gibson_girl

I think most all of the leak numbers are falsified. It's 2% in the states and non-existent in MX? Yeh OK. It is proven that the more procedures a surgeon has done the lower the complication rate. That's why I went with someone with a non-inflated number of 7,000 surgeries. Good luck!

Today is my 3 month surgiversary! 73# gone forever! I thank God everyday for this blessing, the opportunity for a new start and surgeons like Dr Kelly!

Everyone I've talked to that had their surgery at Nova says it is far superior to florence. I think Dr Kelly is the only Bariatric Surgeon there. Florence was getting packed with Dr Garcia patients since he does numerous surgeries per day, all day long (I heard this from other patients, Dr Kelly never confirmed why.) Since Dr Kelly is the only Bariatric surgeon there and only does a few surgeries per day, it might be unlikely to find the other 1 or 2 people scheduled. He doesn't advertise much, the more patients I meet of his I realize how much word of mouth matters.

Most of the websites featuring Dr Kelly are owned by coordinating companies. They try to bait and switch you to a less experienced, cheaper surgeon. Dr Kelly has preformed 7,000 surgeries. He should be more than all these new Drs popping up. Your risk of a complication is much higher with a less experienced surgeon and goes down the more experience they have. I was sleeved on 4/22 and had a great experience. If you have any questions just ask. Make sure you go through Lora, she is a gem! I've not had much luck with Alina.

I'd follow Dr Kelly anywhere

Thank you so much. I swear I barely recognize the girl in the 2-3 day post op pics. I still have another 100 to go, but this surgery is such a blessing! God bless the gastric sleeve and Dr Kelly, and the other surgeons who make this possible. I tried for 2 1/2 years before deciding on surgery.

What a difference 2 months 1 week can make. Over 60lbs gone, I even had the confidence to change my hair! Before: After:

I'm down 60lbs. Not the best pic trying on clothes, but I feel awesome!

Bailey, I drug my 65 yo mother to Mexico and she loved it. Your kids need you to be at a healthy weight so that you can live a great energetic life. It's 6 weeks before you can lift them. It may seem like forever but it goes fast and it is well worth it! I already have more energy to take care of them

It was a challenge healing with my almost 3 year old. Do you have help?

I'm down almost 60lbs already! I've heard Nova hospital is very nice and although Florence was definitely adequate and nice this should be a change for the better. Dr Kelly still keeps in touch, and I have Lora anytime I need any nutritional advice ect. It's a great experience. My friend had hers 4 weeks after mine by Dr Kelly and it has been a great road for her too.

Oh geez, I'm so worried. I just picked up my 30lb toddler on accident because she needed in her high chair. I'm only 12 days preop. My husband was here but it's so hard to quit old habits. Any stories from others? I feel fine and will do everything I can to remember not to do that again!

Update, 6 weeks 45 lbs! This surgery is so awesome. Dr Kelly is amazing, I still keep in touch with him and Lora. 115 to go!

I have a whole thread of pictures if you look at my posts of the room. Great nurses, great bed, clean, nice companion bed, very quiet

Well it was bound to happen. I made it almost 5 weeks without throwing up and then tonight bam! I threw up really hard and I swear I felt some popping and crackling....it was really odd. Has anyone ever experienced this? What is the likelihood I injured something?

Ashleep, one of my best friends was sleeved that same day. Did you meet Christie?

Hope for health, you needed to show it to the staff before you left. Tape allergies are pretty common, my dad's scars from his tape are as bad as his scars from his open heart surgery. It happens anywhere. Go to your Dr now. I really enjoyed the nurses although I was very glad the attending Dr on each shift spoke perfect English because I didn't meet many that were fluent. They were very kind and responsive though

Hello all, I'm 2 weeks preop today. I'm really comfortable and have been since a day or two after surgery. Today I've been getting these lightning bolt pains down my left side, in line with my underarm and starting about bra line to just below belly button. They are shooting pains, don't radiate anywhere and happen more when sitting. They are quite uncomfortable but don't stay thankfully. On and off happening for 10 minutes and then going away, happening more when I sit down. Any ideas?

Ok, I'm going to give every bit of my story in detail so grab a glass of Water lol. It all started around the first of March, 2013 when my friend (who just scheduled with Dr Kelly for May 16) mentioned you could get weight loss surgery in Tijuana for about 5k. I laughed so hard I almost spit out my drink and was like YAH RIGHT, I'll get right on that. After I went home I did a ton of research and a few days later I said, ok, if I'm still this heavy next year I will schedule the surgery, possibly in the states. I've been a medical professional for 15 years and had that old Tijuana reputation in my mind. After researching for hours, days on end I found Dr Kelly's profile. Hey, this guy is a member of FACS and the American Society for Bariatrics etc and had done a transplant surgery residency in the US. Really? 7,000 surgeries? Really? Well ok, I was impressed. $5500, REALLY? lol.......ok. I prayed and thought about it for a long time and looked at other surgeons. I read all the Dr Kelly gossip, about his unfortunate death and him leaving his coordinators behind. I can totally relate. I'm a midwife and deal with major complications that are not something I cause or can avoid. He operates on the most at risk population possible. Then I read that the bariatric surgery death rate was 1 in 400. I prayed about it and felt totally at peace. I looked at Dr Aceves and he seems wonderful also, but I just couldn't justify the extra $3,000 when Dr Kelly had as much as more experience........he just never split from his coordinators and had them drag him through the mud. One of the most respected midwives in this area lost a baby a few months ago, which of course tore her and the family a hole in their hearts that will never close. Thankfully we support talented midwives (she had taught and trained so many over the years) when something out of control happens, in MX I guess they drag you through the mud for years. In MX I'm sure that all Drs have deaths, there is no way that they have escaped the 1 in 400 statistic if they have done thousands of surgeries. It is just impossible. I talked to Lora a lot and even had Dr Kelly call me. I prayed some more and decided instead of waiting until I gained another 100 pounds in a year to just go ahead and go for it, so I scheduled for April 9th. I texted Lora constantly, she was always so sweet and helpful. She was a patient of Dr Kelly's also and doesn't get paid per patient, just a salary. I even tried to trick her once to see if she was really a coordinator and asked her if there were any other surgeons she might suggest. She said I had a lot of options but she had chosen Dr Kelly. I was relieved to know she really did just work for him (I'm a suspicious person lol). The week before my scheduled surgery I started the pre-op diet. I had a higher BMI (50, 49.something at my actual surgery) so it was all liquids for me. Ugh.....terrible. Then on day 4 my husband developed pneumonia and my daughter caught the flu from him. Surgery cancelled. Lora was really nice and I rescheduled for April 22nd. Lucky me I got to do the preop diet again (I regained all the weight back from the 4 days before from pizza....i'm sick) and stuck to it the whole 7 days! I lost 11 lbs. The day of surgery I picked my mom up super early and we headed for our 7 hours of flights to San Diego. I tried to buckle my seat belt and it wouldn't buckle. Oh my goodness. I had to ask the stewardess what to do and she discreetly handed me an extender. Nothing more reassuring you need WLS than not being able to fit into a pretty large seat belt on the plane. When I got to San Diego I received a text from Alina telling me Dr Kelly's wife would be there in about 10 minutes. I had to sit in the sunshine for 10 minutes, oh the horror. A gorgeous, sweet lady got out of a very nice 15 passenger van and introduced herself and grabbed my luggage. It was Dr Kelly's wife Cecy. On the way to the hospital she apologized for her English, it is ok. We communicated pretty well and she told me about the areas we were passing etc. It was neat. When I pulled up to the hospital I was impressed. From hearing about it I thought it might be a bit run down but it was very nice. I was taken to lab, xray, seen the attending Dr and the cardiologist all within about an hour. They took care of you but there was no waiting around until that was over. After that I was in my bed having a nervous breakdown and praying with my mom. I asked for something to calm me. They gave me something and it helped a little. When they came to get me the Anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. Ooops........Dr Kelly had already been in twice. I forgot to mention that. He took his time and answered my zillion questions, what a kind caring man. I got in the operating room and it looked much like the one I was in for my csections in the states. The anesthesiologist asked if I was ready and said slowly, ok ok bye bye and the next thing I realized I was waking up in my room. They had me in recovery for quite a while and I guess I was awake but it's all a blur. I was NAUSEOUS! I mean the kind of nausea you get when they twirl you in those things at the county fair that make you stick to your seat. They had given me a dose of Zofran already but it was awful. Dr Kelly ok'd it more often. Kudos to you that get up and walk. I couldn't because I would have fell over. I truly think it was a reaction to the anesthesia, I tend to be really sensitive to medications. It was the exact drugs they use in the states, (oh I checked) but people are different. I finally went to sleep and woke up about 11 hours later. This was the first time I asked for pain medicine. They gave it right away along with some Zofran. I had an IV with 5% dextrose so you won't get famished even though you aren't hungry. They don't use narcotic pain medicines unless you specifically really, really need them because you need to walk. I was given a strong IV NSAID and it worked lovely and controlled my pain. Yes, I was sore, I felt like someone punched me in the upper abdomen 100 times. The first day is definitely the hardest but you heal so quickly it is amazing. I've heard from some the nurses at Oasis speak English. Um, well, they speak enough to understand what you need and are very sweet but I met very few that were fluent. I used Google translate a few times with the free WiFi. There is an attending Dr there at all times and they all spoke English probably better than I do lol. Everyone went out of their way to be kind, and they cleaned the large room twice per day. My mother was very comfy with her twin size bed. She's about 5'2" and watching her lay there I figure someone 6ft or more would fit comfortably. It wasn't tiny and had drawers underneath. I also had a nice lil closet for my stuff. The hospital bedding is sooooooo warm and cozy, like a really thick comforter and all. Nice touch. By day 2 I was feeling good and ready to roll! I met a lot of patients, all happy, except one who was happy with the surgery/hospital but was angry with the booking agent for switching/downgrading her hotel at the very last minute. I told her about booking directly with Lora and the Dr. By that time I was so ready for something to drink that I snuck about an ounce or two of apple juice. I'm just going to admit it, don't follow my mistakes. Alina stopped in with a very nice packet outlining your food each step of the way and which medicines (antibiotics, prilosec and pain) to take when. We went to Hospital Angeles because they have a new, super cool machine for leak tests that is better than the one at Florence/Oasis. It's definitely an upgrade you don't get unless you book with the Dr because otherwise it is the agencies taking care of your hospital arrangements etc and it is out of the Dr's hands. The stuff you drink tastes gross and Dr Kelly came running over with some juice for me so I could get the taste out of my mouth quickly. He is very thoughtful. We all took pics together in the lobby afterward. Upon arrival at the Lucerna I was so excited. This isn't Hilton Nice, this is W nice. Huge hotel set up like Villas with a pool with a bridge over it, a courtyard with a fountain and fish etc. The broth was actually good, I was skeptical. We walked around the very safe area both days and felt like I was on vacation. I saw Dr Kelly everyday but the day I left (which is expected, seen him for 4 days). I rested and walked around, just had fun. On the last day Cecy told me to be ready about 9am but our flight didn't leave until 1pm so I figured it was border issues. We actually flew through the medical lane and was in San Diego by 10am. She was taking my mom, a breast cancer survivor to the Cancer Survivor's Park as a surprise. How sweet. It is beautiful by the water. We stayed and then said our goodbyes at the airport and she told me she knew plastic surgeon's, dentists, etc and they drive from the airport multiple times per day so if I wanted to follow up with Dr Kelly and come back to TJ just let her know and she'd pick me up. They are very kind, warm people. The flight home seemed like forever but it wasn't bad or painful. I'm 10 days post op today and have lost 22lbs already (11 preop and 11 post op). Oh, and the day I got to the Lucerna I weighed myself and I had gained back ALL the weight I lost preop. I kinda freaked but was told it was water. They were right! Don't fret. I loved my experiences and wouldn't have changed it a bit! I've been blessed by God every step of the way, from finding and good surgeon and guiding his hands to healing me very quickly. I'm still paranoid about complications, but that is just me. So far, so awesome! Feel free to PM me with any questions or just to say hi!! Everyone wants to hear the negatives........so I'll have to come up with some. The traffic is TJ is nuts. Cecy is a good driver but I'm a horrible passenger and it is like NYC going 60mph. They test you for HIV at the hospital without your permission in your preop labs, as a medical professional in the states I thought this was crazy.....but I could really care less. I would bring extra juice in your suitcase, I brought gatorade bottles and the little 10 oz apple juicy juices because I wanted them for my room and didn't feel like walking to get them although I walked for everything else lol. I can't do artificial sweeteners so I brought my own Jello too, the kind you find on the regular shelves that doesn't melt when it is warm.. I think it is called Juicy Jels or something. That's all I can come up with lol.

I was told by Dr Kelly's assistant they will schedule as close as 10 days providing he has the time on his schedule. If you aren't picky about the day of the week I'd say you could get in when you are ready.

I'm with Fawn! I used to get out of bed because of breakfast. Tomorrow is 3 weeks, 33lbs I love Lora (I highly suggest you schedule with his office directly), Cecy and Dr Kelly! And his surgical team! I feel really good

What serenity said. Instead of reconsidering surgery maybe you could reconsider listening to that crap. People were very skeptical before I went, but oh well. I didn't have to deal with what you do. I'm sorry

We were in the same room!!!! Too cool I also was in the room across the hall talking to a new friend, it was the same. Cecy was going to take me shopping one evening but I went out walking all afternoon and was tired. I'm so glad I wasn't in the hospital for more than 2 days. I went there pretty much planning to pay the extra $500 for 3 nights in the hospital and on day 2 I was like LEMME OUT haha. I loved the hospital but I was ready to go (good sign). Lora, Dr Kelly's office assistant (I don't know what to call her but she's an actual employee like we have in the states) is moving to TJ in July. I think she'll complete the package. I've never got to meet her (hope to remedy that one day) but she is there for any question 24/7 and has been amazing!!

Nausea was my issue, the pain meds controlled the pain. Lots of Zofran for nausea! By day 2 I felt like a new person.

Don't tempt me Himalya, nurse talk and small meals in FL sounds wonderful!!!! Sooooo many nurses and medical personnel go to Dr Kelly. I think we have the understanding to look past certain things at the big picture. 2 weeks 2 days 31.5lbs