Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

(LONG) Review of my 3/20/14 surgery with (the amazing) Dr. Aceves



Recommended Posts

Hi all,

I'm eight days out of my VSG surgery with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali and wanted to share my experience with anyone still trying to make the decision. I had questioned on these boards if he was really worth the extra money and let me say, without reservation, that he and his staff is worth every penny! I'm sorry this is so long - I tried to keep it brief but failed miserably.

Day 1-2 pre-surgery:

Of course the day before my flight out I had to work til 9pm, because I had to be up by 4am the next day to get to the airport. Nothing like starting out a long trip tired! Total travel time from my residence to San Diego was 24 hours, since I got delayed in LA. Ernesto was waiting to pick me up, along with my mom who met me in SD and another patient and her friend. They were gracious about having to wait the extra hour for me. I'd only slept about 20-30 minutes total on all those flights so I was super tired and wired. Drive to Mexicali took about 2.5 hours.

We were met by Karla, an assistant, who walked us through our pre-op tests before meeting Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos, and the anesthesiologist (by this time I'd been over 30 hours with no sleep so I can't remember his name but he was super nice.) First impressions of the hospital and especially the doctors was extremely good. Even so, due to lack of sleep and an 18 hour time change, I started doubting if I wanted to go through with it. Dr. Aceves and Campos spoke to us in length, answering every question we had. Dr. Aceves has THE BEST bedside manner and comes across as one of the most sincere, genuine, and compassionate people I've met. I immediately felt comfortable with him.

Finally we were taken to our hotel about 15 minutes away, which is lovely. Mom and I set out to find carne asada tacos that I remembered from my time on the border and found a local hole in the wall joint that served amazing food!!! I savored every bite of my dinner. I didn't drink, even though Dr. A okayed 2 drinks, as between the lack of sleep and jet lag I figured it might give me a Migraine.< /p>

Surgery Day

Thanks to jet lag I slept about 4 hours the night before surgery. I didn't really feel nervous except I really wanted to poop before it was my turn to go in. TMI, I know, but it's true! I was scheduled for 9 am. The shuttle was late picking us up so we got to the hospital about 30 minutes late. Karla was frantic since we still had to do our EKG and X-rays (we were too late the day before to finish). I changed into a gown, went poop (thank god!!), had a quick chat with Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos, the anesthesiologist, and then the internal doc. All looked good so they loaded me on a gurney, put in an IV, and took me away. I still wasn't nervous; I think the whole thing just felt too surreal to process.

When we arrived in the OR, I remember scooting to a different bed, and the anesthesiologist asking me if I wanted a pillow. I told him "I don't know" and he started saying something about how if I didn't know, I probably didn't need one, ha ha. Two seconds later I was waking up and it was done! I had a hard time waking up (remember the major lack of sleep) but I remember feeling nauseous and I did throw up once, right after telling them I was going to. No mess, no big deal.

The rest of the day is a blur. All I remember is that sleeping felt SO GOOD! I pretty much drifted in and out all day. I think I only got up to pee once, in the middle of the night.

Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos each checked on me twice that day/evening.

Day 1 Post Surgery

I felt some pain in my abdomen but not much, as I was pretty drugged up. I slept A LOT that day. Nurses were very attentive and friendly. The docs came by to visit several times each. I got up to walk a couple of times and peed maybe twice all day/night. I thought it was weird I never had to go! I had a hard time sleeping that night, partly due to some pain (that was quickly administered to) and partly from the time change. Plus my stupid machine I was attached to kept beeping and waking me up. Grrr...

Oh yeah, I drank the yucky blue liquid and was cleared for no leaks. I asked for crushed ice to numb my taste buds so I could choke the stuff down. It was nasty! After that I was given juice and Gatorade. It was really tough to try to drink and I had no desire whatsoever. Sip. Sip. Sip.

Had a shower and changed into a fresh gown. I wasn't ready for PJs yet.

I got a second sleeping pill midway through the night to help me sleep. The pain in my stomach started to increase and I was really uncomfortable.

Day 2 Post Surgery

I passed the barium swallow test and saw my new stomach. Holy cow, it's small! I was unhooked from the stupid beeping machine so Mom and I got outside a few times and walked around a few blocks. I was pretty slow and really had to force myself to stand up straight. My stomach felt like I'd been run over by a car.

More walking, sipping, walking, sipping. Got into my PJs after a shower. Gas pains started. Ugh. I was so tired and slept a lot. There were other patients that had the surgery a day before me and they were all perky and looked like they felt great. I asked Dr. Aceves what was wrong with me since I still had pain and didn't feel perky AT ALL. He was very clear that I shouldn't compare myself to anyone else, as we're all different. I was freaking out that I was supposed to fly home in a few days - there was NO way I'd be fit to travel so fast! What were they thinking letting people check out after 3 days!?!

I tend to act tough when I'm not but the gas pains got kinda bad that day and even though I could go outside and walk around, it was pretty uncomfortable. I think I was expecting a walk in the park. I was wrong. At one point I started crying and Dr. Aceves got more meds into me fast. He and Karla admonished me to not let the pain get too bad before saying something. They assured me the pain would reside once I got the drain removed. I was SO SO SO glad to still be in the hospital. I didn't feel regret but I did feel mad at myself for being in this situation - ie, getting so fat in the first place. (A few hours later I started my period so at least then I knew why I was being such a big baby.)

Young Dr. Aceves (daughter of the great Dr. Aceves) took out my drain. I took a nap and woke up feeling much better.

I had to get a second sleeping pill again this night. I was so thankful for the round the clock care I was getting.

Day 3 Post Surgery - Checking out

I finally got the IV out of my hand which was a relief. I woke up early, showered and felt great. Then after a couple of hours I was ready for my nap. The pain in my stomach was much duller. I was able to sip the juice, Gatorade and broth with no problem, but very little amounts. I got outside and walked around a few blocks, went to the pharmacy with my mom, and sipped some more. Even though it was Sunday, Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos were there, checking on everyone. Dr. Aceves wanted me to stay at the hospital until after lunch, as he knew how concerned I was about my long trip home in a few days. He reassured me and separately talked to my mom, telling her that I was doing great and would have nothing to worry about. At 1pm, Karla packed up some broth, juice, and Gatorade, and Ernesto whisked us away to the hotel, all of my medical records, DVDs of X-rays and my new stomach in a folder provided by Karla.

I went out by the pool, poured myself into a lounge chair, and napped for about 2 hours. Glorious! Mom and I walked around a good deal that night, finding her some good food. I was able to walk comfortably, standing straight.

Day 4 Post Surgery - Mexicali to San Diego

Ernesto drove us to San Diego at 7am. It took about 3 hours with the border wait. Karla had reserved us a room for the next two nights. These people are so well organized and are there for us every step of the way! We took a short walk, I napped for a couple hours, then later we walked a good distance to find my mom dinner. I was starting to feel really good. I ordered broth and was able to eat a small amount with no problem.

I'm a stomach sleeper and was finally able to sleep on my stomach with little discomfort. YAY!

Day 5 Post Surgery

Mom went home today so I was alone in SD. I woke up early to see her off then took a nap. I walked down to my former favorite Thai restaurant and scored some excellent broth. I felt really good and surprised that the pain just kept fading so fast. I took it easy that day, napping, reading, watching TV, walking a bit here and there. I felt really confident about flying home.

Day 6 Post Surgery

During my "2nd Day after Surgery Freakout" I upgraded my flight home to first class, thus rerouting me through my home town for 24 hours and breaking up my long trip. Score! I woke up again amazed at how much better I felt than even the day before. Fluids went down no problem. I got to see my family for a few hours that night. No one suspected I'd just had surgery.

Day 7 and 8 Post Surgery

I ran a few errands with my mom on the way to the airport. My mom was surprised at how perky and energetic I was. I was feeling great! I was able to sleep for a solid 2 hours on the 11 hour flight, thanks to my flat-bed seat. Got a massage at the Tokyo airport during my layover and walked around as much as possible. Slept for another 2 hours on the next flight.

I arrived home at about 2:30 this morning and slept til nearly 7am. Took my doggies for a 2 mile/45 minute walk and unpacked. I'm tired and want a nap but am holding off for an early bedtime to try to re-adjust to the time change. I feel really great, no pain in my stomach, just a little mild discomfort.

OK, how would I rate Dr. Aceves? 10/10. I cannot rave about this man enough. Really.

Staff, including other doctors, the nurses, and patient coordinators? 10/10.

Transportation and lodging? 10/10

If anyone has any questions about Dr. Aceves or my experience, please message me. Sorry for the long post!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Booniedog, I am so glad everything turned out so well for you. Sounds like you traveled around the world to get your sleeve. Congratulations and hope you continue to do well. Hope to see you post on the boards more often. Life only gets better after this.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for your post-I'm scheduled with Dr. Aceves on May 26 and am so happy to read how positive your experience was! Stay on the boards throughout your post-op loss. :)

All the best to you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×