I have never heard that it is being considered, but perhaps some of the people who have had VSG done in NL may have heard something at one of their appts or meetings of the support group. The band - brings with it a whole new requirement for appt for fills, unfills etc. I expect until there are more $ and doctors and people able to do the follow up care for post-op band patients - and who knows when that would be with the state our health care system is in - you won't find it being offered or covered by MCP. Having said that - it would not surprise me to see a PRIVATE service being set up and offered someday - on a self pay system of course.

It is not performed in Newfoundland...the people that I know who had it done...went to Ontario.  VSG is performed in Newfoundland.

What did you have to do after your orientation session?  I have mine coming up in May.  How many people were at the session with you?.

Unfortunately there is good, bad and then the ugly side of vsg.

I actually am 2.5 years out from surgery. I had it done and have never had a moment of regret. So that the good.

The bad is no one told me what a toll it can have on your body. I was 7 weeks out of surgery before I could function somewhat normally. I was living on about 200 calories a day and so fatigued that I'd have to have a nap after a simple task like having a shower. Then all of a sudden one day I woke up and felt wonderful. Lucky for me I was able to take 12 weeks off work and by doing so I recovered well and got use to my new lifestyle.

The Ugly well it's got to be all the loose skin. I guess I was one of those people who thought oh no worries it'll spring back cause it's not that bad, well 124 pounds of fat lose mean lots of loose skin and saggy breast. I have currently seen a plastic surgeon for a tummy tuck and boob job but have to save a little over 10 grand to do so. Also hair loss, well everyone told me it would happen but again it didn't happen at 1st so I thought that it wasn't going too and then boom right around the 3 month mark it happened and my hair got extremely thin. But oh well it's only hair and by the year mark it was filling in again. It's hard to get all the nutrients you need to sustain all the health factors in life.

When it comes to food craving, well surgery doesn't cure that. I struggle with a new chocolate addiction but I know now that I can have a piece of it and count my calorie, before a piece who be a whole bag of chocolate instead of 1 piece. There are also times when I forget that I can't eat like I use to and over full my plate. Old habits really do die hard.

If you use this board and do lots of research you will be fine. The clinic I went to was amazing and they started us off right away with tracking our food, drinks, calories and why we ate.....hunger, boredom, emotional. They encouraged us to wear pedometers and track our steps and counselling was hugh. It's a life altering surgery and you need to be physically and mentally prepared.

Good Luck and wishing you all the best.

K.

I'm a grandmother, originally from NL, now in Ottawa....and I had VSG in Mexico. I went to Puerto Vallarta to Dr. Castaneda Cruz. Can't say enough good about him!! I had surgery on a Saturday, came home on Thursday and returned to work on the following Monday. I'm an RN. If you travel together, you will need someone to manage your luggage etc. as you can't do any lifting post op. As well, with little children you will need some help at home for the first few weeks as again, you won't be able to do any lifting. Have you considered a company that will escort you (byyoursideweightlosstravel.com comes to mind)? In terms of the decision for surgery, it was the best thing I ever did for myself and I wish I had done it when my children were small. Good luck.

HI Everyone,

I had my surgery this past Monday by Dr. Pace.....boy is he a character! I had some issues with vomiting up blood and there was so much swelling in my stomach and esophagus that I couldn't get 2 medicine cups of water down in an hour...It would just keep coming right back up.

At first, I was really scared and started to think I had made a HUGE mistake.For the first 3 days I was completely miserable and so, so sick. My Sleeve Buddy only had to stay one night and I'm very happy to report that she's been doing and feeling great. I had to stay 3 nights but as the swelling went down...so did the water.

It was a hard first 3 days but now I'm almost finished day 5 and happy to say that I'm feeling so much better now. A lot of the swelling is gone down and though I feel like I'm 7 months pregnant, my mobility is awesome. No real soreness or discomfort and the staples are doing just fine...get them out on Good Friday!

I now have to keep reminding myself that I just had surgery and shouldn't be doing half of what I am. I've got really young children so its hard to remember to slow down and take it easy. And if you haven't had your surgery yet and you have small children....make sure you have someone there with you at all times to help take care of them. Doing too much with my son, an incision started to bleed.

Sometimes I think I'm WonderWoman and I try to do it all but then I'll buckle over in pain for a second because I'm not suppose to be lifting more than five pounds. My Mom has been great and there to scold me anytime she thinks I'm doing to much but its really hard when your child wants you and only you will do....Especially after spending 3 days away from them in the hospital of all places.

The hospital is a sad and depressing place. I was wait-listed for a Private Room like everyone else. It was a waste of time to even stand in line for 20 minutes at the Cashier's Office to make the deposit. Every woman in the room with me were also on the waitlist...one lady had been there 15 days and still waiting!

Its really hard to spend 3 days and nights with 3 very sick women in one little room. I wasn't ready for that and I think that's what I found the hardest. I spend my days with children...laughing and playing and enjoying the best of them. I found it hard emotionally for me. 3 wonderful women I got to know and 2 are dying and the other was a burn victim who had over 85% of her body burned and was in from St. Anthony to have some surgeries so she could live comfortably in her remaining skin.

At first, I tried to keep to myself, close my curtains and just try to rest. But on the first night as I move in discomfort, I hear someone sing out from across the room "How ya feelin' my duckie....I got a kettle. Are you well enough for tea?"......

I couldn't help but think.... how typical of a very old, born and raised Newfoundlander...on her death bed at that! I was new to the room and as sick as she was, she still had to be that caring, nurturing person that she had been her entire life.

I sing out "No thank you, I'm not allowed anything to drink or eat for 24 hours." Then another voice sings out...."You poor dear, I got a heatin' pad here to help you through the night and some fresh tea buns for when you're feeling up to it!" I kindly decline and thank her and she asks me again in the morning. lol

These old ladies are really lonely,far from home and love a good conversation.Sadly, their first conversation and main topic is their declining health and its really hard to hear someone say their dying and talk about their very dim future. I listened, and I tried to be as cheerful and as positive as I could, but it was really hard. And feeling as sick as I was but knowing it was nothing compared to what these ladies were going through, it was a very emotional experience for me.

And to top it all off...I'm Catholic, but not religious! I don't go to church, I don't put ashes on my head and I...well...No...I don't eat meat on Good Friday or my Grandmother would kill me!.lol  

Before you get admitted, they ask you more than once if you would like to see the clergy before or after surgery, etc. etc. I said "NO" every time but yet when I woke up in my room for the first time, the first person to greet me was a priest...and he knew my name!

I had to give myself a shake for a second and get my bearings! First thing that came to mind was....Did I really make it to heaven? lol....Why on Earth would a priest be coming to see me? Then I instantly went into panic thinking that something had happened to one of my family members.

I almost jumped off the bed when I realized he was a priest. He put his two hands on my shoulders and had this big ****ty smile on his face...like he had seen this reaction before as many patients wake up and glanced at his collar!

With the smile on his face he "shhhh'd me" and said everything was just fine and he was there to see how I was feeling. I had to ask..."Do you do that with EVERY patient here"? He laughed and kind of whispered in a chuckle "No...Just the special one's." And by the "Special One's" I think that just might be the one's with "Catholic" highlighted on their files...lol

I'm not particularly a pleasant person on a good day, let alone waking up with a priest in my face, but I got to say...lol...he was a funny guy! He came to visit me every morning and I kept running into him in the hallways as I did my walk-abouts. He didn't seem like a priest at all. The collar was intimidating, but the priest was actually the only fun or cheerful part of my stay in the entire 3 days. Without him, I think I would have cracked up!

This surgery is not an easy one so put a lot of thought into your decision before you actually make that big step. I'm only on day 5 and it can only get better from here but I swear to God....you age ten years for every day you spend on a hospital ward. Its gonna take me more time to recuperate from the hospital experience than it is the gastric sleeve! lol.

Glad to hear all went well. Now it's nothing be losing from here on out.

K.

Look on the Mexico Forum as there is lots of information there. Dr. Aceves comes highly recommended and his prices are great. I have know lots of patients that have had the sleeve done by him and great success with no complications. 5 year waiting list is crazy. Big cities don't even have list like that.

I am in Mexico getting sleeved tomorrow , excited to get it done now!