Dawny28

Hi I'm trying to decide between which of these 2 doctors i should go with? Dr. Altamirano or Dr. Zavalza?? I know Dr, Z does about 3 surgeries a day- Does anyone know how many surgeries Dr.A does a day? I am hoping to have the sleeve done in middle of September, I have been reading post on this web site but any experience someone has had with these doctors to help me make up my mind would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Plus it would help ease my husbands mind he is about 85% sold on the idea of me going to mexico to have it done. WHAT made your final decision to go with your doctor choice?? I like the idea that they do the surgeries in the hospital (Florence?) or is Hope Hospital the same place? I would like to hear about your experience at the after surgery at the apartment so i know what to expect. My husband will be traveling with me Thanks for any and ALL advice!!

Hey guys need your help!! I flew in today and I am waiting for them to take me down to surgery. Was wondering for those of you that have been here and already had your surgery what you tipped?...Trying to get an idea of what to tip the driver that picked us up at the airport / if they run you to the store/ or pick something up like food or drinks? I definitely believe they deserve tips but also don't want to forget anyone that I should have tipped along the way? Also did you tip for every time or at the end of your stay. Please help me thanks Can't wait to get wheeled down for surgery

This is MY Personal experience Let me say YOU ARE CRAZY if you DO NOT use BARIATRIC PAL and Dr. ALTAMIRANO!!!!! This is what i was looking for . A great hospital, a knowledgable doctor, wanted the extras in a operating room incase of a emergency,Not just a dr. with alot of surgeries under their belt but a good bed side manner ...we were worried about Tijuana ..and wanted to feel safe. I was looking at 3 different doctors and researched as much as I could as YOU should do as well. Dr. A as we call him is ridicously knowledgeable. Even after all the face time and phone calls and even before and after surgery this doctor TRULY CARES AND WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK. Me and my husband adored him so much that I waned to take him HOME!!! But I know he needs to be here so he can help so many others who need him Like i do. I am not on his face book yet but i will be once I fly home...and people I HATE FACE BOOK ...but i am so excited to get on there with everyone else and see my (2 best buddies a mom and son) we had surgery the same day and my bond with them are forever!!..they are good down to earth people. Our Surgery was friday the 18th.....lets face it surgery is not fun. I had some difficulty with the gas more then others at the time but the doctor stayed apon my status even calling the nurses at night to check in on me. He came to see me everyday. One of the best experience of all was yesterday he came to check on us to release us to recovery house. We were sitting outside and I was still struggeling with drinking and he said he would not release me if i didnt have more liquids in my system. I have to appreciate that he wasnt going to go against any rules are say well you will be ok if u do it later. But back to the best experience ever with a doctor...So me , my husband, and my 2 new surgery friends were sitting outside in the AMAZING little patio area with a waterfall and beautiful landscaping sharing our stories about how we felt and surgery and Dr. Altamirano came and sat with us for as long as and hour in a half to 2 hours and we talked all about the surgieries and procedures and foods.... and things making so much sense of whats not good and how bad process food is and how the body works .... he is not going to do a procedure that he does not believe in.... NO DOCTOR IS THE STATES IS EVER GOING TO SPEND THAT TIME WITH YOU. It was worth a pot of gold to the 4 of us. WHAT A AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE AND SHARE WITH YOU. Also there was a another lady who came with her friend and she hung out with us and learned so much as well. Her friend DID NOT GO THRU BARIATRIC PAL and had surgery with someone else and the friend was shocked how much more attention and knowledge we got. Bariatric Pal is a TEAM -Robert picks you up from the airport and takes you to the hospital and back to airport, Rosa at the hospital is the sweetest lady that helps get your support buddy coffee and Water and ice chips and apple juice for you. Then there is Little Robert he is your personal assistant to the family or friend that comes with you to support you in surgery. Robert takes them to the store or a restaraunt and he goes from room to room to see if anyone needs anything or for a small visit. THESE ARE THE THINGS that give that EXTRA SPECIAL ATTENTION that the poor other lady didnt have. They were always asking us questions where did you get that? They didnt get that person to person attetion. When we got discharged to go to the recovery house, that lady was sad that we were leaving. She truley saw a difference in our care and aftercare and is planning to come next year for a procedure herself and she now will be going thru Bariatric Pal. ( I forgot to mention she got to catch most of that conversation outside with our doctor and of course that won her over again and again) I wish i could send Dr. A and Bar. Pal team flowers, candy, bake them something because they so deserve it. But i know thats still not good enough for how much I truley APPRECIATE what they have done for me and my family because my life will change for the better I cannot thank you all enough!! With the biggest hugs and alot of appreciation tears I LOVE YOU ALL Dawn

Becca please read my post I did tonight....It says if your looking to have surgery in Mexico YOU MUST READ TIS POST or your missing out on a good doctor By Dawny28 David is right about they do cover everything from A to Z i experienced it and saw first hand when someone else didnt go thru this service they were

Danki please read my post about Dr. Altamirano...topic says are you looking to have surgery in mexico PLEASE READ THIS NOW

I'M so happy for you -trust me you will love them here...The gas is the worst part PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK.. I fly out tomorrow to head home to start my new journey hope i can help an any way Goooood Luck

oh yea forgot to mention the tipping part..... I hope EVRYONE Tips when they come down here VERY IMPORTANT!!!!........you should pack alot of $1 and $5 and a few $10 this is what we did because we have been to Cancun several times. YES BY ALL MEANS TIP VERY WELL.... THEY ALL DESERVE IT ...... I was just confused as should i do it everytime or at the end to everyone. THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED AND FELT WAS BEST THESE FEW DAYS OF BEING HERE................... *Big Robert takes you from airport to hospital and then back to airport.......we are tipping him at the end *Rosa at the Hospital who is the sweetest and friendliest and and gets your traveling friend coffee ice chips and Water...we tipped everyday *Little Robert...who hangs out with you ..visits..takes hubby to store.. or to get food we tipped him everytime. He is like a personal servant. Juan at the recovery house is like another personal assistant. He gets you to walk all over town, takes you to the store. took us to a restaraunt so my hubby could get good food and i had the best broth ever...ask him about the pinto bean Soup my husband had cant wait to make that when i get home..he told us to wait till the end when i tried tipping him. i hope this forum helps and everyone does read this before they go down to have their surgery THANK YOU BIG ROBERT, ROSA, LITTLE ROBERT AND JUAN.

Big Mike/Harley guy ...Thanks for all the adive and comments.I have followed you before my surgery and still now after I was actually talking about you today asking Juan if he was the one you hung out with when you were down here I knew you two hit it off and had a great time together by follwing your post. Juan walked me hard today 3miles to the farmers market and 3 miles back. What a great experience the market was Im still having that hard swallowing gas feel .So if you have any tips would love if you send them my way big guy! Hope your doing good Let me know how for out you are from surgey... and how your feeling... and what you have lost.... cant wait to get over this swallowing hurdle. Thanks Dawn

I was sleeved on Friday the 18th. Yes the gas pain IS THE WORST. when you read other post and they say it is rough...boy is it!!! but today is better... today is day 3...as they say.. walk and sip ..walk and slip you either need to be walking or sipping to get that gas pushed threw. I will say.... it also helps when you have a great company like Bariatric Pal. Dr. ALtimario is the BEST CHOICE anyone can make for there dr. All the staff is WONDERFUL with this company they give you very attintive service.

Thanks for this post im having surgery in 2 days and looking forward to it Also glad i know what to expect Good Luck hope your doing well

dml77, Thank you for a wonderful review. It was so great to read. I am very excited and i fly in to San Diego this Friday on Sept. 18th and I will be having my surgery that day. I have to say I'm a tinny bit scared but more excited and ready to get this show on the road, and by reading your post just confirms I know I'm doing the right thing. I have talked with Dr. A thru face time and he is so nice and easy to talk to. He was 1 of 3 doctors I was checking into and i loved how everyone on these post said that he has the best bed side manner and that was important to me (1 of many reasons) to pick a doctor best for me. Because i thought that would help calm me and my husbands nerves and reassure us that we were in good hands. (plus who doesn't love his smile ) But seriously he is highly recommeded on this site Good Luck to you dml77

Hi BeccaLayne I would love to add you ...how do i add you? I haven't done this before i'm pretty new to this, I leave this friday the 18th and I am having my surgery that day and I CAN'T WAIT!!! Please let me know if there is anything important not to forget to pack or do before i go. I will be asking more questions after surgery

If you stayed at one of the apartments for Bariatric Pal please tell me what to expect during my stay in September? What was it like? What did you do during your time for Rest?, food?, Entertainment? My husband will be coming with me Is there anything i should pack special? Or something you wished you would have packed

I have a few questions......I'm getting the sleeve done 2 weeks from this Friday. I have a wedding that i am going to 4 weeks from surgery date, and i'm going to Disney World 8 weeks from surgery date. Now i know everyone is different but if anyone could give me ideas of what to expect at the 1 month mark and 2 month mark...as far as weight loss during those times and how long it took you to advance from clear to solid liquids and to soft food and to eating A salad? i am hoping to get some of this weight off by Disney time to at least making the walk at Disney a little easier and being able to /order/eat fruit or Salads while on vacation verses broth Thank you in advance

Hi everyone, I will be having surgery on September 18th, with Dr. A (Carlos Altamirano) with Bariatric pal at Oasis of Hope/Florence Hosp. He has wonderful reviews and is Great to talk to on Face time I'm so excited can't wait to start my new Journey Anyone else going to be in the Apartment with me? Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st??

Sashamp, I have a few questions......I'm getting the sleeve done 2 weeks from this Friday. I have a wedding that i am going to 4 weeks from surgery date, and i'm going to Disney World 8 weeks from surgery date. Now i know everyone is different but if anyone could give me ideas of what to expect at the 1 month mark and 2 month mark...as far as weight loss during those times and how long it took you to advance from clear to solid liquids and to soft food and to eating A salad? i am hoping to get some of this weight off by Disney time to at least making the walk at Disney a little easier and being able to /order/eat fruit or Salads while on vacation verses broth Thank you in advance

Hi everyone......what Protein drinks/Brands do you all recommend?? Trying to lose some weight before Surgery Thanks so much

I think most go to Mexico because of insurance not covering them in the US.....After doing their research and picking a doctor they are comfortable and very pleased with the whole process. I hope to be having my sleeve surgery with Dr. Carlos Altamirano around September 18th read as many of these blogs you can thats what i have done

MaresT-i cannot thank you enough what great information-specially knowing that my husband will be able to get something to eat at the hospital. Now did you stay in a hotel? or their recovery house?..oh ...(I went back and read your post)... but you didnt go thru bariatic pal did you so that recovery place wont be the same. All the small details of what to expect is nice to hear....if you can think of anything else please let me know? THANKS SO MUCH MaresT

cannot thank you all enough for all your replys to my questions what great information Im so excited to get this moving along. yes a little scared but more excited for my new thinner me. I am hoping to go mid sept, and with DR.A i will be calling Henry back tomorrow to get my schedule done thanks so much everyone

I know everyone is different...but when you started the diet pre-surgery how much did you loose? I'm trying to get around about idea of what to expect.