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My Surgery Experience in Tijuana



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Hello everyone!

I just thought I'd share the experience of my surgery in Tijuana. I had surgery on Monday, December 12th, at Oasis of Hope Hospital. Dr. Illan was my surgeon. And it all started with BariatricPal Team MX. I chatted online with someone, asking different questions. Then I was referred to Bill Yanez, who sent me an email with information and a questionnaire I needed to fill out. I spoke to him a few times on the phone, and within days, after finding out that I was approved, I called Bill and scheduled my surgery. I paid my deposit, and just like that, I had a surgery date. I did research on Dr. Illan previously and was confident that I had picked the right surgeon.

Then my NUT Stacy Eckel emailed me with my pre-op diet. She also answered any and every question. On December 12th, she picked me and my daughter up from the airport in San Diego and drove us to the hospital. I filled out paperwork, had my blood drawn, chest x-ray, and ekg. Then an IV was put in, I was given something to relax me, and off to my surgery! My surgery was a success. I woke up in recovery and after a while, they wheeled me to my room.

I had a great recovery. The more I walked, the better it got. The doctors and nurses were amazing. Not to mention the valets - Carlos, Juan, and more whose names I can't remember. They were a big help. After I was discharged on the fourth day, we went to Pueblo Amigo Hotel & Casino. The junior suite was nice, more than enough room for my daughter and I.. Gary made sure we were taken care. He took us out with two other surgery sisters to go to the pharmacy and do a little shopping. By the time it was time to go (Memo took us back across the border and to the airport), I knew we were part of the family. I couldn't have made a better choice!!!! Thank you Bill Yanez, Stacy Eckel, Dr. Illan, the entire surgical staff, all of the doctors and nurses, all of the valets, Gary, and Memo!!!!!!!! ❤️

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WOW!!! This is an incredible post!!! You must feel so blessed. My hubby and I went thru a different site and went to Juarez Mexico. Our experience was NOT to GOOD!! So happy for your good group to work with!!

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@@shedo82773, I'm sorry your experience was not good. Everyone deserves to have a good experience. Are you and your husband recovering well?

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

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What type of surgery did you get. I have my down payment in for Dr illan! I can't wait. I keep changing the dates from April to May and back. (Did to work with my employer on time off)

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@@annairda,

I had the mini gastric bypass. The surgery was a success. I'm recovering well. What surgery are you going to have?

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@@shedo82773, I'm sorry your experience was not good. Everyone deserves to have a good experience. Are you and your husband recovering well?

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

@@shedo82773, I'm sorry your experience was not good. Everyone deserves to have a good experience. Are you and your husband recovering well?

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

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Thank you for asking about us. My hubby had his Sleeve done in June. His recovery went very well. He has finally stopped messing around and is losing his weight now. He has lost 75#'s and I am so proud of him. I had my RNY July 2, 2013. I have been very successful. I lost 132#'s in 6 months. But I did gain 8#'s back. So I am still way pleased. I have maintained my 124# loss for 3 years now. And I really believe that my exercise is my saving grace. I walk 4 miles 3 to 4 times a week. Except for the last couple weeks I have been slacking. The weather is kind of cold here but that shouldn't be anything to stop me!! Just gotta get back out there. I did have some problems at first after my WLS. I had Strictures and had to have 5 Endoscopes and 4 dilations. My Surgeon and my PCP were getting worried about my weight loss, I started losing muscle and they were happy when I gained back the 8#'s. I am so glad that you had such a great experience with your Surgery. I look forward to following your journey!!

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@@annairda,

Thanks and good luck to you too!! You will do great! My HW was 298 lbs. I was 247 lbs before my surgery and 234 lbs now.

@@shedo82773,

I'm glad to hear that you both are doing well. And I hope it just gets better and better for you!!

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

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I had the Sleeve Surgery with Dr. Ilan on August 23rd, i'm down about 50 lbs in 4 months and I'm ALMOST to onederland!!!! Not only was the care by the staff and nurses excellent...i actually had FUN there! I only live about 3 hours away from Tijuana...when I reach my goal (hopefully by summer), I want to go back and see everyone again and thank them for changing and greatly improving my life!!

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I had such a good experience as well and feel so happy to hear about good stories. I had my surgery with Dr. Frayre and his team is A-MA-ZIN-G! From the moment I got picked up at the airport, to the service and care I got at the hotel, to the care and service I got at the hospital and the staff, of course my surgery and post op care, and the days I was at the hospital, everything went by smoothly.

For the price that I payed, it included the hospital and hotel stay, surgery, my post op meds, ground transportation, and the extremely personal and excellent personal care. I am beyond happy and grateful with my experience!

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I had the Sleeve Surgery with Dr. Ilan on August 23rd, i'm down about 50 lbs in 4 months and I'm ALMOST to onederland!!!! Not only was the care by the staff and nurses excellent...i actually had FUN there! I only live about 3 hours away from Tijuana...when I reach my goal (hopefully by summer), I want to go back and see everyone again and thank them for changing and greatly improving my life!!

My daughter and I were just talking about going back to Mexico to visit. We don't want to wait a year. We're talking about going back in August.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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