d7layman
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Everything posted by d7layman
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Hi, thanks for the freindship request. I had surgery a year ago with Dr. Almanza. I really hate all the bad stuff people have posted about this wonderful man! I would be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding the surgery. Look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
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Sorry it has taken me awhile to get back to you. I hope you have gone forward and had your surgery. I too was really scared at all the poison that people have posted on here with the horror stories. I can tell you honestly that as soon as I met the team down in San Diego in January when I had my surgery. These strangers instantly became family in the way they treated me and anticipated my ever need or want during the surgery experience. I am so glad that I did this! Here I am, 8 months post op, still at all of my goal, I haven't gained any of the weight back, I'm still off all the insulin and diabeties medications and I still am feeling great! I could stand to lose some more weight but am happy to be a size 12/14 instead of a 3X. I can do all the stuff that I want to do, plus have the energy that I need. I have no regrets... only wish I had done this sooner.
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Calling all who had surgery in MEXICO
d7layman replied to roseyandmusic's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I had a gastric sleeve in Mexico by Dr. Almanza in January and am down 60 pounds and loving it! Off the insulin and all the other medications that I had to take related to my obesity. The doctor was excellent, the facility extremely clean and the care was fabulous! I would highly recommend them and the procedure! Good luck to you! -
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I'm really glad I didn't listen to all the crap too... it really didn't make any sense to me! Every doctor has complications... I think there is something wrong with those people... like I think they have their own agenda or something... like maybe they were mad because Dr. Betancourt (who is single and gorgeous) didn't want to date them or something... whatever! I went there for the life saving surgery that my insurance here in the US wouldn't give me without making me jump through the hoops for years. Plus, my insurance would only pay for an open gastric bypass. I didn't want open surgery and I didn't want the gastric bypass. I love my sleeve! It is great! I'm not hungry and the weight is just falling off!
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I put the entire cost of the trip on my credit card (kinda a protection for me in case there was a problem). I don't know Spanish very well but believe me, it isn't a problem. The only one there that doesn't speak very good English is the day nurse and for that, there are plenty of translators. I went totally by myself (I'm a very independent person besides, my grown kids all work full time and go to school full time and couldn't take the time off)
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Kimberly,
Everything went great for me! I had the gastric sleeve. As a nurse, I felt it was safer than the lap band and I desperately needed a permanent fix for my diabetes, high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia.
I found Emmanuel Medical, Dr. Almanza (who is as talented as he is cute) and Dr. Betancourt (who is the wonderful administrator/owner of Emmanuel Medical) to be wonderful!
The entire cost of my surgery was $8,500 plus my plane ticket to San Diego. This cost covered everything! My ride from the airport to the hospital, pre op labs, my surgery, post surgical, all medications post surgical labs and my hotel stay. The facility is super clean and new. They have 6 rooms (so it is pretty small), with a really nice operating room. I had a private nurse during the day and a private doctor (who was totally awesome) at night.
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Hi,
Thanks for contacting me! How are you doing on your weight loss journey. I'm two weeks post op and have lost over 35 pounds. Have you had as much trouble as I on the forum?
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Describe your post op recovery please?
d7layman replied to Nevergoback's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I had a gastric sleeve on January 8, 2009 in TJ Mexico. The first couple of days were really rough but I followed the doctor's recommendations exactley and soon began feeling much better. The only complication I had were my lungs! I have asthma and was having problems with chest pain and lung capacity. Wonderful Dr. Betancourt and Dr. Almanza were both at my bedside within minutes of experiencing the chest pain and got me up out of bed walking around, using the incentive spirometer and soon, I was breathing and feeling better.'' I never had any nausea but did experience a lot of gas. Walking, lots of Water (when you are cleared to drink it) and Mylanta worked wonders. Just remember that surgery is surgery! There is no such thing as risk free anything. Anyone who tells you that there are no complications or risks aren't telling you the truth. Even the best hospitals and doctors can't guarantee you a risk free, complication free surgery! MRSA, and other infections are very common no matter where you get your surgery (I am a nurse and work in geratric long term, skilled care and rehab and see it all the time!). The main thing to know is whether or not your doctor gives you IV and oral antibiotic (I got both after surgery and am still taking the oral antibiotics). Don't pass on the oral antibiotics because you think you feel great. Take them anyway and be ever watchful for any kind of infection. The sooner you get it treated... the less likely you are to have a life threatening complication. -
My new friends in Mexico, Dr. Betancourt on far left
d7layman posted a gallery image in Member Photo Gallery
From the album: Mexico
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From the album: Mexico
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Again, me with the man who saved my life (Dr. Almanza not pictured as he was home with his family)
d7layman posted a gallery image in Member Photo Gallery
From the album: Mexico
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The best staff anyone could ever ask for... these people were awesome in taking me where I needed to go
d7layman posted a gallery image in Member Photo Gallery
From the album: Mexico
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Here I am with the man who saved my life, Mexico and my new friends from Canada and the US.
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has anybody cheated on the pre-op liquid diet
d7layman commented on bella1's blog entry in Blog 55508
The first couple of days after surgery are very rough. Try walking around as much as possible. Also I was given Mylanta (but found gas x worked much better for me). Did you have the band, sleeve or bypass. I have the sleeve and really don't know as much about the band recovery. Just in general, any surgery in the abdomen will create too much gas... just know... this too will pass. Hang in there, it will get better! -
has anybody cheated on the pre-op liquid diet
d7layman commented on bella1's blog entry in Blog 55508
I never cheated on the pre-op diet as a nurse, I knew my liver needed to shrink down to make the surgery safer for me. I also stuck to the 20 minutes on the treadmill as it really helped with the recovery. Don't beat yourself up if you slip up but, it would be better for you if you didn't cheat on the diet... recovery will be easier because they will be able to go in, do the surgery and get out. Shorter surgery time equals faster recovery and less complications. To make it interesting, why not try some soup instead of the salad everynight? I also added a lot of sugarfree jello, crystal light and popcycles. Remind yourself that this is temporary. -
How can you ensure your safety anywhere?? I have a good friend that had a breast lumpectomy at Kaiser here in Portland Oregon. She spent the next 2 months at home as she developed MRSA in here surgical site then developed C-Diff from the anti-biotic treatment. Life simply doesn't come with any kind of guarantees however, there is less chance of complications with the laproscopic surgery than the open method and having surgery now rather than 4 years from now will improve my health and keep me from having further complications with my diabetes. I hope that helps! Donna
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Hi, I have Kaiser here in Portland Oregon. It took me 1 1/2 years to finally get approved for the surgery only to wait another 2 months to get my orientation. At the orientation, I was very disappointed. It was one of those meetings that just takes the wind out of your sails! They made it clear that it is a process that will take 6 months to 2 years to get through to finally get surgery scheduled. Then, they only have one doctor that does the laperscopic method and has an additional 2 year wait list. Long story short... I figured out that my co-morbitities would kill me before I would ever qualify for the surgery through Kaiser. So, I'm scheduled for the gastric sleeve in Mexico on January 8th. I'm really excited and have talked to several people that have used my doctor and medical facility. The cost is definately affordable. So, if you get sick of waiting for Kaiser, there are other options! Don't ruin your health playing the waiting game jumping through hoops. Good luck to all! Donna