lexysdad04

You are correct my mistake Dr Illan does work out of a full hospital and he trained under Dr Kelly witch I have only read good things about, guess I was typing on cruise control lol, I'll fix my comment, I don't want people to think he works out of a clinic Thanks for the heads up Sent from my iPhone using VST

I haven't had any personal experience with any of those too doctors (Dr Almanza and Dr Illan) directly but to me what scared me was that he (Dr Almanza) operates out of a clinic and not a hospital, I wanted a hospital and for what I paid for my sleeve 4500 I didn't see a benefit in paying more to go to a clinic and find out first hand if all the stories that I read are true or not. I know (when I called his coordinators told me he has more experience then most doctors because he does more surgeries then others in a day) he does more surgeries then most surgeons but then that also leaves more room for error I don't want a surgeon thats going to be so confident on him self that he will be on cruise control while doing my surgery I'm sure he is a great surgeon but to me the hospital sold me first and second was that my surgeon only does a max of 5 a day on RARE occasions he goes up to 7 The reasons why I chose dr Ortiz might be the same reasons why someone else might not choose Dr Ortiz, in the end we all have to do our own research and choose the surgeon that we feel will meet our personal needs As long as we all make it to the other side of the wls safely that's what matters in the end Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hey Fletcherette glad you posted your review it will help many people get ready for their stay and will know what not to expect from the nurses Sorry you got stuck with the B crew or even the C crew of nurses. Maybe the new patients going in should make a note of requesting the 3rd floor Glad to hear your doing much better now that your home Sent from my iPhone using VST

The 3 days prior are not as bad as it sounds by the time it gets here if you have already been on your 2 week Protein diet your stomach will already be used to eating less and with all the protein you probably won't be hungry I know I wasn't plus I know it can be done I worked up until the day b4 surgery 12hrs a day every day in heavy duty construction and was ok oh and these guys were ordering burgers or Mexican food every day for lunch and eating in front of me while I just had a Protein shake or on the last day a Jello, we have to start getting used to following a strict diet and have to be strong not to fall for temptations Oh and I was told that one of the reasons why you do 3 days of clears is to make sure you stomach is empty of all solids, so that your recovery is faster and so that your not stressing with constipation issues after surgery Sent from my iPhone using VST

no worries you will like him, good luck to you and a speedy recovery

I'm glad my review has helped put some of you at ease, I research soo many doctors first, originally I was going to go with Dr Lopez/Dr Ortiz but I had to move my date up and I'm glad I did because everything seemed to have worked out to my favor and their where less surgeries so I got extra attention, oh I also found out Dr Ortiz is one of the main surgeons at the main hospital for Tijuana that's ran by the government, so he has plenty of experience he is just not as famous as some other doctors Oh and another thing for those that need a gallbladder removed, my coordinator said it would only be an extra $500 and you can get it done at the same time. Hey fletcherette I would love to read your review specially since we both went in on the same day so please hurry and post it up Sent from my iPhone using VST

????Lol' date=' I'm addicted to my cell phone and txt msg I'm glad it helped put you at ease I too read about the member passing away recently and also a lot of other horror stories about leaks, but like I told my wife if its my turn to go (and I pray it's not) then no matter how careful we are it will still be our turn. Oh if you can request the 3rd floor and get Samantha (Sammy) she is the best she really pampers you, well they all do but I just really liked her personality best Sent from my iPhone using VST

Lol I have like this thing wrong with I think cause when ever I here someone is looking to buy something ill just pull the phone out and get quick pricing for them but hey I've save people money sometimes My fingers are crossed for you that your friend gets the time off so you can get that nice discount Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hey fletcherette how's it going hope everything is working out for you, my doctor put me on full liquids since day 4 but I waited till today to take advantage of it and do full liquids Sent from my iPhone using VST

Omg $2000 wow that's crazy guess I was lucky to live out here, hey I'm not sure where your flying from but try flying into San Diego I did a quick search and Virgin Australia came in at $1475 flying in from Auckland to San Diego I just punched make up dates depart 4/3 return 4/10 on kayak.com Hey that extra $500 could be used for fun money b4 the surgery Sent from my iPhone using VST

Good luck to both of you Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm assuming you had your wls already and hope everything went well, but if it helps any one else ill still answer your question, the meds that are needed for us specifically are given to us in a care package for free example pain and antibiotics and some liquid to help heal the stomach lining faster But if you want meds for other things or some one else then the driver will take you, I booked thru alighterme and Abraham took us to a pharmacy he knows with great prices (I priced out other places b4 I went to where he took us) and I got penicillin 100 pills 500mg for 20, amoxicillin 100 pills 500mg for 25, phentermine 30 pills 30mg for 30, penicillin ointment jar 3, and pretty much any med you need they have and if you forgot your prescription they will wright one out for you for free so that you can get it across the border no questions asked Sent from my iPhone using VST

When I first got their b4 my surgery the broth taste oh so good but after surgery I don't know if my taste buds changed or the hotel got lazy but the broth tasted like it was just boiled Water with a chicken cube dropped in it and very very salty so yes ask for the lime Sent from my iPhone using VST

If your into shopping theirs the Carlsbad outlets on your ways to SD and also in SD their is the las America's outlets right at the border they both have great stores Sent from my iPhone using VST

I know right across the border from TJ theirs a Premium outlets (Las Americas) center with VS not sure about pink theirs also a coach outlet in their and about 100 other top brands with really good prices theirs also old town San Diego to visit and of course theirs disneyland about 2 hrs away not that you want to do that after surgery but b4 surgery that would be fun especially for your friend, what I'm saying is that their might not be plenty to do right in TJ but theirs plenty to do right across the border Oh but I do have to say that in PV (actually Nuevo Vallarta next door to PV) theirs the swim with the dolphins excursion really cool not sure on price I remember I paid about $160 that last time I went for 1hr excursion plus the rest of the day to stay for free at their Water park Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hey talk to Janese from aligtherme she will take care of you very good, Dr Lopez works out of both PV and TJ Dr Ortiz only works out of TJ I know that if you book dr Ortiz on the week dr Lopez is in town you get a "2 for 1" special because dr Ortiz does the surgery but dr Lopez is his assistant so you pay about $200 less for booking dr Ortiz but you still end up getting dr Lopez as well Also I know in TJ Eduardo and Abraham are just a click away they will take you shopping and out on the town if you want or if your friends wants, I'm not sure in PV I'm sure they probably do the same Where every you go PV or TJ or Cancun aligtherme will take care of you and be their every step of the way, I'm telling you this as a patient of theirs that is going thru it with them as we wright I was sleeved on 3/11 if you or any1 has any question don't hesitate to ask me or pm Sent from my iPhone using VST

Tijuana is more of a days trip ( i just would not go on vac to tijuana but I have crossed the border many times just for the great food an resently for my surgery ) I actually just had surgery here in Tijuana at mi doctor thru aligtherme on 3/11 in fact I'm at the Marriott as I reply to you theirs nothing bad Ive had a great experience here but if you can afford to go to cancun or Puerto Vallarta I would defiantly go their I've gone on vacation to Puerto Vallarta and its a beautiful place so your friend would have a great time and Cancun is even more beautiful then Puerto Vallarta many cruises actually stop at both locations so theirs many excursions for your friend to try out What ever location you decide to go to I know that you will be in great hands with aligtherme And again nothing wrong with TJ (I did my sleeve here in TJ) just if you want you friend to have a better time Puerto Vallarta and Cancun are great. TJ is fine just not much to do other then maybe shop for nick nacks Sent from my iPhone using VST

Ur welcome, if u need help with translations maybe ur mom can come down and get my wife so she can help u translate or one of the nurses down here on floor 3 the speak great English Sent from my iPhone using VST

Yes this drain is soo bugging me dr Ortiz will be taking it out on Thursday, I'll be staying till Friday morning then driving home Sent from my iPhone using VST

I leave on the 15 back home but will probably bump into each other at the Marriott if u come in the day b4 ur surgery Sent from my iPhone using VST

Ok so yesterday I went in to have surgery at 12pm, to me everything went super well I was back in my room b4 I new it and the doctor was giving me a time line of what to expect next (can't say I caught it all was still droopy) then I walked and walked and walked every 1hr today I woke up walked had a leak test the blue dye then took a shower and changed into my normal clothes then had another leak test which I passed and then more pain meds and more pain meds I guess I got lucky cause my doctor left a schedule for the nurses to follow as to when to shoot me up with pain meds weather or not I needed them Now my wife she says the anesthesia wore off just as they where bring me out and that I started trying to get up and arguing with the docs until they gave me more sleeping gas, I don't remember but one of the male nurse says I did and that its very common for men to do that Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hey fletcherette not sure if u are still having trouble communicating but on top of the safe thirs a translation sheet with sentences like " I need pain meds" and what not u could point to the sentence that u are trying to say Sent from my iPhone using VST