Took the Plunge
Finally did it!
My wife and I flew from Atlanta to San Diego and had WLS in Mexicali, Mexico. We went to the Mexicali Bariatric Center and had VSGs. The surgery was a week ago, Monday (September 1) and everything went great! The hotel the night before was good. The hospital was CLEAN and almost everyone (in the bariatric center) was fluent in English. The surgeons were great before and after. And best of all, at least if your insurance won't cover it, it was half the price of having the surgery in the U.S.
I have no bruising. The hole from the drain tube has closed up nicely. I do get tired easily. My wife has a fair amount of bruising and seems to tire a bit easier.
It turns out I did this just in time. The doctor at home who is going to do the follow-up wanted blood tests for a base-line. Well, found out I have diabetes. The blood tests I did in Mexico, right before the surgery, revealed I have fatty liver disease. I was ABOUT to have some big health issues...and I wouldn't have known if it weren't for the surgery. Luckily, the cure for both issues is weight loss.
I lost 10lbs on the pre-surgery diet and I've lost 20lbs since the surgery (in eight days). I am getting tired of the clear liquid diet. We get thicker soups starting on Friday (three days) and I CAN'T WAIT! I've already bought every Cream of .... soup known to man in anticipation.
ONLY regret... I didn't do this 10 years ago.
Glad to hear you and the wife are doing well! 
Do you have any information, or know where I can get information, about how WLS helps fatty liver disease? I have a friend whose 18 year old son weighs 400 lbs and is diagnosed with fatty liver disease. I would love to pass on some helpful information to her.
Not really. Here's all I know...
The day we got to the hospital they took urine and blood samples. When we came back the next day for surgery we got to meet the doctors and talk about what they'd be doing. There were two surgeons and one bariatric doctor, Dr. Campos. Dr. Campos told me the lab tests showed I had fatty liver disease (FLD). He told me the surgeons would take a close look during the surgery and take photos for my doctor back home. He was not overly concerned. He said the cure for FLD was weight loss. He smiled and said, "You get the cure today." After the surgery, Campos told me I did have FLD but it was not extensive.
I think FLD can be controlled with medication but to truly get rid of it, I think he's going to have to lose some of the weight...unless he's a 6'8" offensive lineman. If that's the case, I hope he goes on to play for Georgia (Go Dawgs). :O)
There are some clinical trials regarding vitamins and some medications, but at this point there is NO medication that can treat FLD-at least the portion of FLD that ends up being NASH (precursor to cirrhosis). The ONLY thing that works here is weight loss-substantial weight loss. The all caps is for me because it is this that is driving me to give serious consideration to the sleeve.
Oh, and here is a decent article on FLD
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/diabetes/articles/2009/04/10/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-5-tips-for-treatment-prevention
If you want more in-depth info Mayo has a great patient information site for all manner of conditions.
Since I've known I had FLD for a week, Ill go with what she said. :O)
