bayareanan

I am sorry you too are going through this. It stinks to sit by and listen to everyone's success and be sufferent from lack of weight loss despite the surgery. I had my surgery done in Mexico by a Doctor who owns the clinic. I am sure he has to pay the anestesiologiest and other surgeon, but since they work for him I am sure the cost is minimal. The surgeon said this is ony the second time this has happened and I am feel confident he is trying to have a 100% success rate. I feel blessed.

Your PCP can order the necessary blood work. Mostly, it is Vitamen levels. Unless you are diabetic, and then I would assume you follow up with whoever is following you now,. When I told my PCP I had the sleeve, he started doing more lab work, but it was no big deal.

What is Dr Ortiz's pre op diet? I dont recall and am having surgery in 2 weeks. I think I fell through the cracks because I am a sleeve-redo. Dr Miranda usually sends it out ahead of time with 2 options.

I have already been sleever (a revision from the band) I did not tell my doc ahead of time, but did tell him upon my return. He had no problem ordering my labs.

Bos, Our trips overlap. I have surgery on 12/6. I was sleeved last year but didnt lose any weight. Dr Ortiz and Martinez think I had too much scar tissue from my previous band and that caused my sleeve to be too big (or something like that). I am having a revision to my sleeve and it is no charge to me. You would never find that in the US!

Has anyone tried to buy other meds while in Mexico? I am wanting to purchase Provigil while down there. Is there a way ahead of time to know if I need a Mexican prescription and also are there any issues bringing things across the border?

Dr Ariel Ortiz owns Obesity Control Center in TJ. This is a different Dr Ortiz. I havent heard about the one you mention before.

I lost about 50lbs and no longer had sleep apnea.

Originally I was going to get banded by Dr Ortiz but had insurance to cover it. When I started looking at converting to the sleeve I called his coordinator Lori and asked how many sleeves Dr Ortiz had done. I dont recall the number, but it was quite satisfactory.

Dr Ortiz in TJ on Dec 6.

Bos, I am having surgery Dec 6 with Dr Ortiz! Maybe our paths will cross.

I am scheduled for a sleeve revision on Dec 6 with Dr Ortiz.

Anyone else headed to TJ for Dr Ortiz this week? I was sleeved by him last November but have not lost any weight. Because I had a revision from a band he thinks I had too much scar tissue to get a small enough sleeve. So, I am going back. He said this is ony the 2nd time he has had this problem. and, NO cost to me.

Yes

I had my sleeve done in November and have only lost 11lbs. I have spoken with the nutritionist and my diet is good. I do exercise, but could do more, I as so very disappointed with my small loss I could cry (I do cry) The only thing left to question is that I take Antipsychotics for bipolar disorder. They are known for weight gain. I am on one that has a weight neutral profile, but the surgeon thinks this is why I havent lost. My family psychiatrist doesnt agree. The surgeon has suggested taking Metformin to see if that might help. I am considering the idea, but not sure if it will actually do anything,. My fasting blood sugar is 95 so I am not even prediabetic. Has anyone tried Metformin before? What were your results.

I was sleeved in Mexico in November. Since then I lost 11lbs on the liquid diet post surgery. Since then I am up 3 lbs and havent lost any weight. It is very frustrating. I know I can walk more as I only walk 2 miles 2days/week. I have worked with the nutritionist at the surgeons office and she feels I am eating fine and actually wanted me to add more food. I have tried eating more and then going back to a strict diet but that hasnt worked either. The surgeon wants to prescribe Metformin to see if that makes any difference, but from what I have read it doesnt really make a difference. I am considering getting a duodenam switch, which the sleeve is the first part of the surgery. Does anyone know a doc in MX that does this surgery? I have a call into my doc's office to see if he will convert, but want to see if anyone else does it too.

jn, I had Dr Ortiz at Obesity Control Center do the surgery. I do have a much smaller stomach. I do feel comfortable that the surgery was done correctly and those who had surgery the same day are doing well.

vsgchici I have lost a total of 80lbs in the last 8 years. My FBS used to run up to 126. Before the sleeve it was 106 and now 95. I am pleased with my progress regarding FBS. Now I just need to loose weight. I think I will give the Metformin a try. It cant hurt anything.

I too am a slow loser. I lost 42lbs in 18 months on the back, eery lbs was a struggle. I switched to a sleeve for 2 reasons. I hoped for better success as I figured I was still eating too muchwith the back. ALso I was tired of things getting stuck and coming back up. On the date of my surgery I weighd293. After the 3 week liquid diet I got down to 282 and I was pretty content with my progress. Now, fast forward 2.5 months and I weigh 286!!!!!! I have gained 4 lbs in the first 10 days after I started on food and havent lost anymore. I talked to the nutritionist at my surgeons office. She said I wasnt eating enough and gave me a diet to follow. In 5 days I gained another 5 lbs. She suggested I see an endocrinologist. In order to see one I have to get the blessing of my family doc. I havent been there in 6 months, so I will have a weight loss which doesnt look good for me. Also, my thyroid is normal. Frankly, I dont know what to do next. I have been keeping my carbs under 50 and fat below 20mg. I think I am giong to increase what I eat, but not as far as the nutritionisht wanted to go, for awhile and see if I can trick my body into waking up again. I admit I havent walked since the weather turned, but it is starting to get nice again and I plan on going back to walking 3 miles 4/week. If anyone has a suggestion, I am all ears.

I took 3 weeks but really only needed one. I found the recovery to be about the same as the sleeve. I was between jobs and was waiting for my background check to be approved so I just stayed on disability until I was approvd.

I had poor weight loss with the band as well as many side effects so on 11/21/11 I had a revision done by one of the top surgeons in Mexico. I weighed in at 298 before the preop diet. At surgery I was 293. After the 3 week liquid diet post op I got to 282 and was overjoyed. I started darting food again and went to 285. I emailed the nutritionist who gave me a diet to follow. I was unable to eat all that she expected me to eat and got to 290!!!!! She emailed me back and said it must be metabolic as there was no logical reason based upon my weight. Surgery and diet this should happen. I made an appt with my family doc to get a referral to an endo. I had already explained that my thyroid tests were normal. Part of me thinks I should see the endo, but I must admit that I don't know what else can be done if my thyroid is normal. I know I am fine on the diet . One other thing is that I have bipolar disorder and take several meds that have weight gain as side effects. I can't cut back on them because I will end up living on the street without them. Anyone else having a similar problem?

OK Guys...it cant just be me!!??

I must be the slowest loser anywhere. I had surgery on 11/21 st 293, got down to 282 during the liquid diet and then rebounded back to 285. At that poi t I contacted the nutritionist at my surgeons office. She had me eat a "balanced" meal. I wasn't even able to fnish it and got to 292 within a week. I went back to sleeve diet and am now back to 285. That is 8lbs in 2 months. The only car s I get are from veggies. The nutritionist said it is time to see an endocrinologist. I have an Ppt with my family doc in 2 weeks to get a referral . The only thing that I can understand that is holding me back is the drugs I take for bipolar disorder I take two different antipsychotics, anti seizure, antianxiety and antidepressant . Yes this is a lot of drugs. Before I found this med combination I was on social security disability for 6 years. So, I can't go off of them. Anyone else have a similar problem? It is very frustrating .

I had a band and in November had it revised to a sleeve. I weighted 293 at surgery. I got down to 282 on the liquid diet, but then have started gaining weight. Now, 2 months post op I weigh 290. I have worked with nutritionist (who is also an MD) and she had me start following a diet that requires eating more, including 6 tortillas and an avocado/day (She is in Mexico). I started this on Monday at 285 and this morning I was up to 290. She says my diet is not the issue, that it is metabolic and to go see an endocrinologiest. Has anyone else been to see one??

Prior to the corn tortilla diet I was eating about 50gr of Protein, 40gr of carbs and 20gr of fat. Not a lot different than yours twoboysandagirl. Julie, The Nutrition MD works directly for the Bariatric Surgeon I saw in Mexico. In the past I have seen nutritionists who also feel I need to eat more, but they didnt work directly with WLS patients, so I never listened to them before.