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I am scheduled to have VSG on 9/21 with Dr. Illan. He is one of the best bariatric surgeons in Mx. and comes HIGHLY recommended. He has a provate FB group for patients that he, his nutritionist, and his patients t coordinator are heavily engaged in. I scheduled about 6 weeks ago and have been extremely impressed with the process. Cost for VSG is $4900, which includes valet to and from the airport, pre-op testing, surgery, 2 nights at the hospital, hotel for 1 night, meds, etc. The only thing not covered is my flight and the extra night I'll be staying at the hotel (by choice). If you're considering medical tourism, I definitely recommend Dr. Illan and Hospital BC. Sent from my SM-A205U using BariatricPal mobile app

Follow the plan given to you by your surgeon or nutritionist/dietitian. If you didn’t get one, find a bariatric nutritionist/dietitian and get a plan. Post-op nutrition is tricky because you need to get in protein, vitamins, and minerals essential to life, but you can’t eat very much. The foods must be nutrient dense and are often very different from what you were eating pre-op. For me, 500cal a day was not enough post-op, I kept getting dizzy when I ate that little.

I am scheduled for surgery September 25th (original date was July 3rd). What are your dates and stories or concerns? Mine is so overwhelming, I felt the need share the happiness, blessings and fears. 🙏Pre-op labs, upper GI, and stress test start September 23. My biggest fear is not passing one of the tests to be cleared for surgery. I had to reschedule once already due to newly revealed diabetes and liver disease that showed in my PC doctors labs (the rule is only one time 2 weeks prior to pre-op date to reschedule or I loose my deposit). My A1C was 0.9 to high to be cleared for surgery. I am grateful requested these test way ahead to see where I stood and also receive medical care to go safely into surgery. Long story short, I had none of these specific medical issues prior to getting Covid in February. So, that being said, I am fearful of what may show on the Stress Test (heart concern due to Covid and no insurance to test ahead), if my lungs are good (Covid fear again), the upper endoscopy (I have had GERD in the past unsure if there is damage) and finally as I said previously newly diagnosed liver disease which I am unsure of the status of how bad it is yet. The A1C is the ONLY thing I feel I am in control of to some degree. Monitoring daily and logging my numbers have shown to be on average below 145 daily since May 29th. In addition to following my Doctor's low-carb, high protein and no sugar diet along with prescribed Metformin. The testing show 3-6 months previous. So I am hoping putting 4 months between these tests will greatly reduce my A1C. I will re-test about 4 weeks prior to surgery. I will be doing the surgeon requested liver shrinking diet (like most of you have) 1 month prior to surgery. I am positive if I am proactive in following it as prescribed that the A1C diabetes test will be one less thing to be concerned about. Have any of you been diagnosed with liver disease and done this liver shrinking diet and not been able to have surgery? The surgery out-patient not in the hospital so they will only preform laparoscopic surgery. Hence, my added concerns. 🤦‍♀️ Have any of you had surgery recently at Blossom Bariatrics? My procedure will be done in Las Vegas at Blossom Bariatrics. Due to the fact I am a cash patient my options are fewer. I unfortunately, have no health insurance and my family is refinancing their home so that I can get this procedure done. That scares me, adds to my pressure to do everything right, and makes me feel loved/blessed all at once. Sorry for so many details but I felt the need to share a lot of my story. Thank you in advance for sharing. 😄

Was just curious if anyone has any favorite websites they follow that helps give them ideas for meal prep/plans/etc? I'll go first. One site I really like is Bariatric Queen. She breaks everything down to shopping lists for the week, recipes for said meals for the week, macros, etc. I really like it and think you will too. Anyway, curious to hear about some of your favorites. https://bariatricqueen.com/

I'm 48 and in the beginning phases (dietician visits and tests) of bariatric surgery. I am probably getting the RNY. A lot of posts that I see are from younger women (which is great!), but I'm concerned that the weight will come off slower now that I'm older. Especially since menopause is probably around the corner. Could you share your stories (successes or challenges), so I could get an idea of what things look like for women close to their 50's. Thanks!

Ugh. Oh no! I’m so sorry! Don’t give up. You’re husband will get another job. My husband lost his job last December. We were on insurance through the Marketplace —- which did cover bariatric surgery. When you get your new insurance they’ll probably take all your notes etc and hopefully you can pick right up again. Hang in there!!

I put on 40 lbs since my VSG in 2018. I filled out a health questionnaire for Mexico Bariatric Center. Just got approved from one of their Doctors. Not sure if I want to try and take this off traditionally or try the revision. I think it's 3 times the price here in the USA.

No experience with the procedure in Mexico, but I lived in Tijuana for a short time and after that would stay at the Hotel Ticuán, which has rented an entire floor to one of the bariatric clinics (maybe Hospital Jerusalén? not sure) as a recovery floor. If anyone has questions about the city itself (safety, transportation, where your spouse/partner/SO should eat, etc.), please don't hesitate to reach out. Tijuas is one of the most misjudged cities on Earth.

I had a gastric sleeve done on May 13, 2021 by Dr. Fernando Garcia. I went with Tijuana Bariatrics to get the whole travel package. They picked me up from San Diego airport, drove me across the border and to the Marriott hotel in Tijuana (very nice). They picked me and a couple other women up the next morning to go to the hospital for pre-op labs and then surgery. I stayed one night in the hospital (there were options for hospitals varying in cost. I chose the least expensive one and was very happy with the cleanliness and staff). I went back to the hotel the next day (you can stay another night in the hospital if you want to) and they drove me back across the border the next day. Some people choose to stay one more day than I did but I was good to go and anxious to get back. Great experience with all the staff and doctor. Saved me thousands of dollars.

Talk to your surgery team and see if they can recommend an ob/gyn who is familiar with bariatric patients. That would be your best bet to keep weight regain low and vitamins on track. You could also call some ob/gyns who are listed on your insurance and just ask the office staff if this is something the dr/NP is familiar with, or you can have them work with your surgery team.

not a cookbook, but check out "The World According to Eggface" blog. She's a long-time bariatric patient who loves cooking. She also has lots of recipes on there for all stages.

Hey, I was recommended the Bariatric Bible by Carole Bowen Ball. Has lots of info as well as recipes and ideas for each stage. Goodluck!

Has anyone purched or used these cookbooks? Which ones would you recommend? Thanks

4 years post-sleeve, yes, I do regret it. The sleeve has a pretty high rate of revisions to gastric bypass in the long run due to either really bad acid reflux or inadequate weight loss. It also makes you more likely to get a hiatal hernia post-operatively, which may not sound like a big deal, but it has had a real effect on my quality of life. I didn't have a hiatal hernia until after the sleeve. Knowing what I know now, I would have never had bariatric surgery in the first place, because I was quite healthy in spite of being fat and bariatric surgery made my quality of life worse instead of better. However, if I did want to go through bariatric surgery, I'd rather get the RNY. At least the RNY has stood the test of time over many decades and cures acid reflux instead of making it worse like the sleeve does. Personally, I would only recommend bariatric surgery to people who already have health issues from being fat. Then it is worth the risk that the surgery might create its own problems.

I am SO excited! I'm scheduled for 8/26. I went and bought a bluetooth water bottle that tracks my water intake, (it lights up to remind me to drink, and every time it does, my 5 y/o yells "Drink!" - my husband says we're getting him ready for college, haha), a BT weigh scale that syncs with my phone, a BT measuring tape that syncs with my phone, a bunch of protein and blender bottles, freezer storage containers so I can make some bone broth ahead to freeze and have after surgery. I ordered all the success books my surgeon recommended, and have read 4 out of 5 of them. I bought a bunch of bariatric cookbooks. I have probably watched every single episode of My 600-lb Life. I am *trying* to take 30 minutes to eat my meals, and not drinking for 30 minutes before/after meals like my dietician recommended (it's hard!). I'm trying to go with the flow, but I'm too Type A. I'm sure out of all this planning, only about half of it will be useful, lol. Anyone else overthinking/obsessing??? Am I setting myself up for failure? This time next month, we'll all be in the thick of it! Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

Such an honest post - thank you for sharing. Onwards and upwards - and yes I won’t miss WW or slimming world either. I was reading the Bariatric bible and they make a reference to no longer being on a diet or counting calories - just a healthier lifestyle change, clinging to that. All the best with surgery can’t wait to hear how you get on x

My weight said 180 for so many years- they never asked me if I needed to update and I didn’t offer, so my weight kept saying 180 even when I was around 340- yikes. I’m currently only 6 lbs from that lie, so when I renew next year I can either keep the weight there or hopefully be lower than that? Thank goodness I didn’t go missing anytime in the last 15 or so years because if they advertised that the missing woman was 180 they’d have never found me even if they were looking straight at me.

I knew when I was starting to feel unhealthy after being so sedentary during the pandemic and I wasn't even enjoying my food anymore, just shoveling it in. I had developed asthma and GERD in a short period of time and had gained back the last of the 100 lbs that I lost 6 years ago. I had considered bariatric surgery a few times, but I was always too scared. Now I'm too scared of being unable to keep up with the activities I enjoy (travel and hiking) to not have surgery. But I'm still scared of surgery!

I knew when I realized that my weight was standing in the way of me doing things I wanted to do in a meaningful way. Also...I checked my insurance and found they had started covering bariatric surgery.

The one I use I purchase from Bariatric Advantage. It’s called Nectar Medical Unflavored. It has 10g of protein per scoop and it easily goes into everything without leaving an aftertaste. I use it in grits, soup and drinks.

I know someone from another bariatric group who takes RA drugs and has lost a lot of weight. She has been put on steroids now and has stalled, but not everyone with RA has to go on steroids too. There are lots of monoclonal antibody drugs. Are you not taking one of those? Are you seeing a rheumatologist? Or was this your PCP?

It could be a number of things, most common this far out would be a hiatal hernia that could cause these problems. Is your protonix once a day, or split into two doses, morning and evening? If it is consistent with the labelling, try taking it in the evening, as that is where your biggest problem seems to be, or splitting it morning and evening (if it is two 40mg pills.) Short term to help with the overnight problem, try elevating the head of your bed 3-6", or elevate your head and torso with a wedge pillow, or sleep in a recliner if you have one - anything to get your upper body (not just your head) angled down toward your stomach. Avoid eating anything 2-3 hours before bedtime. These are classic DIY reflux mitigations that the gastro will probably also suggest. You can consider going to the ER and hopefully they can get some of the tests done necessary to diagnose your problem (likely an endoscopy and/or barium swallow imaging. The may also just send you home with a larger dose of protonix or maybe a switch to dexilant and possibly carafate. An urgent care clinic may be able to help, particularly if you have one affiliated with your hospital - they may be able to short cut getting the tests done that you can then take to the bariatric surgeon (who would likely order the tests anyway. Many hospitals run these clinics for just this purpose - not really an emergency, but too urgent to wait a week or two for an appointment. This may save you a couple of weeks. Don't worry about insurance coverage as if a revision is needed, it would not be considered a second WLS (which some insurance limits) but as corrective surgery for you complication. Good luck in getting some resolution soon (er, rather than later)

Yes, I am flying home today (day 5 after surgery). I booked a bunch of extra days (my bariatric team recommended just 2 nights after surgery) because I was scared of flying while unwell. But honestly I could have comfortably flown on day 3 or even 2. Right after surgery and on the first day after surgery I was freaking out about how terrible I felt and I couldn't imagine I would recover well enough to travel within a week, but it really does improve exponentially everyday. Having said that, I had a pretty textbook surgery, no complications, and water + babyfood was going down without issue for me on the very next day after surgery. My biggest struggle was the gas pain and shoulder pain (from the gas) and overwhelming tiredness. It is good to let your surgeon know you are traveling so soon so they could provide you with compression stockings, anticoagulant injections, or stronger pain killers just in case.

So sorry to hear about the pain and suffering you are going through. I know that your GI appointment is a month away, but if the GI doc is any good, s/he may be able to diagnose your problem and help you. I have chronic nausea and gastric cramping. I visited my bariatric surgeon, PCP, and a GI doc. They all ran tests but the GI doc did the most thorough job. Both he and the PCP suggested prescription meds for me which have helped ameliorate but not resolve my condition. If you can, ask to be placed on your GI doc's cancellation list so you might get seen sooner. And you can call the office every once in awhile to ask if any appointments have opened up. Best wishes to you.