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Its January 27th, and today's the day I head down to Juarez to meet Dr. Rodriguez and the team at Star Medica! EEEP lol - wish me luck :)
Hi Everyone! Thanks for posting :)
So I'm here on the eve of my journey - man, I can't even explain the oscillating feelings of nerves, being grateful that I can even do this, that this surgeon is saving my life, and the normal FREAK OUT!!! Oh man, what a wild ride :)
@inforapenny-inforapound -- how on earth are you keeping this to yourself.. LMAO! You are awesome!! Glad you're doing what you have to ensuring nobody naysays you. What do you think they're going to say? When do you plan on telling everyone? You know -- I went to the bank today to get my cashier's check and to tell them I'm going to Mexico, please dont let the over-zealous fraud protection people shut my accounts down because I'm traveling etc. So the bank teller asks me, 'Oh, you're going to mexico! Why are you traveling there? (just in friendly conversation)." So I told her - I'm having surgery done, part of the surgical tourism. Without missing a beat, she told me that another lady from [insert the hoity toity neighborhood she mentioned here] just did the same thing. So it's not that uncommon! If people are looking at you askance (LOVE THAT WORD LOL, im such a nerd) then they just aren't up to date on where people are going for the latest procedures. :)
@lindsayraec323 -- I understand where you're coming from. I've had my own food parting and it was terribly painful. I had no idea I was so addicted to eating and really loved it so much. Part of the freakout I'm having is psychological. My husband reminds me that I can still eat anything I want but only >|-----|< thissss much of it. so it's not really goodbye. In fact, as far as dieting goes, this will be the least restrictive diet we will go on because we're not going to abstain from food - we just can't hardly eat any of it. Of course, this is not license to hog wild and eat crap like before. But a taste of cheesecake is all that will fit and it's more than enough really. I actually bought low carb ice cream (carb smart, Dannon) and on the pre op diet, just to make sure I'd stick to it, I had this chocolate ice cream in the freezer. I knew I couldn't have but a skeosh of it, so I'd have a tablespoon or two and put it up. I found that it satisfied the craving. Maybe that's how it'll be the rest of our lives with everything. Eat to live, right? As far as the youtube videos - stupid me watched the surgery itself. I am not squeamish with that sort of thing but this one was better to not have watched. Too much information wasn't great either. But you're right - just visualizing my body as something normal and not to be ashamed of, my blood sugar stable (god.. that would be lovely), going back to martial arts and not dying... just fun stuff. yanno?
@Sandra F. -- TY so much for the words of encouragement. I'm nervous but I'm going with the mindset that he is saving my life. It really hit me when I tried to apply for life insurance awhile back and I was denied... because of my BMI. I was like omg, I feel ok, but I cant even get insurance because of my weight? Ok.. that aint good... I'm going through with this and while nervous about it, I'm just not going to dwell on it. No sense. But still hoping for the best for a procedure that is gonna save me. Its always nice to hear from people who have been through the procedure.
@Sammy_85 -- ty for posting! I'm so glad surgery went well for you! Thanks for the advice - I'm telling my husband to get me moving regardless if I want to or not :) I noticed that it helped a great deal to walk around after surgery the last couple of times - especially when that dreaded gas is involved. I hate that stuff. If you don't walk around, it somehow hits a nerve and hurts in the shoulder something fierce!!! TY for best wishes :)
Ok guys - back to staying busy for my flight tomorrow at 9am. EEK!! lol..
I am so glad how I feel I would have never thought that I would have felt so good so fast.
I am now able to walk for about a hour a day with out stop.
I am even starting to jog, and can jog about 15 min with out loosing my breath.
I am so glad that I went through the surgery and not backed down which I was about to do due to nerves.
But I tied my nerves into a knot and went through this Dr. Quinones did such a good job that I am so amazed.
I'm 6 days out and going to Mexico was a great experience. You sound very prepared so just stay calm and trust your surgeon and his team. Don't be afraid to ask questions and follow their instructions like walk, walk, walk. You will do great (and I don't think you're crazy)! Best wishes for an uneventful surgery and recovery!
All I did beforehand was follow the pre-op diet and instructions my surgeon gave me (Dr. Garcia - Tijuana Bariatrics). When I got to Mexico, before my surgery, they did an EKG and a blood panel. After surgery, they gave me all the appropriate medications, supplies for cleaning and changing my bandages, and my post-op instructions. They had me meet with a nutritionist and she gave me my detailed post-op nutrition guidelines. My drain and incision staples were removed there; there is nothing for me to have to do back here in Canada, except follow their plan. I would imagine your surgery centre will do many if not all of these things too. You should have a coordinator that will be guiding you through the process and this person should be able to answer any questions you have. Hope this helps! Congratulations on your approval, best of luck!
I'm 10 days out and feel the same thing! I'm not freaking out though, I don't know how...lol I haven't told my family yet; I'm not trying to hide it, but another family member just had surgery and it was too much to put on everyone. I suspect they are all going to look at me askance because I'm going to Mexico, but they all also know me and they know I over-research EVERYTHING (it's a sickness). I'm just hoping they decide to trust me and my judgment.
GOOD LUCK!! And I'll be following because I'm right behind you! We're not crazy, we're brave :-)
lol -- so I had this very same question and then I realized that 90% of what insurance companies make you do here is to disqualify you. no joke. There are psychological evaluations, seminars, blood work, more blood work, check ups, more check ups, yadda yadda, yadda... and all of these things are to protect the investments of the big, evil, moneymaking corporation which is the insurance company. They could care less about you.
The only thing you're going to have to do beforehand is a pre-op diet, which consists of low carb dieting. Read up on the Atkins plan.
... were you expecting something else? Sorry to disappoint.
Yep -- all the BS the insurance companies have you do, and in Mexico its a matter of filling out the medical questionnaire, preop diet, and buying your plane ticket. I'm not kidding. If you want to read up on what I did from start to finish i wrote a blog at theobesityblog.com. I even have a copy of the questionnaire from BeLite Weight's doctors. You'll be absolutely fine where you are.
The only thing I would recommend is to have insurance after the fact just in case there are any complications down the road so you're covered for things like docs, ER, and meds.
Hope this helps,
Cheers!
