Elle31

I appreciate your story. I liked seeing the good and the not so good experiences when I was searching for a surgeon. It really does help when making a major decision about surgery. I had a pretty good experience while in Mexicali and having surgery done by Dr. Aceves. I am a very quiet person and did not ask that many questions. Dr. Aceves explained most of the information to me after surgery because he asked if I minded if he waited to explain everything the next day with another patient that was coming in..I didn't mind and really I didn't have any questions. I felt like crap at the hospital- mostly felt a lot of nausea- I felt this for about 5-6 days post op. I really don't have the same experience with Dr. Campos that most have. I have nothing bad to say, but he was short and to the point with me. Now, Sergio the nurse on the other hand, was the sweetest and so kind. He is the one I remember the most- He was great! The nurses didn't really understand much of anything I was saying, but they did understand nausea- Which was good for me!

Now..my experience after I got home has not been the best. I found out I had cellulitis from an incision site in my belly button a week or so after getting home. I have been battling with this ever since (my surgery was in late April). I was told by my Dr. here in the U.S. that cellulitis can develop after any type of surgery. I just would not wish this on anyone- I had a lot of pain and drainage from my belly button- I had to go my local Dr. every other day for 2 weeks and had to have a CT scan done- this was not fun being only a week out and having to drink barium. I could barely get the barium down. I sat at the CT imaging center for 2 hrs and only got a little less than one bottle down- thank goodness they did not make me drink the 2nd bottle! The cellulitis went all the the way down to my abominal wall. My admonal area was very painful and made it very difficult to even walk. I was on 5 meds (my Dr. here kept switching them). Some of the meds were covered by my insurance some were not). I had a very difficult time taking liquid antibiotics. I vomited many times from the meds (not fun). They tested the drainage from my belly button and it came back Streptococcus. I finished the meds and went to my final Dr. appt and it appeared to be cleared up. Well it has came back now. I am back on meds (luckily in pill form now) and my Dr. is treating me for fungus as well. I have spent over $600 on co pays, medications and testing since I have been home. They tested the drainage again and I am waiting to hear back about that. I am a little over a month out and things have gotten much better. I am okay with my decision to have surgery (I do not think I would have lost weight any other way). I am down 30 lbs and feel a lot better about myself already.

We never know going into surgery how our bodies will react- we are all different. But, knowing that there could be complications after a major surgery is very important. I appreciate you sharing your story and I hope you continue to feel better each day. I am sorry you went through what you did. Take care.

I am sure you will meet other people while you are there. I was there at the end of April. There were two other people there while I was there. One from TN and one from FL. They were great people and very helpful. I still keep in touch with them now! Best of luck.

To answer your other questions:

I am a teacher and arrived home on Sunday and went to work the next day on Monday (truthfully I could have used another day off). I have been off this week though do to the cellulitis I have- very painful.

If possible, I would take off a week or at least 3 days or so to recoop. I believe you can schedule surgery right away. You do have to have a passport and the money of course to pay for the surgery and you should be good to go. I called back in Novemeber and they said I could come the next week, I of course waited months- I was contimplating and twice changed my surgery date.

If you go with Dr. Aceves they will send you an online type of survey/application about what meds you are on etc. (the standard things) Then they will tell you if you need to be on a pre-op diet and for how long.

When you get to the hospital on Day 1- you will get a chest xray, ekg, and bloodwork, I was only there 30 minutes, I was the only one to arrive that day. You would talk with a coordinator and make your payment. She will go over a few things, give you an antibiotic and another med to calm you down and you will be on your way to the hotel. You are given a packet to fill out, truthfully it only took me about 20 minutes to fill out. You fill it out at the hotel and bring it with you the morning of your surgery.

They also tell you to go eat whatever you want the night before. I am a very picky eater (I don't like "real food" just mostly junkfood, hence the reason I needed the surgery, so I only had fries that night- the other food on the hotel restaurants menu was nothing I would have eaten.

You will be just fine with a BMI of 40. If you request information from Dr. Aceves office they will get back to you right away. Any other questions related to my experience feel free to ask away!

I went to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali two weeks ago. I felt safe the entire time. Pretty much what everyone says about their experience with him is what you can expect. The hospital was clean and you will have your own room. I flew in on a Wednesday, had my tests done and was taken to the hotel (kind of a deserted hotel, but I felt safe) I was alone so this didn't help much. I was picked up the next morning for surgery. I was the only surgery that day. I will say this, I am probably one of the few, but I had terrible nausea and a lot of pain. There were two other people from the U.S.while I was there one had surgery the day before and one had surgery the day after and they didn't have much pain or nausea. I had the nausea up until the day I left.

So surgery was on Thursday and I left the hospital on Sunday to head to the airport. I put down a $500 deposit and I paid $8, 250 when I got there. The total cost was around $9, 100 including my flight I purchased. I believe the cost is now $9, 500.

Now again, I am one of the few, but I have had a complication since being home. I have developed cellulitis from the incision in my belly button. I was told my primary care Dr. that this infection is possible with any type of surgery. I guess I was one of the unlucky ones. I noticed the red spot on my stomach 6 days out, but did not think much of it (I always have weird skin rashes). Well then it got hot to the touch and the pain started a few days later. I have spent over $300 dollars in the last four days. I had to have a CT scan done to make sure there was not an abcsess, luckily I only had a skin abscess in my belly button which burst on its own and is still leaking, but looking better at this point. The cellulitis made it all the way down to my abdominal wall. I am on 3 types of meds. A friend of mine asked if I would do it all over again, at this moment I can't answer that question, but I am sure after I am feeling better and this infection is gone, I will hopefully say yes. At one point my primary care Dr. said there was a possibility of having surgery to remove an abcsess if there was one deep in the layers of skin- thank goodness there was not!

Just do your research and just know, even though complications are few and far between anything could happen to anyone and don't wait like I did to have it checked out.

Best of luck!

Thanks! I went back to the Dr. today and the area got larger, I was given another injection and oral antibiotics for 10 days. Off to see the surgeon this week to see if I have an abcess.

I am 9 days out and just found out I have cellulitis on my stomach near one of my incisions. I got a shot today of meds and have to go back tomorrow for them to check up on it. I also have to get a sonogram of the area and they referred me to a general surgeon in my area since my surgery was done in Mexico. I am a little freaked out about this. I also have a great deal of pain in that area.

I have a friend that almost died from the band..she had to have emergency surgery to remove it. They said if she had shown up to the hospital an hour later..she would likely not be alive today. I never considered the band...too many complications. Thanks for sharing!

I had to fly from San Diego into Houston and then into Florida after having my surgery in Mexico. YES it is a long walk in some airports, Houston's was huge. So, once I got dropped off to check in at San Diego airport I told them that I needed wheel chair assistance because I was recovering from surgery and they were great about it. The man wheeled me and my carry on bag all the way to my gate and I gave him a tip. The woman at the gate put instructions in the computer for me to be met by a wheel chair or an indoor airport shuttle upon arriving in Houston and Jacksonville, Florida. You don't have anything to worry about. If they tag your luggage the assistant will stop you by to retrieve it while they take you where you need to go once you arrive and if not, one of the airline staff will put it overhead for you :-) I flew Continental, I am sure the other airlines will be just as helpful. The weight of your baggage and purse to tug all the way through the airport at a brisk pace is over doing it, so believe me you are not alone. My pain wasn't that bad, but I still needed the helping hand.

I am also in Jacksonville, FL. Sounds like I will be taking the same path back as you did... flying out of San Diego into Houston and then back to Jax.

May 10th. When is yours?

April 28th. I will keep you posted on how it goes :D

I can't answer your questions because I have not gone yet, but was wondering when you are going to have your surgery? I am also going to Dr. Aceves.

You are not crazy! I have been back and forth with myself..should I do it..shouldn't I, but I finally realized this is the right choice for me. So..I bought my tickets and set a date with Dr. Aceves. I go in late April. When did you schedule for? Best of luck, do what feels right.

April 28th for me with Dr. Aceves. Best of luck everyone!!!!!

I will be there February 16th. Best of luck to you!

I am scheduled for Feb 5th with Dr Aceves, and am traveling alone. Would love to have someone to go with.