SunnyCox

I met the lady and her family that had surgery on Saturday. I probably won't get to see you again until you get to the hotel, but we have been spending time with your aunt and grandma. You have such a lovely family.

Omar came by today and brought a lady who gave me a pedicure and a manicure on my SO. They have taken very good care of us. My SO keeps telling Dr. Kelly that Omar deserves a raise. Today, we were talking to a lady in the lobby who is in Tijuana for cancer treatment. Omar offered to drive her to the Oasis Hospital just above where Dr. Kelly does surgery when he was bringing other people to the hospital. Two nights ago, when everyone went to dinner, anything they didn't finish, he had wrapped to give to the homeless. He is a very, very kind man.

When Omar came to visit today, the first thing he told me is that Cecy will be here in a few hours to put on my steri-strips. He told me to take a shower before she arrived. I didn't even have to ask him.

I was sleeved on 6/28, and I had a migraine last night. I use zomig (which comes in a small pill). Zomig also comes in a dissolvable form, but I did not think to get any. I was able to swallow a zomig with no problems. The antibiotics and acid reducing pills given to me by my doctor are larger than my zomig. I just make sure I don't take more than one at a time.

I was sleeved on 6/28, and I am already sleeping on my stomach. It helped me to release the gas pressure by rolling around. I am so surprised that it doesn't hurt at all. When I had my gallbladder removed, it took me 3 weeks before I felt comfortable sleeping on my side or stomach.

When I would yo-yo diet, it would take me about 40lbs before I could see a difference in the mirror because I was so heavy. There were times that 25lbs wouldn't even make a difference in my clothes because I wore them too tight. When I lost weight, the clothes would just fit more comfortably instead of going down a size. You'll get there!

We had the swallow test today, and everything went well. We moved into the hotel today. It is beautiful. Things are going well for Jennifer and me. There is a third lady with us who was a band to sleeve revision. She is fine too. Dr. Kelly had one sleeve surgery today, and we had a chance to visit and talk with her family and provide them support as well. The first day was really hard for me, but everything else went really well.

I only brought a book bag as a carry on. Omar specifically said that I wouldn't be able to carry it back, and he asked if I had a roll on bag. I told him that my husband could carry both of our bags home. I would weigh your carry on to see if it is too heavy to lift. If you are traveling alone, you could bring a carry on the rolls and ask someone on the plane to help you with it.

Jennifer and I are doing great. We have rooms right across the hall from each other. I had terrible gas pain the day of surgery, but I felt a lot of relief over night and hardly any pain 24 hours out from surgery (except for a general soreness). I think we have the swallow test tomorrow and will move to the hotel. Since I am staying a few extra days, Omar said he would bring me to the hospital to meet and talk to people coming in next week. Omar has been such a doll. His has taken my SO and Jennifer's daughter out for their meals and keeps checking on us. He even brought me a fan from his home because my room was too warm for me.

I told the few people who would support me - my dad, step-dad, and SO. I haven't told anyone else. I leave tomorrow to be sleeved by Dr. Kelly on Thursday. I certainly wish I felt as though I could talk to the rest of my family about my surgery, but I don't have the desire to do so at this point. I know how you feel. In my opinion, if your family respects you as much as you do them, they will listen without being judgmental.

Broth is probably safe because it is cooked. Kind of like boiling your water in emergency situations.

I am having surgery with Dr. Kelly on 6/28, but I will be staying in the hotel until 7/4 if anyone is having surgery at the beginning of the month.

This post has a lot of good information: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/16994-has-anyone-had-plastic-surgery-in-mexico/

I sent you a message with my phone number. I'm staying a few extra days in the hotel, so I'll be with you until the morning of July 4th. I emailed Omar, and he apologized for not sending me the diet sooner. He sent me an email of the same diet in the first post except that "potatoes" are removed. Plus, it says clear liquids only for 3 days prior to surgery and no eating for 10 hours before my arrival to Tijuana so I can do my pre-op testing as soon as I get in.

A good rule of thumb is that getting implants will leave you with a larger version of your current breast shape. If you are happy with the shape, then just get implants. If you aren't happy with the shape, a lift is the only way to make a big change.

I'm June28! I'll fly in June27 at 4pm from DFW area. My SO is coming with me, and we are paying the hotel to stay a few extra days (until July 4). We don't have kids at home, and we took a few extra days off work to relax while we are there.

Sorry it took me so long to see this. I'm going to send you a message so we can keep up with each other. I'm flying on June 27. I'll arrive in San Diego at 4pm.

I will be sleeved 28Jun2012. When I spoke to Omar, he told me to start transitioning to healthier foods, and he instructed me to go on the liquid diet 3 days prior to surgery. I have a BMI of 50. I figured I would be on a pre-op diet longer. Is this normal, or should I call him?

Does anyone have pictures of their incisions (specifically with Dr. Kelly)? I have some incisions from having my gallbladder removed, and I have already talked to Dr. Kelly about reusing some of those.

My top, center incision is right on my bra line. My other incisions look great, but that one is thick and very dark compared to the rest which can hardly be seen. If he can use, I am going to go for it.

It is the center, top incision that I want reused. It looks awful right now, and I am hoping that reusing it will allow it to close better. The others are on my right side and small.

I do not feel that Dr. Kelly is keeping the entire fee for himself. He probably does perform the surgery for approximately $2500. I work in pulmonary medicine, and while I might get paid $5800 to see a patient, the fee pays for the facility, bills and staff. When you have surgery in the United States, you pay a separate fee (and often get individual bills) to the hospital, doctor, anesthesia, radiology, and any after care you receive. In Mexico, you are paying one fee, so the payment you made is going to Dr. Kelly. Then, Dr. Kelly must pay the hospital, anesthesiologist, radiology, and your hotel/aftercare. If I were to take a guess, you were writing two checks because one was going to the coordinator to pay herself and all the miscellaneous expenses while the other was for Dr. Kelly's personal fee out of which he must not only support his family, but his practice and employees as well. Considering it costs $5500 to go through Dr. Kelly directly while going through his former coordinator costs $5700, I would make the assumption that the coordinator's fee is $200 (since all the expenses involved in your care would remain the same whether you use a coordinator or not). Hearing about all the things that some coordinators have done for their patients, it sounds as if though many of the coordinators were worth every penny of the $200. Personally, I would pay $200 to have that peace of mind. I feel Omar provides the same service as a coordinator, so I feel I got a bonus and service that I didn't have to pay extra to obtain.

I'm near downtown FW. Been here about two years.

June 28 with Dr. Kelly.

When Trish was working as a coordinator for Dr. Kelly, she quoted me a price of $5700. Six months later, when going through Dr. Kelly's assistant, Omar, I was quoted a price of $5500.