psychicrhino

I just got sleeved on the 14th and wanted to share some of my experience. I was previously banded at age 30 and lost nearly 100lbs. But by age 38 I had complications and had it removed. Now at 40 I had regained more than half the wt lost. So I elected for the sleeve. I chose to go to Mexico because it was less than half the cost of having it done by my original surgeon. As an RN of 18 years I wanted to share some thoughts on StarMedica in Juarez. But first I should say I chose to drive to El Paso and I traveled solo so my wife could care for the kiddos. I woke up on Friday early and made my family a pancake breakfast (had a bite of one myself). Then got on the road for El Paso. 810 miles and 11.5 hours later and I was there. I went by Wal Mart to pick up a heating pad (very helpful post op) and some slippers. I also (full disclosure) had an excellent "last meal" at JnL Cafe of enchiladas. Then headed for the Holiday Inn Express for the night. I had a little confusion with scheduling my transport from the Airport long term parking but got picked up with another sleever at 1245 at the main entrance of the Airport. I was given the name of Sergio by my coordinator but this was not who picked me up. I did ask about Sergio and where I was being transported to before my luggage got in the van (I know, paranoid much?) The ride across the border was maybe 25 min with a 30 second stop at the border. Once at the hospital, we were met by a fireplug of a Mexican with salt n pepper hair, in khakis and a blue Members Only type jacket. This was Dr. Caulderon. He helped translate the admissions paperwork for the other sleever I'd ridden over with then said he would be back. The admissions clerks asked If I could speak spanish and i indicated a little. Well, it was enough. I was going to sign their standard documents regardless so WTH, I figured. I gave them my money order and DL for them to copy. Once Dr. Caulderon came back he took me for a chest X-ray (was film....I have not seen few in a few years). After that it was up to the 2nd floor for my room. Now, I have worked in HUGE Metro hospitals and tiny community hospitals over the past 2 decades. This was somewhere in between. Clean, a good size, style was a bit dated but not more than a decade (no lime green tiles here). The bed was a later model Stryker electic model. There was a couch/padded bench appx 28"wide by 5.5 to 6' long. Was a big picture window and a spacious bathroom with shower (lukewarm water at best). Shortly after Juan my nurse came in, he said he had 4 years of experience and that he was one of 4 male nurses at the hospital. He wanted to start an IV but honestly his technique was that of one of my 2nd semester nursing students. I am a fat man so veins are hard to visualize but not palpate. Anyway, Juan brought gloves but did not wear them. And I never saw him wash his hands and there is no alcohol hand sanatizer in the room (all of which is SOP in the US in the 1980s). The nurses also wore white (standard in the US in the 1980s), which I prefer. Juan spoke almost zero english and on his second attempt got the IV cath in but, because he forgot to take the tourny off my arm got blood on my gown, bed,and floor. "Oh Mi Dios! Mucho Sangre!" I reached over and popped the tourney off for him and it stopped. The lab draw later was a bit of a trial (same deal,poor technique,no gloves or handwashing) that took 4 sticks. And in my opinion could have been avoided if a policy was in place for the nurse to draw the blood samples when the new iv cath was started, and before flushing. So I just kept reminding myself that I was not there for the nursing care but the reported success of the surgical team. I then hung out in the room until about 630p when I was wheeled to pre-op. In preop the nurse gave me some IV meds which as best I could understand were for relaxation. The anestheologist came by for a couple minutes, the surgeon too and then I was wheeles into the OR where I scooted onto the table. That is all I remembered until post op. Was back in my room by 845p and up walking by 10p. The next day was a mix of walking and getting IV pain meds. Best part was my nurse. Adalyna spoke excellent english, answered several questions, got me a remote for the TV and got me a password for the WiFi (all were beyond my limited spanish to ask for). She actually had good clean technique changing my dressings. Late in the day Dr. Caulderon got myself and 5 other new post op pts together and gave us discharge instructions. That night in addition to the IV pain meds, I got 10mg Valium for sleep. The next morning I woke up, packed my bag, took a whore's bath (couldn't face a tepid shower) and made my bed and cleaned my room. At 930a I was taken downstairs and got on the Taxi back. Took appx 1.5 hours on return. Mostly sitting in line at the border. US border officer asked me what I was bringing back and I told him of the Ketorolac (non controlled pain med) Omeprazole (acid reducer) and Antibiotic. No problems. The driver dropped me off at my car in long term parking about noonish. Then, 810 miles and 13 hours later I was home. I stopped and got some chewable gasX on the way cause the gas pain was rough. Also stopped every hundred or so miles to walk around to stave off DVTs. Well, that is my story.

Well, have not logged on in a few months and I am just a couple of days shy of 6 mo out. Have lost 75# since the start of the two week preop diet. And appx 65# since the surgery day. Have been stalled for about a month. May try induction again in near future to sse if I can get rolling again. No complications. Pretty darn satisfied.

I think it is just the nature of forums. Ex.- couple of years ago I started reloading and joined a forum for that after lots of reading, posting and doing I got pretty good at it. I posted about 350 times because once I got better at it I was able to start giving back and helping some others. Once I got what I needed and felt like I had paid back in as well I just faded out. Can go back any time I start reloading again and probably will but my knowledge base just reached a critical mass ya know. Probably happens here too in some cases.

I think it changes as you go. Day 14 today and while I had some appetite the first week, really none the last few days. Have to really force myself to eat something and be mindful of the clock to eat again. The isopure whey protein I bought is somewhat dreadful, and the fact that it takes so long to sip a cup down makes it much worse. Started doing tuna a couple days ago (yes early I know) just to get some protein. Water is still tough. Have figured that 3 oz of anything is "full" and 4 oz is backing it up in my esophagus. Not complaining here, just sharing.

@@Okiebon, glad you made it home well!. I am 12 days out now and very little tenderness left. Hardest part is getting enough protein and water in. 19.5 lbs down since day before surgery BTW!

@@actingnurse It has been a couple of years since your original post. I was wondering if you ever gained any more info on a waiver?

@@Band07 I had the Vertical sleeve. I had a barium swallow and fluroscopy prior to discharge. I am 8 days out, pretty low on energy and it is tough to stay on top of fluid intake. Only minor cmplication wad a reaction to the adhesive (rash) used on the surgical drape (resolving). If you fly in you go: Airport, shuttle, hospital. Guards at entry to hospital and every floor. Not much trouble to get into unless you go diddle around Juarez solo (not recommended).

@@gresau1 I am 7 days out and can say that the GasX chewables + lots of walking seemed to really help. Gas pain was most significant for me day 1-3. Now on day 7 just some incisional tenderness. Good luck!

Wifi was good. Watched some youtube without buffering and skyped my wife a couple times. I recommend asking for the login and password at admissions. Was the second day before I was able to have an english speaking nurse that got the info for me. Dang, didn't mean to get folks worried about gloves! Just wanted to mention it, so folks could maybe know what to expect and prepare accordingly. The nurses doing my dressing changes post-op used gloves which was great. I guess my thing is, I got in late in the day, already nervous (I'm man enough to admit) then stuck by a nurse, lab tech and tech supervisor all pretty quick without gloves can make a body more skiddish. Yes, all nurses everywhere are difft. Same scenerio could happen in USA, just hopefully never by any of my former RN students

I'd gotten a lot from this forum, glad to give something back!

@Rocky1. I am not saying it's right or wrong...just saying that is how it was for me. And sometimes when you speak little spanish and nurse speaks no english and things happen quickly....it can be hard to make your desires known in a timely fashion. Oh well...next time I will learn the word for gloves before I go to a foreign country for surgery

Yeah, the pain meds were fine in the hospital. Could have done without I think as my pain never got above a 7/10 but the one time I asked for it my pain reduced to 2/10. Once home I took the ketorolac for a day but walked 2.5 miles today and have not taken any. YMMV! BTW ketorolac is often used in labor and delivery departments. Never had a baby but I hear it hurts.

@@Okiebon I would like to say all US nurses start IVs and draw blood with gloves on...but they don"t, especially the old school nurses. Some people can find veins better without gloves. I also focused on the antibiotics I was starting on. I also reminded myself that this was standard care in the 1980s. Lastly, if I knew how to say "please wear gloves" I would have.

@@CowgirlJane thanks for the post. Just got my VSG after having band x 8 yrs. Have seen a bunch of discouraging posts from some Band>VSGrs and was looking for some inspirational stories like yours.

Got the band at 30 and only told wife and 2 best friends. When I would be at a restaurant with coworkers I would just order a thin Soup and Water I greatly reduced the risk of "problems". If asked why I wasn't eating much I would always pat my gut and say "Oh, just trying to cut back a little". And that was that. Band had to come out at 38 due to complications. Now, I 40 I am going back to have a sleeve put in today. Plan on telling is the same. At 28 a man that worked the same place as me but in a difft. Area (I barely knew him), had WLS and had told people. One day he came in to the area I was working and made a delivery. Anyway, as soon as he left most of the 8-10 people in that area started talking about him, speculating how much he had lost, how much they heard it cost, why doesn't he buy some new pants that fit right, why didn't he just "hit the gym" instead of surgery. Etc.... That is when I decided I would keep it close to the chest.

Sympathetic. Had my band x 8 years and lost appx 90# with it. Progressively severe reflux left me sleeping in a chair and even then, not well. Band removed 18 mo ago and I have regained appx. 40# lbs. Finances delayed sleeve procedure but am having it done day after tomorrow! Hoping for good results.