Just Got Back From Surgery With Dr.fernando Garcia

[zenoosh 112]

 

I wonder why the differnce in staples and no staples are either of you revisions maybe that has something to do with it?

 

I was told they just began using the staples...before they were using dissolvables and/or dermabond.

They take the staples out at the 2nd day--easy, painless, with a thin tan tape that stays on for AT LEAST 5 days, then we can peel off the tape.

Im on day 3, and my incisions (I have 2 and a drain spot) appear healed. They aren't swollen, no oozing so far, no pain. I was even able to sleep on my side last night(yay!).

[Mrsdw206 40]

Hey everyone! I also had surgery with Dr Garcia recently...i was sleeved on Sat Oct 27th. I am back at the Marriott 3 days post op and im feeling really good' date=' actually.

I will admit, the day of surgery was rough for me--I was feeling like :oh crap, what have I done? That next day, however, I felt 75% better, and by yesterday, I was feeling pretty damn good. I was really impressed by the care I received at the hospital. I must admit, I was THE ONLY patient there for 2 days...but all the nurses were very attentive to my minor discomfort and how I was progressing. So, I speak a little spanish--very little, but enough--so I was not feeling a communication barrier at all. There was a framed paper that had any pertinent or useful communication translations that was always available, although I never needed to use it.

That had me walking pretty soon after surgery and Ill admit, I felt like I was a character on the walking dead! I was just tired and a little nauseated but then I lied down and went to sleep. They brought me the phone a few times to call my mom during that first day, and I think she even called and they brought me the phone again. There were doctors and nurses checking on me pretty much every couple hours and I always had a little push button thing to call the nurse.

I only puked twice..not a big deal..i thought I was gonna bust my stitches, but, nope! Everything was fine! Next morning I did the first fluoroscopy test--yuck, but not gross enough to puke on the spot--then shortly after, I had the blue dye test (Gatorade with some bitterness) it was like half a small Dixie cup, and that was ok cuz I could drink it over a few minutes, not all at once.They really want to keep us hydrated,so every few hours, you get a new bag of saline, and a few syringes of pain meds, nausea meds, something to get our bowels going, and something they called gastric protection? Then on the second day, a small bag of antibiotics. I think I got that twice it 3 times. They also give you a little injection in the pooch area (women, you know--the kangaroo pooch, I've called it). I only remember getting that twice and it stings a little but not bad enough to b***h about. After all the syringes of stuff, i would feel a little bit if discomfort in my chest--more like pressure-- then it goes away and the pain meds kick in. I tried to walk as much as i could. I did have that darn left shoulder pain. Gas, they say...it was uncomfortable, but more annoying than downright painful. It did get better and by the end of day two, gone. The last steps were taking out the drain, IV, and staples. Dr Garcias team only just started using the staples on the incisions. Muffintop explained it perfectly and I did not feel pain as they removed them. Honestly, my incisions look almost healed--that's how great they look. I would bet that after a week, they'll be almost invisible. The drain felt a but strange coning out, not painful at all, but I was glad to have it out, ad well as the IV. So i guess i got lucky: i had only one IV since after surgery. My arm and hand was a bit swollen,although i think that's normal considering how many fluids they pump in, but my IV wasn't painful. I have REALLY bad veins, i was SOOOO nervous about that aspect, but once again, their work was impressive from my experience. I know this is really ling, but these are the posts I found most helpful before i chose to have surgery. This was my experience with Dr Garcia and his team. I saw Dr Garcia 3 times, Dra. Valazco at least 3 times, and 3 other Drs that I cannot recall their names, but all were VERY nice, attentive, and asked me questions and gave instructions for a healthy recovery. I must say, from a healthcare professional's perspective, my care was superb! I have no doubts that this was the best way for me to go. So, as others have mentioned, the care received at Mi Doctor is and should be separate from the coordinators care. Ill post my experience with Ready4Achange on another thread (spoiler alert! : I was really impressed with the service and support I have received from ready4Achange).

Thanks for reading, and good luck to all who are trying to make the choice their having surgery and who to go with. :-)[/quote']

 

zenoosh thanks for the detailed post of your experience with Dr Garcia. My date is 11/14 and I'm praying to have a very similar experience. I keep reading your post to help with calming my nerves.....thanks sooooo much

[Diamondeyed 399]

I am glad all is well Zenoosh!

[adorablentx 19]

I was told they just began using the staples...before they were using dissolvables and/or dermabond.

They take the staples out at the 2nd day--easy, painless, with a thin tan tape that stays on for AT LEAST 5 days, then we can peel off the tape.

Im on day 3, and my incisions (I have 2 and a drain spot) appear healed. They aren't swollen, no oozing so far, no pain. I was even able to sleep on my side last night(yay!).

Wow only two??? Thats good to hear hope I only have to have two as well or he can go over my old ones.. I love the details I think thats what a lot of us need to hear. I am excited about the revision the band just has not been a friend at all. I understand working your tool but it was stuborn...lol...Thanks again for all the detailed information it really does come across well and makes me a little more anxious to get the show on the road 27 days and I will be on my way!

[zenoosh 112]

zenoosh thanks for the detailed post of your experience with Dr Garcia. My date is 11/14 and I'm praying to have a very similar experience. I keep reading your post to help with calming my nerves.....thanks sooooo much

It is my pleasure...i must have re-read people's posts 50 times just to make myself feel more confident and calm in my decision. I was very nervous, but kept a positive attitude throughout the entire process..I do believe that has helped a LOT. Im going home today...cant wait to get back. I was not thinking of this trip as a vacation and I did travel alone, so I was not interested in sightseeing or shopping. Although my coordinators at Ready4Achange offered for Samuel to take me on a tour of TJ, I was cool with a quickie trip to Walmart for more Miso Soup, Jello, and a big tube of Retin-A!! Btw, Wal-Mart is pretty close to the Marriott: I read that some people walked there...i took a cab, asked him to wait for me while I shopped, and he picked me up. The taxi ride there and back was $10 TOTAL...I was pleased with that deal! I found the bellman at the Marriott to be very helpful. One in particular, Cesar, helped me into the cab, and worked out the trip with the cabbie. Oh, another hint: WalMart takes dollars, but only gives change in pesos, so you can ask the front desk to make change for you and use that to buy stuff at Walmart, pay the cabbie, tip people, etc...i think the conversion is something like, for every dollar = 12.5 pesos? I could be a little off but its close. I tipped my bellman, my cabbie, and my driver, Samuel...I was impressed at the service, and Im a tipper, so I felt comfortable with that. If i think of any other helpful tips, I'll share them. Ooh, one more, bring some Halls sugarfree breezers or Halls SF Vit c drops...they were very soothing while I was first trying to drink tiny sips. They keep your mouth moist, too...:-)

[Jenny LaJoye 11]

Why do so many people buy Retin A while in Mexico? And is it true that I will lose my hair 3-4 months after surgery!!!!?????

 

[muffintop 62]

Why do so many people buy Retin A while in Mexico? And is it true that I will lose my hair 3-4 months after surgery!!!!?????

 

Because its stronger than the states version and cheaper

[coolmamma73 129]

Do you need a script for the Retin-A??

[abetterme4.2 268]

Do you need a script for the Retin-A??

 

Not in Mexico.

 

[zenoosh 112]

Why do so many people buy Retin A while in Mexico? And is it true that I will lose my hair 3-4 months after surgery!!!!?????

 

Retin-A is expensive here, and you have to get a scrip for it. I mix a tiny dab in with my face lotion. I also have a sunspot that has all but disappeared from using the Retin-A religiously. Some people who use it find that it irritates, dries out , or makes the skin slough off...ive been using it at a very small dose for years, and It's really evened out my skin, and erased a lot of sun damage. Just as a reference: my mom got me a tube 2 years ago, and im not finished with it yet! Some use it full strength all over 1-2x a week for a deep exfoliation...you must wear a sunscreen though..it does slough off the dead skin, but the brand new, pink baby skin underneath is VERY sensitive--especially to the sun. It comes in 2 strengths: .05 and .1 :-) . I love the stuff!

Hair loss: not everyone experiences Hair loss, but it is common with WLS. The best way to keep it at a minimum is to make sure you get your recommended Protein EVERYDAY and take a Biotin supplement. Biotin is cheap and comes in really teeny tiny little softgel. I started taking it 2 months before surgery, and OMG, my hair has been growing like a friggin weed!! There are several threads on hairloss--you'll find a wealth of info :-)

[abetterme4.2 268]

Why do so many people buy Retin A while in Mexico? And is it true that I will lose my hair 3-4 months after surgery!!!!?????

 

It's a fabulous anti-wrinkle cream. it was originally started as an acne cream/treatment.

 

Most people do lose some of their hair. The time frame can vary with the individual.

 

[coolmamma73 129]

Awesome! I am an Esthetician, so I know the wonderful power of Retin-A!! Thanks for the tip!!