Im currently drinking rtd Premier Protein choc or vanilla 30 gram Protein 5 gram carb an 160 calories and by far the best tasting
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Olivia,
Florence/Oasis is a full hospital with a blood bank and real ICU. It's actually a world renowned cancer hospital specializing in late stage cancer. There were people from Europe, New York and a lot of Amish folks.
When you pull up the first building is a one or 2 level building with a very nice lobby etc. The Bariatric section is in this building. There are 2 tall, multilevel buildings connected behind it.
I've worked in healthcare 15ish years and I have no idea where you get this hospital isn't a real one.
Oh and the nurse got my IV in on the first try and I am an IV therapist's nightmare lol.
Flying out May the 7th also. Surgery on the 8th. Everytime I get scared, I think about staying in this body and how bad I am going to continue feeling with being on 2x blood pressure medicine instead of one. As I get older, I see my body go south on me. I have a low BMI but every year I put on that much more weight. I find myself looking in the closet at the clothes that I should be wearing. No more excuses. I am bound to TJ when my turn comes up. Trust me that no one is as scared as I am.
Lets do this together Cerenatee!
I am flying in on May 6 and having my surgery that day. I am having it done at the florence, 2 nights in the hospital then off to the Marriott for 3 days. Not sure if you ladies are staying at the Marriott as well, but if you are maybe we could meet up.
I did ask him about it and he said it is mostly cosmetic and the surgery itself takes a bit longer. Plus it does cost more too. For me, I think I will stick with the 4 incision surgery. For 1, I don't like anything touching my belly button, so think I would get the willies and grossed right out especially having to have the drain tube out that hole. 2 reason is I will probably have to have a Tummy Tuck when it is all said and done, which would remove all the scars from the surgery anyways. Just the conclusion and decidion I have come to.
Sleeved in MX Florence Hospital with Dr. Garcia
In February 2013 I started looking into vertical sleeve surgery. I lurked and read other peoples experiences. I contacted pretty much all the companies and got replys from all. I chose Ready4Achange because I liked how Alma explained things and how she was not pushy and always answered my questions promptly. I originally contacted her about Dr Perez so I would not have such a long flight but after researching the other Dr. Garcia in Tijuana. I knew he was the one. So I got all my paperwork and made my deposit and set a date. A week before surgery I got an email saying I could change from MI Doctor to florence if I wanted to. After researching Florence I decided to go with Florence. Mainly because of the nurse call button. Even though I am a redneck southern girl. I just didnt see myself yelling out for a nurse. Also It seemed people were having to wait a while once they got there. I hate anticipation. I paid $4700 plus airfare. I could have went with a more expensive doctor. I know some say you get what you pay for but I paid less and got the best. I honestly think Dr Garcia could charge more and is a very good surgeon. He has carefully picked his team that I would entrust my life with. Once I met them it was amazing at how well they compliment one another and work together. Like a well oiled machine. Dr Garcia and his team truly care their patients. The ready4achange group are out of this world. If you need anything they are right on it and happy to help.
March 28th-I left for Tijuana MX to have vertical sleeve surgery. I flew into airport and called Samuel and he called me back within 10 minutes and was at airport to pick me up in 10 more minutes. He was a sweetheart. I was not scared at all he was very informative on ride to Marriott. We arrive at Marriott Samuel made sure we were checked and and called Rosie to find out when we could expect her before he left. Rosie showed up in my room within an hour and answered any questions and explained what was going to happen and what time to be ready in the morning. She gave me a big hug before leaving. Which was so comforting being there alone. The marriott staff was very nice and the room was beautiful. So I just relaxed and got myself prepared for surgery.
March 29th- Me and Pretty in Pink were downstairs at 6:00AM for catch shuttle to Florence Hospital. We arrived at Hospital probally about 7AM. We met Melissa and she showed us to our room after explaining some things to us. Once in my room the man came to draw blood and install iv. I got in my gown and a lady came and put on my surgical hose. The pre/post doctor came and did the EKG. Everything was moving really fast. Which was good. I didnt have time to sit around and worry. Dr. Grafias, Dr Velasco, and Dr Cabrera came in to meet and talk to me. They were all so nice and made me feel so at ease and confident I was in good hands. Then Dr. Garcia came in and drew me a colored picture explaining everything and answering all my questions. He told me I was first and it would only be 10 minutes. I told him to take his time with me in surgery and he just laughed and said he would. I am so impressed with Dr Garcia and his team. So they rolled a bed in room and transferred me to OR. I then had to slide onto OR table. The team was all busy doing what they do and I was out. I woke up in my room in my bed. I worried about someone waking me up saying "you gotta get up and move to your bed" but NO. I woke up in my room in my bed with gas pain in my chest.The nurse was there and was putting meds in my IV. Once I felt stable enough I sat up on side of bed and then went for a walk.. I didnt feel pain from the incisions or drain. Just the gas pain in chest. So I slept with heating pad laying on my chest the whole time. It helped to sit up. Dr Velesco came into check on me. I went for a walk and when I got back I started dry heaving. It hurt!!! So I sat on side of bed and cried. I cry when I feel bad. Parker and Rdoactv (Patients) stopped in to comfort me. Which made me feel so much better. They assured me it would get better. It did!! SO Slept and walked the rest of the day and night. Later that night a lady showed up with ice chips. The nurses were in like clock work with my meds or if I rang the call button. They do have washclothes here. Also Dr. Garcia called my husband when my surgery was finished. SO Sweet.
March 30th- Day after surgery. I felt better and was still getting up to do my walks. They have a pretty garden out front you can walk outside to get some fresh air. Plus it motivates you to walk farther and more. The pain was just soreness that I expected from surgery. I did throw up a little today but not to much and didnt hurt as bad as the dry heaves. The nurse told me I could take a shower and I would be going for my chest xray and leak test. The girl that does the xrays doesnt speak much english. But you just gotta laugh and figure out what she wants you to do. You have to lay flat on table and she holds a cup with a straw and you have to drink it. Dont take to long drinking it cause my friend Deborah had to drink it twice cause it had already went through by the time she finished. (Poor thing). I kept trying to tell the girl I wanted to drink mine sitting up she kept shaking head no.(oh well). It was not to awful bad and I thought we had to drink a lot but it wasnt to much. Then a lady brought juice, tea and Jello. Dr Velesco came in to check on me. Then Dr. Zavalza came in and explained he was filling in for Dr Garcia cause of the Easter Holiday. Which was fine cause I trust Dr Garcias team totally. Dr. Zavalza sat on side of my bed and just talked and told me how well my surgery went. We just chit chatted. He is a very good doctor also and really makes you feel cared for and a cutie too. If he ever goes out on his own. He will be a good choice too. Then about 6pm the nurse came in with the blue stuff for the drainage leak test. It was a small amount and not to awful. We had apple juice, tea and jello again. The nurse will give you a bottle of Water if you want. Melissa also come in to check to see how things are going during your stay. She left a bag with phone numbers and gatorade.
March 31st- 6AM the nurse comes in and tells me to get in shower and get ready for Dr. Velesco to come remove drain so I could be discharged. We just walked around and talked waiting on the Dr. She came to remove drain. WOW!! It didnt hurt but its not something I ever want to feel again. I was like hurry hurry and she was like I can put it back in if you want .NO Thanks!!They give you a bag full of gauze, tape, anitbiotics,pain meds, and some kind of mylanta stuff. You may need a pill crusher to crush some of your meds like the anitbiotic. It being a holiday the hotel shuttle was off work. ???? So they contracted a taxi to take us to hotel. The driver took up along the beach for a tour. Really sweet of him. So me and deborah decided to catch a taxi up to the Walmart to get us some more pain meds to take home. Not that i needed then. I just got them for just in case cause you dont have to have a prescription in MX. I got some juice,jello, and Soup mix ( I didnt like Marriotts, Im not a soup person). SO after that venture I was tired and just kicked back in hotel room the rest of the evening. I would make rounds in the halls to get my walking in esspecially after drinking something.
April 1st- I didnt feel like going anywhere this day. I didnt feel bad but just wanted to rest for the trip home on 2nd. So that afternoon I sent down to the store in the Marritott and got me a pinepple and coconut fruit popsicle. It was delicious and hit the spot. I know it says no cold or hot stuff but cold works for me. Deborah went to get her nails done. So I called Pretty in Pink and she came down and we sat out by the pool and relaxed until time for Dr Luna to come remove our staples. That evening Dr Luna and Rosie came to remove the staples. It didnt hurt and he is a sweety also. He shows you how to do your dressings. You will also need some waterproof bandages once you get home. If you wanna go ahead and get them. They are to cover your drain hole. You leave it on in shower remove it after shower and do your dressings and put a new one on drain hole. My other incisions were pretty much closed by this day but I still babied them. Rosie and Dr Luna gave me a big hug and said good bye.
April 2nd (4 days post op) We were down stairs at 6am for Samuel to take us to airport. It only took 2 to 3 hours to get to airport. I crossed border with Birth Certificate and ID with no problem. I was tired from flying all day and rest the next day at home.
8 days post op- I feel fine. Its hard getting all my Protein in and liquids. I manage 50g a day. Im working on it. Thanks goodness when I got home I read I could have prevacid. I went straight to store and got me some. It made a world of difference in the heartburn. I am eating cream or chciken soup, jello,pudding, Protein Shakes, sugar free popsicles. The popsicles are gonna be my lifesaver as for not getting dehydrated. I though about freezing my protein shakes into fudgesicles. Also I couldnt handle pouring my antibiotic on food, I am swollowing it. I am not taking the pain meds either. I think they give me heartburn. I do wish I could have some mashed potatoes or a cracker. I hope my post helps to answer some questions some of the up coming sleevers have. I am so glad its over and I am on the Losers Bench. I know its a long post but thats my story and Im sticking to it.
Heres to a new me!!!
I was sleeved with Dr. Garcia on 4/11 and had a great experience. I DO NOT promote ANY coordinators/doctors but I just want to let others know about my experience and that they will be in good hands. I HIGHLY recommend same day surgery to get it over with and I stayed at the hotel for two nights only and I am so glad I did! Dr. Garcia and his team are phenomenal...Any other questions please feel free to ask
Alma told me that, us SLEEVE patients, didn't need to do the laxative... I would verify with her about that. I did NOT do the laxative. I think that is mostly for BYPASS patients.
Amytug, I have noticed that too.. there is on Dr. I have researched on here where it seems like all of his patients lose faster than others. Plus I dont see a lot of weightloss checkins from Dr. Garcia's patients, you know like 6months later, now I am going with him, because I have researched and researched, watched youtube and spoken with Alma and the whole nine. I just want to know, what a few patients progress is down the line.
I was still not sure I wanted to change to florence after being scheduled for Mi Doctor, but after speaking to Alma at r4ac it seems like Mi Doctor isn't an option anymore anyway. I was told "all surgeries have been moved to Florence." And then was told to fill out a new consent form with Florence Hospital indicated instead of Mi Doctor like my original. I think for the most part it's kinda a toss up. They both seem to have some pros and cons. So I guess Florence it is for me now too! lol
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