missmachine

I had a really good experience overall. I really liked the Dr Lopez, his wife (also a surgeon who assists him in the op room), and the rest of his staff. Here is some info about my experience: We arrived at the San Diego airport and was picked up by a driver named Samuel. He was very friendly and loaded our bags for us and drove us to the Marriott about 15-20 mins away in Tijuana. When we arrived at the hotel everyone greeted us, knew English, and they had our reservation booked already. The hotel was VERY nice! I was given a welcome packet and inside there was a letter from the clinic which stated I would get 3 free cups of broth, 2 free popsicles, and 2 free bottles of Water per day. Then we went to our room and took a long nap. Someone named Jasmine who worked with the Dr stopped by and explained that we would be picked up the next morning at 7am with a group of other patients (who were also getting surgery done by Dr Lopez) by Samuel and brought to INT Hospital. The next morning he was there 7am sharp and I got to meet and talk to the other patients on the way. We arrived at the hospital and it was very nice and clean. We were all put in our own rooms after just a couple minutes of arrival. I changed into a gown and did pre op testing, had an IV placed, and was told i would have surgery at 3 or 4 pm. The nurses at the hospital did not speak very good English, so it is helpful if you know a little bit of Spanish so you can communicate some of your basic needs easier. Still though, they were all very helpful and sweet. Dr Lopez came in and talked to me, asked if I had any questions, etc. Then they came early, at 12 pm they came to get me for surgery. I was put to sleep very quickly. I woke up from recovery after 4 hours. I have never had surgery, I woke up in a panic because I was extremely short of breath. After that I was brought to my room, given really good pain meds and a breathing treatment, and went back to sleep. The next day I was taken for a leak test and X-ray. I got to see my sleeve but it was sort of hard to tell how big it was. I had no leaks. I ended up getting a fever and I seemed to be in more pain than anyone else I came in with. They all left the hospital fairly soon but I stayed 3 nights. I also have asthma and was having a really hard time breathing. Dr Lopez checked on me every morning and sometimes in the evening to see how I was doing. Btw, I never once felt unsafe being in Tijuana. I suppose since I'm still recovering (only 10 days out) something could still go wrong with the sleeve but it's probably unlikely. I'm grateful I have no leaks and the sleeve seems to be doing its job. I am still having some breathing issues, and one of my incisions is taking forever to heal. It's the biggest one and right in the middle. They told me since there is more fat right there it is taking longer.

I just ordered a sample pack from celebratevitamins.com for $3. I will let you know how they taste.

I am 10 days out and I cannot WAIT to start sleeping on my stomach again! I have tried to arrange pillows under my leg/hip/stomach but it still hurts too much. I can't even lay on my side I am too sore! Anytime I go to lay on my stomach I feel like my sleeve is swimming around inside of me. Is this normal? The feeling that it's not attached to anything?

I used a credit card and did not carry cash on me, but everything is in pesos. When you sign a receipt it will be in pesos, but on your statement it will be in american dollars.

I went w/ Dr Alejandro Lopez and had a great experience. I was nervous because I could not find any reviews on him anywhere, but I talked to him on the phone, and his wife (who assists him during surgery/she is also a surgeon) and watching some of their videos on youtube, I decided I felt comfortable enough. From what I heard about Dr Kelly - ALM is no longer working w/ him because he *supposedly* developed a drug habit, and as a result, frequently patients started having complications (leaks and etc), and one patient died. ALM stopped working w/ him because they did not want his reputation linked to their other Drs and company as a whole. I am not saying this is true or not true, or that he does not do great work, I am just saying what I heard through the grapevine. I would do research and ask someone who would know more info about this Dr's reputation.

I'm curious to see these kind of pics too

It's hard to stay away from the scale! What days / how often do you weigh yourself? I want to weigh myself and not get frustrated about a couple of lbs fluxuation...

That sounds like a great prevention idea, Karen! I should look into trying to get a prescription for this. Is it expensive? Are there side-effects?

On a similar note I wonder - what if friends start treating me differently in a negative way?? My best friend has already distanced herself from me, and I've only lost 10 lbs. We have been friends 12 years. She was never overweight until a couple years ago, and even still she's not too bad (about 200 lbs). I have a feeling that I always made her feel better about herself by being the big fat ugly friend. I am not sure how she will react once I lose all of this weight. Has anyone had people in their life who started treating them negatively after losing weight/gaining confidence?

I also have a rash coming on!!!

So how soon after your surgery was that? I am just worried because I don't have insurance. I went to MX for my VSG.

I was in for 3 days/nights.

And Kimberly - Brooksville isn't far!

Hey Wishes! I am about the same size as you were. I'm 5'3" HW 250 - just had surgery. You have lost SO much weight since September! That is inspiring! What did you do (other than getting the sleeve)? Any specific diet/workout regimen? I was originally thinking my GW should be 120, but my mom is the same height as me and 124, she looks sickly to me. I put mine at 130, but I still don't know. I guess everyone is different, but it's rare to find someone as short and as heavy as I am. Congrats on your success! Do you have any before/afters?

Will do. This has become my biggest obsticle in recovery because it f^cking hurts to breathe. :( :(

I've been getting about that much sugar too. You have to remember in comparison to what you were having before this is a big change. You are doing well.

Never heard of it...Where can you find it? Have you been using it? How much sugar is in it?

Had my surgery on the 11th, Was instructed to do 1 wk of clear liquids, 1 wk of full liquids, 2 wks of soft foods. SO hating the liquid diet, even on full liquids, pudding and jello gets old and it makes me want to puke just thinking about it. My mom made some homemade chicken soup w/o noodles and I put it in the blender to make it all broth... was delicious, but still hurt a bit. Liquids just go right through me so I never really am feeling full, or at least not for too long. I sip all day long on water, tea, broth, etc. Hope that's ok.

I did call, and then I got the spirometer. Been getting a little better at it, but usually hovers around the 750 mark. I can still feel a lot of phlegm in my lungs though. Doc also told me to blow up balloons. I'll also be starting to walk more tomorrow. I hope this all works. I have had asthma since birth so that doesn't help.

Food itself is my trigger! It's everywhere we look and I want it! Cooking for my family makes me want to eat too. I definitely eat when I'm bored or emotional as well.

Well it's good to know that this is all normal. I'm going to weigh myself tomorrow for the first time in 3 or 4 days. Or maybe I should wait a while longer. Thanks everyone!

Been on liquids only for 2 weeks... No scale movement... Went the wrong way since surgery! I'm afraid this won't work for me. Starving and not losing sucks

Literally! Yeah I spent 3 days in the hospital because I had a fever. Went back to the hotel on Thursday and back home on Friday. How did your surgery go? I really liked the Dr.

I can only get up to the 500 on the meter and I can't keep the thing in the middle either.

I'm 31 and this brings back memories and makes me feel old! Class of 99 here. I wish I would have had surgery in my 20s! It will still be a few years from now still that I'll be rocking my new body (I just had surgery - need to lose 120 lbs and have excess skin removal and etc)! Such a long, long road ahead of me! My class didn't have a 10 year reunion, I am wondering if we will even have a 20, now with Facebook everyone stays in touch that way!