Hello,
My name is Amy and I am a Surgical Technology student at Baker College in Clinton Township, Michigan.
I am researching the perioperative experience for a surgical patient. This documentation is meant to private and I hope you are willing to share this part of your life with me.
I will have questions regarding all parts of the surgery from pre- to post-op., and how you feel now after your experience.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. Looking forward to communicating with you.
Amy
This is Leslie.
ReplyDeleteHi there Leslie :) Thank you for reading my blog :) Do you have a operative experience you would like to share with me?
ReplyDeleteI am a Surgical Tech student at Baker College in Clinton Twp. Thanks for taking the time :)
In March of this year, I traveled to Tijuana, Mexico to have Gastric Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery through a medical tourism company. I had had several surgeries in the US throughout my life and found that the experience thought that this different perspective might be of use to you.
ReplyDeleteWow...that does sound very interesting!! May I ask why you had the surgery and how you became part of the medial tourism company?
ReplyDeleteI had struggled with my weight for my entire life due to a metabolic issue and wanted a change that would actually work. The Vertical Sleeve surgery is fairly new, and while it has been showing very good results, it is not covered by my insurance company. I found the medical tourism company on an internet search for a way to afford the surgery on my own, as I was quoted at $33,000 in the US. I was able to get the same procedure in Mexico for only $7,900!
ReplyDeleteOMG! That is a big difference!!!! So this was an elective surgery? Or was it recommend by a doctor? Where you having other health problems due to weight?
ReplyDeleteIt was recommended by my PCP, and she was very supportive of my going out of the country to have it done. It was elective, my weight was actually on the low end for qualifying for the procedure, and I had no co-morbidities and was able to be fairly active. I was seeing my weight slowly climb in spite of weight loss efforts however, and I wanted to take this step before things got worse. So it was almost a preventative procedure in my case.
ReplyDeleteOh I see! Let me ask you, did you have any special treatments or diagnostic testing you had to do before you went to mexico? Any when you got there?
ReplyDeleteBefore they approved me I had to complete an EXTENSIVE medical history questonaire. I also was placed on a 2 week no carb, lowfat diet to shrink my liver and to lose alittle weight. Once I arrived, it was like clockwork. They picked me up from the airport and I went directly to the hospital. They took blood, and ECG and chest exray and then I took a nap for a couple of hours while my labs were run. After all checked out, they took me into surgery.
ReplyDeletewow! cool! Did you have any preoperative issues or complications while doing the 2 week diet?
ReplyDeleteThe diet was awful! All the meat they wanted me to eat made me really sick to my stomach. I also was exhausted, zitty, and actually gained about 10 lbs. They concluded that some people just should not go "no carb". I stuck it out though, because I was going to be so far from home, and didn't want to cause any issues for myself.
ReplyDeletegood call!! that does sound aweful! I love my pasta!!!! lol! What was the outcome of your surgery?
ReplyDeleteI am at almost exactly 4 moths out now. I have lost 75 lbs. I am off all but one medication (down from 6!) My asthma, fibromyalgia, GERD, and knee issues are gone! I have dropped dress sizes as well, from a 22 to a 14! I plan to lose another 40 lbs and will probably be there by the winter. It is really amazing how good I feel and how fast and easy my recovery was.
ReplyDeleteOMG I am so excited for you!!!! That is truly amazing!!! Great job! Did you have to attened a post op visit? if so, how long after and where?
ReplyDeleteMy surgeon personally called me every week for the first month and then every 3-4 weeks. He still calls. They follow up for the first 6 months. I also have heard from my coordinator from the tourism company, so the support was amazing. It was honestly more individual and intensive than I have ever seen in the states. I did have a post op visit at 1 month, with my PCP. My surgeon had given me a list of labs to ask to have drawn to make sure that my vitamins, iron, and blood counts were all in line, and for her to check my incisions. All was well, so I haven't needed any followup since.
ReplyDeleteSo no post op complications?
ReplyDeleteOnly two: I had a full hysterectomy in late 2011. (Long story about horrible reproductive issues) Because of my young age (33) I need to take replacement hormones. Unfortunately, the oral medication I have been taking for it stopped working after my surgery. My gynecologist feels that the new, smaller stomach moves the medication out too fast for a proper hormone delivery. I'm going to try the implanted pellets for my HRT, but in the mean time, I'm alittle frusterated.
ReplyDeleteThe second issue is also related to my stomach emptying too fast. If I eat something fried, or very sugary, I will have some reactive hypoglycemia. It only really happens when I'm not careful to eat proteins with my carbs. It's just an adjustment though, nothing too severe.
oh my! so are fried and sugary food your only restrictions? Or just keep them to a minimum?
ReplyDeleteI can eat anything I like without complications really. I try to keep the "bad" stuff at a minimum, as I'm still trying to lose weight fast. As long as I balance the carbs with protein, it's all ok. Pastas and breads sit very heavily now though. I only hold about 4oz of food, so I try to eat my proteins first and then veggies or fruits. There isn't usually room for much more. I don't really crave the bad stuff anymore though so I'm not feeling deprived.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, wow, I can't express how grateful I am that you shared this information with me! Thank you so much! It was all very interesting and I learned a lot!!! Take care of yourself and keep in touch :)
ReplyDeleteAmy
You're welcome!
ReplyDelete