ale143

This is who my surgery was with..and the doctors are great. I have emailed them a few times since surgery with questions and they have been very quick to respond! You will be very happy with them.

OK, I went to Tijana alone..had my surgery on Friday May 3 with Dr. Cabrera and Dr Valenzuela at Hospital MI Doctor. I can give you this advice...Don't be afraid to go alone, but.......find a buddy when you get there. I met a wonderful lady and her friend who had surgery the same day as me and those first 24 hours after surgery, its nice to have someone there to put gas-x strips in your mouth..to help you communicate that you need pain meds or even help you go to the restroom. Going in Mexico wasn't bad and the doctors are fantastic..but the facility and the nursing is NOT what you get in a normal hospital in the states. At least where I was...now it was adequate and I felt perfectly safe...but you don't have a nurse call button..and not all the nurses spoke english. THe daytime nurses seem to have better english but even then, its limited to medical terminology.."help me tie my gown so my ass isn't showing" isn't in their known english...so it is nice having someone there to help you with the little stuff..but let me tell you..once you ask for something and they do understand you, they are very accomodating...they are a little rough when putting medicines in the IV..so you will have to tell them if it hurts..I figured this out by screaming to the top of my lungs and they finally got the clue to slow down...They sent me back to the hotel with bandages..NO TAPE...so be sure to ASK for this...if you plan to shower you will have to change those dressings!! Those first 24 hours are pretty bad..I had the nausua...but didn't have the shoulder pains..the gas pains are bad but not constant..and like everyone says, each hour that passes leads to less pain. Today is day 4 post op and I just got home today (missed a connection and stayed overnight in Dallas)..I don't have any pain but am sore. I havent taken any pain meds since Monday morning but am faithful on the other medications they send you with. I was terrified initially of drinking because the first time they let you have something to drink, it hurts when going down. But this is normal..it doesn't hurt now unless the liquid is too cold or i drink too much at once. But prepare yourself because it will hurt...my throat is still a little sore from the tubing they put down. I am definately feeling weaker but aside from this, I am good. I can sit, walk, stand, sleep on my sides..etc without pain or discomfort. Things that do hurt, coughing, sneezing, hiccups, bending too far, turning body side to side, reaching above my head...I also started my period early today for you ladies...I emailed Dr Valenzuala who informed me that this is normal..the shock of the surgery can cause changes to your menstral cycle, some it stops for a while, some it stimulates suddenly..also your bowels pretty much stop for a while..still waiting on those to start up. All this is normal. Beware of Fluid building up in your chest. The nurses forgot to tell me to do the breathing exercises but the doctors did and brought me a spirometer to do this with. Do this so you don't have to cough because coughing as i mentioned sucks!! If I think of any other details or more 2 cents that may help, I will list it...
Height - 5'7 Age 35
Starting Weight - 280.4
Weight on surgery day 268
Weight on day I arrived home 264

Surgery date: May 28th! yay!
sw:290
gw:150

May 1st in TJ with Cabrera/Valenzuela!
ETA: Surgery has been rescheduled to May 8th!

My sleeve surgery is scheduled for May 29th. I'm so ready!!!!!

Here in San Diego waiting on the bus!!!! To the Marriott

YAYYYYY! Dr's Cabrera, Valenzuela and their new team member Dr. Garcia are SOOOO caring. Less than a month!

So let me start by saying a few words as to why I'm writing this. I was recently sleeved by Dr. Garcia in Tijuana and I am very happy with my results -- so far. If you want to read moment by moment blows of someones happy surgery, this isn't the blog. I've read every blog here and a majority are dead on accurate. But there's a lot no one bothers to mention and I wish someone had. Also, I'm posting this from a made-up user ID.... I read the boards daily and respond frequently, but prefer to keep some elements of my issues private (as you'll read). Thanks!!
First, Waiting! I appreciate in the U.S. were go-go-go people who are comfortable with our busy, full schedules but in Mexico, there is NO scheduling at all! You sit and wait, and wait, and wait. The day of my surgery we were taken at 6:45 to the hospital, we waited until after 9am for the hospital staff to even arrive to check us in. Once in my room, more waiting; I didn't have my surgery until NIGHT! Despite numerous attempts to ask when (approx) my surgery would be - "soon" is the only answer I got. Want to go shopping after surgery, plan to wait. No one can tell you if or when or how long. I waited 2 whole days and then in a matter of minutes of a phone call, was expected to be ready.
Second - Coordinators. Good luck. I saw my coordinator ONCE on the very LAST day. Once I was taken back to the hotel, I had questions I needed answered and despite my attempts (for over an hour) and the hotels attempts, no one could reach them. And their voicemail boxes were full - wonderful. What if I had an emergency?
Third - Not Like U.S. Hospitals. Now I accepted this going in. BUT, if when waiting to be taken into ER I am awake and can see the person before me laying naked on the OR table - I'm sorry, I find that bothersome to several degrees. First, how many germs are flooding through those open doors? Second, if I was awake enough to see someone (who I actually knew from these boards and hotel), then who is seeing me? Not cool.
Fourth - The Yucky (yes, the yucky truth - feel free to skip) No one bothers to tell you that your pee after your final leak test will be BRIGHT green for days - not an issue, but a heads up would've been nice. And the diarrhea - oh my stomach aches just thinking about it. It smells horrendous - like sick tummy. Its lasts for, I don't even know how long, I still have it, and its explosive. So yes, you probably will shart yourself. Just speaking the truth here.
Again, I want to say I am HAPPY with my results ---- these were just things NO ONE bothered to mention and it would've been nice to prepare a bit better. So, bring a extra book, ask all your questions before you leave, ask to be drugged up before going to the OR and sit on a towel afterwards and you should be ALL set!

Date: May 3
Sw: 255
Gw: 165

I didn't trust a fart until I was about 3-4 months out! lol Good thing I didn't too They were always sharts!

I'm at mi doctor right now and was just sleeved by Cabrera and Valenzuela yesterday. So far it's been great. Yes, I've had some pain but that's going to happen when you cut out 80% of one of your organs! The doctors are very caring. They've been back a few times to check on me and there are other doctors here that check on you too. I'm told I'll be relased tomorrow at 10 to go back to the marriott. I'm not at ALL hungry, I just want to drink drink drink!

Dr's Cabrera and Valenzula

I know! I had no problems w going to India but in the end it was much further & more expensive then Mexico. I didn't think that threw properly lol
And I just read AND forwarded to my dad your experience of going to Mexico! They think I have rocks in my head for doing this let alone going to Mexico ... If you're not on this forum you just don't get it ... I'm going to stop talking to people about it - they all think I'm nuts. I'm only 30 BMI but I'm sick to death of this war - I feel like ill never win on my own ... I need a tool and this is my decision. Thanks so much for your help!!!!!! X

Good luck. I hope everything goes well for you. I'll be flying in on Sunday afternoon for my surgery on Monday.

I was sleeved by them on Jan.17th. I also had no problems since. Everything went great. Today is 10 weeks since I started the pre op diet and I'm down an amazing 71lbs. Thats 1lb a day and I had a stall that lasted 6 days. All I can say is unbeliveable. Glad your doing great, how is your wieght loss going?

U will love him and u will do great. I'm 8 days post op and I had Garcia. I am doing great.