Well,

looks like my travel buddy can't make it (family emergency). :eek:

He may still pull through in the end, but as of right now it looks like I will be going it alone in TJ.

Any advice from those who have been. Is there something special you would have done, or brought, or prepared for had you been traveling alone?

Is anyone else going to be down there the 21-24 of April? I will be at INT hospital. :wink1:

Thanks

Stacey

So sorry to hear about that! Honestly, I would have been fine going alone, I tend to be pretty independent but my Mom is really in support of my decision and so it makes sense for her to travel with me and share the experience. I do worry about her getting bored but I hear there is some pretty good shopping so she should be ok!

I found an area of obesityhelp.com that had forums by month so maybe try there to see if there are others that are going at the same time you are to your doctor.

Keep me posted, can't wait to hear how everything goes!

PACK LIGHT! You will want to bring lots of things to do but odds are good you won't use most of them. I would check all my luggage so once you are done checking it in at the airport on your way home you won't even need to think of it again. I don't know what cell provider you have but you can arrange with some to ensure that you will have int'l coverage for the month of your surgery so you can have a way to communicate with others. Then just take advantage of the fact that you can rest and recouporate with the rare opporutinity of not needing to worry about anyone else's needs. Oh! And if you aren't feeling well on your way home, don't be above asking for a wheelchair if you need it.

Stcyt so sorry to hear about your situation, IF in fact you do have to go it alone, i know you'll be fine, from what i can tell there were several people that have gone there on their own.

I'm actually pretty okay with the idea. I think I will just be sleeping and will probably want to be left alone. I like the wannalise thought that I won't have to worry about anyone but me.

Thats a good idea about the cell phone. I'll feel better if I can call people back home. They will get worried if I don't check in ant tell them how i'm doing anyway.

thanks

stacey

I was going alone originally. Janet just volunteered to record my surgery for me cause I asked if anyone wanted to. She wont be there the whole time so I feel your "pain." I really don't mind being alone so much either...It is like a vacation from my annoyingly thin sisters... = D

I'll be there 22nd thru the 25th!

I had a band to sleeve revision last week....and went to Mexicali alone and back. Couple of things:

Call your airline now and tell them you will need a wheelchair. It's easier to have it in your record then to do it at the last minute. If you don't need it....no problem.

I totally agree- PACK LIGHT

Say hello to other patients on the floor...I made a couple of great new pals while I was there.

Lots of folks had laptops with them...find out if your hospital has wireless....

Pack a book.

Be totally willing to ask for help and remember that most people are willing to be helpful if they know what you need...

Have a safe and healthy journey....will keep you in my prayers.

Adios!!

Stacey I asked on another thread if your doc was in Mexico. Please ignore that question, I see here that you're going to TJ. Have a safe trip!

Well BJean, I just answered your other thread. Oh well.

Hey Barbarella. What hospital will you be at?

Stacey

I did just fine going alone and was glad that I had. It was nice to be able to sleep whenever I wanted to. I did meet up with a couple of gals from here - and shared a room with one, so it was just like having someone with me altho we were on the same page. We were supportive of each other but didn't have to entertain a guest! LOL

I am really looking forward to hanging out with Tiffany and eating a few bites of the wonderful smelling homemade food at the recovery house!! : )

Barbarella ~ hoping to pop in the clinic on the 22nd and say hi! Not sure if I am flying home on Wed night or Thursday afternoon.

I am not sleeved yet but I'm an experienced "medical tourist" as I had a breast reduction in Costa Rica a few years ago. I went alone and sent the family to Disneyland. It was a much longer stay--14 days is the minimum--so I had to pack a lot more, BUT I learned a lot.

Take your own hand sanitizer and disinfectants, and a body soap called Hibicleanse for before the surgery (it kills the usually necessary bacteria on your skin so there is nothing to enter the incision)--they will give you a little peace of mind if nothing else. You can leave them there afterward for someone else to lighten your return load.

I left most of my clothes there, too, to lighten up my bag for the return trip. I had gone to Goodwill and gotten a bunch of zip-front things that were easy for me to manage on my own.

My laptop was no good even though the recovery home had wireless service--for some reason I couldn't connect to it. It was dead weight, and I didn't miss it anyway.

On the return trip, I didn't check my bag, as I thought I was set with my rolling carry-on--WRONG! We had to go down a flight of steps onto the runway and then up the stairs into the plane. I could lift NOTHING, so I ended up being the last person on the plane, assisted by a disgruntled airline employee who told me I should have brought a "husband or a brother".

Take a Spanish phrase book. Not everyone will speak English and you need to be able to communicate what you need. I speak about twelve words of Spanish and I got by, but boy did I wish I had one.

Take money to tip the recovery house staff (unless this is not normal in Mexico???)

Kaitey

Stacey,

It sounds like you're in the right frame of mind to make the trip by yourself and there is some great advice here and on some of the other threads. I remember seeing some others threads about traveling to Mexico alone with some other great suggestions about what to pack. The hibicleanse sounds like a good idea. I've had docs here in the US have me bathe with that the morning of a surgery even though they sanitize your skin in the OR.

If I wasn't able to get insurance to cover this I would definitely be making plans to go to Mexico for surgery. Knowing me, I would probably end up doing it solo. I can see the point that several people have made that it would be nice to just sleep and rest without worrying about what your companion is doing. I hope everything goes smoothly for you and I can't wait to hear about your progress post-op.