gtmikki

Hey All!
Just a quick update. I am 6 months post-op tomorrow! I'm extremely happy to report that I am down 100 POUNDS!!! I'm 5.5 pounds away from onderland and 23 ponds from the OCC's goal weight! I'm so extremely pleased with my decision and the results. I look and feel like an entirely different person!

My experience so far:
Since my mom and I are from Southern CA, we drove to the San Diego airport and parked there and went over to Terminal 1 where we were to meet the driver. We got there early like at 545 and the pickup time was 7. Our driver ended up being late so we were waiting 2 hours. Not a super big deal, was actually entertained by people watching. The driver picked us up and 2 other patients. When you cross through the Mexican border, since we are in a van, all of us had to get out and get our luggage, go through a building where they X-Ray our luggage and then hit a button, green means you're good and if it's red, then they'll search your bags. All of us were green. We left the building and waited for van to get the go ahead. This whole process didn't take too long, maybe 15 minutes.
Off to the Marriott to check in. It is a very nice hotel, lots of staff and felt secure. Our room was pretty decent but the beds were hard as rocks. I'm sure I won't mind the next couple nights cause I will probably be out of it but I got no sleep last night, just kept tossing and turning, either from the bed or the looming of the surgery.
Got picked up by the Marriott shuttle at 6:20 am to go the OCC, filled out paperwork, met with the nutritionist who was very informative. She weighed me, measured me, gave me my goal weight and went through the different phases of eating. Then met with cardiologist. Did good, was the first surgery patient of the day. Went to my room which is very nice and changed. The nurse gave me medicine, started my IV, met and talking with Dr. Martinez who is super nice! Off the OR! And Just like that I was out and waking up! The waking up part always sucks, cause you're thinking what's going on?! My mouth was super dry and I had a really bad taste in my mouth. I was coughing pretty bad so they put something over my nose and mouth to help.
I haven't been in pain, just sore. If anything my chest and throat hurt. Pretty much all day, I've just wanted to burp. I wish I could let out a big burp and I feel like I would feel better. Lol Got up to walk a couple times. Mostly, I'm just tired and I'm sure not sleeping last night has something to do with that.
So far the care has been great, I saw Dr. Ortiz briefly out of the corner of my eye when I was being taken back to my room. Said I did great. I didn't have my glasses on and I'm blind so I couldn't see him very well. lol
Everyone's post on this board helped my make decision to come here and I just want to say thank you for that! I hope my post encourages others to do the same. You don't need to worry about the Mexico thing, you're in great hands and meeting other patients and being with them, makes you feel more comfortable.

@@gtmikki good for you! You totally got this!
 
As for the flight thing, I was really torn about staying longer vs going home. On the one hand, recovering in TJ sure beats recovering in Idaho in December. On the other hand, I had a house and dogs and cats and horses to take care of at home. My flight was only 2 hours but then I had a 5 hour drive home from the airport. I was definitely tired. Maybe a compromise would be to stay in San Diego one extra night and get an early flight out on your 4th morning. If you do fly out on the 3rd day, you can't leave until mid -afternoon because you have to go to OCC that morning for drain removal and barium fluoroscopy before going to the airport. Makes for a really long day.
 
Also, OCC will give you compression stockings which you should wear on the flight. You should get up and walk the aisles as much as possible. Make sure you have plenty of liquids to sip. I brought crystal light and propel zero packets to mix in Water. Also walk in the airport, don't get a wheelchair (I've seen some people recommend this, but that just increases chances of clots).

I've been taking the Vitaleph Multivitamin and I plan to stay on it. I bought the four bottle package, which is a 4 month supply for a little over $100. I had purchased one bottle of their probiotic as well, but I decided to switch to a brand I can buy locally that only requires one pill per day instead of two. I did not purchase their shakes or any of their other supplements.
 
As for flying after surgery, I ended up staying an extra night in San Diego, so I could take a morning flight the next day. So I was in the TJ Mariott the night before surgery and two nights after, then I stayed a night at the Holiday Inn Express right next to the airport and took their airport shuttle for my flight the following morning. I had two flights with a layover in Chicago. It turned out to be a bit of a nightmare, because my flight from Chicago to my home city was cancelled! But I was able to get on a different flight and just made it home a couple hours later than planned. I got an aisle seat on both my return flights so I could get up and walk a little if I needed and I did lots of walking in the airports.

After reading this post, I have scheduled my surgery for 12/19/14 with Dr. Ortiz. I am nervous, scared, and everything in between. But I know that I am doing the best thing for me. Thank you all for posting such great information.

After reading this post, I have scheduled my surgery for 12/19/14 with Dr. Ortiz. I am nervous, scared, and everything in between. But I know that I am doing the best thing for me. Thank you all for posting such great information.

After reading this post, I have scheduled my surgery for 12/19/14 with Dr. Ortiz. I am nervous, scared, and everything in between. But I know that I am doing the best thing for me. Thank you all for posting such great information.