booniedog

Suzanne, Thank you so much for the useful information! I'm going to Dr Aceves on March 20, 2014, and am researching what to bring/buy. I will have to buy all my Vitamins, Protein powders, and everything else i'll need for the first 30 or so days and bring it home with me since none of it is available where I live. So I guess I'll take a nearly empty suitcase and fill it up before going home. Thanks again! Hope all is well with you.

Pedrosmommy, I'm booked with Dr. Aceves for March 20! Thanks for the reassurances!

Hey azinuit1, I'm having surgery in Mexicali March 20 with Dr Aceves. I'm not worried at all about Mexico - some of the best medical care I've ever received was in the Philippines and Panama. I can SO relate to you because I did crossfit for a year while following strict Paleo nutrition, and never got below 263 lbs! I was the strongest female at my gym and I did lose some inches but never got below size 20 and that is soooo frustrating! I'm looking forward to feeling like an athlete again, being able to do all the activities that are so uncomfortable now. I live on an amazingly beautiful island surrounded by crystal clear 85 degree Water and yet my paddleboard is collecting dust. Not for much longer though!! Best of luck with your surgery!!

Will do, UK Cathy. Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for your reply and pointers! I wish I could upgrade to business class but even for just one-way it's over $3000 more. But I did get a seat behind the bulkhead for my 11.5 hour leg so that will make it easier to move around and stretch. Maybe I'll try begging the ground crew to let me sit in business class since I can't eat or drink alcohol. (Ha ha)

Great advice Sleeveless in Seattle! I did just that and made my decision this morning (I'm 18 hrs ahead of PST so it's just my morning now). I'm scheduled with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali on March 20. Woo hoo! Never thought I'd be excited to have my guts ripped out but I am! Many years ago I worked in Calexico and think it'll be kind of cathartic to return to the place where I was last at my kick-butt fighting weight.

Oh my gosh, I'm worried about this too! I'm traveling from 7,000 miles away - it's a 23 hour trip! I'm staying in San Diego an extra four days after the surgery to make sure I'm ok. Dr. Acevez' office said I'd be ok to travel 4 days after surgery. (So did two other doctors I consulted.) I bought some compression socks and am going to triple check with the doc before returning home. YIKES! I think I'm having my surgery with Dr. Aceves March 20. When is yours? Good luck!

I'm still trying to decide between Dr. Aceves and Dr. Kelly. I'm leaning toward Aceves but want to know if you think the extra $$ he charge is worth it? I'm traveling over 7,000 miles for this and will have only basic healthcare when I come back home so I need to be SURE I'll be ok. Thank you for anything you can offer to help me decide! I'm looking at March 20. Thanks!

I'm trying to decide between Dr. Kelly and Dr. Aceves. Pros of Dr Kelly are he is close to San Diego and less expensive than Aceves but my communication has always been with Cecy and I still don't feel like I have 100% of the information I need like how many nights in the hospital, how many nights in hotel. It all seems a bit wishy washy. Pros of Dr Aceves is his coordinator Nina is awesome, I have 100% of all the info I need, no questions left unanswered. Cons are the drive from SD airport (after 23 hours of flights) and he's a bit more expensive. How in the world do I decide? They both have openings the day I need in March.

Surgery date is March 20! I'm doing things a bit backwards as I bought my plane tickets first (they were $1100 instead of the usual $2000 so I couldn't miss out!) but haven't picked my doctor. I'm still undecided between Dr. Aceves in Mexicali or Dr. Kelly in TJ. They both have openings that day..... How in the world do I decide?

I'm new here (been lurking for a while though) and am hoping to get sleeved mid-late March. I'm still trying to decide between Dr. Ariel Ortiz & Dr. Aceves. My biggest concern is the travel - it takes me over 22 hours to get there by flights since I live out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean - and I'm concerned about the long flight home so soon after surgery. Both docs assure me it's ok but I'm paranoid about getting a blood clot on my way home. Yikes! This forum is a life-saver. Looking forward to "meeting" lots of people here as I have no support on this rock I live on.