Try Quest! They are delicious. A little pricey, 2lbs for 30ish dollars but if you are like me and can’t stand a chalky or grainy taste that I find a lot of proteins have– I highly recommend Quest!
Also try mixing your protein powder with cashew milk! I find it makes for a creamier taste!
I want to lose 100 pounds by May 2016 (this is a crazy goal). Get my body fixed (a boob job is inevitable😕😔) . And travel all over Europe. I just want to be who I feel like I am. And I want to do the things that I know will fulfill my life. Idk why I feel like I'm running out of time to live my life. Perhaps because I've held myself back so much over the last couple years. Ugh. But still, I'm so ready to do all of these things. I'm so excited for the rest of my life. I'm so happy that I'm hopeful. I've wanted to feel like this for soooooo long!! ❤️
if you think nicole arbour is funny or cute and you support fat shaming unfollow me, block me, and report yourself bc you are 100/10 fucking disgusting
i want to apologize to all the women i have called beautiful
before i’ve called them intelligent or brave
i am sorry i made it sound as though
something as simple as what you’re born with
is all you have to be proud of
when you have broken mountains with your wit
from now on i will say things likeyou are resilient, or you are extraordinary
not because i don’t think you’re beautiful
but because i need you to know
you’re more than that
Weight Loss Surgery - Mexico -ALighterMe Review/Experience
Its been long time coming! Well not really, lol. I am a couple days shy of being one month post op, so figured its a good time to recall all my memories and write up a review.
In short, my experience was great, I’d recommend this to a friend. Continue reading for a lengthy, possibly boring, day by day what to expect sort of details. I know when I was doing my research I really wanted to read something that will tell me exactly what to expect.
Also, much of my blog is just for me, kind of like a diary, so if anyone ever reads this, do expect unnecessary information that is just for me to look back on.
Why Mexico?
My insurance didn’t cover weight loss surgery, and I was quoted $20,000 for a VSG from Dr. Ferzli in New York. My parents were willing to pay for it since I had my mind made up about getting the surgery. But thats a lot of money, I couldn’t accept that for an elective surgery. So while I was researching on Obesity Help for solutions I came across their Mexico forum and there was no going back!
How did I choose A Lighter Me?
I watched a lot of videos on youtube of people who went to Mexico for surgery. I watched LeAnna Brillhart on youtube and felt a connection with her and the week after made an appointment and paid my deposit ($500) with A Lighter Me. I know there are a few other companies that you can go through, but I really didn’t do any research/comparison with any of them.
A Lighter Me vs. other companies?
Like I said I didn’t do much research about any other company so I can’t answer it. However, at the hospital I think the way it works is that certain floors are reserved for certain companies. One of the patients family I met in the waiting room had been waiting for 5 hours to get checked into a room while her sister got the surgery. And poor thing was worried sick, sitting with all of her luggage and I felt so bad especially because my mom and I had our room already ready for us when we got to the hospital.
Cost of surgery!
$4100 for a VSG with Dr Elias Ortiz of A Lighter Me. This included everything except air fair and food for the companion. Everything I ate/could eat came with the package. Our air fair was around $900, and my mom spent another $200ish on room service because she’s a princess. But this cost is easily avoidable if you aren’t a picky eater, There were so many restaurants right across the street; a Carls Jr., Subway, Burger King and a lot of local mom and pop shops.
I think maybe I spent a maximum of $5500, or somewhere around that figure. And this was plus all of the medicine/pain killers I needed.
The Hotel
The Grand Hotel Tijuana
Gurrrrrlllllll. The hotel was NICE! ALM has recently done a thing where a whole floor is just for ALM patients (WLS+Plastics). They had a lounge, with a beautiful view, snacks and a MICROWAVE! I wish I had known prior to going their that they had a microwave, I would have saved on mom’s food money. But room service prices were very reasonable so nbd.
They also have at least one nurse available at all times, there were three while I was there. They will come and take your vitals couple times a day, I also had them change my bandages. It was really neat, and comforting to know that someone is right there if something goes wrong.
Also, the entire 11th floor is very surgery friendly. The bathrooms are handicap friendly, the rail things on the toilet made my life so much easier post op!!
Do you need to take Mexican Pesos with you?
We did but everyone there is more than glad accepting US currency. Also, exchange rates were so much better in Mexico, and no fee! There was an exchange place cross the street from the hotel.
Pre-Op Diet
3 days clear liquids before surgery. One month high protein low carb/low fat/only one salad a day and rest was protein shakes hell diet.
Post-Op Care
Ronda is the nutritionist and she has been emailing me since pre-op diet. Every week I get what to eat/recipes. Also Dr Ortiz sent out an email few days post op with instruction as to how to care for your pouch. I know a lot of people are there to help/answer questions from a ALM but I haven’t contacted anyone since surgery.
Day 1
We got to the San Diego airport at 11:30ish, called the number they had given me and got picked up an hour later. I didn’t really care that I had to wait, but I was definitely raising eyebrows. Lol, I sound so annoying, but I was just tired from the flight, my butt hurt from sitting in the same position for 6 hours. The other people who were scheduled to be picked up with us only had to wait a few minutes.
Blah Blah Blah, we cress the boarder, no problems and like 45 minutes later we were at the hospital. One of the girls was getting same day surgery, and the rest of us were taken to the hotel. Checked in. I could order apple juice/ broth/ popsicle three times a day at no extra cost. I enjoyed the popsicles!
We were asked to be ready and checked out by 9 the next day for my surgery, other people (3 patients) were told noon.
Day 2
Got picked up at 9 and taken to the hospital. The amazing coordinator Grace was with me and my mom for every second until I got the EKG. I had my blood taken, weighed, signed some papers and got checked into our room within the hour. The room had 2 hospital beds and a bathroom. I had my EKG and IV done and was told that I’ll have the surgery around 3.
Then a general doctor (?) came in to see me/get medical history/ answer any questions/ brief on what to expect. He was really nice but I barely remember what he said cause the nurses were really hot...
Then there was another really hot doctor who came in and introduced himself. He ended up checking on my mom multiple times while i was in surgery, so kind, I wish I had thanked him for that. And then I met Dr. Ortiz, he was nice I had a brief conversation. I think he asked if I followed my pre-op diet. But it was a very short meeting. Nonetheless, I felt comfortable. Dr. Ortiz came back again to my room when I was “next in line” for surgery. I think until this moment it didn’t feel real, but I remember being nervous when he was like someone is going to come with a wheelchair. Like what? I’m doing this? In Mexico? Like really?
The Surgery
So I was wheeled into the operating room area. My mom waked me to the room and then I had to walk like through the recovery area to get to the operating room. AND WHEN I SAW PEOPLE IN RECOVERY I FREAKED THE FUCK OUT but all on the inside. Like there was a lady moaning/out of it and I was like WTF NO I DONT WANT THIS all on the inside. They move really fast man. Like from the time I got wheeled in to when I was out was maybe like 2 minutes.
Next thing I know Im standing at a stool thing while someone opens the back of my gown and exposes my butt. Why couldn’t I be sedated for this part too. Like so embarrassing!! So whatever I lay down and like the light thing you see in movies is over my head and I think if I had to wait their I think I would have ran out. Oh also, someone was cleaning the operating room while all this was happening. Like while I was being undressed someone was mopping. And I was like wah? You ain’t even ready for me! This normal? Idk, it felt a little conveyor-belt-type unless that is normal everywhere. Anyways, I was holding it together until the anesthesiologist asked if I was nervous? And I tried to hold it in and just smiled. And he was like don’t worry sweetheart you’re gonna be fine AND THE WATERWORKS AND SOBBING AND EVERYTHING. And he wiped my tears <3 and said more nice stuff and then he asked me if I wanted to wake up soon after surgery or sleep for a while. Idk if he was just distracting me or what, but i was like let me sleep and then I woke up moaning in recovery to an obnoxious sounding nurse saying “wake up wake up, time to go to your room.” I could have punched her face. I am sure I was just groggy from the surgery, and in real life her voice was angelic. But in that moment she was satan.
I don’t really remember how I felt, It didn’t hurt, it was just so weird. I remember I could see my mom through the glass while I was in recovery. She looked so tense so I tried not to moan, so I guess it hurt? I did try to give her a thumbs up and at one point the nurse asked me if I had ant heart problems. Maybe my heart beat was weird? Then she gave me something sublingual and said it help with the heart. No fucking idea, but I was kind of worried when she asked that. I was totally out of it this whole time tho. I remember when they wheeled me to the elevator and then I have no memories until I woke up later that night (9ish?).
My mom did tell me that they asked me to shift myself to my bed when I was brought back to my room, and I did that. Don’t remember this. I did have an oxygen tube in my nose until the next morning. I was able to get up, use the bathroom, and walked a little that night before sleeping again. At some point Dr. Ortiz was back, he just said that everything went well and my organs were good.
Day 3
This day was uneventful. I just stayed on the floor, socialized a little. Walked a little. Had the leak test, it went well. I didn’t find the solution they give that bad. Then I showered and the hot nurse Sergio changed my bandages. I had apple juice and ice chips that night.
Day 4
This was the day of going back to hotel and the worst day so far in recovery. I woke up okay but by the time we had to leave the hotel I was gassy, with a lot of shoulder pain. The ride back to hotel fucking sucked I wanted to cry. I mean the roads were bumpy, I expected that but I felt like the driver didn’t do much to try and avoid the bumps. The next few hours in the hotel room were hell, but by nighttime I was fine.
Day 5
This would be the day most people head back home, but I had asked for an extra day ($90) because I felt like I needed it to recover well. We were taken on a tour, to souvenir shops, a taco stand (mom had tacos, I tried their chicken broth, it was so much better than the hospital) and a pharmacy. At the pharmacy the guy tried to sell you like a 100 things that are “recommended” by Dr. Ortiz but like you don’t need it. I bought extra pain killers because I would have run out of the day we were traveling and a solution to clean the wounds. A lot of women bought medicine for yeast infection because we were all on antibiotics for 10 days. I should have bought those, and I’m not gonna say anything else! The pharmacist gives you a prescription so this guy bough a pretty big thing of Vicodin and adderall like so many other drugs I was like waaaah.
Day 6
Travel home day. It was a long long day. The shuttle took us to the airport at 2:30 but our flight was at 9. So we spent the entire day lounging at the airport. So I’d suggest an earlier flight if you wanna avoid being bored for soooo many hours.
Overall, I am really grateful that I’ve had such a nice experience. I mean it was kind of a blessing being away from home and not having to worry about cleaning/food/life. Mommy was able to relax and sort of experience a new country. ALM had done a really good job hiring people who are genuine and care about your experience. I mean the regular shuttle to the airport is around 9-10ish and Abraham arranged for us to leave later. While I was in surgery Grace and one of the doctors checked on my mom multiple times because she was so worried they even brought her to see me in recovery.
I know we are all fighting so hard to change our lives. And my heart truly broke when my insurance told me bariatric procedures aren’t cover under our plan. But I had such a good time in Mexico, had a chance to get away from everything and just focus on myself. :) I’m just so glad I could do this.
pixelskylines
snowghoul
theartofmadeline
dededos
titsay
gummygunk
romaincrisis
janainaart
blakekathryn
