Hello,

Some of you may remember me. I was going to have surgery on April 15th with a surgeon here in Green Bay WI and pay nearly $22,000 total for the surgery.

I have since cancelled my surgery and am going to be starting to work with a personal trainer over the next couple of months. My plan is still to have the surgery in the near future. (Hopefully by this summer.)

I am now very interested in Dr. Aceves in Mexico. If you used him, could you please tell me how everything went with him from start to finish. I have put a request in for more information with his website.

My husband is concerned about Mexico, but I think he is getting more comfortable with the idea because of the experience Dr. Aceves has.

Let me just say this. I planned a trip to Jamaica for our 5th wedding anniversary and it took me 6 months to plan it! I had to find the perfect hotel and I did! I always do my research. I'm just not finding much information on his website about how the trip actually works.

Do I pay for the airfare for two people? Then is everything else covered in his costs?

I know many of you probably had the same type of experience, but I would like to hear it from different people.

What time did you fly in? Were you picked up? Taken to a hotel, or directly to his office, etc.....

Thanks in advance. This is a big change from going to my local surgeon who was only 15 minutes away, but did only 10 sleeves with 1 leak!

Kara:thumbup1:

Hello,

Some of you may remember me. I was going to have surgery on April 15th with a surgeon here in Green Bay WI and pay nearly $22,000 total for the surgery.

I have since cancelled my surgery and am going to be starting to work with a personal trainer over the next couple of months. My plan is still to have the surgery in the near future. (Hopefully by this summer.)

I am now very interested in Dr. Aceves in Mexico. If you used him, could you please tell me how everything went with him from start to finish. I have put a request in for more information with his website.

My husband is concerned about Mexico, but I think he is getting more comfortable with the idea because of the experience Dr. Aceves has.

Let me just say this. I planned a trip to Jamaica for our 5th wedding anniversary and it took me 6 months to plan it! I had to find the perfect hotel and I did! I always do my research. I'm just not finding much information on his website about how the trip actually works.

Do I pay for the airfare for two people? Then is everything else covered in his costs?

I know many of you probably had the same type of experience, but I would like to hear it from different people.

What time did you fly in? Were you picked up? Taken to a hotel, or directly to his office, etc.....

Thanks in advance. This is a big change from going to my local surgeon who was only 15 minutes away, but did only 10 sleeves with 1 leak!

Kara:thumbup1:

Hi Kara -

Here's how it works:

You pay your airfare for 2 to San Diego. Ernesto (Dr. Aceves' driver) picks you up at the airport, drives you to the hospital where you meet Lucy and/or Yolanda and they make sure all your pre-op tests are done (blood, urine, EKG and chest xrays). Then you meet with Dr. Aceves and his anesthesiologist. Then Ernesto takes you back to the Resort - it's GORGEOUS - and there are several restaurants where you can have your "last meal" The next morning at 7 am Ernesto picks you up and takes you back to the hospital. You and your companion are shown to your room and you are told the order you are in for surgery. After that, Dr. Aceves meets with you again, as does the anesthesiologist and an internist. When it's time for you to go to surgery you are taken to the OR. Following your surgery, Dr. Aceves performs the first leak test while still in the OR. Your companion waits in your room and when you are in recovery, Dr. Aceves will call your room, or come to your room and let your companion know how it all went. After an hour or two in recovery you are taken back to your room. The next morning you are given some apple juice which has been tinted blue with vegetable coloring to sip on -- if you have a leak, the blue will come out in your drain bag ... that is what I am told. If you get that down and no leaks, then you get chicken broth, some orange drink and hot tea and Water. The next day you go to the same room where you had your chest x-ray and you drink a liquid and they take pictures -- you can see your new tummy and the path the liquid takes -- if there are any leaks, they will show up in this test.

During the time you are in the hospital, Drs. Aceves and Campos visit you at least 3x a day, as do others on his staff. They are all wonderful and you will be taken care of better than you ever have.

As for traveling to Mexico - I totally understand your husband's concern; however, I would not be concerned with traveling to Mexicali at all. It is not a "tourist" town like Tijuana, Acapulco, etc. and I do not believe you would have any problems whatsoever while you were there --besides, you are escorted by Dr. Aceves' staff the entire time.

There was alot going on when I had my surgery -drug wars, etc. PLUS the swine flu epidemic and I did not feel in harms way the entire time I was in Mexicali. I went back in July when my fiance had his surgery - we drove into Mexicali - and one day while he was in the hospital, I drove to a local mall. Everyone was extremely nice. I saw nothing to cause me concern or fear for my safety in any way.

I think that cover it all -- if not, someone will pipe in I'm sure ... or ask away...

Congrats! We'll see you on the losing side.

Change,

Thanks for asking this question! I will be going to see Dr. Aceves on April 10th!

Also Nina is great, she will answer any question, no matter how idiotic!

Vegas,

Was Water avalible in bottles? That is my one concern. Also did you bring your Protein drink with you to drink, or can you wait until you get home?

I have posted a day by day on my website www.vsggoodlife.com

I didn't drink bottled Water that I can remember.

You can't really drink Protein drinks in the hospital. The first 24 hours it's nothing by mouth. Then after that, you have what they bring you. You get apple juice, water, and broth.

Honestly, half of this board has gone to Dr. Aceves and you have nothing to worry about.Vegas Angel has pretty much summed it up, but if you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I would love to go back just to visit. That's how much I loved being there!

Wow, thanks for your responses. Just a couple of questions.

When do you make the payment. One big concern my lawyer had here was that I had to make the full payment 10 days prior to surgery. He didn't like that. How soon before surgery do you make the payment?

How long is the ride from the airport to the hospital?

How far away is the hotel from the hospital?

Will my husband be extremely bored if he comes along and just stays at the hosptial with me, or should he stay at the hotel?

What is there to do around the hospital if my husband comes along?

How many days total was your trip. Is it 3 nights in the hospital, and one night at the hotel? Or 3 days in the hosptial and 1 night at the hotel?

What time did your flight leave? Does everyone leave around 7am from the hospital after the surgery?

Okay, well that was more then a few! :laugh0: Thanks!

Hi there....I am scheudled for my procedure with Dr. Aceves next week. All of his materials state you must have a deposit (mine was $500) to him by 10 days before the procedure, but full payment is due when you arrive at hospital.

this is right out of the materials they sent me:

If your deposit is not sent 10 days before surgery make sure it is sent priority mail so that it gets here on time or contact your patient coordinator to make credit card payment online. Please do not send overnight, delivery comfirmation or signature comfirmation; this is not possible at PO Boxes.

The balance will be due at the time of admittance to the hospital please see information on page 3 for methods of payment allowed. If you decide to cancel your surgery, your deposit is refundable as long as you cancel 7 days before surgery.

Hope this is helpful..

I paid $500 in advance, and the balance (by cashier's check) the day I arrived at the hospital. I spent one night at the hotel and three at the hospital. We all left around 7 am for the airport and it is recommended you try to schedule your flight (I think) for noon-ish. There is a mall not far from the hospital, but I have to say, my companion was kind of bored. The hospital is about a 10 minute drive from the hotel - my Dad stayed at the hotel for the whole time, rather than staying with me at the hospital and he took cabs back and forth - about $5.00/trip. (Using US dollars was fine... we never changed any of our money into pesos.)

The drive from the airport to the hospital is about 90 minutes - it takes longer going back, because of the wait at the border when entering the US.

Feel free to ask any other questions you may have.

Margo

There really isn't much for your husband to do at the hospital. I've heard that the food in the cafeteria is good and very reasonable. The tv stations are mostly in Spanish. There are a few stations in English. He can go for walks with you around the hospital. The neighborhood is safe. I walked all around for several blocks in my bathrobe! I ran into the anesthesiologist and he said "Hi" and called me by my name, which I thought was remarkable since he sees so many people and only saw me for about 20 minutes. There isn't all that much to do at the hotel either though. There is a nice pool there.

The mall is pretty big. I took a cab there.

My flight left San Diego at 1pm and I had plenty of time. They do leave at 7 am for the airport. We crossed the border very quickly. We crossed on a Saturday which Ernesto said was the busiest day to cross because everyone in Mexicali wants to go to Walmart!

Edited March 30, 201016 yr by Oregondaisy

as you can see you have nothing to worry about, you will definitely be in safe hands. Dr. Aceves and his staff are very reliable and professional.....I wish you the best of luck, please keep us posted.

Hi there....I am scheudled for my procedure with Dr. Aceves next week. All of his materials state you must have a deposit (mine was $500) to him by 10 days before the procedure, but full payment is due when you arrive at hospital.

..

Citygal!

LOL, I will look for you at the hospital, my procedure is on the 10th! I will be the chubby chick down the hall :001_smile:.

Wow, thanks for your responses. Just a couple of questions.

When do you make the payment. One big concern my lawyer had here was that I had to make the full payment 10 days prior to surgery. He didn't like that. How soon before surgery do you make the payment? $500 deposit, then you pay the balance the day of your pre-op tests, which is the day before your surgery.

How long is the ride from the airport to the hospital? I'm not sure, as the first time we drove into Calexico and Ernesto picked us up there and the second time we drove into Mexicali.

How far away is the hotel from the hospital? Maybe 5-10 minutes - Ernesto takes you there and picks you up the following morning. It is a gorgeous Resort - if you get the chance, walk around and explore the grounds.

Will my husband be extremely bored if he comes along and just stays at the hosptial with me, or should he stay at the hotel? He can stay at the hospital for free; the hotel will cost you $$. He could bring books to read, cards to play, dvds to watch if you're bringing a laptop. He could take a cab to the mall.

What is there to do around the hospital if my husband comes along?

See above

How many days total was your trip. Is it 3 nights in the hospital, and one night at the hotel? Or 3 days in the hosptial and 1 night at the hotel?

You spend the first night after your pre-op tests at the Resort, then the next 3 nights at the hospital.

What time did your flight leave? Does everyone leave around 7am from the hospital after the surgery?

The day you are discharged you do leave about 7 am - Ernesto is there to pick you up and take you back to San Diego - have your passports handy as he will need the at the border.

Okay, well that was more then a few! :001_smile: Thanks!

Hopefully this answers your questions, if not, ask more - we're all happy to respond.

Change,

Thanks for asking this question! I will be going to see Dr. Aceves on April 10th!

Also Nina is great, she will answer any question, no matter how idiotic!

Vegas,

Was Water avalible in bottles? That is my one concern. Also did you bring your Protein drink with you to drink, or can you wait until you get home?

Yes water was available in bottles - that is how all my and Bearded's water was presented to us -- unless it was hot tea. I did not bring any protein packets with me to the hospital; I waited to start that when I got home; although I should have brought a few to drink on the way home (we drove).

I am glad you remembered the bottled water Vegas. They must have brought some to me, because I had no trouble drinking my liquids. I just remember whatever they brought me, I drank it!

Change,

VegasAngel and the others have said everything that can be said. My Brother

went with ne and spent a lot of time on his laptop via their WIFI connection. He

did meet some of the other relatives and they would go to eat together or to the

Mall together.

We felt very safe during the trip and I was very pleased with the care I received

there.

Good luck on your journey.

Gary

Thank you for all your comments. When I do this, I'm thinking we might drive to San Diego. My husband always wanted to do a road trip. Then fly back. It depends on the cost of gas and to rent a car. Everything is on hold until I find a new job! I need to find something with better hours that allows me to not eat dinner after 7pm!!!