CCinINdiana

That was cute Yellow Rose, great analogy!! Cathi

Hi Everyone, How do I make one of those things at the bottom of posts that track weight loss? Thanks, Cathi

Thanks Kelly for correcting my mis-information. I read so much and watched so many you-tubes I get confused about who offers what! I was actually in the hospital 5 days with Dr. Aceves. Had surgery Wednesday morning and got discharged Saturday morning. Cathi

Hello.. I am wanting to book VSG with Dr. Aceves as well. Please let me know what the cost was for the procedure package and how your experience was. I am really glad to have found someone who is having it done so soon! ) Let me know all you can... I appreciate you! Julia Hi, I just got back home last night. Stayed an extra few days in California to visit my family. Didn't have internet service. Six weeks ago I was terrified of the thoughts of going to Mexico, and thought sure all these positive reviews were paid employees LOL well I have been there and done it. Everyone was completely honest and I felt like I knew Dr. Aceves team when I met them. He is very professional and very caring. I can't remember which anethesiologist I met ( he said he was the old one, not the cute one) but he did such an excellant job explaining his role and how he does it, that I was totally at ease. Dr. Campos another doc on his team and Sergio aka Deigo were wonderful too. Sergio took me back to surgery and asked me how much Spanish I knew and I replied only what I've learned from Dora and Diego so he said well I am Diego and this is Dora another nurse in the OR, next thing I knew I was in recovery. The cost was 8750.00. So far I have done great. Over did it a little on Saturday walking on the beach and have had trouble with nausea, but other then that I am great. You can call me if you like (502) 802-5992, you will hear my grandbaby crying in the background and my 8 and 9 year old fighting probably. But I am real LOL. He is wonderful. He promised me e'd take good care of me and he did! Cathi

Hi Suzanesh, Dr. Aceves was just in here to check on me. I told him I finally passed gas he high fived me and clapped then said where else do you get clapped t for having gas LOL good sense of humor. Such a kind man. I am doing well. Can't believe I am on the other side of this. Thank you for your continued support! Cathi

I had my surgery Wednesday with Dr. Aceves, infact he just walked in the room to check on me and I told him I was bragging about him on here. I initially had chosen Dr. Ramos Kelly for the cost, I have heard many wonderful things about him. The thing that made me change my mind was the after care. I did not want to get discharged to an after care house. My thoughts were what if I went into cardiac failure, threw a blood clot, start hemmoraging, I wanted to be in a fully staffed hospital where those emergencies could be immediately addressed if needed. Fortunately nothing like that has happened and I am sure it doesn't happen often in those people who are going to them, but for me I am a worry wort and it was worth 3000.00 more to know I was in a full service hospital. I am very very pleased with the care here. They clean non-stop, both Dr. Campos and Dr. Aceves check on you numerous times a day. I have had to have lots of injections for nausea and they were quick to respond. Also the step-down pain medication they gave after IV gave me a bad headache. hey immediately contacted Dr. Aceves and he changed it. Believe me I understand the cost issue, but am glad I made the choice I did. PS I am 50 with extreme hypertension, if I was 20 years younger without hypertension issues I might have taken a chance with a different doctor. Cathi

Hello, I am down with Dr. Aceves right this minute and I can truthfully say he is terrific. I just found out yesterday that he is friends with Dr, Allen the surgeon that did my partner's surgery 2 years ago in Kentucky. They've gone to lots of conferences together in the US. Also Dr. Aceves presents papers and does demonstrations in the US. This hospital is everything everyone has described. It is spotless, everyone is friendly. Haven't found a night nurse that speaks fluent english, but between the list of spanish phrases and humor it hasn't been a problem. I can't imagine being discharged on day 2 to a recovery house. I have needed amost round the clock medicine for nausea and I don't know how all that is handled in a recovery house. My vote if for Dr, Aceves. Dr, Campos his assistant is a doll and Sergio who was a nurse in the er is wonderful too, Cathi

One day post-op and I am doing great. Having some pain around the drain but everyone says that is pretty normal. Been doing a lot of walking. Unfortunately I've only had a tiny bit of gas in my right shouler and a little across the top pf my chest, so I know that is still to come. Otherwise doing really good. They really do take good care of you here. I would send anyone here. My neighbor to my right is Rebekka her sister came here a year ago and now she is here. The patient to my right, her mother had it done for months ago and now she has brought the daughter here, so I think that speaks to what a great job the do here. So no complaints what so ever : ) Cathi

I am here in Mexicali right this very minute. I will update you tomorrow on how Dr. Aceves is, So far everything has been great and exactly like people have described on these boards. Cathi

Okay so far so good!!! Although someone should have warned me about Ernesto's drive through those gigantic boulders!! I have never seen so many rocks on my life. We were in the back of the van and going around those curves about did me in. My partner swore he was going 120mph but I think it must have been kolometers or something LOL He was very nice. Even pulled over to the side of the road so we could take a picture of those coolers with water in them with flags. He said human rights groups leave them for people crossing the desert illegally. Got to the hospital and it was a whirl wind of peeing in a cup, blood tests, x-ray and ekg. I had a little emotional melt down when I was sitting in my gown waiting for x-ray. I was like what the hell am I doing here. I am going to suggest they give patients a little tour or something to transitions from a wild car drive to a hospital gown. But Lucy the nurse was sweet as could be. Yolanda did all the paper stuff Nina is in Canada. I felt ilke I knew them all due to these boards. The anastegeologist..ok I've already taken my 2mg of ativan lol however you spell it was wonderful. My partner is a nurse and even she really relaxed after talking with him. He really explained every detail of his role, how it would all work etc. I felt then it was going to be okay. Got to the hotel had a great dinner of rib eye tacos, Deb had shrimp quesadilla. The guacamole was wonderful. Entire dinner 15.00 I couldn't believe it. Had a swim and are heading to bed. Next time you hear from me I will be post-op!!! Cathi

Hi, The time has finally come! Seems like yesterday I was on here asking if you guys were real. Well I will find out soon enough LOL Arrived in San Diego last night. It was only 61 degrees. It was a 100 at home. Nina had arranged for us to stay at the Holiday Inn Old Town. It is only 89.00 a night if you get it through them. My view this morning is a 10 lane freeway and a barbwire fence, but the hotel itself is nice and I didn't even notice the traffic sound. They serve a full complimentary Breakfast,it looked really good, but I am nothing by mouth after 7am so no breakfast, plus I have never been much of a breakfast eater. I will post tonight about how the pre-op stuff went. Thank you everyone on here that has given me the courage to do thisl Please keep us in our prayers. Oh btw you can hook up X-boxes and game systems at the hospital. I am sure there is some other partner/spouse that may want to drag theres 1000's of miles across the country so they aren't bored LOL. Again thank you everyone!

My surgery is Wednesday- I think I am ready. I fly out tomorrow from Kentucky to San Diego. Then Tuesday morning I am off to Mexicali. I've got a supply of crystal light, lap stop and Nook ready to go. Been doing laundy today, had a cook out with my family tonight and ate a big steak, knowing I will never be able to eat another one the same way ever again. But it is okay, I am ready for a change. I've been real emotional the last two days, but I've heard thats normal. My biggest fear is leaving my 8 and 9 year old for a week. We have never been that far away from them for that long before. I think once I hit Mexico the anxiety about the surgery itself will hit me. But this decision just feels right! My thoughts and prayers will be with everyone else having surgery this week!! Can't wait to hear how everyone is doing later this week. Cathi

http://www.ibariatric.com/42G_Protein_Bullet_p/pb42.htm I read about these on a different board, has anyone ever tried them? I went to the web site and it says 42 grams in 3 ounces. Surely I could gag that down LOL Cathi

Hi Everyone, 4 more days I will be in Mexicali!! Seems like just yesterday I was on here asking if you people were real!! LOL Sure hope you all are : ) cause I got my cashier's check today. Okay any of Dr. Aceves patient's know if the tv's at Almater hospital can play game systems? My partner wants to bring hers so she will have something to do. Thanks Cathi

I guess cause where I live there is a lot of homophobia! Me I could pass in a heart beat-not that I would want too, but my partner has a big D on her forehead. I've had a couple of surgeries here in the states where it has been an issue- garbage like immediate family only etc. If it was an issue in Mexico I'd introduce her as my sister and not my spouse LOL. Plus I saw a lot of crosses on walls in a you tube video and was concerned they would be really religious. I think people who aren't in same sex relationships sometimes don't realize it how difficult it can be. Thanks for your respones, I really appreciate them!

Hi Suzanne, Thank you for such a sweet post. I really appreciate it. Your right I am having LOTS of feelings and emotions today. I just finished a long whine in the pre-op section. I think part of it may be related to no diet coke for 4 days!!!! I answered your e-mail before I realized you had gone to Dr. Aceves too! I feel good about him, just am scared can I follow through with the food restriction. Thank you so much for your support. Cathi

Less then two weeks from now I will be sleeved. So far I've been excited, but the last two days fear is beginning to set in. I am suppose to start high protein, low carbs the week before surgery. I decided to jump start it this week. I also decided to give up diet coke, which I live on. Well I did great the first two days of no carb, by yesterday I was like, why am I doing this a week early and had a craving for pancakes. Had pancakes for dinner. I was stuffed and I realized how much I love that full feeling. There is some kind of sense of security feeling full. Then tonight for dinner I also over loaded on carbs. I again had that stuffed feeling. It scares me. What if I can't do this? What if my compulsion to over eat is stronger then the restriction the sleeve provides? Ten years ago I went to a eating disorder program and gave up flour and sugar. I relapsed on the flour about 7 years ago, but thankfully have never started eating sugar again. I'm just so scared about it all. For the last six months I've been in "hypertension crisis" where out of no where my blood pressure will jump up to 225/118. I am currently on 3 blood pressure medications and fortunately its been pretty normal the last month or so. When my blood pressure is high I have no energy and feel physically sick. I have two young children and need to be healthy. That is what has prompted me to start this entire process. Anyway I think I am probably rattling, three days without caffiene is making me a little foggy. Not sure what I am asking for here, maybe just others to say they've felt the same way and have gotten through it and been successful with their sleeve. Cathi

I am going the 12th...heard one other person is scheduled that day, but I haven't connected with them. Guess they aren't on this board! Would love to meet them. Cathi

Yea I still chuckle to myself when I think about it. :::shaking head:::: cracking up! Cathi

Little over two weeks and I am heading to Mexico, still hoping to meet some others who will be there at the same time! Anyone else going to be there? Cathi

Hi Kathy, Thanks for sharing your story. I am a Cathi too. Can you tell a little more about your Mexico experience? I am scheduled to be sleeved with Dr. Aceves July 13th, am so excited and scared at the same time. My partner is supportive, but adult daughter and family are giong crazy. Making comments like I am either going to be butchered by the surgeon or stuffed with drugs by the drug lords that are going to kidnap me! Now I just respond with either send me postiive support or be quiet! Was your family ok with you going? Hope everything continues to go well for you. Cathi

I too am a therapist and I can't wait to get here and check out the new posts. I thinks it is an awesome way to learn from real people about real experiences. The only way I'd express a "concern" to a client about it, is if they were spending so much time on the boards they weren't connecting with people real time too. This is a great way to meet people, am hoping to make some new friends myself on here before my surgery with Dr. Aceves July 13th.

Anyone else going to be in sunny Mexicali with me July 13th? Hoping to connect with people prior to heading south. Cathi

Ok I've been reading these boards a few weeks now and was struck with how many "aspiring evangelist" there are. I was thinking does something about this surgery make you want to go into ministry?? Was wondering if being a social worker was close enough...duh tonight it just hit me, its a level of how many posts you've posted LOL do I feel dumb. Oh boy.....now I am cracking up. Hope to make someone else laugh! Cathi