if you fly into San Diego, Ernesto will pick you up at the airport (or the hotel if you have to stay the night due to flights) drive you to the hospital where you will have all of your pre-op tests performed, then he will take you to the Lucerne Resort - everyone there is so nice - and they have several restaurants on site, plus room service. Ernesto will pick you up the next morning and take you back to the hospital where you will be taken to your room, then you will meet with the internist to go over your tests results, then Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos will come talk to you - you're then taken to surgery, then recovery and then back to your room where you stay for 3 nights - on the day you are to leave, Ernesto will pick you up at the hospital and take you back to San Diego to the airport -- so you are 100% safe the entire time you are in Mexicali. Any more questions, feel free to ask or PM me.

Lucy - it is temporary and it will get better ... that was my only complaint after surgery and going back to work - by the time I hit the door at 5:30 pm, I was ready for bed ... most times I was in bed by 8:30 or 9:00. You should gradually start to get your energy level back once you are on mushies - and not feel as hungry - and then once you move out of the mushie stage to "normal" food, the energy level begins to come back. I think it is another way your body is adjusting to the shock of surgery. Hang in there, this too shall pass - HONEST!

Here you go - Dr. Aceves is totally AWESOME and LOTS of us on this site have used him. He's performed over 700 sleeves with no leaks. You won't find a better surgeon anywhere (IMO). LAP-BAND,laparoscopic banding,bariatric surgery,obesity

Dr. Aceves includes it as part of his pre-op testing ... I think chest x-rays are pretty much standard for any surgery ... I had to have one when I had carpal tunnel surgery and when I had a D&C.

The Oh Yeah Protein drinks are the only ones I have found that I can tolerate - but not on a daily basis -- I drink them when I am in a rush and don't have time for food. The DaVinci sugar free syrups are also available at Sam's Club, Smart & Final, and Albertson's if you don't want to bother with having to order them online.

Olivia - welcome to the VST family and good luck with your surgery on Monday - no need to be nervous - just think of the future and how great you're gonna look. don't hesitate to ask us any questions, we'll almost always have answers for you!

marstout - welcome to VST and congratulations on your surgery. I've heard Dr. Cirangle is an awesome surgery . Keep us posted on your progress and if you have any questions, ask away.

Sorry - I forgot - there's been a lot going on in my life these past few weeks and sometimes I forget what I've said/done.

Interesting the bad feedback you got from going to Mexico -- my PCP was very supportive and agreed to treat me afterwards. As I said, maybe that is because he is of Indian origin and knows about discrimation? Also, Bearded's cardiologist was VERY interested in his surgery and his surgeon - and in fact asked us to provide him with Dr. Aceves name and information as he was often asked for a good bariatric surgeon. I'm sorry you have gone through what you are going through -- it was wrong of your doctor to post that in your file - have you tried fighting it or filing a claim with the Medical Board? Also, do you have to go to Southwest or can you see a doctor elsewhere? My PCP is at the UMC (not the Quickcare, but next to it) off of Buffalo and Lake Mead. If you want his information, let me know. I hope you're able to make a decision soon ... oh yeah, and the surgeon I couldn't think of in SF is Cirangle ... MacMadame used him.

youknowit -- I understand the reason you don't want to go back to Mexicali; however, would it be too time consuming to perhaps travel to SF? Unfortunately the Las Vegas area does not have the best reputation for medical services, and certainly not for speciality services ... I hope you find a surgeon you are comfortable with and who has the experience you are looking for closer to home than Mexicali (although it's only an hour flight to SD and then the ride to Mexicali) ... if I find out anything more, I will certainly let you know. Unfortunately being in the line of work I am in, it's generally not good things that I discover.

Breek - welcome to VST and congrats on taking control of your life and your health - your daughter will be thrilled to have a mom who can do the things she wants to do ... keep us posted on your progess and your surgery date.

HOLY MOLY - you look friggin' awesome ... heck, I didn't think you looked like you needed to lose weight when you and Bearded had surgery ... dang girl you are doing great ... I've never been in a 4 in my life and don't expect I'll ever get there - I'm way too tall I think. YOU LOOK AWESOME and think you should change your name to "SKINNYNOW"

AWESOME Rosebud2 -- can't wait to see you again - hopefully sometime in January -- but definitely February ok?

Get well soon Norma. You're in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy successful recovery.

I drink coffee with coffee creamer in it - I only have 1 cup a day (maybe 1-1/2) and I buy different flavored coffee creamers - I can't stand anything super sweet so the flavored creamers do the trick.

Tiff -- I think you look great - you don't look sick or gaunt to me - you look radiant and happy and glowing ... it's your family and it's probably their way of saying you've lost enough weight, we don't recognize you and don't think you should lose anymore ... do what you want to do - you're almost at your goal weight and they probably won't notice another 10 lbs. Keep up the great work and don't take to heart what they say ... family is usually the biggest critic.

Norma - you will be in my thoughts and prayers - I will be looking forward to hearing about your progress as I know eventually (sooner than later) I am going to have to have bilateral knee replacements due to degenerative arthritis. Good luck with your PT -- I started mine yesterday - it wasn't so bad yesterday but man-o-man when I woke up this morning it felt like someone had tried to twist my arm off! Keep us posted as soon as you are able to do so!

I was taking Nexium before surgery and when I ran out asked my PCP for a script; unfortunately, my insurance won't cover it, so he gave me Prilosec - I didn't notice any issues with Nexium; however, I do notice with the Prilosec I have a dry mouth; however, like Tiff, it is remedied by drinking something when I first get up. Bearded takes OTC Prilosec and hasn't commented about any issues whatsoever. It's less expensive for me to get the RX for only $10 than it is to buy the OTC.

Hang in the ML - you're still freshly out of surgery, so don't push yourself and certainly don't beat yourself up about not getting in the walking - you will be very tired the first few weeks until you start on mushies, that seems to improve one's energy level. Take it easy and allow you body to recover from the major surgery you just went through - you will have a lifetime for walking, swimming and exercising, taking a few weeks off is not going to sabotage your weight loss. Focus on healing, and not feeling guilty for not walking. Healing is your #1 priority right now.

Lan - check your grocery stores for the XOX broth - I found it at Albertson's here in Las Vegas - it's like buillon cubes you add to hot water - they have chicken and beef that I know of; I found it in both the soup isle and with the mexican foods. I know, too, that Sam's sells chicken paste in a large jar for like $3 and it is the same principal as bouillon.

Hannah Welcome to VST and good luck on your upcoming surgery - you will be on the losers bench before you know it.

Bonnie - The majority of complications are experienced by those revising from the band to the sleeve - if you are a virgin sleever, the risk of complications is very minimal. I do not know who is doing your surgery; however, Dr. Aceves has performed over 700 sleeves and has never had a leak - and I am sure many of those were revisions from band to sleeve - I personally know 2 of his patients who were revisions and they are doing fine and had no complications following surgery.

You can do a search for "complications" and it will bring up several posts where members have posted about their post-surgery issues. Also there is a forum VSG Complications Support Group that you can check out. The only complication I had following surgery was esophogeal spasms; however, as Dr. Aceves indicated, I am now almost 6 months out and they are dissipating - I only have a problem now if I drink something really cold when trying to take medication.

Carolyn - there is a forum entitled VSG Complications Support Group - which is where I would logically put a thread if I had experienced complications from surgery; unfortunately, we can't control where members post, we can only hope that they will view all the various options forums, and select the most appropriate one. It would be difficult to go back and move everyone's posts regarding complications to one specific post. Sorry I can't be more help.