sleeved080212

I know exactly what you mean, that was so frustrating w/ the band. Never satisfied, ate all junk b/c healthy food would get stuck. Mine slipped and had to have it repaired in 2007..so this is technically my 3rd WL surgery. I was sleeved on 8/2 and did not have to do the pre-op diet. So far I have lost 21 lbs....which I'm happy w/ as I just weighed in today at 179. I don't have that much to lose, so it's slower for me, but happy so far. I just finally feel like food no longer owns me...don't really have to "diet". I just make better choices for my sleeve so I will be satisfied. I've not had an ouce of chocolate since the surgery and I don't crave sweets anymore...but I do crave savory, which is good I'm eating good food, not junk. Good luck on Monday, make sure you post an update!! You will not regret it..best thing ever; wish it was around for us 9 years ago!

So today was my very first little throw up w/ the sleeve. Now, don't get me wrong, I hate to get sick, but this was so much different than w/ the band....so much better! I ate my lunch too quickly b/c I was hungry and the food just did not settle and I got a little sick and up it came. With the band I suffered for hours if something got stuck or if I got sick. So even though I had issues today, it was just so much better than my experience w/ the band. If anyone is still in the deciding stage of going from band to sleeve, just do it. I finally feel like I am no longer on the diet rollar coaster. I can eat food, less quantities, better choices, but can have a little of everything. I was banded in 2003 and sleeved on 8/2/12.

You made a great decison w/ Dr. Garcia...his coordinators are wonderful and you will be treated like royalty. The hospital is very modern and clean and has an ICU. The "walking the halls" though is very short...I think there is just 10 rooms. My husband and I drove from TX to TJ and back again...week took about two weeks for the whole trip, so if I can survive that long long drive w/ no complications...that's pretty good. If you have more questions, I'd be happy to answer them....just message me!

We actually parked in an offsite Airport parking lot, San Diego Airport Parking Co. and it cost $6.75/day w/ a coupon....actually cheaper than boarder parking. If you go on their website you'll see the coupons. And their bathroom is spotless. The driver for Dr. Garcia picked us up there and brought us over the boarder and back again.

I was sleeved by Dr. Garcia on 8/2/12 (my 40th b-day) and my whole experience was positive. They give you pain meds in your IV every few hours, but I did have pain following surgery, but that is very typical for me as my BP drops and can't really get up and walk. I did walk the next morning and was just fine....at least 80% better then the day of surgery. After you are released they send you home w/ an antibiotic and a pain pill, but I only used the pain pill for a day or two after leaving the hospital. I think I used the pain pill once, once discharged from the hotel. I am just over 3 weeks out, have lost almost 20 lbs and I even went on a 4 mile walk/job tonight. I've had many surgeries and this was one of the easiest. Good luck to you!!

I was banded by Dr. Rod in 2003 and again in 2007, but was just recently sleeved by Dr. Garcia is TJ. Dr. Rod is a wonderful doctor and can't say anything negative about him at all. I had two surgeries w/ him b/c my band slipped. I decided to go w/ Dr. Garcia b/c I did not want to venture to Juarez. My husband is from Mexico and he too did not want to cross the border there. If you go w/ Dr. Rod you will not be sorry...he's wonderful.

I personally liked the broth at the Marriott as a Garcia patient. Walmart is just up the road, you can always buy some and warm it up.

i was allowed a "final" meal because I don't have a fatty liver (3rd weight loss surgery and I "only" need to lose about 60 lbs total). But, if you are very overweight the whole reason to be on the pre-op diet is to help the liver the the surgery is easier. My final meal wasn't even a meal...we saw Batman and I had popcorn, nachos & cheese and then some ice cream. Good luck to you and you'll be so pleased with your experience.

The picture of me is at goal using medifast since my band failed me. This pic was one year ago. I gained back so much weight. We live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area....Keller to be exact, more of a Ft. Worth suburb. I know my first day of surgery was a big blur to. How are you doing? I'm down about 10 pounds and am so ready for Friday to come so I can have pureed food.

Misty, we did meet...in the halls as a matter of fact. My husband helped your husband expain something to the nurses in Spanish. Of course my profile pic is me at my goal. I was in room 303. Coleen

I too was sleeved in TJ MX w/ Dr. Garcia on August 2, 2012. I had the most positive experience from the nurses to the doctors and everyone in between. My husband and I drove from TX and parked in an airport parking lot the day before and were picked up by Samuel who was just wonderful. The night before we had a blast wondering TJ and came across a nice new plaza that had all kinds of restaurants and a movie thearter.....we saw Batman in English w/ Spanish subtitles. Rested at the hotel, met w/ my coordinator Rosie and was picked up on 8/2 at 10:50am for surgery. Had an upper GI and Endoscopy (and received a CD for my PCP) and then around 1pm I had surgery. I had no gas pain at all (first time ever), so I did not walk b/c I was nauseaus and from previous surgeries, when I feel that way my BP is too low, so best to lay. The next day I got up and walked, showered, they changed my bandages and then slept on and off most of the day. August 4th we left the hopital and recovered at the hotel. I did not rest poolside as I enjoyed the bed way too much...slept on and off most of Saturday. I was having more drainage than I thought was normal, so I reached out to Rosey who got the doctor on the phone and told me since I was a revision (2 lap band surgeries) I would have more drainage and it should subside and it did by Sunday PM. Our driver said we should really try to cross the border by 6am Monday, so Samuel picked us up at 5:55am and it took just one hour in the medical lane to cross (even though the wait was already at 4 hours). Then began our long drive home w/ a stop at our nephews house in Phoenix for 5 days! We just arrived home from this adventure last night. So all in all, I would go back again, probably will for some plastics and I highly recomment Dr. Garcia and Ready 4 a Change group. Everyone was great. Just an added note: my husband is Mexican and speaks fluent Spanish and English, that did help. Also, this is my 3rd surgery in Mexico. First in 2003 w/ Dr. Rodriquez in Acuna Cuidad and in 2007 w/ Dr. Rodriques in Acuna for a slippage in my band. The only reason I did not go back to Dr. Rod is because he now pracitices in Juarez and I have been told by close friends that live in El Paso not to travel there! I feel comfortable with my entire decision. My only complaint about the entire experience is some rooms in Mi Doctor hospital offer two beds, one for you one for your partners....my room had a broken reclinder and so my husband did not have a good nights sleep until we were back at the hotel. But if that's all I have to complain about, I'll take it. On added note....my 40th birthday was the day of my surgery and my husband's birthday was Aug 5th....so it was a great b-day present to me!!!!