July Tijuana Sleeve Buddy

[ABB'sObesityFight 7]

Hello:

I am so excited for my operation! While I will be traveling with my husband and I know he will try very hard, I know he wont truly understand all of my worries, pain, and overall feeling. That is why I am sending out a "wanted" sign for a sleeve buddy traveling to Tijuana so we can support each other while we are there, pre-op, and post op. My operation is on 7/2/2015 with OCC.

Look forward to talking with and possibly meeting y'all.

[anna0322 90]

Hi there! My operation is on 7/3/15 with Dr. Zavalza in Tijuana. Have you started your pre-op diet? I'm excited for this new journey in my life but I'm also a bit nervous.

[wascott 395]

I'll be there 10 days before you. Good luck!

[ABB'sObesityFight 7]

anna0322 - That is great! I am getting sleeved with Dr. Ariel Ortiz, but I am sure we will see each other around the hotel. I have started my pre-op last week. They have me on a Protein shake in the morning and lean meat and leafy greens the other 2 meals with no carbs or fat allowed. Next Thursday I start the Protein Shake only portion on the pre-op. They told me they want me to lose 13-26 lbs before the surgery. So far it has gone really well. Every once in a while I have a craving for mayo or something not good.

Have you started your pre-op diet? If so how is it going for you?

[ABB'sObesityFight 7]

wascott - Congratulation and good luck! If possible, I would ask that you let me know how it goes. If there is anything that we should know about what to bring, leave at home, or information about San Diego and Tijuana that was good or bad.

Have you started the Protein shake only portion of the pre-op? If so, how is it going for you?

Side question, did you order the Vitaleph Vitamins that they recommenced?

[wascott 395]

@@ABB'sObesityFight I still have 3 more days before starting the liquid pre-op diet. I plan on using EAS complete Protein and Premier Protein shakes.

I did purchase some Vitaleph products including the Vitamins. Their products are very expensive. I also bought some opurity bariatric Vitamins. Their Protein powder was never in stock so I didn't try it.

Most people recommend GasX strips and lip balm. I'm planning to bring as little as possible. I'll bring my phone but won't bring my tablet or computer. I'll bring a book instead.

San Diego is a fun place but I don't plan on spending any time there on this trip. I've never been to Tijuana so can't comment on it. I expect that I'll spend all of my time at the hotel or hospital.

I'll add you to my friends list. I'll try to let you know of anything that comes up.

My cousin had surgery there last year and had nothing but great things to say about them.

[ABB'sObesityFight 7]

@@wascott good luck with starting your liquid phase! I know they didn't say to but about 3 days before I start that I was going to switch to 2 shacks a day so it is not such a huge change when I do start the next phase. I have not tried the EAS, but I heard it was good. I was going to do a mixture of nectar fuzzy navel and Cytosport chocolate. I have been on Amazon trying to find a bunch of variety packs of stuff so I can try many things out without having to commit to a bunch of something I don't like.

I also purchased the Vitaleph Vitamins. I agree they are very expensive. I also don't like the fact that I have to spread out the Vitamins through out the day. I also decided to start the ca+ d and that means I have to take that between the 3 servings of the multi since there is Iron in that. (If you did not know you should not take Iron and Calcium together as they do not effectively absorb and it is wasted. You should also avoid real dairy products when taking iron, I say real because products like almond milk have no affect on the iron.) I figured I would do these vitamins for about 8 months to get past the really rapid portion of weight loss then look at something else. I order a lot of my own blood tests online and have already had a baseline panel done so I know where my Vitamin levels are. I plan on repeating this blood test every month for the first couple the backing it down to every other so I can keep a very close eye on my body. Side note, i am doing this myself because I need to find a new primary who will support me. My doc thinks surgery is just a "fad" and everyone can lose weight with diet and exersice alone...

I did hear about the gas-x. My friend said he got a pocket of air stuck in his shoulder and between gas-x and walking he got it out. He said it was not fun and hurt but it is fairly common and easy to deal with.

We are staying an extra day because of how long the flights are, we couldn't find one that worked with occ's trasport times. So they are dropping us off back at the airport one day before we leave and will take a shuttle to a hotel in San Diego to hang out for the day. If I am feeling well I really want to go to the zoo. I heard it is great and I love to photograph animals.

I am glad your cousin had such a good experience, and I hope he is doing well.

Edited June 6, 2015 by ABB'sObesityFight

[badgerboy100 6]

My procedure is on june 30 with dr corrals at hospital Angeles

[badgerboy100 6]

I meant to type in my post above my surgery is with covala at hospital angeles. I will be staying at the hospital june 29 departing. Note I have heard good things also about some of the bariatricpal affiliated surgeons. It was just important to me to be at hospital angeles the duration of my stay. Covala is also more experienced than most bariatric surgeons. Dr ponce de leon at florence int hospital looks like a decent lower cost option than Corvala and hospital angeles.

[wascott 395]

@@ABB'sObesityFight Yeah...I couldn't get a great set of flights home so it will be a long long day. I won't land until midnight and then I'll have a 45 minute drive home.

[anna0322 90]

I started my pre-op diet on Wednesday. I do get cravings here and there, I hope I can hang in there. The Dr didn't give say I had to lose a certain amount of weight but I know the more I lose the better it will be. We're also staying 1 extra day because it's a holiday weekend we didn't have a lot of options and we wanted a direct flight home. Luckily the flight will only be 1 1/2. I'm scared of getting sick on the flight, I hope I do okay. Good luck to you, keep me updated. ????

[Stlgirl74 0]

Hello! I will be having surgery on July 1st with Dr. Kelly. Nice to know others that will be down there as well.

[ABB'sObesityFight 7]

@@wascott that is exactly what we were looking at. I hope the trip goes well. Have you heard of any tips for traveling? I want to bring a pillow to go between me and the seat belt. How do you plan on handling Protein Drinks?

[ABB'sObesityFight 7]

@@anna0322 hang in there I know you can do it! Pintrest has been my best friend so far. Soo many good ideas. If you are struggling with something let me know and I will see if I have a potential recipe to help. If you have not started your Vitamins, I would recommend it. My nut said if I use an otc Vitamin I needed to double the dose. I found this really helped with the cravings. If you are on an otc Vitamin ask your nut if you could double up if you have bad cravings.

You are so lucky to have a 1 1/2 hour flight. Mine is about 4 1/2 hours flight followed by a 1 1/2 hour drive in addition to the 3 hour time change, yuck!

I will definitely keep you updated.

[ABB'sObesityFight 7]

@@Stlgirl74 Hello! It is really nice to know that there are others that are walking the same path as you. For we it takes off a bit of personal pressure know others are there fighting with me. I fly in on the first so I am sure I will see you around the hotel toward the end of the stay. How are things going for you so far?