BeacheeGirl

I used Dr. Joya as well in Puerto Vallarta and was very happy with him. The cost was $8000 and that covers surgery, air fare & resort stay afterwards. You can click on the link below for my journal to see pics and to read my story if your interested, good luck!

My doctor prescribed me Liquid Codeine w/ Tylenol. Also, after I ran out of that I bought some Liquid Tylenol PM at Wallgreen's and that was actually better then the prescription stuff!

I'd love to get together with you some time and exchange stories! I'll PM you my phone #.

I love your story! It's funny, I had a nurse too that wasn't so warm and fuzzy and I can picture her to this day and what she said and sounded like and that was 15 years ago!

Great looking family, congratulations Penni! My son is 15 and he is going to be a Sophomore. He just moved out last week to go move back down to Santa Barbara with my parents because he wants to finish high school there. It is so weird not having my little rug rat and I miss him sooo much already!

I had the same exact thoughts and feelings. I was also going by myself which had my family very, very scared. My co-workers and friends all questioned my thinking and were oppose to it initially. I went to Dr. Joya and he was wonderful, I had it on Monday and I am doing and feeling fantastic. The care was great and the hospital was nicer then most American hospitals. I definitely felt comfortable once knowing how many surgeries my doctor had. Good luck in your research....oh, it only cost me $8000 that included airfare and hotel. You can read my journal for pics and my journal of what happened.

Yup, feel that same exact knot. They told me here it will go away in about a week or so... OMG - In five days I have lost 7 lbs...this is the COOLEST feeling EVER!

Hummus, YUMMY! I love, love, love the Portugese soup I found in the Liquid Phases thread. It's got skinned mashed potatoes & mashed carrots, olive oil, garlic and vegetable broth (my variation since Im a vegetarian). Once you mix it all together the veggies break up in the broth but it gives a thicker consistency to the liquid soup diet I'm on right now.

Carb addict here too, as well as cheese addict. My favorite: One whole baguette, block brie cheese and marinated artichoke hearts. Would eat all of that in one day. Also, brown rice, butter, chedder cheese. My husbands macaroni and cheese would also make me week in the knees. I would eat and eat until I was so stuffed I was sick, then take a nap.

Hi, everyone! I FEEL THE LOVE AND IT FEELS GREAT! Teresita just sent me a note about this thread, I didn't see it, thanks everyone! I had my surgery on the 26th and then my 34th B-day was on the 27th. It was the best present I could have given myself. I am feeling so good and have lost 5 lbs already! I'll be soooo glad when I have an 'After' picture of myself. How are you all doing? I am such an addict to this board. To see my experience in PV getting banded you can visit my journal link at the bottom of this thread..there are some pics you may enjoy :- )

Hi, thanks to FunnyDuddies I got this thread. Someone else had mentioned it to me when I got back but I couldn't find it! You don't know how much that means to me that you guys truly cared about how I was doing. Yes, I did go alone but I survived and I am no worse for wear. I really feel now that I have been embraced by y'all so thank you. It's like 5:21 am here and I just got done feeding my THREE 6 week old PUPPIES! And, there 2 parents, lol. (My husband leaves for work at 4 am) Today I woke up actually feeling sooo good. Sat down at the computer and now drinking some Water and eating some Jello. Here's what I wrote in my journal about my experience in Puerto Vallarta: Flew into Puerto Vallarta, beautiful city but didn't see much the 1st day. Was met by Natalia, Dr. Joya's Asst at airport. Taken immediately to the hospital, blood tests done, met Dr., surgeon's assistants and anestesiologist. I was put at ease immediately, all of the doctors were VERY nice and offered to answer any questions I had. Dr. Joya felt my abdomen and said "good, it's very soft, will make surgery very easy". > > Next, I was Hooked up to IV and started on fluids, this helped with the hunger a tiny bit, was still ravenous though. I had not eaten any food since 12 pm the previous day - that was over 30 hours, NO FOOD, only some sips of water and decaf coffee the next morning before plane took off. Surgery done about 2 hrs later and lasted approximately 45 minutes long. > > Woke up in recovery room with some mild pain in my abdomen. After recovering there for a while I was wheeled into my room. They told me surgery went well and that my liver was normal size so no complications there. I braced myself for the infamous gas pain that everyone talks about - it never came! The only pain I had was the incision pain. Now, my stomach was VERY bloated from the gas, however, I did not have any gas pain in my shoulder or anywhere. This may have been because I went to the bathroom A LOT before surgery, or, because I did not eat anything for over 24 hours before surgery. > > The negatives - What I did not like about the care at the hospital was that after I woke up from surgery, I COULD NOT sleep. I complained about 5 times to the nurses and they would give me something for pain, but that's not what I needed and that did not help me sleep. They said they would call the Dr. but I don't think they did. They then gave me two pills but the didn't work either. Basically, I was awake from 10 pm and walked the halls until FINALLY I fell asleep for 2 hours at 4 am. This really irritated me because I was sooo tired but could not fall asleep and I really wanted my body to be able to rest after surgery. The night nurses you could tell they were getting irritated as when I rang the buzzer when I tried to go to sleep and couldn't and would ask for something to go to sleep with, they came in looking like they just woke up and would be like "si, si" and then wouldn't come back again until I buzzed them the next hour. > > I also had a hard time peeing after surgery. That may be perhaps because they put a catheter in after I was asleep?? However, I would just have to sit on the toilet and kind of "push" my pee out. That has lasted through today.... > > A couple of hours before check out they brought me 2 cups of apple juice and some ice and water. I took slow slips and had no problems keeping anything down. > > Oh, let me describe the room in the hospital: Beautiful! Had my own private room and bathroom/shower. Hospital bed VERY comfortable. Very cute, stylish and colorful couch and chair in the room. Flat screen tv and remote. Marble floors. The entire hospital was pretty it was called The Cornerstone Hospital in PV. > > Check out time came and Natalie the Dr's Asst came and gave me all the paperwork, receipts, box for band etc. She drove me to the hotel, speedily checked me in and I was off to my room. (Room was VERY nice) Marble floors, open sliding glass doors and balcony and was right on the beach so I could sit outside and look at the ocean. I included some pictures of the resort and hotel below. > > > > I pretty much slept off and on that day, drank some broth, juice and water, etc. - The next day I woke up and decided to bravely go downtown to buy some souveniers. It was a 10 minute cab ride and yes, I was in a bit of pain when he was bumping over the cobblestoned streets but I made it. I walked around holding my tummy and hobbled along, at one point a stor worker said "Oh, you having a baby?" I just nodded and laughed to myself not bothering to correct him. My stomach was sooo bloated I looked about 5 mo's along and I couldn't blame anyone with the way I was holding my tummy or walking along to think that - too funny, any other time I would have been insulted! > > > > Shopped and bought some blankets, windchimes, art, and a good bottle of tequila for my husband. After about an hour I caught a cab and took a nap for 2 hours then woke up and headed for the airport. (I decided to check out a day early because even though the resort was nice, I missed my bed and I missed my AMERICAN TV, lol!). > > At the airport after getting out of the cab and I asked for a wheelchair as I was wore out and sore and didn't want to drag my luggage around. This turned into be a great idea as I was whisked through customs and immigration and becauase I had a first class ticket back to LAX (TOTALLY WORTH IT ON THE WAY HOME BY THE WAY - IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO UPGRADE TO 1ST CLASS, DO IT, WILL MAKE THE FLIGHT BACK HOME SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!) > > All in all, it feels great to have had this done. Have not got on scale yet, will probably wait a few day. At home, feeling sore but good. Body healing, eating jello, broth, juice, popsicles. > > Oh, I keep getting an uncomfortable painful shooting feeling in my diaphragh area and it lasts for a few seconds every once in a while after I swallow something, then goes away. > > Hope this helps anyone thinking of going to Mexico, so far, I highly recommend Dr. Joya....

aaahhhh, i had thought about the possibility of that Melissa. well if they come, i'll let you guys know.

Flew into Puerto Vallarta, beautiful city but didn't see much the 1st day. Was met by Natalia, Dr. Joya's Asst at airport. Taken immediately to the hospital, blood tests done, met Dr., surgeon's assistants and anestesiologist. I was put at ease immediately, all of the doctors were VERY nice and offered to answer any questions I had. Dr. Joya felt my abdomen and said "good, it's very soft, will make surgery very easy". Next, I was Hooked up to IV and started on fluids, this helped with the hunger a tiny bit, was still ravenous though. I had not eaten any food since 12 pm the previous day - that was over 30 hours, NO FOOD, only some sips of water and decaf coffee the next morning before plane took off. Surgery done about 2 hrs later and lasted approximately 45 minutes long. Woke up in recovery room with some mild pain in my abdomen. After recovering there for a while I was wheeled into my room. They told me surgery went well and that my liver was normal size so no complications there. I braced myself for the infamous gas pain that everyone talks about - it never came! The only pain I had was the incision pain. Now, my stomach was VERY bloated from the gas, however, I did not have any gas pain in my shoulder or anywhere. This may have been because I went to the bathroom A LOT before surgery, or, because I did not eat anything for over 24 hours before surgery. The negatives - What I did not like about the care at the hospital was that after I woke up from surgery, I COULD NOT SLEEP. I complained about 5 times to the nurses and they would give me something for pain, but that's not what I needed and that did not help me sleep. They said they would call the Dr. but I don't think they did. They then gave me two pills but the didn't work either. Basically, I was awake from 10 pm and walked the halls until FINALLY I fell asleep for 2 hours at 4 am. This really irritated me because I was sooo tired but could not fall asleep and I really wanted my body to be able to rest after surgery. The night nurses you could tell they were getting irritated as when I rang the buzzer when I tried to go to sleep and couldn't and would ask for something to go to sleep with, they came in looking like they just woke up and would be like "si, si" and then wouldn't come back again until I buzzed them the next hour. I also had a hard time peeing after surgery. That may be perhaps because they put a catheter in after I was asleep?? However, I would just have to sit on the toilet and kind of "push" my pee out. That has lasted through today.... A couple of hours before check out they brought me 2 cups of apple juice and some ice and water. I took slow slips and had no problems keeping anything down. Oh, let me describe the room in the hospital: Beautiful! Had my own private room and bathroom/shower. Hospital bed VERY comfortable. Very cute, stylish and colorful couch and chair in the room. Flat screen tv and remote. Marble floors. The entire hospital was pretty it was called The Cornerstone Hospital in PV. Check out time came and Natalie the Dr's Asst came and gave me all the paperwork, receipts, box for band etc. She drove me to the hotel, speedily checked me in and I was off to my room. (Room was VERY nice) Marble floors, open sliding glass doors and balcony and was right on the beach so I could sit outside and look at the ocean. I included some pictures of the resort and hotel below. I pretty much slept off and on that day, drank some broth, juice and water, etc. - The next day I woke up and decided to bravely go downtown to buy some souveniers. It was a 10 minute cab ride and yes, I was in a bit of pain when he was bumping over the cobblestoned streets but I made it. I walked around holding my tummy and hobbled along, at one point a stor worker said "Oh, you having a baby?" I just nodded and laughed to myself not bothering to correct him. My stomach was sooo bloated I looked about 5 mo's along and I couldn't blame anyone with the way I was holding my tummy or walking along to think that - too funny, any other time I would have been insulted! LOL - Look at name of store in pic below: Shopped and bought some blankets, windchimes, art, and a good bottle of tequila for my husband. After about an hour I caught a cab and took a nap for 2 hours then woke up and headed for the airport. (I decided to check out a day early because even though the resort was nice, I missed my bed and I missed my AMERICAN TV, lol!). At the airport after getting out of the cab and I asked for a wheelchair as I was wore out and sore and didn't want to drag my luggage around. This turned into be a great idea as I was whisked through customs and immigration and becauase I had a first class ticket back to LAX (TOTALLY WORTH IT ON THE WAY HOME BY THE WAY - IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO UPGRADE TO 1ST CLASS, DO IT, WILL MAKE THE FLIGHT BACK HOME SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!) All in all, it feels great to have had this done. Have not got on scale yet, will probably wait a few day. At home, feeling sore but good. Body healing, eating jello, broth, juice, popsicles. Oh, I keep getting an uncomfortable painful shooting feeling in my diaphragh area and it lasts for a few seconds every once in a while after I swallow something, then goes away. Hope this helps anyone thinking of going to Mexico, so far, I highly recommend Dr. Joya....

Flew into Puerto Vallarta, beautiful city but didn't see much the 1st day. Was met by Natalia, Dr. Joya's Asst at airport. Taken immediately to the hospital, blood tests done, met Dr., surgeon's assistants and anestesiologist. I was put at ease immediately, all of the doctors were VERY nice and offered to answer any questions I had. Dr. Joya felt my abdomen and said "good, it's very soft, will make surgery very easy". Next, I was Hooked up to IV and started on fluids, this helped with the hunger a tiny bit, was still ravenous though. I had not eaten any food since 12 pm the previous day - that was over 30 hours, NO FOOD, only some sips of water and decaf coffee the next morning before plane took off. Surgery done about 2 hrs later and lasted approximately 45 minutes long. Woke up in recovery room with some mild pain in my abdomen. After recovering there for a while I was wheeled into my room. They told me surgery went well and that my liver was normal size so no complications there. I braced myself for the infamous gas pain that everyone talks about - it never came! The only pain I had was the incision pain. Now, my stomach was VERY bloated from the gas, however, I did not have any gas pain in my shoulder or anywhere. This may have been because I went to the bathroom A LOT before surgery, or, because I did not eat anything for over 24 hours before surgery. The negatives - What I did not like about the care at the hospital was that after I woke up from surgery, I COULD NOT SLEEP. I complained about 5 times to the nurses and they would give me something for pain, but that's not what I needed and that did not help me sleep. They said they would call the Dr. but I don't think they did. They then gave me two pills but the didn't work either. Basically, I was awake from 10 pm and walked the halls until FINALLY I fell asleep for 2 hours at 4 am. This really irritated me because I was sooo tired but could not fall asleep and I really wanted my body to be able to rest after surgery. The night nurses you could tell they were getting irritated as when I rang the buzzer when I tried to go to sleep and couldn't and would ask for something to go to sleep with, they came in looking like they just woke up and would be like "si, si" and then wouldn't come back again until I buzzed them the next hour. I also had a hard time peeing after surgery. That may be perhaps because they put a catheter in after I was asleep?? However, I would just have to sit on the toilet and kind of "push" my pee out. That has lasted through today.... A couple of hours before check out they brought me 2 cups of apple juice and some ice and water. I took slow slips and had no problems keeping anything down. Oh, let me describe the room in the hospital: Beautiful! Had my own private room and bathroom/shower. Hospital bed VERY comfortable. Very cute, stylish and colorful couch and chair in the room. Flat screen tv and remote. Marble floors. The entire hospital was pretty it was called The Cornerstone Hospital in PV. Check out time came and Natalie the Dr's Asst came and gave me all the paperwork, receipts, box for band etc. She drove me to the hotel, speedily checked me in and I was off to my room. (Room was VERY nice) Marble floors, open sliding glass doors and balcony and was right on the beach so I could sit outside and look at the ocean. I included some pictures of the resort and hotel below. View from room: I pretty much slept off and on that day, drank some broth, juice and water, etc. - The next day I woke up and decided to bravely go downtown to buy some souveniers. It was a 10 minute cab ride and yes, I was in a bit of pain when he was bumping over the cobblestoned streets but I made it. I walked around holding my tummy and hobbled along, at one point a stor worker said "Oh, you having a baby?" I just nodded and laughed to myself not bothering to correct him. My stomach was sooo bloated I looked about 5 mo's along and I couldn't blame anyone with the way I was holding my tummy or walking along to think that - too funny, any other time I would have been insulted! Shopped and bought some blankets, windchimes, art, and a good bottle of tequila for my husband. After about an hour I caught a cab and took a nap for 2 hours then woke up and headed for the airport. (I decided to check out a day early because even though the resort was nice, I missed my bed and I missed my AMERICAN TV, lol!). At the airport after getting out of the cab and I asked for a wheelchair as I was wore out and sore and didn't want to drag my luggage around. This turned into be a great idea as I was whisked through customs and immigration and becauase I had a first class ticket back to LAX (TOTALLY WORTH IT ON THE WAY HOME BY THE WAY - IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO UPGRADE TO 1ST CLASS, DO IT, WILL MAKE THE FLIGHT BACK HOME SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!) All in all, it feels great to have had this done. Have not got on scale yet, will probably wait a few day. At home, feeling sore but good. Body healing, eating jello, broth, juice, popsicles. Oh, I keep getting an uncomfortable painful shooting feeling in my diaphragh area and it lasts for a few seconds every once in a while after I swallow something, then goes away. Hope this helps anyone thinking of going to Mexico, so far, I highly recommend Dr. Joya....

Flew into Puerto Vallarta, beautiful city but didn't see much the 1st day. Was met by Natalia, Dr. Joya's Asst at airport. Taken immediately to the hospital, blood tests done, met Dr., surgeon's assistants and anestesiologist. I was put at ease immediately, all of the doctors were VERY nice and offered to answer any questions I had. Dr. Joya felt my abdomen and said "good, it's very soft, will make surgery very easy". Next, I was Hooked up to IV and started on fluids, this helped with the hunger a tiny bit, was still ravenous though. I had not eaten any food since 12 pm the previous day - that was over 30 hours, NO FOOD, only some sips of water and decaf coffee the next morning before plane took off. Surgery done about 2 hrs later and lasted approximately 45 minutes long. Woke up in recovery room with some mild pain in my abdomen. After recovering there for a while I was wheeled into my room. They told me surgery went well and that my liver was normal size so no complications there. I braced myself for the infamous gas pain that everyone talks about - it never came! The only pain I had was the incision pain. Now, my stomach was VERY bloated from the gas, however, I did not have any gas pain in my shoulder or anywhere. This may have been because I went to the bathroom A LOT before surgery, or, because I did not eat anything for over 24 hours before surgery. The negatives - What I did not like about the care at the hospital was that after I woke up from surgery, I COULD NOT SLEEP. I complained about 5 times to the nurses and they would give me something for pain, but that's not what I needed and that did not help me sleep. They said they would call the Dr. but I don't think they did. They then gave me two pills but the didn't work either. Basically, I was awake from 10 pm and walked the halls until FINALLY I fell asleep for 2 hours at 4 am. This really irritated me because I was sooo tired but could not fall asleep and I really wanted my body to be able to rest after surgery. The night nurses you could tell they were getting irritated as when I rang the buzzer when I tried to go to sleep and couldn't and would ask for something to go to sleep with, they came in looking like they just woke up and would be like "si, si" and then wouldn't come back again until I buzzed them the next hour. I also had a hard time peeing after surgery. That may be perhaps because they put a catheter in after I was asleep?? However, I would just have to sit on the toilet and kind of "push" my pee out. That has lasted through today.... A couple of hours before check out they brought me 2 cups of apple juice and some ice and water. I took slow slips and had no problems keeping anything down. Oh, let me describe the room in the hospital: Beautiful! Had my own private room and bathroom/shower. Hospital bed VERY comfortable. Very cute, stylish and colorful couch and chair in the room. Flat screen tv and remote. Marble floors. The entire hospital was pretty it was called The Cornerstone Hospital in PV. Check out time came and Natalie the Dr's Asst came and gave me all the paperwork, receipts, box for band etc. She drove me to the hotel, speedily checked me in and I was off to my room. (Room was VERY nice) Marble floors, open sliding glass doors and balcony and was right on the beach so I could sit outside and look at the ocean. I included some pictures of the resort and hotel below. View from room: I pretty much slept off and on that day, drank some broth, juice and water, etc. - The next day I woke up and decided to bravely go downtown to buy some souveniers. It was a 10 minute cab ride and yes, I was in a bit of pain when he was bumping over the cobblestoned streets but I made it. I walked around holding my tummy and hobbled along, at one point a stor worker said "Oh, you having a baby?" I just nodded and laughed to myself not bothering to correct him. My stomach was sooo bloated I looked about 5 mo's along and I couldn't blame anyone with the way I was holding my tummy or walking along to think that - too funny, any other time I would have been insulted! Shopped and bought some blankets, windchimes, art, and a good bottle of tequila for my husband. After about an hour I caught a cab and took a nap for 2 hours then woke up and headed for the airport. (I decided to check out a day early because even though the resort was nice, I missed my bed and I missed my AMERICAN TV, lol!). At the airport after getting out of the cab and I asked for a wheelchair as I was wore out and sore and didn't want to drag my luggage around. This turned into be a great idea as I was whisked through customs and immigration and becauase I had a first class ticket back to LAX (TOTALLY WORTH IT ON THE WAY HOME BY THE WAY - IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO UPGRADE TO 1ST CLASS, DO IT, WILL MAKE THE FLIGHT BACK HOME SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!) All in all, it feels great to have had this done. Have not got on scale yet, will probably wait a few day. At home, feeling sore but good. Body healing, eating jello, broth, juice, popsicles. Oh, I keep getting an uncomfortable painful shooting feeling in my diaphragh area and it lasts for a few seconds every once in a while after I swallow something, then goes away. Hope this helps anyone thinking of going to Mexico, so far, I highly recommend Dr. Joya....

I'm packing now too. Leaving tomorrow to stay at hotel by LAX and then Monday morning flying out to Puerto Vallarta! Good Luck everyone!

I had mine out about 10 years ago. I was young, fit, healthy. Misdiagnosed for years. Pain would be so bad I would be crawling on the floor to the bathroom, not sure whether I had to throw up, go to the bathroom, nothing, just straight misery. They told me at one time I was having panic attacks and put me on anti-depressents! I kept telling me that NO, it was PAIN, no one believerd me. One such attack happened while I was at an AM/PM, I passed out and a stranger took me to ER, they finally diagnoed the gallbladder and removed it immediately. I still have pain there at times, and no doctor has been able to explain it. It was weird though, after I had it removed, FOUR of my BLACK girlfriends had their removed in the next 2 years. Some were fat, some were not, it was really weird.

Hi all, I'm flying out on Monday to Puerto Vallarta Mexico. What specifically should I bring with me? I've got down the basics like: my pain meds Jello bottled Water capri sun tea personal care items books my journal All suggestions welcome!

Janelle - glad to hear you made it out ok, I am sooo nervous! Monday is my day. Bubblyville, oh that is horrible, i hate dry heaves, i am soooo sorry, hopefully it will be uphill from here. Lucymann, thanks for the heads up, i think i would try to do everything to and act like superwoman.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those banded today. When you feel up to it, please post your experiences :- ) Also, what happened to everyone's Before Pictures????

Good Luck, I hope you come through it great!

:hungry: I really wish I could eat meat, I really do. I'm so scared of it. It repulses me. Sometimes it smells good, but I just can't. I feel if I did eat it then it would kick start my metabolism and I would eat so many less carbs. I am still on pre-op diet but I'm reflecting on what got me here. I am really looking forward to the band and not being able to eat bread and pasta anymore, due to what I here about the dreaded PB's. I think that alone would keep me from doing it, but who knows what the dreadful mind will do? Well, 4 days to LB surgery...I wish I would wake up and tomorrow would be the day...

:hungry: I really wish I could eat meat, I really do. I'm so scared of it. It repulses me. Sometimes it smells good, but I just can't. I feel if I did eat it then it would kick start my metabolism and I would eat so many less carbs. I am still on pre-op diet but I'm reflecting on what got me here. I am really looking forward to the band and not being able to eat bread and pasta anymore, due to what I here about the dreaded PB's. I think that alone would keep me from doing it, but who knows what the dreadful mind will do? Well, 4 days to LB surgery...I wish I would wake up and tomorrow would be the day...

Good Luck Chako! I'm right behind you....counting down the days till Monday, 4 left! I'm getting scared...

Who is HOT???? Did I miss something?