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Hey guys! I'm scheduled to have a gastric sleeve done by Dr Alvarez in Piedras Negras on July 29th. I had everything all set up, but my husband just found out he's not allowed to go with me because of his job. The State Department says it's not safe to travel to that area, which has changed from when I scheduled my surgery.

Has anybody been there recently? I'm curious about what other people's experiences have been like.

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I was there June 21st-23rd. The hospital is a mile over the border. Rosy pulls you straight up to the hospital and walks you inside to meet Dr. Alvarez. Jessica will take your family to dinner or to the market during your hospital stay. My mom went to a store down the block by herself with no problem, but she speaks perfect Spanish. She didn't find it any more dangerous than where we live in the states. You will love Dr. Alvarez. I was up walking the halls the day of surgery and walked the Riverwalk and Alamo area as a tourist the day I was released from the hospital.

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Tamlyn - I use to work in San Diego and my former bosses wife works for the federal government - they told her that she should not enter Mexico because state/federal employes are targets for kidnappings. I'm not sure how strict they would have been had she decided to go into Mexico though.

Good luck, I know this is tough because I want my fiancé by my side the entire time.

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Thanks for the information, that makes me feel tons better. I'm honestly pretty comfortable with it, but my husband is nervous about not being able to go with me. He was talking about hiring some burly bodyguards to escort me, and I really don't want burly bodyguards.

Well, unless Liam Neeson and Jason Statham are available. Then I might be convince-able. ;)

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The ride to the hospital takes 5 minutes. You stay safely inside until you take your 5 minute trip back across the border. They didn't even stamp my passport at the border. It doesn't look like I even left the country. Rosy does the run 7 days a week. You are in good hands. I've got a bunch of pics of my experience that I would be happy to share with you. They make you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in the door. It doesn't hurt that Dr. A and Dr. Rosales are both good looking guys. :-)

Edited by BamaGirl08

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Just out of curiosity - did they say he CAN'T go or should not? Is he legally required to get their permission? What kind of job does he do?

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Tamlyn - I use to work in San Diego and my former bosses wife works for the federal government - they told her that she should not enter Mexico because state/federal employes are targets for kidnappings. I'm not sure how strict they would have been had she decided to go into Mexico though. Good luck, I know this is tough because I want my fiancé by my side the entire time.

I'm curious...if one is a civilian federal employee, how will anyone know?

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I am in her process of picking a doctor in Mexico to do my gastric sleeve. I had then band done in 2008 and had problems on a regular bases with in march 2013 I had it removed. I have now decided to do the sleeve. My insurance won't cover it so I am looking for the perfect surgeon for me. I am leaning toward having Dr.Guillermo Alvarez. What information can you share with me to help comfort my nerves. I am not to concerned about the surgery. I am more concerned about going to Mexico to have it done

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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