Debbest

You are recuperating at the pool I hope!!! sip sip sip.... Is Dr Ortiz as cute as ever? say hi to Frank at the restaurant, get lots of rest and be happy!!! -32 today!!!

My surgery was on a Monday, flew home on Friday, stayed an extra day in TJ and glad I did. Went to work on Saturday, realtor -- open houses on the weekend and showings, but will say I was busy for a week and found it took me 2 weeks to feel rested. To get my energy back. Shortness of breath, need to use the spirometer a lot. Be sure to take with you. I hit a stall for a week at 200 and just now kicked it under to 198!!!! . I can not believe it has been day 37 since my surgery, solid foods on day 40. Good Luck to you, oh ya I took a gift for the staff , Canadian stuff, Dr O says he likes Wine.... FYI

Minus 30 today!!! 2 more to go and never again will I see the 200's!!! I am exactly one month post op and onto soft foods. I was a little excited about the whole soft foods things but after having the poached egg, not so excited anymore. Interesting how the food did not go down so easy, its kind of hard to explain, but slow going and by the time I was done the egg was cold and I had enough anyways. You sure can feel how somethings are easy to go down and others cause you discomfort. That's a good word, not pain, but not comfortable feeling. Another thing I do not think I have done yet is fill myself to the FULL point. I usually eat til I think I am full, satisfied for sure but not STUFFED. Don't want to have that feeling. I have had no acid reflux, no heartburn, no problems really. I am now taking my suppliements whole, no more crushing or blending in vitamins and such. That is really good. I am still on 1 to 2 protein shakes a day. Cottage cheese, yogurts, mashed sweet potatoes. I had mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy which was heavenly! but of course a half a cup. I have had troubles with my Weight watchers stupid scale. I just bought it and I even swore off it for a few days as I am getting no where on it, stalled!! Then I tried the other features, BMI..etc and it shows Err...so I pulled out my old school style scale that I was using from the very beginning and it says I am down another 3 lbs. I think the WW scales is a big Err. I have had no issues whatsoever with my health, the healing process, I have been in the hot tub a few times in the past week, all is very good! I am 1/3 of the way to my goal, looking forward to the rest of summer!!! Keep up the good work friends!!! The best part of our lives are head of us yet!!!

Thank you for sharing, I am only 1 month post op and getting there!!

Be excited, not nervous, I was so excited I wanted to be first! Bring single dollar bills to tip the guys at the hotel for your room service or whatevers, the worst part of the whole procedure was (and I am serious) was crushing one of the prescription meds and swallowing it, the taste was beyond bad!! thank goodness only 10 of those pills, I celebrated when I was done. No pain at all, but follow their diet instructions religiously, and be sure to sip sip sip the days after surgery. I spent a lot of time at the pool soaking up the sun on my recovery days. Remember your lung breathing thingy or you will have to buy another one... it is needed in the recovery process. I asked for a sleeping pill the night I stayed in the clinic, it made my night go by much faster and asked if I could sleep on my side and they said I could! You will sleep most of the day of surgery anyways and they have English tv. Good Luck I am 3 weeks today out and I am minus 25 lbs!!!

Hello Everyone!! I am officially past the 1 month mark from when I made my decision and started the PRE OP diet. I am down exactly 20lbs for my 1 month anniversary. I am now on day 10 POST OP, I am still on the liquid only part of the diet and can not say I am bored with it. Soup is my friend! Yogurts and Protein Shakes get me through the day. If I feel the need to chew I get a piece of gum. I can not believe how EASY this whole thing has been. I think today was the first time I felt hunger. It was time for me to get something into me and I did have Tomato soup, about 3 ozs of it. I am working on the WATER WATER WATER all the time..is sure is hard. But can now take bigger gulps, no more chest clenching. I can see the difference in my face and start to feel it in my clothes, it is only going to get better from here on in. Good Luck people, someone pinch me I feel that this is a dream!

I am on day 6 of POST OP... OMG this was so EASY, everything was well put together from the OCC office. I was on the 2 day liquid only diet which was easy enough, just kept water and protein shakes on hand when I felt my big guts eating my little guts, I would fill up on a shake. Omar was our driver and a very kind man who got us where we needed to be. The Marriot was the best, the pool is where I spent a few days recovering, the Chicken broth was so delish, Frank in the restaurant was very nice. Richardo the Concierge was helpful as well, any need to contact OCC as we had trouble dialing the number but I was using my cell phone, Richardo has a direct line and had our question answered in seconds. I thought their Popsicles were great tasting , I was with a group of women and we called ourselves TEAM 13 as it was the 13th of April. There was 4 of us getting done and I was the second inline. We waiting in the waiting room until it was almost time to go in. We all did our EKG test before and spoke to Lucia about Nutrition and had our weight and BMI taken. Good information she gave us. Once in my room, a loveseat for my best friend to hang out with and English TV, I change into the gown and stockings and waited. I was given a swig of stuff to relax me and I teased Osmon it was a shot of tequila as it made me all relaxed! He was incredibly patient and almost painless at giving me my IV, he also does a blood test at the same time using the same poke, so only one poke! Dr Ortiz came in and sat and had a very good visit with us. He is so compassionate about his job it just radiates off of him. I learned a few things about the foods we have been comsuming all these years. Thank you for that. Next I was in a wheel chair in the hallway meeting Dr Martinez and reassured me everything would be great. I walked into the operating room , go on the table and I was out and waking up in the recovery room! Not a stitch of pain, just freezing cold, many blankets on me I was then wheeled to my bed. Within 2 hours of going into the operation room and back at my room I was ready to get up and use the washroom. I used a walker to keep myself steady and with Osmon with me I was in good hands. I slept most of the day. Up walking a few times, I did ask for a sleeping pill as the lady next door could snore. The night Doctor came in and told me of my surgery that I also had a hernia which was fixed at the same time and that everything went very well. The night nurses , all male were super nice and very quiet when checking on you. I was up and out first thing in the morning and had a great time staying at the hotel for a few days before heading home. I did go back 2 days after the surgery for the Leak Test, that took a total of 5 minutes, super easy. Then we were released. I did have trouble with swallowing cramping in my chest and the leak test technician told me that could last for a few months. However it has already subsided. REMEMBER TO SIP YOUR DRINKS!! Glouping HURTS!! I had brought some Canadian gifts for the Staff but I do remember Dr Ortiz saying he like wine, so if your in the giving spirit, remember Wine!! I would recommend this place with all my heart. I would also recommend to take a companion, its always good to have someone look out for you as my Tuesday the day after is pretty much a blur, I was in a bit of a fog for a few days. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for my new LIFE!!!!

Thank you Ellie for your answers, that makes me feel even better,hows it going for you? Post Op? dieting is working ok? any struggles? I am so over the top excited to be doing this, its feels almost like winning the lottery to me. That's my next goal!!!

Protein drinks x 3 and salads are going down well, I am very close to the suggested 5% weight loss and going strong. Focused and hoping this week flies by! Had a terrible cold the past week but on the mend, popsicles really helped with the sore throat. Now exercise and water water water. Was curious about the pre op tests? Is there a test where there is a camera put down your throat? And a little curious about the drain after surgery? Is it bothersome? Thanks in advance for any answers.

ME ME ME.....This is me! I am well into this program for the past 9 days, flew fast the 3 week pre-op diet, well into my 2nd week pre op diet, easypeasy! I think the reason it is easy for a few reasons, I do not have to cook for anyone, I only look after myself. Everyone else can fend for themselves. I have cleaned out a cabinet that only stores my food and supplements. So I have no need to open the pantry. I made my own sugar free popsicles and also took 2 oz's of my chocolate shake and put in my popsicle container and freeze that then I have that as a snack. It is delish!!! Great night time snack when you are watching tv as it takes a while to eat one and you feel satisfied as your mouth is busy rather than jello where you don't need to work at it at all, a little more satisfying. I have also pre made a salad I just love and when in a pinch it is always there and can be eaten now. I have declined dinner invites to restaurants for the week as well. Keep busy , it goes by fast. God Speed to me!! I have tried several times to upload a new photo but in the preview it does not show so if it is not here , sorry.

Hello Leah, welcome to our little 'ALBERTA' group! I am almost counting the hours I am that excited. I have been selective about who I tell. My family and others I am telling I am going to San Diego for a trip. My family was super supportive, actually anyone I have told have been very positive. Only one had a funny look on her face when I said Mexico, but when I continued with the research I have done , she was all good with it. The Stigma that goes with Mexico needs to be broken, and I am such a sales person I will surely promote this once the proof is in the pudding! So glad to hear you have a friend who already has done the experience, I will surely keep this blog going and thanks for the post.

Wow Thank you for taking the time to give me such a detailed report of your trip, I have read and re read this, it is wonderful and very insightful, I am more at ease with each new post I read about the procedures done here. I do have a strange question, did you find sugar free popsicles here? I have searched, walmart, sobeys, co-op, no frills, no luck!!! and out of all of those only one sugar free already to go Jello. I am shocked! I have convinced myself that a popsicle is my treat, so far an unattainable treat. Thank you again for your kind words and story, how is the weight loss going?

Thank you Alberta I most certainly would love to chat about your experience I am sure you have some great advice. How did you feel the day of surgery? I am hearing a lot about no pain but overall how did you feel otherwise? groggy , tired, like a bus ran you over? are you hungry? thirsty? bored? The other thing my best bud is going with me and we were planning on hanging out that the Marriot til Thursday... Surgery is the Monday... is that sufficient? if you live in southern Alberta I would love to meet you.

My decision has been made and this is the heaviest I am for the last time in my life!! The date is March 21st in the picture of the weigh scale.Coming from Alberta Canada, I am so confident in choosing this facility and I am very excited. My surgery date is April 13,2015. I have started my pre-op diet and will say the dreaded headache from withdrawal of sugar/carbs only lasted a day. I am in full swing now just really working on getting the 8 glasses of water into me. I am doing something physical every day for 20 minutes. More than I was doing before. And yes I count shoveling snow and activity! The Protein shakes from Costco are great, easy to take with and tasty. I am waiting for my Vitaleph products to arrive as they were ordered last week and having to go through customs I am sure it will be a bit of a wait. Anyone even thinking of doing this , please research and DO IT.... no looking back for this chick! I am so excited... countdown 18 more days!!!