MissCK

Hi March sleevers! Had my surgery Monday and leaving for home tomorrow yay! Feel really good today very little pain. We had an awesome outing today. Raul drove us to the markets. Had a blast walking around and buying touristy things for the kids. He also drove us around the slummy side and the rich side of town. Then had Soup with my new friends I made in the marriott restaurant. Was a lovely day and I met some incredible people this week. What an amazing experience. I'm much stronger than I thought and this has inspired me to change other things in my life. My mother also came with me and she was incredibly against the surgery but she gets it now because she lived through it with me. We really bonded. Some quick advice/info for those about to go and going to MI doctor hospital in Tijuana: You will have 5 incisions not 1 with Dr Lopez. I was under the impression this would be a 1 incision surgery from the Mexico bariatric center website. If you have small veins expect to be poked many times before they can find a good vein. I have tiny veins and was poked 5 times each time (had 2 diff IVs because one went bad after first night) before they got one. The hospital rooms are very noisy! You hear car horns beeping day and night. The drivers in Mexico use their horns like crazy. Bring earplugs. The hospital rooms are also bright even when all lights are off. The blinds in my room didn't cover the full window. Bring a sleep mask. I bought one and then forgot it at home. So bummed! Expect a lot of waiting. When they say 5 minutes it means 30. When they say an hour it means 2 hours. It was annoying as hell at first but I got used to it. Bring slippers or warm socks as hospital doesn't provide them. The first 24 hours are hard but it gets so much better every day. Just hang in there. It's so worth it and you will be amazed at how fast you heel. The drain is awful. It's so annoying and Dr Lopez insists on keeping it in for 4 days which SUCKS. I was chatting with Dr Cabrera patients and they got theirs removed after 2 days. Jealous! It's better safe than sorry but lord that drain was so uncomfortable. Also, I read horror stories of how painful it is having the drain removed but I'm happy to report it was literally 3 seconds and I felt some pressure and then it was done. No pain. So easy! I used my heating pad to warm up as the hospital was freezing the first day when we arrived at 7:30am. It wasn't until hours later a nurse told me I actually had a heater in the room. The hotel is awesome! Not anything fancy but comfy. Staff is so friendly. The beds and pillows are the best. And there are a few English channels on with shows on like 2 and a half men, Big Bang theory, and CSI. Can't think of anything else for now. Just know that you will be okay and this is an amazing journey you are about to embark on! I'm so excited for all of you!!! Yaaaayyyyyy!!!!

Well I'm here at the hospital! Surgery was last night. Hospital is decent, most people are friendly I'm just annoyed by how long everything takes. They say they will come get you in 5 mins the 45 mins later arrived.dr Lopez had 3 surgeries and I was the last. Ugh so much waiting. I feel better with each walk I take!

Ok so I went in for surgery at 5pm. I was sooooo bored. We arrive at 7am. Doing good today. Have killer heart burn that kept me up. I brought Gaviscon because it's always worked miracles for bad heart burn. It didn't work so well last night. They gave prescrptim acid relief in my IV which worked! It's hard to get in and out of bed. That's the onlytime I feel pains from the incisions. I had Dr Lopez. I passed the leak test and haven't thrown up any fluids. Just talking them in slowly with tiny sips. They also have a saline IV in you at all times.

Thx!

Hi everyone. I'm here at MI hospital waiting. And waiting. Going to go f'ing nuts. We got here at 7:30am and it's almost 1 and I want to pull my hair out. Nobody can tell me when I'm going. Had bloods and EKG, met everyone, in my room in the gown and compression socks on STARVING. Lol. Fuck me.

Hi everyone. I'm here at MI hospital waiting. And waiting. Going to go f'ing nuts. We got here at 7:30am and it's almost 1 and I want to pull my hair out. Nobody can tell me when I'm going. Had bloods and EKG, met everyone, in my room in the gown and compression socks on STARVING. Lol. Fuck me.

Tomorrow morning is the day! I fly to San Diego today at 2:40 mst. Got a call last night from my driver Victor. He helped put my mind at ease. He was so friendly and specific. Just a short 1 hr flight for me. Can't believe it's happening tomorrow!!!!

Oooh also very interested in a mommy makeover in about a year. Please let me know if you hear anything. Any idea on the price of a tummy tuck and implant/lift? My sleeve surgery is in 2 days, yipee!

I downloaded an app called viber. You can make free calls and texts through viber in TJ. You just have to make sure the people you want to talk to also have it downloaded. My patient coordinator told me about it.

Hi! Please keep us posted & let us know how it goes. I am having mine done through Dr. Lopez on 3/7. I have 3 kids & I have had the same thoughts that you are having & I am getting really nervous. I just keep reminding myself that this is for my kids also. I need to be healthy so I can be around for them for a long time. Thanks! I will def post my experience here after I have my done. You are right, this is better for my daughter long term if it keeps me healthy and living longer!

Thank you npark! I really appreciate the feedback.

Thanks joanna! I feel better about it now. I've been researching too.

Hi everyone, I've been stalking. I'm bummed nobody is getting theirs done on 3/3 with me. Oh well I'm sure I will make friends. I went through Mexico Bariatric and have Dr. Lopez. My mom is going with me and my ex husband is taking our daughter for the 6 days I'm gone. I'm going to miss her so much! I'm starting to get scared too, like what am I doing? Why am I risking my life with I have a kid at home? I know it sounds silly but, having a kid now, I think like that. I know it's very safe and it will be fine, I'm just starting to get a little anxious. I can't even get excited about the size 8 and medium sized cute spring/summer clothes I've been buying for when the weight is falling off!

Hi byebyefatgirl! I'm getting sleeved w/Dr Lopez in Tijuana on Monday 3/3! I'm starting to get so nervous! My coordinator is Christy with Mexico Bariatric Center. Have you heard of her? I'm so scared and I didn't think I would be. Happy and excited but scared something horrible could go wrong. How are you feeling now that it's so close?

Hi everyone! Question about pre op diet. I am scheduled March 3rd with dr Lopez through Mexico Bariatric. From the info I was given it says a 3 day liquid diet prior to surgery but I'm seeing some people say they are starting a 21 day liquid diet? I'm worried now as I have less than 2 weeks till my surgery. I've started eating a very lean high protein diet but not liquid only. Can someone offer clarification?

Hi, I just accidentally posted this in the wrong section so if you are reading this twice I apologize. Wondering if anyone was able to use short term dis coverage for surgery in Mexico? I have it and it kicks in after a week of sick time and I want to take 2 weeks but i don't know that the insurance would cover an elective surgery in Mexico. Anyone have any experience with this? My short term dis insurance is with Unum.

Hi, I just accidentally posted this in the wrong section so if you are reading this twice I apologize. Wondering if anyone was able to use short term dis coverage for surgery in Mexico? I have it and it kicks in after a week of sick time and I want to take 2 weeks but u don't know that the insurance would cover an elective surgery in Mexico. Anyone have any experience with this? My short term dis insurance is with Unum.

Hi, I have short term dis coverage through my employer that kicks in 1 week after using sick time. I don't think they will pay it for an elective surgery in Mexico though. Anyone have experience with this? If I can't get it then I will have to go back to work after 1 week because I will only have accrued 40 hours by this March when my surgery is. I have a desk job in an office but it is a high stress job and I'm really busy. Never have time for breaks and ear lunch at my desk. So I would rather have 2 weeks to be safe. I have FMLA to cover me but I can't take a week unpaid.

Well I told my mom and she was very supportive! I started out by saying that I needed to share something with her and I needed her not to be judgemental. We talked about it and I shared this website with her to show her other people's experiences in Mexico. She is going with me to Mexico so that makes me very happy. Less than 3 months!!! I've started taking my daughter for walks every night. She rides her little bike and I walk. It's good for both of us and she LOVES it. I haven't really been eating better. I've been doing the opposite, kind of mourning my loss of food by eating it. All. I promised myself I would get on the healthy track after the holidays though.

Thanks Sabredy!

Bufflehead that was some excellent advise thank you!!! I'm going to tell my mom tomorrow. She is living with me right now as she is also going through a divorce (lol right???). She's on a backpacking trips this weekend but she'll be back tomorrow. I'm printing my materials and getting it all ready. Thank you again.