December 2017 - International Patient Facilitators

Gastric Bypass Tips For A Better Recovery

Start Walking

Start walking right after the surgery without delay.
Take it easy in the beginning but don’t sit & wait for the pain to go away.

Follow Your Post Op Diet

Follow your diet plan because it is designed for post op patients and will keep you healthy while you heal post surgery.
As soon as you understand the ins and outs of your daily post surgery guidelines you will start to feel more comfortable. For your own safety, remove the forbidden contents from your cupboards if possible.

Keep It Positive

Gastric Bypass is considered to be the first stage.
The second stage is the recovery stage. Do everything in your power to keep the negative vibes away & stay motivated. Once you are fully recovered, you will begin to feel like yourself again.

Join A Support Group

Support groups are not the most enjoyable way to spend your weekend but they truly help in the recovery process.
They are the perfect place to find someone going through your similar journey.

Avoid Cheating

If you are serious about your health then stay away from cheating on your post surgery diet.
Don’t hang out with people or in places that encourage you to cheat.
Take regularly updated pictures to motivate yourself & to see how far you have come.

Infographic By

INTERNATIONAL PATIENT FACILITATORS

Why Are People Traveling To Mexico for Bariatric Surgery?

United States has earned its reputation overtime for providing some of the world’s best medical services. But the medical innovations are not restricted to the United States only. Similar procedures, surgeries, tools and medication have traveled throughout the world and are provided in an equally advanced way.

The only difference between United States and the rest of the world is the cost of medical procedures. Medical procedures costs in U.S. are some of the highest in the world.

That said, did you know U.S. healthcare system is no longer listed as the world’s top healthcare provider? In fact, it has been listed as lower when compared to other countries such as United Kingdom, Switzerland or Australia.

You can hardly blame people looking for other more cost effective alternatives and these alternative have famously become “Medical Tourism”.

Why Mexico?

Mexico is among one of the many countries offering Bariatric surgery, it is ideal for U.S. and Canadian patients. The top benefit is undoubtedly a much lower cost comparatively.

Secondly it is much closer for U.S. and Canadian citizens. It enables patients to avoid the extensive travel times (Flights to Mexico are less expensive-bonus!).

Mexico is beautiful! Stunning sunsets and luxury resorts can help you relax before and after the stress-inducing surgery.

If you want to keep your surgical journey private, taking a medical tour to Mexico is ideal. You can tell people you are off for a vacation instead of a surgical procedure.

Is Bariatric Surgery in Mexico Safe?

Before you jump to any conclusions or decisions, it is always ideal to do your research properly. Learn all you can in order to feel safe. Learn about hospitals, clinics, procedures and find somewhere with an excellent safety record.

Following points are to be kept in mind:

Mexico is generally a safe country. It is easy to accept a statement like, “Mexico is dangerous” but that would be like believing everything that is played on the news!

When looking for hospitals or clinic, check for accreditations to ensure their quality standard.

There are several hospitals and clinics offering bariatric surgery who have successful track records. Use a facilitation company as they do quality control checks on a regular basis and can offer you different ideas and options

If you have any questions about bariatric surgery, or if you think bariatric surgery is for you, Check out the website of International Patient Facilitators. They help patients find the best bariatric surgeons in Mexico for almost every bariatric procedure, including gastric sleeve and gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass as well as revision/ conversion surgeries.

Allow the bariatric experts to help you if you need support. Please reach out every opportunity you get with every question that you have – it’s not just our work to assist you. We celebrate in seeing you succeed.

If you have a regain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the BARIATRIC RESET PROGRAM.

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two teens, husband and two furry friends.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:

Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make December 2017 YOUR Month!

Price list for Bariatric Procedures in Tijuana and Cancun

How Does Bariatric Surgery Help With Diabetes?

Diabetes is a serious health issue world-wide. As per stats, it is one of the leading causes of U.S. deaths, with about 29.1 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with diabetes.

More than 1 in every 10 adults of 20 years of age or older suffer from diabetes.

It is no hidden fact that a morbid number of 37.9 percent adults above 20 suffer from obesity. Obesity comes with several health issues, one of them being diabetes.

Getting Bariatric surgery has proven highly effective for people suffering from obesity and diabetes simultaneously.

Can Bariatric Surgery Help Diabetes?

Studies have proven Bariatric surgery is an effective procedure for people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

It lowers sugar level, and slows the progression of diabetes in the body, allowing your immune system to heal.

How Does It Work?

Healthy weight loss plays a great role in reducing the sugar level in blood for type 2 diabetes. Science has proved that obesity reduction surgery can affect how your body uses insulin.

Bariatric surgery changes how the hormones work in your gut, which in turn, affects the insulin production in your body.

Bariatric surgery also increases the quantity of bile acids produced by your body, making the cells more sensitive to insulin. This helps improve the way the body utilizes insulin, leading to lower sugar level.

Types of Bariatric Surgeries

There are several types of Bariatric surgeries.

Bariatric surgery usually occurs by removal parts of the stomach, reducing it to a small pouch and connecting it to small intestine. This affects your diet requirements; a small stomach reduces appetite and food intake. Or the surgery may create a re-route of the digestive system to bypass the stomach.

Either case, it reduces the food requirement, increasing body cell sensitivity, which benefits the usage of insulin breaking down the sugar.

Looking for an affordable bariatric surgery?

The cost of bariatric surgeries in USA are sky-high. That is why many patients choose to not have one. However, Mexico is a great medical-health alternative for Americans. They can get the same procedure at substantially lower prices.

Check out the website of International Patient Facilitators. They help patients find leading bariatric surgeons in Mexico for almost every bariatric procedure, including gastric sleeve and gastric bypass.

If you have a regain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the BARIATRIC RESET PROGRAM.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:

Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make October 2017 YOUR Month!

Price list for Bariatric Procedures in Tijuana and Cancun

Bariatrics / When Bad Foods Feel the Best

Why does my pouch prefer foods that aren’t good for me ?

Crackers. Popcorn. Chips.

All bariatric patients know that they shouldn’t be eating this post surgery. Patients don’t need a class from a registered nutritionist to figure this out. Then why is it that these sorts of foods, or other kinds of “no no” carby foods go down into the pouch so easily and just feel so good ?

I don’t like having this conversation with clients. It’s not fun for either of us. My client talks about how the only foods that feel really good are the exact same foods which I am telling my clients NOT to eat. I am talking about how going back to protein first is the right way for long term bariatric success and we have this power struggle where we cannot meet eye to eye – it can get uncomfortable.

Let’s work though this so I can show you how it goes.

My client is wanting to eat protein but it makes her stomach feel uncomfortable and sick so she keeps finding herself adding a few crackers to each meal or ….

Another client sees how nicely popcorn can go down on her newly operated stomach and how it makes such a nice light evening post dinner snack. This client has always treated herself to popcorn so why not now ? …

My next client talks about how pretzels and chips are finally offering her some flavour and that special CRUNCH that she has been missing out on. They just miss that crunchy yum in their mouth.

These three conversations and scenes are so darn common. You know what / I feel that each complaint is absolutely valid. I totally understand. I don’t judge anybody. And this is what makes it so difficult when I am trying to break my clients of this very bad habit. It’s not fair. It sucks. The foods that feel the best are the ones that are not the best for your bariatric journey. It’s like finding out that the only pair of pants that you are in love with in the store are the only ones NOT on sale. It’s a cruel joke.

The hard facts are that the foods that are high starch and refined carbohydrates are the ones that will slide down into your pouch most comfortably. The “mechanical process” of digestion starts in your mouth when you chew up your foods. When you eat carbohydrates, the actual enzyme digestion BEGINS in your mouth when food meets up with saliva – with protein it is different.

What this means is that by the time that your lovely slider chip or popcorn or pretzel hits your stomach, it has been quite digested on the way down. But, when a nice piece of chicken (protein) hits your stomach, it is a very different scenario. It is just in the beginning phases of digestion. That’s right ! Your tummy needs to work harder on solid proteins. Protein is so fantabulous for the bariatric journey and losses because it’s always going to take a lot longer to digest so you are fuller for a longer period of time.

Do I sound like a broken record – same thing over and over and over.

I am just sharing a very harsh reality over and over and over. Just because it feels good does not mean that it is good for your bariatric journey and losses. Please give this a shot and try to make the right choices. These choices are not something that anybody else can do for you. #adultingisrough

Bottom line is that your starchy foods will feel good because they are going to hit your new tummy mushed up and soft already – this makes everything easier to tolerate. Trust your body for signs of fullness and listen to what your tool is saying but you do still have to make the good healthy choices – don’t trust your tool to tell you what to eat. You have your big brain for that.

I am cheering you on this bariatric journey to health because I know you’ve got this !

If you have a regain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the BARIATRIC RESET PROGRAM.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:

Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make October 2017 YOUR Month!

Price list for Bariatric Procedures in Tijuana and Cancun

Most Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Bariatric Surgery

We at International Patient Facilitators have been connecting patients with reliable doctors across the border, so that Americans can have safe and affordable bariatric surgery for weight loss.

Bariatric surgery is a quick and easy way to rapidly loss weight. However, certain complications related to the procedure worry patients. To clarify any ambiguities, here are the most commonly asked questions about bariatric surgery:

I’m I eligible for bariatric surgery?

There are generally four conditions which makes anyone eligible for a bariatric surgery:

A BMI (body mass index) of more than 40
Males who are 100 pounds overweight and females who are 80 pounds overweight
Serious obesity-related conditions like heart diseases, diabetes and high cholesterol
Repeatedly failing to lose weight through other means

If you identify yourself with any of these four conditions, you are eligible for a bariatric surgery.

How long will I be in the hospital?

Laparoscopy has completely changed bariatric surgeries and patients can walk away after the surgery just one night of the surgery. However, individual conditions may vary.

How soon will I be back to my job?

On an average, it takes around 2 to 4 weeks for patients before they can start their normal routine. This is mainly because the nutrition intake drops significantly and patients feel weakness for one or two weeks post-surgery.

When can I start exercising?

The exercising starts immediately after the surgery, as patients are made to walk. In case of laparoscopy, patients are able to walk only a few hours after the surgery.

However, when it comes hitting the gym, weight lifting and swimming, you will need to wait at least 6 weeks so that your body heals completely and you experience a significant stability in your weight.

Will I experience hair loss after surgery?

For reasons still unknown, patients do experience hair loss for 2 to 5 months after the surgery. However, this hair loss is temporary and can also be avoided with adequate vitamin and protein intake.

Is it safe to become pregnant after bariatric surgery?

Usually, a period of 18 months is recommended to get pregnant as the body weight is not stable until then. If a baby is conceived far too early, there is a danger of malnutrition in the baby, as well as the mother.

Women tend to experience increase in fertility as birth control pills do not work well during rapid weight loss. So an alternative method of contraception should be used in order to prevent an unhealthy pregnancy.

Is bariatric surgery painful?

Patients experience a little pain after surgery and are prescribed oral medication to cope with it. However, majority of the patients do not consider pain to be a major problem at the time of recovery.

Visit our website to learn more about different types of bariatric procedures including, gastric sleeve, gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric balloon. We can help you set up an appointment with an experienced surgeon in Mexico for all types of procedures.

If you have a regain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the BARIATRIC RESET PROGRAM.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:

Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make October 2017 YOUR Month!

Price list for Bariatric Procedures in Tijuana and Cancun

Healthy Pregnancy, Post Bariatric Surgery

Many women feel that a pregnancy after a bariatric weight loss surgery can be unsafe and risky.

This is far from the truth. In fact, for most women, pregnancy is healthier and safer after the weight loss surgery.

However, this does not mean that bariatric surgery patients do not need to take special care and precautions when they get pregnant. Here are certain important considerations for bariatric surgery during a pregnancy:

Waiting 18 months to get pregnant

The safest period to get pregnant is 18 months after the surgery, when the body weight has completely stabilized. However, this doesn’t mean that if you get pregnant before the 18-month period, there is any danger to your baby’s health. Some women are able to have healthy pregnancies even before 12 months.

Bariatric surgery doesn’t have any connection to the body part where the baby is nurtured. The only issue is rapid weight loss, which can cause malnutrition in the baby as well as the mother. This is why doctors recommend a period of 18 months.

Monitoring Nutrient Intake

Even after the initial period after the surgery, women experience nutritional deficiency. The deficiency is mainly related to calcium, vitamin D, iron and B12. Some women may even experience fat mal-absorption and protein-calorie malnutrition.

It also becomes difficult to consume nutrients because of nausea during pregnancy; this is why it is important to strictly monitor the nutrient intake. Consulting a clinical nutritionist would be a good idea.

Informing the obstetrician/gynecologist

Bariatric surgery is still relatively uncommon. Many health care providers do not know how to deal with bariatric patients.

This is why it is always recommended to inform all the health care providers, especially the obstetrician-gynecologist, when a bariatric patient decides to get pregnant. This ensures that everyone is on board, and have enough time to do their research and provide appropriate health care.

Dealing with the emotional effects

Emotional effects of pregnancy are well-known, but for bariatric patients the affects may multiply. This is because women are unable to cope with the idea that their body will start to grow again. Some scars from the surgery may also not look good when the body grows, which can lead to self-consciousness.

To cope with the emotional effects, women need to think what’s best for the baby, rather for themselves. Consulting a psychologist can also be of immense help.

Having a C-section

Bariatric patients are more likely to have C-section, so it is recommended to consult with the health care provider. It is not known why this is the case, but women should be ready and plan for it accordingly.

However, a C-section can be avoided by strictly following doctor’s weight gain diet plans and taking childbirth prep classes.

Rest assured, a healthy pregnancy is completely normal after a bariatric surgery only if proper care is taken. This is why we provide patients with the reliable and experienced surgeons across the border in Mexico. Visit our website to learn more.

If you have a regain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the BARIATRIC RESET PROGRAM.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:

Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make October 2017 YOUR Month!

Price list for Bariatric Procedures in Tijuana and Cancun

Dairy Post Bariatric Surgery ?

So anybody who is constantly on the next fad diet will tell you that you need to stay away from the dairy cabinet and the milk. Why ? they will tell you that it is full what is called saturated fat and that this kind of fat will surely kill you. They will tell you to eat “low fat” products. Guess What – they are WRONG and it’s all been a big mistake.

So now we know that fat is not the evil villain it was once portrayed to be. Sure, we still need to watch our fat intake and even if saturated fat is now supposed to be our friend and not cause heart disease – well let’s talk about the way that that same fat is packaged sometimes.

Let’s think about a bacon sandwich, with beautiful white fluffy bread covered with butter and topped with mayonnaise and salt – now wash it down with a big glass of sugary coffee with low fat milk. Now, just for fun let’s compare that bacon sandwich with a big salad topped with feta or goat cheese topped with seeds and avocado and washed down with a glass of fresh, whole milk. Sure, both of those dishes are full of saturated fat but the first one is full of additives and preservatives and SUGAR. The other one is packed with fiber and vitamins and nutrients. Which one should you eat?

Let’s just say that we should not over do it and we shouldn’t go over the exceeded recommendations of saturated fat per day. Now, should we worry about dairy products ? I personally don’t think so (unless you have a sensitivity to dairy). Let’s just have it but in moderation. That’s the word “moderation”. Have the real dairy and not the overly processed dairy that you find in canned whipping cream on your chocolate cake. Beware of what can be added to your dairy products – some examples are sugary yogurts and certain fake cheeses. Choose the better “no sugar” dairy products and high quality cheese.

Remember, there are lots of other type of heathy fats to be found in avocado oils, olive oils, nuts, seeds, certain fish, and coconut/ coconut oil – just to name a few. So you can have your fat and eat it too !!

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens.

If you have a re-gain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the Bariatric Reset Program.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon: Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make December 2017 YOUR Month!

Weight Loss Surgery in Mexico – How to Save Money While Staying Safe

Mexico has the highest obesity rates in the world, with 32.8% of the population being obese. This has led to higher obesity-related diseases, with government trying new experiments to somehow curb sugar consumption. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases and some forms of cancers are all related to obesity.

A bariatric surgery sometimes can be a medical necessity, and can also prove to be quite expensive. It is no doubt a great investment one can do for their health, but how good is it on the wallet?

A Bariatric Surgery is much cheaper in Mexico than anywhere else in the World. The prices start as low as $4,500 for a gastric balloon, and just $6,900 for a gastric bypass. This is quite low compared to other countries, where prices generally start from $10,000.

So is a bariatric surgery worth it? Let’s look at the return on investment.

Return on Investment

It will be quite difficult to calculate the return on investment for a bariatric surgery, as the results aren’t immediate. But usually the cost of a bariatric surgery out-weighs the benefits.

Since bariatric surgery helps in controlling diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure, patients are able to save on their regular medical bills.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information conducted a study, in which they found out that patients who pay $17,000 to $26,000 for a bariatric procedure are able to recoup their cost on the surgery in 2 years by saving onlaparoscopic procedures.

Another study by Bloomberg found out that patients who have bariatric surgery spend around $200 less every year than those who did not have a surgery, for at least 20 years. The difference was due to decreased spending on heart disease and diabetes drugs. It is also quite possible to completely eliminate drug costs if the patients do not have any major complications.

A cheaper bariatric surgery will have a better return on investment, but it is important not to compromise the safety of money.

Safety

Only an effective surgery will ensure that it achieves the desired results and guarantees you safety. So it important for patients to make sure that whenever they get a surgery, they check these aspects:

The surgeon is board certified
The surgeon has extensive experience with the chosen procedure
The surgeon understands the needs and lifestyle of the patient
The hospital is committed to continuous education related to bariatric surgery

It is also important to know who has recommended the hospital and doctor to you. Look for credible sources, like Dr. Sergio Verboonen. It is a reliable platform where you can connect with doctors in Mexico, as well as previous patients to get first-hand knowledge about bariatric surgery.

If you have a re-gain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the Bariatric Reset Program.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon: Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make December 2017 YOUR Month!

Stress Less for Bigger Losses !

Folks, it’s time to check our stress levels. This is a very stressful time of year so let’s make a mental note of how we are all feeling.

When we stress, we raise adrenaline levels. Chronic stress can lead to the higher levels of the hormone cortisol, and persistent high levels of cortisol plays a role in fat deposition around the middle section and obesity. We need to keep our stress in check in order to avoid the cascade around adrenaline and cortisol. This mid-section weight gain is also associated with diseases such as fatty liver, diabetes and heart disease. Do yourself a solid and work on decreasing stress levels right now.

Another big issue is how when we are feeling stressed, we reach for high sugar, high fat foods to soothe us. This “soothing effect” just ends up adding lbs and damaging our health. Studies show time and time again that too much stress causes our waists to grow and our pants to get tighter. There are studies which show that the highest cortisol levels are from those people who are overweight or have an unhealthy hip to waist ratio. Stress makes us gain weight.

Rather than getting all stressed out and try to tackle a fad diet or crazy gym routine to lose lbs quickly, try a more gentle way. Break down your stresses into smaller packages – tackle those stresses. Don’t procrastinate and put off what needs to be done today. Get it done or delegate it to somebody else. This will enable you to take some time to relax and have fun. Your cortisol levels will thank you and they will come down when the pressure is off and you will be able to feel your waist band loosening up again. Your health will always benefit mentally and physically when you lighten up your stress load.

If you have a re-gain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the Bariatric Reset Program.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ? Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon: Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make December 2017 YOUR Month!