Thought we could do a roll call for upcoming 2013 surgeries at MiDoctor Hospital in TJ. I figured it could help us link up while we are in TJ. I am with Dr. Garcia on 1/22 and will arrive at the Marriott on 1/21. I'm going through Ready 4 a Change. Also if any past patients want to chime in, I'm sure we'd all love to hear about your progress!

Lauren

Age: 29

HT: 5'4

CW: 221

GW: 140

So far so good. Very loudly gas pain. Very pleased with MiDoctor team and Dr Garcia.

Finally on ice chips.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Thanks do much for the update.So glad u r doing good. March 6 is my date with Dr Garcia. Let us know any tips that might help us. What to bring etc.

So far so good. Very loudly gas pain. Very pleased with MiDoctor team and Dr Garcia.

Finally on ice chips.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Great news JoJo! Glad all is well! I'm right behind you...starting my pre-op diet next Wednesday

Little not loudly. Yeesh.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

'Cuz loud gas pain sounds sophomorically comical.

Amanda Rae

So far so good. Very loudly gas pain. Very pleased with MiDoctor team and Dr Garcia.

Finally on ice chips.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Wonderful news, I am so glad things are going good, I will be there next month and each story like this really puts me a little more at ease. Congratulations to you on the start of your new life

Dr Garcia

Home town Chicago

Arrival date 2/27/2013 Tijuana Mexico @ 9am. And surgery same date

I am 38 registered nurse (urology)

5'6

Highest weight 240lbs

Current weight. 227Lbs

Goal weight. 150Lbs

Hi all,

I was sleeved on Jan 17th 2012 by Dr. Garcia. I followed the post op exactly and healed perfect with zero complications. I just had an endoscopy in Dec and my Gastro here said my stomach line looked perfect. He is very skilled.

My #1 Advice: Go immediately, if not sooner, and purchase the GAS-X dissolvable strips. Do not try an off brand and do not try chewables. These were an absolute lifesaver that another VSG'er told me about. Matter of fact, buy 2 boxes as you will need them the first couple of weeks. I could only find them at Walgreens.

Your tummy will rumble like crazy after a sip of anything. Don't panic...it is just your tummy telling you its working hard.

The nurses do not wash their hands. It's a cultural thing. Don't stress about it, just ask them to wash them and they will do it. It is not rude and they totally understand. It's just not something they normally don't do.

Tip for the ladies (I may get in trouble for this): The really nice replica handbags are in the back of the purse stores right around the corner from the hospital. The ones they display on the street are the cheap immitations- and they look it. The replica Gucci's, Channel's and Louis are in the back rooms under cover. Just ask the pushy salesmen for the "good bags". Walk away at least twice and dont pay more than $60 bucks. They will act like you are robbing them...LOL be firm in your price point. I purchased a very nice replica Louis for $55 and he started at $120. I went shopping day three and loaded up. They all know you are there for surgery, just tell them if they won't barter that you are tired and will maybe come back. The price starts to drop dramatically. I also picked up some beautiful handmade tiles with birds on them. They are my weight loss birds and I love them.

Congrats and Good Luck everyone. Your in good hands.

Hi all' date='

I was sleeved on Jan 17th 2012 by Dr. Garcia. I followed the post op exactly and healed perfect with zero complications. I just had an endoscopy in Dec and my Gastro here said my stomach line looked perfect. He is very skilled.

My #1 Advice: Go immediately, if not sooner, and purchase the GAS-X dissolvable strips. Do not try an off brand and do not try chewables. These were an absolute lifesaver that another VSG'er told me about. Matter of fact, buy 2 boxes as you will need them the first couple of weeks. I could only find them at Walgreens.

Your tummy will rumble like crazy after a sip of anything. Don't panic...it is just your tummy telling you its working hard.

The nurses do not wash their hands. It's a cultural thing. Don't stress about it, just ask them to wash them and they will do it. It is not rude and they totally understand. It's just not something they normally don't do.

Tip for the ladies (I may get in trouble for this): The really nice replica handbags are in the back of the purse stores right around the corner from the hospital. The ones they display on the street are the cheap immitations- and they look it. The replica Gucci's, Channel's and Louis are in the back rooms under cover. Just ask the pushy salesmen for the "good bags". Walk away at least twice and dont pay more than 60 bucks. They will act like you are robbing them...LOL be firm in your price point. I purchased a very nice replica Louis for 55 and he started at 120. I went shopping day three and loaded up. They all know you are there for surgery, just tell them if they won't barter that you are tired and will maybe come back. The price starts to drop dramatically. I also picked up some beautiful handmade tiles with birds on them. They are my weight loss birds and I love them.

Congrats and Good Luck everyone. Your in good hands.[/quote']

Thanks for the tips! I'm seeing dr Garcia in march. Its encouraging to see positive stories. The hand washing thing makes me nervous so I am bringing hand sanitizer. The dr and staff wash their hands before surgery right? And thanks for the shopping tips, I'm a huge purse girl and will have to try and get some shopping done afterwards

Do you mind sharing how much weight you've lost?

Thanks for the tips! I'm seeing dr Garcia in march. Its encouraging to see positive stories. The hand washing thing makes me nervous so I am bringing hand sanitizer. The dr and staff wash their hands before surgery right? And thanks for the shopping tips' date=' I'm a huge purse girl and will have to try and get some shopping done afterwards <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Do you mind sharing how much weight you've lost?[/quote']

Right?! The surgeons washing their hands is kind if a big deal... Especially as I will be knocked out!!!

Amanda Rae

Has anyone had dr Ortiz not aerial but Jesus who study under Lopez he is doing my revision had Lopez but date were mixed up changed to Ortiz now worried about changing dr

Has anyone had dr Ortiz not aerial but Jesus who study under Lopez he is doing my revision had Lopez but date were mixed up changed to Ortiz now worried about changing dr

I think Muffintop had Lopez/Ortiz... I think.

Hi all' date='

I was sleeved on Jan 17th 2012 by Dr. Garcia. I followed the post op exactly and healed perfect with zero complications. I just had an endoscopy in Dec and my Gastro here said my stomach line looked perfect. He is very skilled.

My #1 Advice: Go immediately, if not sooner, and purchase the GAS-X dissolvable strips. Do not try an off brand and do not try chewables. These were an absolute lifesaver that another VSG'er told me about. Matter of fact, buy 2 boxes as you will need them the first couple of weeks. I could only find them at Walgreens.

Your tummy will rumble like crazy after a sip of anything. Don't panic...it is just your tummy telling you its working hard.

The nurses do not wash their hands. It's a cultural thing. Don't stress about it, just ask them to wash them and they will do it. It is not rude and they totally understand. It's just not something they normally don't do.

Tip for the ladies (I may get in trouble for this): The really nice replica handbags are in the back of the purse stores right around the corner from the hospital. The ones they display on the street are the cheap immitations- and they look it. The replica Gucci's, Channel's and Louis are in the back rooms under cover. Just ask the pushy salesmen for the "good bags". Walk away at least twice and dont pay more than 60 bucks. They will act like you are robbing them...LOL be firm in your price point. I purchased a very nice replica Louis for 55 and he started at 120. I went shopping day three and loaded up. They all know you are there for surgery, just tell them if they won't barter that you are tired and will maybe come back. The price starts to drop dramatically. I also picked up some beautiful handmade tiles with birds on them. They are my weight loss birds and I love them.

Congrats and Good Luck everyone. Your in good hands.[/quote']

Thanks for all that gr8 information I Will be sleeved 2/27

Hi all' date='

I was sleeved on Jan 17th 2012 by Dr. Garcia. I followed the post op exactly and healed perfect with zero complications. I just had an endoscopy in Dec and my Gastro here said my stomach line looked perfect. He is very skilled.

My #1 Advice: Go immediately, if not sooner, and purchase the GAS-X dissolvable strips. Do not try an off brand and do not try chewables. These were an absolute lifesaver that another VSG'er told me about. Matter of fact, buy 2 boxes as you will need them the first couple of weeks. I could only find them at Walgreens.

Your tummy will rumble like crazy after a sip of anything. Don't panic...it is just your tummy telling you its working hard.

The nurses do not wash their hands. It's a cultural thing. Don't stress about it, just ask them to wash them and they will do it. It is not rude and they totally understand. It's just not something they normally don't do.

Tip for the ladies (I may get in trouble for this): The really nice replica handbags are in the back of the purse stores right around the corner from the hospital. The ones they display on the street are the cheap immitations- and they look it. The replica Gucci's, Channel's and Louis are in the back rooms under cover. Just ask the pushy salesmen for the "good bags". Walk away at least twice and dont pay more than 60 bucks. They will act like you are robbing them...LOL be firm in your price point. I purchased a very nice replica Louis for 55 and he started at 120. I went shopping day three and loaded up. They all know you are there for surgery, just tell them if they won't barter that you are tired and will maybe come back. The price starts to drop dramatically. I also picked up some beautiful handmade tiles with birds on them. They are my weight loss birds and I love them.

Congrats and Good Luck everyone. Your in good hands.[/quote']

I thank you also, I will be there Feb 26

WINI, I am 10 days out and i used Dr. Elias Jesus Ortiz. He goes by Elias Ortiz. He is PHENOMINAL! I wasn't ever scheduled with Dr. Lopez. I just signed up with A Lighter Me with Ronda and I couldn't be happier. My husband was sooo skeptical of Mexico and having surgery out of the US, but he can't stop going on and on about the attention and care i received. Dr. Ortiz is about 30 years old, has done about 2000 surgeries and is the ultimate professional you would think he is in his 40's! Also everyone in our group was very pleased. No leaks no infections with everyone and all walking within a couple of hours of recovery room exit. The service provided by Abraham (the driver)and Eduardo (local coordinator) is awesome. You couldn't ask for more. They will get you ANYTHING you want or need. A lot of other Dr. coordinators don't do this, but they will take you shopping the second day after hospital release, then take you to an excellent Mexican restaurant in Tijuana (at your cost, but my hubby had a combo plate and i had the most delicious broth and it cost $10.50US. They will take you to one of the open pharmacies where you can get antibiotics, male enhancements, etc.that are over the counter there. They will take you to a flea market in an indoor building, or anywhere else you want or need to go. The Marriott Tijuana is a very luxurious hotel and the bellman are top notch.

Getting back to the Dr. and Mi Doctor hospital. Once you are checked in for surgery, you are taken to your room and given a gown to put on. If you have a companion, there is a bed in your room for them so they are with you unless they go on a walkabout lol. Then you get an IV, EKG, blood drawn for complete chem work up. It even types your blood and you will get a copy of all the labs.The anesthesiologist comes in, then an internal medicine specialist, then Dr. Ortiz. Maybe not in that order. Once your blood work comes back and is approved by the Dr. you are told what number you are in order for surgery. I was second out of 4. There are english tv channels mostly in the number 200 and up but they vary.If you get spanish commercials, wait until after the commercial are over because alot of the programs are in english! My husband was able to watch TV alot lol. Some of the nurses did not wash their hands and some wore disposable gloves. When they inject three very large syringes into your IV they do it slowly so it doesn't sting, just feels a little cold. They will do it slowly if you ask them to slow down. This goes on every 6 hours during your entire stay. There is a very sweet Mexican nurse names Monserrat, who doesn't speak great english and there is another nurse named Samantha who has dyed blond hair and her english is perfect. She is really nice if you get talking to her.

When my time came for surgery, about 2:30 p.m. I was wheeled in a wheelchair into the holding/recovery area and temp and blood pressure taken. Then I walked into the OR and got on the table. The anesthesiologist was there and said hi to me and was I ready and I said yes. He said I am going to give you a little something to help you relax so I said OK. I woke up in my bed after surgery about 6:00 with my husband holding my hand and talking to me!! I thought I would know when the Dr. would knock me out, but he wonderfully tricked me and was putting me out right then.

When I came around I had some minor pain, very tolerable and I was just wanting to sleep and I didn't really feel much until around 8:00 when I had to pee. I raised the bed, my hubby helped me sit up and once i stabilized, we wheeled the IV pole into the restroom right next to my bed and I went. Got back in bed. I felt some gas, nothing bad, sucked on a gas-x strip and it started to move and come up. The next day and a half I probably used 6 strips. If you walk, it helps move it. You can walk around your room or the hallway. Once you are ready for your leak test number 1, you get a small (3 oz) bathroom dixie cup size of blue liquid they tell you to sip. It wasn't great but it wasn't as bad as some folks said. If you see blue in your drain, then you have a stomach leak. There were NO leaks in our group and from what I was told Dr. Ortiz has had no leaks in the last several hundred patients! The second leak test is different. You go downstairs and stand. You drink a clear liquid, two gulps while you are x-rayed and you can see the white Fluid going through your esophagus and into your new NARROW stomach. I liked this part because I knew for sure the size of my stomach and the surgery was indeed done! I started to gag a little after the gulping and it hurt a little in my chest like pressure, but then it was gone as soon as it started. The Dr. turns you and you see the fluid moving. He tells you No leak! You will get a DVD of this and the report. When you go back upstairs you can have crushed ice and be sure to ask for the apple juice OMG!!! it is the best tasting I have ever had Martinelli's! Everyone was raving about it.

The next day and a half went like this with constant care from the nurses, the Dr. coming in and checking you and you adjusting to your stomach GURGLING lol it is like there is an alien in there! When you are released they will take you to the hotel and tell you when you will go shopping. Dr. Ortiz came to my hotel room each evening then removing the drain.By the way if your companion wants to go anywhere while you are in the hospital, Abraham is available to take them anywhere they want to go. He and my husband when to a local watering hole and to Burger King. Mexico is just like the states, and very populated in Tijuana. Abraham took us to the airport or to a hotel in San Diego if you are staying there 1 night ten we caught the hotel shuttle to the airport the next day. It was an awesome experience. Now at 10 days out I have lost 10 pounds since check in at Mi Doctor! I had a BM on day 5 just after arriving home, no problems. I know this is a lot of info but when I was researching, this is what I needed to hear and wanted to read. I would highly recommend Dr. E Ortiz as he is exactly the same price as Dr. Almanza with a real hospital and recovery two nights there. There is so much personal attention and care and interaction with the Dr,, afterward.

WINI' date=' I am 10 days out and i used Dr. Elias Jesus Ortiz. He goes by Elias Ortiz. He is PHENOMINAL! I wasn't ever scheduled with Dr. Lopez. I just signed up with A Lighter Me with Ronda and I couldn't be happier. My husband was sooo skeptical of Mexico and having surgery out of the US, but he can't stop going on and on about the attention and care i received. Dr. Ortiz is about 30 years old, has done about 2000 surgeries and is the ultimate professional you would think he is in his 40's! Also everyone in our group was very pleased. No leaks no infections with everyone and all walking within a couple of hours of recovery room exit. The service provided by Abraham (the driver)and Eduardo (local coordinator) is awesome. You couldn't ask for more. They will get you ANYTHING you want or need. A lot of other Dr. coordinators don't do this, but they will take you shopping the second day after hospital release, then take you to an excellent Mexican restaurant in Tijuana (at your cost, but my hubby had a combo plate and i had the most delicious broth and it cost 10.50US. They will take you to one of the open pharmacies where you can get antibiotics, male enhancements, etc.that are over the counter there. They will take you to a flea market in an indoor building, or anywhere else you want or need to go. The Marriott Tijuana is a very luxurious hotel and the bellman are top notch.

Getting back to the Dr. and Mi Doctor hospital. Once you are checked in for surgery, you are taken to your room and given a gown to put on. If you have a companion, there is a bed in your room for them so they are with you unless they go on a walkabout lol. Then you get an IV, EKG, blood drawn for complete chem work up. It even types your blood and you will get a copy of all the labs.The anesthesiologist comes in, then an internal medicine specialist, then Dr. Ortiz. Maybe not in that order. Once your blood work comes back and is approved by the Dr. you are told what number you are in order for surgery. I was second out of 4. There are english tv channels mostly in the number 200 and up but they vary.If you get spanish commercials, wait until after the commercial are over because alot of the programs are in english! My husband was able to watch TV alot lol. Some of the nurses did not wash their hands and some wore disposable gloves. When they inject three very large syringes into your IV they do it slowly so it doesn't sting, just feels a little cold. They will do it slowly if you ask them to slow down. This goes on every 6 hours during your entire stay. There is a very sweet Mexican nurse names Monserrat, who doesn't speak great english and there is another nurse named Samantha who has dyed blond hair and her english is perfect. She is really nice if you get talking to her.

When my time came for surgery, about 2:30 p.m. I was wheeled in a wheelchair into the holding/recovery area and temp and blood pressure taken. Then I walked into the OR and got on the table. The anesthesiologist was there and said hi to me and was I ready and I said yes. He said I am going to give you a little something to help you relax so I said OK. I woke up in my bed after surgery about 6:00 with my husband holding my hand and talking to me!! I thought I would know when the Dr. would knock me out, but he wonderfully tricked me and was putting me out right then.

When I came around I had some minor pain, very tolerable and I was just wanting to sleep and I didn't really feel much until around 8:00 when I had to pee. I raised the bed, my hubby helped me sit up and once i stabilized, we wheeled the IV pole into the restroom right next to my bed and I went. Got back in bed. I felt some gas, nothing bad, sucked on a gas-x strip and it started to move and come up. The next day and a half I probably used 6 strips. If you walk, it helps move it. You can walk around your room or the hallway. Once you are ready for your leak test number 1, you get a small (3 oz) bathroom dixie cup size of blue liquid they tell you to sip. It wasn't great but it wasn't as bad as some folks said. If you see blue in your drain, then you have a stomach leak. There were NO leaks in our group and from what I was told Dr. Ortiz has had no leaks in the last several hundred patients! The second leak test is different. You go downstairs and stand. You drink a clear liquid, two gulps while you are x-rayed and you can see the white Fluid going through your esophagus and into your new NARROW stomach. I liked this part because I knew for sure the size of my stomach and the surgery was indeed done! I started to gag a little after the gulping and it hurt a little in my chest like pressure, but then it was gone as soon as it started. The Dr. turns you and you see the fluid moving. He tells you No leak! You will get a DVD of this and the report. When you go back upstairs you can have crushed ice and be sure to ask for the apple juice OMG!!! it is the best tasting I have ever had Martinelli's! Everyone was raving about it.

The next day and a half went like this with constant care from the nurses, the Dr. coming in and checking you and you adjusting to your stomach GURGLING lol it is like there is an alien in there! When you are released they will take you to the hotel and tell you when you will go shopping. Dr. Ortiz came to my hotel room each evening then removing the drain.By the way if your companion wants to go anywhere while you are in the hospital, Abraham is available to take them anywhere they want to go. He and my husband when to a local watering hole and to Burger King. Mexico is just like the states, and very populated in Tijuana. Abraham took us to the airport or to a hotel in San Diego if you are staying there 1 night ten we caught the hotel shuttle to the airport the next day. It was an awesome experience. Now at 10 days out I have lost 10 pounds since check in at Mi Doctor! I had a BM on day 5 just after arriving home, no problems. I know this is a lot of info but when I was researching, this is what I needed to hear and wanted to read. I would highly recommend Dr. E Ortiz as he is exactly the same price as Dr. Almanza with a real hospital and recovery two nights there. There is so much personal attention and care and interaction with the Dr,, afterward.[/quote']

Wow. Thanx for such a detailed account of your experience. I chose Dr. Lopez with ALM and I understand that Dr. Ortiz is his copilot when his wife Dr. Osuna cannot be there. I'm glad to know I, and others, will be in good hands. I'm getting so excited!!!

Don't be a stranger.

Amanda Rae

Yes, thank you for all the little details! It makes me feel more comfortable