Hello everyone, I am at the Mi Doctor hospital in TJ. My surgery was yesterday at 11am. My mom and I were the only surgeries done by our doctor, Dr. Lopez, yesterday. Starting from the beginning...we arrived in San Diego airport on Dec 12 around 4:45 pm. No one was there to pick us up, but luckily I had Ronda and Janese's numbers. We called them after a half hour or so of waiting. Around 5:45 pm, we were being picked up by Ricardo (a new driver for the company).

Then we crossed the border quickly and were soon at the Marriott. I booked with "a lighter me" and the hotel provides 3 servings of chicken broth a day...which by the way is delicious , 2 bottles of Water IN YOUR ROOM..if you get a water in the restaurant you'll have to pay. They also give us 2 Popsicles a night. These things are all included.

7am yesterday , Dec 13, we were picked up at the hotel by Abraham.

Glad you and mom are doing well get some rest and congrats!

Hello everyone' date=' I am at the Mi Doctor hospital in TJ. My surgery was yesterday at 11am. My mom and I were the only surgeries done by our doctor, Dr. Lopez, yesterday. Starting from the beginning...we arrived in San Diego airport on Dec 12 around 4:45 pm. No one was there to pick us up, but luckily I had Ronda and Janese's numbers. We called them after a half hour or so of waiting. Around 5:45 pm, we were being picked up by Ricardo (a new driver for the company).

Then we crossed the border quickly and were soon at the Marriott. I booked with "a lighter me" and the hotel provides 3 servings of chicken broth a day...which by the way is delicious <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />, 2 bottles of Water IN YOUR ROOM..if you get a water in the restaurant you'll have to pay. They also give us 2 Popsicles a night. These things are all included.

7am yesterday , Dec 13, we were picked up at the hotel by Abraham.[/quote']

I'm happy you and your mom did well with your surgery. I'm getting sleeved by Dr. Lopez in March.

Amanda Rae

Hello everyone' date=' I am at the Mi Doctor hospital in TJ. My surgery was yesterday at 11am. My mom and I were the only surgeries done by our doctor, Dr. Lopez, yesterday. Starting from the beginning...we arrived in San Diego airport on Dec 12 around 4:45 pm. No one was there to pick us up, but luckily I had Ronda and Janese's numbers. We called them after a half hour or so of waiting. Around 5:45 pm, we were being picked up by Ricardo (a new driver for the company).

Then we crossed the border quickly and were soon at the Marriott. I booked with "a lighter me" and the hotel provides 3 servings of chicken broth a day...which by the way is delicious <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />, 2 bottles of Water IN YOUR ROOM..if you get a water in the restaurant you'll have to pay. They also give us 2 Popsicles a night. These things are all included.

7am yesterday , Dec 13, we were picked up at the hotel by Abraham.[/quote']

OOPS! sent before I was finished lol. So continuing on...

Abraham drove us to the hospital where we filled out paperwork, were weighed, completed blood tests, had IV's put in and had EKG tests done. The nursing staff if friendly but there are only a select few who speak English. However, Ricardo was there to translate for us. The blood work was fast, they found a vein the first try, which doesn't usually happen for me. The IV on the other hand wasn't as easy. The nurse went in my arm instead of hand and it immediately bruised and was irritating me all the time.

We then met the doctors, Dr Lopez and Dr Osuna, who addressed any questions we had and told us who would be going first out of my mom and I. Next up we met the anesthesiologist No more than an hour later I was on the operating table(~11:00am)! They gave me a relaxer to start, put heart monitor pads on me, and checked my blood pressure.

I woke up in the recovery room and when I was conscious enough, they wheeled me into my room...around 2:30-3:00 pm. The procedure itself lasted about an hour, but the anesthesia and stitching the incisions are not included in this operating "hour"...so it's slightly longer. When I got in my room, Louis was close by with antibiotics, anti-nausea meds, and painkillers (equivalent to Tordol)..all in liquid form. I was still woozy from the anesthesia, but I remember Louis saying he had to fix my IV line because it would no longer work where it was. It did take about 8 different tries, in different locations to find a vein. But now it's in my wrist and is painless and not even bruising.

The rooms are great, my mom and I are in the same room, and we have a private bathroom with a shower in it. There is a TV and a big window. The beds are comfortable and adjustable to softness/ firmness, height and leg/back inclinations.

My dad is here with us too, and there is only a chair.. not a couch, available for him to sleep on in our room. So around 10-11pm, our nurse Louis offered my dad to stay in a bed in an unoccupied room.

I'm feeling okay, the only incision causing me pain is the drain, which will stay there until Sunday night (the night before we leave the hotel to go back home). I have been walking around a lot and haven't experienced the gas pains that other patients here are talking about. I feel pretty good actually. We haven't been able to drink any water since surgery, we can only wet our mouths with ice cubes Our leaks tests are sometime between 7-9 this morning, December 14.

It's 4am here. There was a mini earthquake about an hour ago that woke me up. Figured I'd take the opportunity to fill everyone in since I'm up! I'll keep you all updated...sorry for the essay length lol! Just want to be as detailed as possible

Take care!

I'm happy you and your mom did well with your surgery. I'm getting sleeved by Dr. Lopez in March.

Amanda Rae

Thanks! You def made a good decision with Lopez so far so good!

OOPS! sent before I was finished lol. So continuing on...

Abraham drove us to the hospital where we filled out paperwork' date=' were weighed, completed blood tests, had IV's put in and had EKG tests done. The nursing staff if friendly but there are only a select few who speak English. However, Ricardo was there to translate for us. The blood work was fast, they found a vein the first try, which doesn't usually happen for me. The IV on the other hand wasn't as easy. The nurse went in my arm instead of hand and it immediately bruised and was irritating me all the time.

We then met the doctors, Dr Lopez and Dr Osuna, who addressed any questions we had and told us who would be going first out of my mom and I. Next up we met the anesthesiologist No more than an hour later I was on the operating table(~11:00am)! They gave me a relaxer to start, put heart monitor pads on me, and checked my blood pressure.

I woke up in the recovery room and when I was conscious enough, they wheeled me into my room...around 2:30-3:00 pm. The procedure itself lasted about an hour, but the anesthesia and stitching the incisions are not included in this operating "hour"...so it's slightly longer. When I got in my room, Louis was close by with antibiotics, anti-nausea meds, and painkillers (equivalent to Tordol)..all in liquid form. I was still woozy from the anesthesia, but I remember Louis saying he had to fix my IV line because it would no longer work where it was. It did take about 8 different tries, in different locations to find a vein. But now it's in my wrist and is painless and not even bruising.

The rooms are great, my mom and I are in the same room, and we have a private bathroom with a shower in it. There is a TV and a big window. The beds are comfortable and adjustable to softness/ firmness, height and leg/back inclinations.

My dad is here with us too, and there is only a chair.. not a couch, available for him to sleep on in our room. So around 10-11pm, our nurse Louis offered my dad to stay in a bed in an unoccupied room.

I'm feeling okay, the only incision causing me pain is the drain, which will stay there until Sunday night (the night before we leave the hotel to go back home). I have been walking around a lot and haven't experienced the gas pains that other patients here are talking about. I feel pretty good actually. We haven't been able to drink any Water since surgery, we can only wet our mouths with ice cubes Our leaks tests are sometime between 7-9 this morning, December 14.

It's 4am here. There was a mini earthquake about an hour ago that woke me up. Figured I'd take the opportunity to fill everyone in since I'm up! I'll keep you all updated...sorry for the essay length lol! Just want to be as detailed as possible <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Take care![/quote']

Thank you a lengthy detailed account of your surgery. I'm glad your pain is minimal and you're walking around. And an earthquake?!?! A little something extra for your money! Keep on keepin' on the "gas walks" and please check in with us from time to time so we know you and your mom are healing and recovering.

Amanda Rae

Thanks! You def made a good decision with Lopez <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> so far so good!

Thank you for saying that! It really helps hearing first hand experiences with Dr. Lopez. And Dr. Osuna is back in TJ?! Awesome.

Amanda Rae

Congratulations to both you and your mom. The best support system for you is your mom. You both sound like your doing well. Im was so impressed with the hotel. Cant believe they accomodate you with those meals..good luck to you both..

Thank you for sharing in such great detail--I will be there next month and this is all very good to hear. Also, I think it's awesome that you and your mom are on this journey to health together.

Thanks for all the kind words everyone I just drank my blue leak dye about an hour ago. So far none in my drain, yay!!

Ps: sorry for the title, should be surgery not syrgery lol...And for any other spelling mistakes. It was 4 am that I wrote this

Congratulations to both you and your mom. I think that is so awesome that the two of you are doing this together and your dad is right there by your sides. What a great support system you will be able to provide to each other.

Sent from my iPad using VST

Sounds like you are having a great experience! I love the fact you and your mom are doing this together and supporting one another, right along with dad by your sides! Truly great!

Wishing you nothing but success and effortless recovery!

CONGRATS AND THANKS FOR THE POST IM GOING 01/28 AND AM GETTING NERVOUS BUT YOU MAKE IT SOUND VERY REASSURING

Hey!!! How are you doing? I am going on February 11.. pretty nervous...

Thanks for the great wishes everyone I'm doing great! Already down 28 lbs from pre op diet, and 16 from surgery day. All my clothes are loose now!

The recovery went well except for the drain...my drain was hardly collecting any liquid and it was VERY uncomfortable. I had horrible abdomen pain the days following surgery and had to call the doctor to take the drain out early. However, as soon as he took the drain out I felt great!

THANK YOU for the details. Those of us who have not gone yet, live for details.

I wonder why some doctors use drains and some do not?