JeniM73

I feel great, thanks for asking! The cold is pretty much gone and I lost 5.5 pounds since yesterday (according to the scale), which is the first big jump I have noticed on the scale since surgery. Also, I told 3 friends about my surgery on Friday night and they were super supportive, so that felt good.

Sounds like a crazy kinda normal, huh? I would love to hibernate and wake up the day before my surgery...ready to go!

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update! We are in San Diego awaiting our flight hme now (flying first class! Yippee!). My recovery has gone SO smoothly! I feel very blessed to have had such an easy time of. I'm not sure if it's because I have had two previous abdominal surgeries or not (appendectomy and c-section) but I seem to have rebounded pretty quickly.
My drain site is almost all the way healed! They said it could take two weeks, but looks like it will only be about 6-7 days for me. I credit my very careful wound care once released from the hospital for this! I brought neosporin, a small bottle of antiseptic spray, and the extra large antibiotic band aids. I cleaned my wounds each day with dial antibacterial soap in the shower and then let them air dry. I kept my drain site covered in the shower because you don't want any Water eating in there and then uncovered immediately after getting out. Once the sites were dry I treated with neosporin and the spray. I also made sure to bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer. If nothing else PLEASE pack these items! They are very small, but can make a world of difference. Wound infection is Dr. garcias most common complication. They send you to the hotel with gauze and tape which is helpful, but no cleaning stuff.
As far as packing list, I packed VERY light...but still felt I overpacked. The items I used and brought were:
Clean underwear for each day
2 lounge sets (the loose pants and zip up jacket style) with clean tank top to wear underneath each day
One pair pajama pants, 2 pajama tops
Tennis shoes
Flip flops
Slippers
Gas X strips
Hygiene items (you don't meet much unless you are particular, they provide Shampoo and conditioner at both hotel and hospital). Definitely bring deodorant!
The stuff at the hotel is all bath and body works!
iPad and charger (FaceTime worked great, no need for cell phone really!)
3 soft bras, two sport style and one sleep bra
Small bag of makeup...just used foundation and mascara most days.
Ponytail holders! I didn't "do" my hair at all while I was there
And the wound care items I mentioned earlier
Also my PCP prescribed Nexium and that stuff has been a god send!
Light cotton robe (a must for the hospital!)
I wish I had brought a couple packets of crystal light (but only like 2 because you really won't be able to drink much at all)
I also brought a larger 24 oz tervis cup which I used a lot for sipping, the kind with travel lid.
Hope this helps! This really was all I needed and used. I only wore the hospital gown, robe and slippers while I was at MiDoctor.

Great posts. I'm happy that everything has gone so well. Your posts are very informative and have put my mind at ease, at least somewhat. I'm still so nervous but I think its more because I will be without my husband. It was nice of you to check on the other patient traveling alone. I'm scheduled for February 22nd. It can't get here fast enough. Keep posting and I hope you have a quick recovery.

I'm from Lasning, MI and am going to Dr. Cabrera/Venezuela in Tijuana on 2/5 and surgery the next day. I am planning on Medcal Tourism Company but may have to switch due to they're ability to accept my financial payment method. I am being smart and researching the company that will best accomodate me. I'm taking 8 days off work. I am confident that Drs. Cabrera/Venezuela are the best option based on all my research.

I've got the countdown app too. Every day is a day closer. Completely obsessed!

Hi All,
I will be having surgery on 1/16 in Mexico and wonder if any of you had any problems using your cell phone while you were there?

I can't believe I'm having surgery next month. I'm still nervous about traveling alone and know that I will miss my husband so much. I wish he could go with me. It seems that everyone who has a surgery date near mine (2/22...arriving 2/21) will be leaving when I get there or just coming in as I'm heading out. I hope to find a buddy soon.
I've been out of control eating during the holidays. Glad they're over! Now I just need to focus and get healthy. The big 4-0 is right around the corner and I have a slam'n dress I bought that I want to fit into and look smok'n in.
I just purchased a new carry-on and tote bag for my trip to MX. I can't wait to start packing it! I guess it's the little things in life, huh?

So things recently changed with my husbands insurance at his job and when I reviewed the plans, it said Bariatric surgery was a covered benefit. I was hoping, in a last ditch effort that I could have surgery in the states and not leave home for that long (and save myself some $$$) but when I called my insurance about it, they said it was a mistake in the plan and it was NOT a covered benefit. So Mexico...here I come! I guess on the bright side, I get to keep my new Samantha Brown luggage set!

Wow! Around the corner. Good luck to you as well!

You can request a wheelchair at the airport to get you to and from your plane and connector flights. Many have posted that it made a big difference. Of course we want to walk as much as possible too. Le sigh. It's a judgement call...
Amanda Rae

I am 2 months out today, and when I weighed this morning I was so elated because I'm down 40 lbs from my pre-surgery weight. Unfortunately my elation didn't last for long. ;(
I am a private person, so I haven't told anyone at work that I had WLS. When people say something about my weight loss I cringe and stumble through the whole, "I'm working really hard, under a DRs & NUTs care, no carb, low fat, no sugar, blah, blah, blah" schpiel. I hate addressing people's curiosity, and because 2 other ladies in my office had WLS in the last few years, I'm sure that some people are digging for info. I usually manage to brush these encounters off, but today was different.
So this morning as I'm rocking a brand new size 8 pair of jeans...down from a 16-TYVM...I go to the break room to cook my egg whites that I'm getting so damn sick of having for Breakfast, and a friendly colleague of mine says, "Girl, you are wasting away right before my eyes". I say, "I'm getting there." She then proceeds to tell me that she is so glad I didn't take the easy way out like the other two did!!!! I am dumbfounded, and trying to gracefully and tactfully get myself out of this conversation, but I honestly wanted to cry. I told her that I didn't think there was an easy way out with weight loss. She said, "yeah, I know, but taking the easy way out is sad and it really shows that you have no self control."
I was devastated, and I've been in a funk ever since. I know without a shadow of a doubt that she would have never said that if she knew...that makes me so sad. It also makes me sad to think that someone I admire in my professional life would be so condemning of an issue she obviously has never struggled with. I felt dirty and cheap and like a coward for not coming clean and telling her, "My dear, I had WLS and it is not the easy way out." Instead I just let her walk away thinking I'm this goddess of self control and that I have done this all by myself. Ughhh, I'm so mad at myself.
I have worked my ass off to get to this point and I've invested a TON of money in making sure my future is as healthy and happy as it can possibly be, because there are people in my life that I adore and I want to see 30,000 more sunsets with them. I have never fought for something so hard in my whole entire life.
I didn't take the easy way out. The easy way out would have been to do nothing. The easy way out would have me giving into every craving and eating grotesque amounts of food just because I can. The easy way out would have been to continue to get fatter and fatter, and sicker and sicker and to die way before my time.
Sorry, I just had to come here where y'all would understand. Today hurt, and it discouraged me and it sucked. Thankfully, tomorrow is a new day...and I'm going to be one step closer to my goal.

I also wore those tight full leg stockings they made me wear for surgery, to prevent blood clots. Works great for high altitudes.

I had my surgery done by Dr Cabrera through Medical Tourism. My surgery went smoothly, the Dr & staff at Hospital Nova were very warm & friendly & I would easily recommend him for this procedure !According to MT he has done 2500 of these surgeries and I felt confident the whole time I was there. He came & introduced himself and answered my questions prior to surgery.

I would make sure they give you a scopolamine patch at the hospital. Nausea can be a killer, and I can only imagine how nauseated I would have been if I had to go on a plane right after surgery. The patch is good for 3 days, it might help and won't hurt.

My suggestion....don't walk at all. Get them to wheel you around the airport as soon as you get in, on and off the plane. Only walk to get to the bathroom. And don't carry your own bags. They will do that for you too. You don't want to over do it. Once in the airport and past security, I purchased a couple of bottles of juice for the plane. Then when I transfered, I bought another for the second plane ride.

I had my surgery done by Cabrera/Garcia through medical tourism co. Everything went great! I really liked the doctors and my recovery has been great so far 3 weeks postop).
 
Th e only advice is give here is to know what you're going to do to help your recovery - don't rely on them to tell you what to do - the nurses hardly speak any English, so you've gotta figure stuff out on your own (lots of walking!!!). And if you have any issues you need to get the nurse to help you out!
 
It was great though! Great value for the money so far!

Amanda.. I'm on 800 calories a day. I'm doing 2 shakes (100-200 CALS EACH WITH 26-30 GRAMS OF PROTEIN) per day and and one lean meal that includes a big salad and lean meat/fish.. Also I can have half a fruit, an egg, an ounce of nuts.. i just have to work it so it all fits into my calories. I really try to eat lots and lots of greens because they are very cleansing to the body and of course at least 75 grams of Protein a day. I don't eat any cheese, and absolutely no grains or legumes. Sometimes instead of two shakes, I'll just do one shake and an extra flounder filet.. any source of Protein that is lean is good.
After the first three or four days it became a lot easier to stick with it. I started I think the first 6 days on four shakes a day and nothing else. Then after that started cutting back the shakes and adding some of the real food. I just found it easier not to have to think about it at first when I was trying to get off the bad foods.
I started my Vitamins now, so I'm on the Calcium vit-d multi vit, and b-12... I'm not taking Iron yet, I'll start that after my surgery.
My weight dropped super fast 20 pounds in two weeks, but I've been plateaued for two weeks now so I guess it all evens out! Hopefully soon I'll see the scales going down again!

I am scheduled for surgery Feb 21, have almost cancelled it twice as being a nurse I have seen the worst of the worst done in the US. I have not seen any negative posts about Dr C & Dr V. A concern of mine is how long have they been doing bariatric surgeries? Does anyone know??
 
So far Regene has been very prompt and helpful.

Hi everyone! I'm scheduled to be sleeved on February 22nd by Dr. Cabrera Garcia in Tijuana. I'm nervous because I'll be making this trip alone. I've got 4 kids and don't trust them to be home alone while out of the country, so my husband will have to stay home with them. They're not babies, just worried too much could happen with no parental supervision. Anyway, I haven't told anybody about my decision, except my husband. I don't want to hear the negativity about the procedure or going across the border. I've been making myself crazy with VSG research since August when I started a medically supervised WL program, but became very depressed when my insurance denied any surgeries. I scheduled my February surgery date in November and it can't get here fast enough! Like so many of you, it seems I can't fall asleep at night from just thinking about everything. Glad I'm not crazy...sounds like I'm as normal as the rest of you! Glad to meet all of you and hope to hear of someone who will be in Tijuana around the same time as myself!

Hey guys,
I looked on this page and others before choosing my doctor, so I figured I would share my experience now that I am done! I know it is a little bit long.....but it is everything I wish I would have known to ease my curiousity
I went through Mexico Bariatric Center. Once I filled out the contact request I received an email from CHRISTY - who became my contact person the whole time. She was amazing! She was very friendly, stayed in contact with me frequently, stayed honest throughout, and made me feel like she was in it with me! I actually booked a surgery back in November....bought my ticket.....then chickened out. She did not try and persuade me at all! She agreed not to do it until I was ready. I ended up contacting her again, because I felt comfortable, and booked it for Dec. 21, 2012.
The night before I flew down I received a call from VICTOR - who was my driver. He was such a sweet man. He had stories and jokes to share about Tijuana TO and FROM the airport. I flew in the day before surgery. Victor was already outside of the baggage claim when I arrived. We went directly to the Hotel Marriott. It was very beautiful and safe! In fact, you have to use your room key to even get the elevator to move. Everyone there was extremely friendly and helpful. The beds were so fluffy that I had a great sleep before the big day. When I arrived at the hotel I was greeted by my go-to person DANIEL. He was also very friendly, informative, and caring!
Daniel is not just the contact person, but like a "brother from another mother". He makes sure everything runs smoothly, translates for you, and is there for you at every transition! He even came to visit a few times each day at the hospital! If you go through Mexico Bariatric Center you should totally request Daniel to be your contact person.
On the day of surgery I took the Marriott (free) shuttle to Mi Doctor Hospital. Daniel was there to greet me and take care of all of the talking. I was given a room, a Johnny and TIGHT leggings to wear. I then had a pre-op session. This was where they did blood work, took my weight and height, and inserted the I.V. I was also visited and introduced to ALL of my doctors and nurses. Shortly after I was wheelchaired to the surgery room. It was very clean and non-threatening. I couldn't believe how many doctors/nurses were in there. Surprisingly I was NOT nervous at all - since I knew that I wouldn't remember anything once I fell asleep LOL. The anesthesiologist was so caring and gentle! I felt like I knew him............and then fell asleep! The last thing I remember was him smiling down at me while Dr. Cabrera rubbed my face. DR. LOUISIANA Valenzuela was heading my surgery with DR. ISMAEL CABRERA-GARCIA as her assistant. They normally take turns being the lead - but BOTH are excellent at what they do!
Apparently my surgery went from 1 hour to 2 hours because they found a Hiatal Hernia in my esophagus. That is when your stomach pouch is larger than normal and pushes it's way into the esophagus. They repaired it along with my surgery for $500 more. I was so glad that they found it and fixed while up in me! I woke up in a recovery room. As soon as I woke up they walked me to my hospital room - where I slept in and out throughout the day. Closer to the evening I started my walking rounds around the hallway. (VERY IMPORTANT FOR RECOVERY!) I was barely in pain!!!! The easiest way to describe the pain was like a cramp when you are running. This pain was NOT constant! Whenever I felt it, I put my hand over it and pushed in - which helped ease it. The next day (day 2) I felt GREAT! I did a lot more walking around the nurses station and started drinking Gatorade. (after they did the Xray with the liquid). I had many visitors from the doctors, Daniel, people from the recovery room, and even my anesthesiologist! I couldn't believe how great I felt - after hearing about other people's experiences! You will feel gas bubbles here and there - but practice pushing it out through burps and eventually you will get a good fart in....smooth sailing from there LOL
On day 3 Dr. Valenzuela came to do my final check before releasing me. Once again, I felt great.... little pain..... and was ready to go - BUT I had to get my tube taken out first. OMG, although it takes less than a minute to remove it - It was a surreal feeling to get a long skinny tube slowly pulled across and out of a whole in my stomach. Yes it hurt for like 30 seconds, but it had to be done! Once that was done, she gave me my 4 different medications, explanations, and a lot of nutritional paperwork. It also included a CD of the Xray of my new banana shaped stomach pouch! You can watch the liquid going down it - too cool!
Once I got my release, Daniel was already there for me with the Marriott Shuttle. We even detoured to an outside pharmacy to pick up one more medicine bottle, and Snacks for my plus 1. I then stayed at the Marriott for another night (but could've stayed for two nights). Victor called an confirmed pick-up times. (By the way, at the hotel - the patient can eat in the restaurant for free using their room key. Make sure you tell them you are there for Bariatric Surgery. You can get broth, Jello, and popsicles. If someone is with you.....they have to pay BUT you get 25% discount. GET THE BUFFET! It is worth it - especially with the discount)
To end my journey, Victor picked my plus one and I up at the Marriott. We then had to drive through customs to enter U.S. and make our way to the airport. NOTE: The San Diego airport is HORRIBLE and offers very little food options. They are under construction and will have a food court one day......but not yet! You can go to Terminal 1 where there is a Starbucks and a really nice restaurant! Although I couldn't eat......it smelled and looked so good. Starbucks had a good mint tea that I drank - which was very soothing!
FINALLY (I PROMISE) a few points I wanted to add:
*Tijuana is safer than you think!
*Going into the border is quick and easy...Out of the border takes longer, but make sure you have your passports and meds out!
* $1 US dollar is equal to $ 12.60 Mexican dollars. (although the currency changes daily)
*Gastric Sleeve is running $4500 American dollars right now (which is great!) This includes pre-op lab work, Surgery, 2 day hospital stay, medicine, food for patient, personal driver, personal contact person, 1 pre stay hotel, 2 post surgery stay at hotel. (does NOT include airfare or food for the plus one). MY PLUS ONE STAYED IN THE BED NEXT TO ME AT HOSPITAL
*Have your plus one bring snacks. There is a deli on the 1st floor of hospital which seems to run @ $6.00 American for a meal - but they close EARLY! If YOU, the patient, want broth, Gatorade, Popsicle, etc... be sure to ASK! It doesn't just come.
* DR. VALENZUELA/DR. CABRERA are the doctors to go with!!! Call Christy before you change your mind... (you want to ask to have Daniel and Victor too)
I hope this helps! Feel free to ask any question........ I know what you are going through! In a separate blog I'll update my status since this is so long LOLOLOL......
David

I will be traveling alone and am scheduled for VSG at Mi DOCTOR Tijuana on February 22nd. My husband will have to stay home with our kids.