sleeved080212

Dr. Rod was my surgeon for both my lapband surgeries and he's awesome!!! Wonderful, caring man. I would just warn you about Juarez, it's not the safets place to travel to right now. I was going to go back to Dr. Rod for my sleeve, thinking he was still in Acuna Ciudad...but when I found out he moved to Juarez, I researched new doctors. I went to Tijuana and was sleeved by Dr. Garcia. Excellent care, service and much safter. Good luck to you all!!!

i was allowed a "final" meal because I don't have a fatty liver (3rd weight loss surgery and I "only" need to lose about 60 lbs total). But, if you are very overweight the whole reason to be on the pre-op diet is to help the liver the the surgery is easier. My final meal wasn't even a meal...we saw Batman and I had popcorn, nachos & cheese and then some ice cream. Good luck to you and you'll be so pleased with your experience.

The picture of me is at goal using medifast since my band failed me. This pic was one year ago. I gained back so much weight. We live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area....Keller to be exact, more of a Ft. Worth suburb. I know my first day of surgery was a big blur to. How are you doing? I'm down about 10 pounds and am so ready for Friday to come so I can have pureed food.

Misty, we did meet...in the halls as a matter of fact. My husband helped your husband expain something to the nurses in Spanish. Of course my profile pic is me at my goal. I was in room 303. Coleen

I too was sleeved in TJ MX w/ Dr. Garcia on August 2, 2012. I had the most positive experience from the nurses to the doctors and everyone in between. My husband and I drove from TX and parked in an airport parking lot the day before and were picked up by Samuel who was just wonderful. The night before we had a blast wondering TJ and came across a nice new plaza that had all kinds of restaurants and a movie thearter.....we saw Batman in English w/ Spanish subtitles. Rested at the hotel, met w/ my coordinator Rosie and was picked up on 8/2 at 10:50am for surgery. Had an upper GI and Endoscopy (and received a CD for my PCP) and then around 1pm I had surgery. I had no gas pain at all (first time ever), so I did not walk b/c I was nauseaus and from previous surgeries, when I feel that way my BP is too low, so best to lay. The next day I got up and walked, showered, they changed my bandages and then slept on and off most of the day. August 4th we left the hopital and recovered at the hotel. I did not rest poolside as I enjoyed the bed way too much...slept on and off most of Saturday. I was having more drainage than I thought was normal, so I reached out to Rosey who got the doctor on the phone and told me since I was a revision (2 lap band surgeries) I would have more drainage and it should subside and it did by Sunday PM. Our driver said we should really try to cross the border by 6am Monday, so Samuel picked us up at 5:55am and it took just one hour in the medical lane to cross (even though the wait was already at 4 hours). Then began our long drive home w/ a stop at our nephews house in Phoenix for 5 days! We just arrived home from this adventure last night. So all in all, I would go back again, probably will for some plastics and I highly recomment Dr. Garcia and Ready 4 a Change group. Everyone was great. Just an added note: my husband is Mexican and speaks fluent Spanish and English, that did help. Also, this is my 3rd surgery in Mexico. First in 2003 w/ Dr. Rodriquez in Acuna Cuidad and in 2007 w/ Dr. Rodriques in Acuna for a slippage in my band. The only reason I did not go back to Dr. Rod is because he now pracitices in Juarez and I have been told by close friends that live in El Paso not to travel there! I feel comfortable with my entire decision. My only complaint about the entire experience is some rooms in Mi Doctor hospital offer two beds, one for you one for your partners....my room had a broken reclinder and so my husband did not have a good nights sleep until we were back at the hotel. But if that's all I have to complain about, I'll take it. On added note....my 40th birthday was the day of my surgery and my husband's birthday was Aug 5th....so it was a great b-day present to me!!!!