So I decided to pull the trigger last week and do VSG in Tijuana through BariatricPal and dr. Ponce de leon at INT.

Overall a good experience. I am a 35 year old male relatively healthy but I have been carrying an extra 100lbs for over 10 years. Flew to San Diego last Thursday morning and was doing Pre-Op tests by 3pm. Surgery was delayed until about 7pm. Discharged Saturday afternoon from Hospital and stayed 1 night at the BariatricPal recovery condo. Flew home Sunday (which turned into a foggy mess in Chicago). Ended up getting home 2am late Sunday night/Early Monday morning.

Pain has been OK. Had a lot of gas the first couple days. Still have that acid reflux feeling. Still not very hungry (only getting about 6oz apple cider, and 6 oz of broth in per day). Drinking about 50+ ounces of Water.

Every day my weight is down another lb (love it!). I started my 3-day liquid only diet at 277, SW of 270, current weight of 261. I am sure a lot of this is water weight and/or will slow down as I add more soft and solid foods, but it is exciting none the less.

Few questions... Is sugar free Jello allowed in the first 10 days? Diets seem to be all over the place on here, but cannot find anything talking about jello. I cannot wait for Sunday as I will then move on to soft puree foods (day 10-20).

Thanks for all the discussions on here. So many positive stories. I hope soon to become one of them.

Edited November 27, 201411 yr by projectionguy

Congratulation on your successful surgery.

How was the after care? I am thinking about using this doctor (researching for a friend) and I an trying to get as much information as I can. Thank you!

Take it slow and have a great day!!,

I found the surgeon excellent. He does not speak english, but his Asst Surgeon and Nutrition person both do. I heard many comments how this surgeon just does it fast and right. I have a video of my surgery, would it help if I uploaded it to youtube? (I still am not sure I have the stomach to watch it). =)

Care at INT was fine, not great but fine. Only about 30% of nurses I had spoke English. It is a different setting than the USA hospital system but never was I scared or threatened. I think people just have to think about a USA hospital 10-15 years ago. I probably had the wrong expectation coming in.

My decision was very quick (was going to do it between Thanksgiving and Christmas), but decided what the hell... being healthy a month sooner is not a bad thing. So Monday I made a decision to have Surgery Thursday. They all laughed at my quick decision (but it really has been weighing on my mind for 10 years, probably like the rest of you).

I used BariatricPal as the coordinator. It was OK. I went alone and liked the idea of a recovery condo better than a hotel so I would have others to heal with (hear a lot about "sleeve sisters", and I wanted that). I never met or talked to another patient at the hospital or the recovery condo because of my timing of doing this a week before Thanksgiving. I am sure my experience would have been a little better had other people been at the condo and the hospital that I could bond with. Especially with traveling by myself.

I remember on the day of my discharge from INT that they gave me this blue drink (the leak test), and I was like "This isn't bad. What were all those people complaining about!" The blue drink is first used to see if the blue leaks into your drain. The actual drink for radiology is clear and you drink that while in Radiology doing the leak test (you watch the liquid go down on screen, which you also get a video of). That clear drink is HORRIBLE!

Congratulation on your successful surgery.

How was the after care? I am thinking about using this doctor (researching for a friend) and I an trying to get as much information as I can. Thank you!

Take it slow and have a great day!!,

You sound like you had a really good experience. Now you are on your way to the slim side.

I must say you literally had me Laughing Out Loud (LOL) it is wonderful that you are I good spirits. :-). It makes healing go so much better.

Stay healthy and go slow for a while till your tiny tummy heals up all the way.

Thanks again for the information. It has been a great help.

I was thinking about this doctor, but eliminated him because I could not find much info on him. Thanks for posting.

No problem. Glad I could help. It is definitely a lifechanger and I am happy to be on the other side. Today was a real test, and made it through the large meal being like "egh". I will be happy when I can go to some cream Soups and yogurt in a few days.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

OMG! That is you and Dr P on your picture!!

Happy happy days ahead. Thanks again!!

Thanks for posting! I see him in 2 days. Are you on a PPI? Prilosec? Nexium? Omeprazole? That helps with the acid reflux feeling.

My doc said to use Prilosec for two months

I am going with Dr. Ponce Dr Leon in January. At first I was sceptical because I had not heard much about him but I buddied up with @@haleytrim and she has helped calm most of my fears. His cocoordinator thru Bariatric Pal - David Lopez has also been a Superstar!! Patient and thorough and yes, always available to take my calls. My nervousness now is just the nervousness before any surgery. I will update as time goes on.

Grandma54 how did you do with Dr Ponce? I too have trouble finding people who had him for

Their surgery and I'm suppose to book with him for February 2?

Also-

Can anyone give me insight on what the recovery condo Is like?

Thanks so much! Looks lovely!!!! Air conditioner too I imagine?

So I decided to pull the trigger last week and do VSG in Tijuana through BariatricPal and dr. Ponce de leon at INT.

Overall a good experience. I am a 35 year old male relatively healthy but I have been carrying an extra 100lbs for over 10 years. Flew to San Diego last Thursday morning and was doing Pre-Op tests by 3pm. Surgery was delayed until about 7pm. Discharged Saturday afternoon from Hospital and stayed 1 night at the BariatricPal recovery condo. Flew home Sunday (which turned into a foggy mess in Chicago). Ended up getting home 2am late Sunday night/Early Monday morning.

Pain has been OK. Had a lot of gas the first couple days. Still have that acid reflux feeling. Still not very hungry (only getting about 6oz apple cider, and 6 oz of broth in per day). Drinking about 50+ ounces of Water.

Every day my weight is down another lb (love it!). I started my 3-day liquid only diet at 277, SW of 270, current weight of 261. I am sure a lot of this is water weight and/or will slow down as I add more soft and solid foods, but it is exciting none the less.

Few questions... Is sugar free Jello allowed in the first 10 days? Diets seem to be all over the place on here, but cannot find anything talking about jello. I cannot wait for Sunday as I will then move on to soft puree foods (day 10-20).

Thanks for all the discussions on here. So many positive stories. I hope soon to become one of them.

hows your success going??

Did not go through BatiatricPal, would have saved some money. Had an excellent experience at INT with Dr. Ponce, Dr. Frayre, anesthesiologist Dr. Sanchez and the INT hospital team. Tomorrow will be one week! As a RN had fun working on communication with the nurses at INT. Hospital super clean, not super fancy. Care was excellent, staff Doctor checked on me every shift. Plan to watch my video of the surgery today.

Edited November 26, 201510 yr by b-Ed57

I would love to watch the surgery videos if you guys don't mind. lol