So let me start by saying a few words as to why I'm writing this. I was recently sleeved by Dr. Garcia in Tijuana and I am very happy with my results -- so far. If you want to read moment by moment blows of someones happy surgery, this isn't the blog. I've read every blog here and a majority are dead on accurate. But there's a lot no one bothers to mention and I wish someone had. Also, I'm posting this from a made-up user ID.... I read the boards daily and respond frequently, but prefer to keep some elements of my issues private (as you'll read). Thanks!!

First, Waiting! I appreciate in the U.S. were go-go-go people who are comfortable with our busy, full schedules but in Mexico, there is NO scheduling at all! You sit and wait, and wait, and wait. The day of my surgery we were taken at 6:45 to the hospital, we waited until after 9am for the hospital staff to even arrive to check us in. Once in my room, more waiting; I didn't have my surgery until NIGHT! Despite numerous attempts to ask when (approx) my surgery would be - "soon" is the only answer I got. Want to go shopping after surgery, plan to wait. No one can tell you if or when or how long. I waited 2 whole days and then in a matter of minutes of a phone call, was expected to be ready.

Second - Coordinators. Good luck. I saw my coordinator ONCE on the very LAST day. Once I was taken back to the hotel, I had questions I needed answered and despite my attempts (for over an hour) and the hotels attempts, no one could reach them. And their voicemail boxes were full - wonderful. What if I had an emergency?

Third - Not Like U.S. Hospitals. Now I accepted this going in. BUT, if when waiting to be taken into ER I am awake and can see the person before me laying naked on the OR table - I'm sorry, I find that bothersome to several degrees. First, how many germs are flooding through those open doors? Second, if I was awake enough to see someone (who I actually knew from these boards and hotel), then who is seeing me? Not cool.

Fourth - The Yucky (yes, the yucky truth - feel free to skip) No one bothers to tell you that your pee after your final leak test will be BRIGHT green for days - not an issue, but a heads up would've been nice. And the diarrhea - oh my stomach aches just thinking about it. It smells horrendous - like sick tummy. Its lasts for, I don't even know how long, I still have it, and its explosive. So yes, you probably will shart yourself. Just speaking the truth here.

Again, I want to say I am HAPPY with my results ---- these were just things NO ONE bothered to mention and it would've been nice to prepare a bit better. So, bring a extra book, ask all your questions before you leave, ask to be drugged up before going to the OR and sit on a towel afterwards and you should be ALL set!

Lol that's funny when u said u saw naked person my only bad thing I saw and it did scare me was when I went out to walk and say one o the janitors his name was Lalo he has a tattoo on his lower back park of his neck well I saw him giving hisself meds in between his fingers no I didn't say anything cause I was in anther country and was scared to death of him maybe tryi g to hurt me so I kept quite

Lol that's funny when u said u saw naked person my only bad thing I saw and it did scare me was when I went out to walk and say one o the janitors his name was Lalo he has a tattoo on his lower back park of his neck well I saw him giving hisself meds in between his fingers no I didn't say anything cause I was in anther country and was scared to death of him maybe tryi g to hurt me so I kept quite

Say wha?! :-/

Amanda Rae

Are you guys serious about going shopping so soon after you have surgery?

Have I misunderstood?

That seems totally WHACKY to me and I couldn't think if anything worse, much love to stay in bed and rest me thinks LZoL

Say wha?! :-/

Amanda Rae

Yes I did and I didn't go alone I took a friend with me and we both seen it. Scared too was the word for it didnt won't to say anything because u never know what that man Lalo was putting in between his fingers the needles are rather big and it even left the blood on his hand bt it didn't seem to bother him at all. Bt I didn't won't to say anything there the meds are very easy to get especially when the nurses let them back where the meds are and they aren't locked up

Are you guys serious about going shopping so soon after you have surgery?

Have I misunderstood?

That seems totally WHACKY to me and I couldn't think if anything worse' date=' much love to stay in bed and rest me thinks LZoL[/quote']

I felt perfectly fine to go shopping! I didnt go in Mexico because I wanted some quiet time alone at the hotel while everyone else went. My sister went though! She had a blast! But after we left Mexico I spent an extra 6 days in southern California visiting people I knew, site seeing, and shopping!

I felt great to do some light shopping and I was only 3 days post-op. It was actually good to go and be able to walk around a bit.

I went shopping the day after I was released from the hospital I tested the day they let me go bak to my hotel room bt the following day I went out and got me a ice coconut water with out the real coconut and its was great I wish I could get one here in Missouri lol

Yes I did and I didn't go alone I took a friend with me and we both seen it. Scared too was the word for it didnt won't to say anything because u never know what that man Lalo was putting in between his fingers the needles are rather big and it even left the blood on his hand bt it didn't seem to bother him at all. Bt I didn't won't to say anything there the meds are very easy to get especially when the nurses let them back where the meds are and they aren't locked up

That would have freaked me out too. I'm glad everything else went well.

Amanda Rae

Are you guys serious about going shopping so soon after you have surgery?

Have I misunderstood?

That seems totally WHACKY to me and I couldn't think if anything worse, much love to stay in bed and rest me thinks LZoL

Absolutely! I was bored my first day in hospital and by that evening I was fit to be tied! My Cordinator made sure my leak test was the following morning so I could get going. Trish is the best and even loves shopping and historical sightseeing! Very knowledgeable. Went to hotel and spent the next days running around and then a full day in San Diego non stop. Old town San Diego is a lot of fun and very interesting

Dr. Garcia works out of mi dr. I'm there now and my experience wasn't quite like yours. Yikes.

Lomi

I had surgery on monday. I'm in Mexicali with Dr Aceves and I have not had any of those issues. The doctor and staff are on top of things. I feel ya on the blue pee. I'm still peeing blue, but that is expected. I am sorry to hear about your experience. Thanks for sharing your story.

That's what I was thinking!!

Is there anybody out there that went to dr corvala at hospital Angeles is tujiuana ?

Yea thanks for the info, I leave in 16 days. I hope things will go good

I had my surgery in the US at a teaching university med center. I'm sure there were a ton of pimple faced students there in front of all my naked glory! I had a surgical nurse come up to me while I was being prepared, and tell me she would make sure there were not any sales reps present! I was being used to teach robotic procedures... so naked, strapped to a vertical board, and being operated on by a robot! Now I would have liked to see that myself! I tried to get a CD of the procedure, but they wouldn't give me one....I had next to no problems, and it was a great staff.

Yikes that's scary! I experienced green pee, but that was because of the nasty blue dye leak test, however, I did not have the runs! Took a week to have a BM! I had a wonderful experience at Almetar hospital with Dr. Aceves. No waiting for anything but ice. Lol! I went second that morning so I hung out for a few hours, was preped, socialized and just tried to calm my nerves. Patient coordinator was outside our doors from 7 am until about 4:30pm. Anything we needed she was there. I'm sorry you had the experience you had. On the other hand some of the other stuff is just part of the operation. Everyone's bodies react differently! Good luck on your journey.