Sleeved Twice - My Story

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Hi Amanda

Hope you are still doing well! I had thought about writing my story for a while but you convinced me it was the right thing to do. You were right' date=' I feel better for doing it. Thanks![/quote']

Hey Canada!

I'm doing just fine and so glad to be home. I'm glad you chose share your story. Hopefully it helps another to make their decision. I'm especially glad you feel good sharing it and now successfully Sleeved.

Amanda Rae

[Rycherchick 147]

Of you paid you need a refund or was it covered under your nat. Health care? Sucks nonetheless.

[frumpynomore 204]

NUMBER 1 RULE: Always trust your gut instincts! I'm glad to hear that you did! It's just so unfortunate for you that your first surgeon was incompetant! Good luck on your second Journey!

[Jesser 295]

Hello! Amanda and I actually looked into Dr. Pompa. The website looks very appealing being a center of excellence and she's a part of the FACS, but I did research on obesity help and also on there people have mentioned the sleeve not being done correctly. Also, they quoted me $1000 MORE than my friend who had called only a day prior to me calling them. I called them out on it and said I wouldn't be using them because this was bad business in my eyes. I felt like I had been scammed over or something. They did however write me back to tell me they weren't trying to do bad business, but a special had ended the day before I called them. They said they would honor the lower price if I wanted to book with Dr. Pompa. I decided against it. We started off on the wrong foot already, plus I read the complaints. That was enough for me to look elsewhere. She may be a good surgeon though, I'm not bad mouthing her.

[kakaw 33]

Hmmm Im wondering if I met you at the hospital??? I met Amanda too. I had Karla bring me to quickly say hi when I was there for my preop testing I believe the day you were leaving. Not 100% sure if you are her lol sorry! Anyways I am glad you are doing well. How frustrating for you!! Im sure you are who I met lol Feel free to PM me if youd like as I wont post my name on here and am bad with keeping up with posts. I was sleeved the 22nd

Your Canadian Neighbour

[AChristian 112]

Be fortunate his incompetence didn't result in anything worse and that you were alive and well to pay for surgery again !!! However, I can't blame you if you want to kick his ass lol. I want to for you. Lol

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Be fortunate his incompetence didn't result in anything worse and that you were alive and well to pay for surgery again !!! However' date=' I can't blame you if you want to kick his ass lol. I want to for you. Lol[/quote']

Dr. Liza Pompa.

[harleyscgirl 1]

Wow what a ride. I sure hope my Doc took enough. Don't want to go through that again. Best of luck.

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Hey Canada!

How're you doing with your new and improved sleeve?

[Canadasleever 33]

Hi Amanda!

I'm doing really well, 10lbs from my first goal!!! I was so afraid after my second surgery that I would have the same result but this sleeve is so different from the first. My sleeve lets me eat most things without a problem, but in very tiny amounts. One exception is bread, which it will not tolerate, which is great for me as that was one of my problem foods!

I did hesitate before going through this surgery again, but I am so pleased I did!

Sorry I'm more of a reader than a poster, but following your progress and cheering you on all the way!

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Hi Amanda!

I'm doing really well' date=' 10lbs from my first goal!!! I was so afraid after my second surgery that I would have the same result but this sleeve is so different from the first. My sleeve lets me eat most things without a problem, but in very tiny amounts. One exception is bread, which it will not tolerate, which is great for me as that was one of my problem foods!

I did hesitate before going through this surgery again, but I am so pleased I did!

Sorry I'm more of a reader than a poster, but following your progress and cheering you on all the way![/quote']

I'm glad you're doing so well. And so close to achieving a milestone!!! Dr. Aceves and team are great.

I am 26 lbs away from my 2nd milestone. Still a long way to go but heading in the right direction.

I haven't tried bread yet. I'm nervous about it making me sick. One bite of Pasta tore me up!

Don't be a stranger.

[Beach Lover 1,084]

This is a good example of believing and knowing what should be happening with your body. You handled this correctly. I am so glad you got that 2nd chance and things are moving in the right direction for you now! I'm sorry you went through the first one and it was such a disappointment but I am also glad you shared your story to prevent this from happening to others. I wish you the best outcome ever!! Keep us posted!!

[Georgia 2,908]

Wow! I'm kinda speechless about this. HOW, How, could they leave too much stomach if they used the boogie. Something isn't right in the clinic. Glad you fought for yourself. Good luck and I'm sure you aw going to be at goal SOON!

[vicki s 146]

Hi Amanda!

I'm doing really well, 10lbs from my first goal!!! I was so afraid after my second surgery that I would have the same result but this sleeve is so different from the first. My sleeve lets me eat most things without a problem, but in very tiny amounts. One exception is bread, which it will not tolerate, which is great for me as that was one of my problem foods!

I did hesitate before going through this surgery again, but I am so pleased I did!

Sorry I'm more of a reader than a poster, but following your progress and cheering you on all the way!

wow, im so glad you posted your story, thanks to a couple of other posters, they led me to you...I am being resleeved on aug 1st, and your the only other person I know who was resleeved...thanks so much, I was starting to feel like a real freak....I am also scared i wont succeed, I am doing it with the same surgeon, he said he didnt take enough because i had so much scar tissue from the band he was afraid of hurting me and i was one of his first sleeves, he has since done hundreds over 3 yrs and is doing it again for free...I pray to God he is is right...He has done many with success, I have seen the results...Thanks again for posting..I hope my story is as positive as yours!!!...

[thedivinemsQ 89]

Now I am feeling better about my situation I wanted to tell my story in the hope that it will help other people. Like most others I have a long history of struggling with my weight and when I found out about the sleeve I thought I had found the solution.

I went through a company called Weight Loss Forever in Canada and had my sleeve in Tijuana with Dr Pompa. I was impressed with the doctors and the facility and was well taken care of. I had hardly any pain and was able to drink without many of the problems I read about on this forum.

When I got home I followed the plan strictly and was losing weight. However I was so hungry all the time and I didn't feel I had any restriction at all. It got worse after a few weeks of recovery. When I questioned this with the support from Weight Loss Forever I was told I had to learn to work my sleeve. I didn't know what I was doing wrong. I did lose weight by eating the 800 calories I was told to eat by support. But it was so hard, I felt I was starving and still no restriction with any kind of food. This went on for months and I felt such a failure and that it was all my fault. I just couldn't relate to anything I read on line. I remember being asked what my favourite foods were by somebody at WLF. I mentioned pizza and was told that that was the great thing about the sleeve - no foods are off limit and I would be satisfied and unable to eat more than the toppings off one slice. Five months out I could eat several slices! No restriction at all, I could eat the same as my friends if I let myself.

Then a friend was sleeved by a different surgeon. I couldn't believe the difference. As she recovered we continued to compare and she lost weight easily, due to the food restriction she had from her sleeve. We started off at a similar weight but she passed me, continued to lose weight and is now 70lbs lighter than me and close to her goal weight. I have been able to lose some weight in the past but could not keep it off and that's what I was doing. I asked advice at Weight Loss Forever several times and was brushed off and ignored.

Then my friend persuaded me I should do something about this. I contacted another group in Canada, (Thanks Adele!) and they asked me to have an Upper GI series of XRays, which I did. The doctor said everything looked healthy. The images and report were sent to Dr Aceves in Mexicali and a day later I was told I had a huge stomach. I asked if I had stretched my stomach because I knew I had been overeating. I was told no, it was a surgical failure. The doctor had only removed a small part of my stomach and simply left too much. I asked a couple of times if it was my fault and was told absolutely not. I cried. I knew I had done what was asked of me initially but for somebody at last not to blame me was awesome.

I was told that I could be sleeved, no problem, because there was so much stomach left, it would be like an operation on somebody that hadn't had surgery. My friend wanted me to show the results to Weight Loss Forever and Dr Pompa but I wouldn't want to be operated there again, so I paid again.

I was sleeved by Dr Aceves on 19th March, just 8 days ago. It was a good experience, very little pain and I was lucky enough not to be nauseous either. I have photos of my actual surgery and Dr Aceves actually took photos to show me how much he removed.

I was lucky enough to meet some very cool people in the hospital, including AmandaRaeLeo. I am home and there is a huge difference in how I feel. I am able to get in the liquids required, but I really do need to sip, sip, sip. A sip to many and I feel like I have a brick in my chest! I am not hungry, not finding liquids difficult to stick with (apart from finding Protein I like) and 11 lbs downs already! My friend keeps saying I told you so!

There is always going to be a negative comment or two about a surgeon and I am not writing to push my surgeon. There are lots of good ones out there. I just wish I had googled a bit more, not only before my surgery, but when I was made to feel such a failure. I am finding that the hardest to forgive. When somebody told me to google Dr Pompa too large sleeve, there were lots of hits for people with similar problems. Then I started to think and realised that of the few people I met through Weight Loss Forever, I knew two that had been back - one was at the hospital when I was sleeved the first time and the second is actually a WLF member of staff.

I admit to being quite bitter, I think anybody would in my situation, but I tell my story to encourage people to do lots of reasearch before choosing a surgeon. But also if you go through a company as many Canadians do, to make sure that you have one that will go to bat for you if you have a problem, rather than blaming the patient. It's easy to appear to be supportive when everything is going well, but a sign of a good company that takes your side when there are problems.

Sorry for the long post, but it's been a long road! I feel better for writing it and hope it helps a few others.

That is aweful. Now I'm paranoid. I know a few people who went through them. Who was your facilitator???