BODY WEIGHT SAGA 4:

VERTICAL SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY SURGERY
(GASTRIC SLEEVE)

The surgery in Tijuana went fine. I was very anxious but it turned out to be better than I thought and LESS painful than I imagined. Dr. Andres Betancourt was superb and very nice. The hospital was in the middle of a shopping center which surprised us all. But the inside was clean and efficient.

Wish I could have had this done FIFTY years ago, but, alas, it wasn't available.

Me, BEFORE

The hospital couldn't have been better. It was clean and efficient. The first night I spent in the hospital. The next two nights were spent in Recovery House, a renovated home set up for excellent care in the hills overlooking Tijuana.

click this to see: GS SURGERY.

(GORY DETAILS: [SKIP if you wish.] After full anesthesia, they put a large tube [40 fr Bougie] down into your stomach to act as a form to reduce the stomach onto. 

Dr. Betancourt

They then make five small incisions for the laproscopic instruments. One of the incisions is 1 1/2 inches long to accommodate the taking out the stomach! They then insert a light and camera, and fill the abdomen with gas to make room for the surgery. The stomach is first released from the surrounding fat and connective tissue. Cutting off 80% of the stomach is the goal of the procedure. It's done by an instrument that looks like vice-grips that seals the cut line with heat then cuts the line in the middle. Therefore, no stomach contents leak into the abdomen. They had to be very careful at the top as this is the place where most leaks occur [1%]. An overlay of sutures is followed by Titanium staples to securely close the stomach sleeve. Afterward, the incisions are sewn closed. A vessel for fluid collection is put into the abdomen. 

One Hour Post Surgery

A day later they did a barium swallow X-Ray to check for leaks. [I have a copy.] NO LEAKS!)

Copious amounts of pain killer was given to me along with antibiotics. All food (sic) was provided in small, frequent amounts. I had to drink A LOT of water. Walking, though slightly painful, was very much encouraged.

My first night in Recovery House

my roommate was a young man from Saskatchewan. He was an oil rig operator! The second night was a man from Chicago who kept me awake all night due to his loud snoring. I suspect he had bad sleep apnea.

On the second day we went shopping! What a delightful experience. We ran into Dr. Betancourt and had a very nice visit.

On the third day after surgery, they took us directly to the airplane gate in San Diego, via the hospital van.

I'm black and blue but survived the airplane trip with only mild discomfort. Mary Ann and Ted picked me up at the Baltimore airport thankfully.

Being home is nice. I'm better every day, not hungry and doing well.

The regimen from now on is only clear liquids for two weeks, then full liquids for another week, then pureed foods (baby food) for a week, then soft foods for the next week. Then on January 7th, I can eat most regular food albeit in small amounts. After 10 weeks, I can have coffee, wine and can lift things again. I want to lose 60#.

I'm looking forward to all the benefits.

I'LL REPORT BACK IN A WEEK.