nightingale2u

I am having surgery with Dr. Aceves April 1st and after researching I feel completely at ease with my decision. He is skilled... highly experienced and well known... all very important in my book! Your recovery will we in the hospital... the only night in the hotel is the night before surgery. I have heard the the hotel is beautiful and that the hospital is clean and fairly modern with up to date technology. If you do a search on You Tube using "Dr. Aceves" ... there are quite a few video testimonials from patients and a few show the interior of the hospital... I know that helped me feel more at ease with my decision as well. Good Luck with your Journey! Darcy

In regards to freezing... a gal suggested I take the warming Patches for sore muscles and the handwarmers that you squeeze and they stay warm for quite awhile... I already have them in my bag!

LOL Amanda... glad EVERYTHING is in working order and that Dr. Aceves and his staff lived up to your expectations! I am still scared about having surgery but I feel more confident than ever about choosing Dr. Aceves as my surgeon. Initially I was going alone and that combined with my having a revision really placed Dr. Aceves as the stand out option. Did I mention I am still scared???? The border looks a little desolate ... I don't think I'll hang around that area! Lutheranchic... I almost chose Dr. Lopez as well. I talked with quite a few people that used Dr. Lopez and they were very happy with their surgery and surgical experience. With needing a revision and having my band in for 9 years... I just really needed a surgeon with known success for revisions ... years of experience... and low complication rates. I was willing to pay more for that as complications after I get home would be financially devastating for me. I realize that there is still a chance for complications... but reducing that risk was very important to me. Ohhhh.... Sarahas.... I am glad you mentioned the massage... I will arrange that for both Gracie and I! I am going to be a complete nervous wreck and that will hopefully help me get a little sleep the night before surgery! Have a safe trip home Amanda... I can't wait to have a more detailed update on your experience!

We are flying in the night before.... they will be picking us up at the hotel... I think after they pick you and another couple up at the airport. We will all have a couple of hours to get to know each other on the ride into Mexicali! It's going to be so nice to be somewhere warm!

I second that!

Oh Amanda... sorry about the nausea... I am really worried about that too as I have the same reaction to anesthesia. I would rather have pain that nausea! I heaved for hours and hours after being banded. I also have to talk to them about the fact that they had a hard time with me after my last surgery... had to keep reminding me to breath. Once I was fully awake and heaving... voila... no more breathing problems...lol. I hope you do get a little sun glow to take home with you! I am am one pale chick... it would take a lot of sun to change my color to anything but red! The sipping and burping thing might be easier for me too since I often have to do that with my band. I am fairly accomplished at tooting as well...hehehehe.

I just saw your second post... wtg!!! I have been watching the temps there and it looks to be hot...hot...hot!!!! I'm sure your family really misses you too! Darcy

Thanks Amanda .... as a nurse... I have never seen a drain like the one they use... at least not here in the states.... or the use of a colostomy bag for drainage collection. It just gave me a little freak moment when I saw pictures on another persons blog. I know that will be the one thing I want out as soon as possible... even if it means I have to drink smurf punch and a barium cocktail! Whew... so glad there is no catheter! I think I'd rather pee myself than have one! I am really lucky that the friend that is coming with me speaks Spanish fluently. I'm sure that will make things much easier in the communication department. So glad you are doing so well and looking forward to hearing all about your first couple of weeks post-op! Darcy

Oakley and Blue... and Amanda... it will be so awesome to have you all on the sidelines when I am there! Amanda... I really can't tell you how much this has eased my mind... the 1st is right around the corner and I the excitement mixed with fear is a little overwhelming at times. I am completely at ease with Dr. Aceves but it makes it so much more "real" to watch someone as they actually go through the process! Did you get your drain taken out yet???? Oh... one more thing... please tell me I won't wake up with a catheter in? I can tinkle on my own thank you very much. Darcy

Well... for me it almost feels more like I will meeting a family I have come to know instead of the experience I had with getting my lapband. I never felt familiar or comfortable with my lapband surgeon or staff and in the hospital I never saw the nurses or staff unless they were taking my vital signs. Already this is a much better experience and I'm not even in the same country! Amanda... I saw somewhere that people held ice chips on their tongue before the barium study and that helped ease the icky taste... don't know if it is true but it's worth a try! Let us know how it goes and you will probably need to tell me about the drain removal... I hope it is quick and painless!

Hey everyone... I'm scheduled April 1st with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali! Luckily... it is not April Fools Day in Mexico.

I can't wait to meet Dr. Aceves! Pretty scared about the surgery but it helps to see your experience... thanks so much for sharing... especially for those of use that will be following in your footsteps! Good luck with your next leak test... and I bet you will be glad to get that drain out! Darcy

Glad to see you are feeling better and passed your leak test! When do they take the drain out? Hope you got lots of walking in today... soon you will be headed home!

I know everyone has to consider the financial aspect of having bariatric surgery but please take the time to really research and talk directly to other patients that have had surgery with the Surgeon you are considering. My surgeon will be Dr. Aceves and he is more expensive but has the experience that I felt comfortable with for a revision. I have seem many warnings in regards to Dr. Almanza and although that not a substitute for actual experience with a surgeon... I would prefer not taking chances with my life... but that is just me. There are many surgeons that are reasonable and very few complaints... I'd go that direction! I also talked with Ron when I was researching and he was quick to respond with information I requested. Good luck with your journey and the surgeon you ultimately choose!

My surgery is on the 1st with Dr. Aceves as well... we will probably be riding in the van from the airport together! I'm pretty nervous too but it's nice to see that someone else is having surgery the same day... in the same hospital... with the same surgeon! See you there! Darcy

Congrats Amanda Rae! I hope the pain and nausea subside soon and that you are able to get up and walk the halls a bit! You sure have a lot of fans here wishing you well and I am wishing the same for you. Tomorrow will be better and don't forget to tell me that when it is my turn! Darcy

Hey Amanda! I will be there in two weeks with Dr. Aceves and it's awesome to see such a recent posting from someone that is actually there! I can't wait to meet Dr. Aceves, Dr Campos, Yolanda and the rest of the crew. I've heard so much about Ernesto too! Mostly I just want the surgery to go off without complications and I really look forward to hearing about your experience! Wishing you a speedy recovery! Darcy

My revision from Lapband to sleeve in on April 1st as well I am totally freaking out at this point!

Wow... I was really sitting in a place of uncertainty with the revision from the Lapband ( 9 years of discomfort and hunger ) ... to the vertical gastric sleeve. My surgery is scheduled the 1st of April but I have found myself questioning my choice...especially after the fiasco of being banded. Tom... thank you so much for posting questions in regards to so many things I was also concerned about and thanks to all that gave such thoughtful responses... honestly... very helpful!

I am trying to book a hotel room in San Diego and am wondering if there are any reviews or good experiences that anyone can share. I am going to need a shuttle from the airport at 9pm or so and would like to be able to see the Bay and have a safe early morning walk before being picked up for my trip into Mexico. I don't know if this is possible on my budget ... but I have not been back to my home state of California or the ocean for 17 years... I really need to see it... smell it and I would probably die happy if I could put my toes in the sand before the van arrives to start my WLS journey. I need to book something soon or I will be sleeping in the airport!

Hi! I am having surgery with Dr. Aceves the 1st week of April and am as nervous as a cat in a sack! I feel really confident about my choice of surgeon and even more confident after watching some of the videos that others have made about their experience in Mexicali. Nina has been wonderful and has had much patience through my times of stress and anxiety during this process. It has been quite a journey to choosing the right surgeon for me and along the way I have learned so much! My passport arrived 2 days ago... deposit is paid... tickets booked and hopefully I will have financing in place soon. This is really hard for me to do financially with one income but everything is falling into place. LessOfSarah videos are awesome... watched them today and felt so much more at peace about my decision. Wishing the best to all that have had or are waiting to have surgery with Dr. Aceves.

I'm scheduled with Dr. Aceves the first week of April, 2013. I appreciate all of the information posted on this thread! I am going alone and am very nervous ... but not about the surgeon I have chosen. This is a really big financial hardship as well and although Dr. Aceves is more expensive... I just feel safe about my choice... especially as a revision. I will be glad to have it all behind me but I am hopeful about meeting others that will be there that week as well. Tummy just jumped a little... guess it is still a little worried!

Surgery the first week in April with Dr. Aceves... revising from the lap band to the sleeve! I am really excited... scared... and wishing I knew someone else going at that time. Anyone????? I'm sending my deposit tomorrow so now it feels real!

I'm in Appleton Wisconsin.

As a nurse... I know things can go wrong with surgery done anywhere... even here in the good ole USA. I think the most important thing a person can do when considering surgery is to research their surgeon... I only wish there were more people on this forum that have experiences with the most well known of the bariatric surgeons in Mexico. I feel really comfortable with using Dr. Acevez but not as happy about where he is located and his costs. Dr. Lopez seems to have a good following as well and love that he is in Puerto Vallarta and his costs are less. Overall... I'd like to have a safe surgery in a beautiful place if I am going to put myself in debt to hopefully win my lifelong fight with obesity. I don't want to come home in a box but that's where I'm headed if I don't find a way to get healthy!