Surgery Through A *lighter Me* And Dr F. Garcia 20

[muffintop 62]

Ok so I had my surgery through the service * a lighter me* and with Dr F. Garcia on 10-25-12. Im just gonna recap through my days and my experience. Please no drama or bashing, this is my opinion and experience. Your milage will vary, that I can promise.

August/September 2012, I started really searching this procedure. I like many of you have tried lots of diets and failed. I stalked this site and through the support here and research I made the plans to go ahead and have the sleeve. I contacted a lighterme and my coordinator was *janese*. I was quickly approved and within a few days sent my deposit. I contacted Janese early on several times prior to actually sending the deposit. i didn't really hear back anything unless I had a question and actively seeked her out via email. Once I faxed a copy of my cashiers check, i got another email with someone else's name on it(obviously generic) with further instructions. It included a pre-op diet and further instructions. That was in September and nothing again, until I had a question the day before I left. She did respond promptly, that I will say.

Ok so I arrive on 10-24-12 at the required time which was after 2pm. I called upon arrival and spoke to Abraham who has no clue who I am and was very scattered( ill explain further on why). I meet him out side within about five minutes of landing in the illustrious white 90's mini van. Im like ok, at least its roomy. Once getting inside I met my sleeve bestie Stacy this.time.its.for.me. (we had never met prior to this). We spent the next hour picking up other sleevers, Julie(also known as mean girl), her side kick tamara, Sandy and her husband(great couple) and one last girl I cant think of immediately. Now I bet you wonder how all of us fit in the van thats really meant for about four in the back, we really didn't, at least not comfortably. Except stacy:-) she called "shot gun".

So we mosey along with a little chit chat, very little while heading to the border. I did try to engage mean girl, but as you can guess by her name, all didn't go well. Women can be so mean, however sense were all fighting the same battle, I was quite surprised. From San Diego airport it took about 30 minutes to end up at the hotel in Tijuana. Mean girl and side kick apparently knew they would be going right to the Mi Doctor Hospital, shucks:-) The rest of us were dumped off with no real idea of what to do or what was next. Now Im not expecting handholding, maybe a brief schedule would suffice. Stacy and I checked our stuff in and went to the restaurant for some broth, yum... NOT. We then retired for the night, waiting for the call from Abraham. At eight o clock tijuana time Abraham calls and says meet in the lobby at 8:30 the next morning, ok we hang up. At eleven o clock I get another call from Abraham and he says "we have no room for you tomorrow"! WTF....And then asks if I can share a room (what else do you say besides yes) and I requested stacy, he then said meet in the lobby at six am.

The hotel is accommodating, free wifi, all the amenities of a us hotel. But my air just didn't want to cooperate. I tried to sleep and before you know it it time to check out.

10-25-12

Abraham picks up myself, stacy, sandra and her hubby Don at the hotel and was right on time. We travel maybe ten minutes before we arrive at the hospital. Its small and it was dark so I couldn't see much outside initially. We get shuffled in and are left to do more paperwork, basically the same forms they asked about medicines, surgeries etc. Myself and stacey are assigned room 301, good room with a view (sorta).

So we sit around for an hr or two(no one stops in at all) and eventually Anna comes in and starts iv's and medicines. An internal doctor came in, and my doctor. This was over hours, nothing was prompt. Someone did stop in to say that my surgeon is scheduled for late afternoon. Um ok...hurry up and wait. I think I went in at 2pm, Im not for sure though and was back out within a few hours, Stacy at this point still heard nothing on her time and had seen only one person. I woke up feeling freaked out because of course I was in a strange place and dammit it hurt. I was able to walk within the first hour or so of surgery. Stacy didn't go in until almost 9:00 pm, and the information she received was from a nice coordinator from *ready4achange* We never saw Eduardo(our onsite coordinators) even though his office was on the second floor. I tried to sleep but didn't well at all.

10-26-12

Day two, I woke up feeling like complete ass, I was in worse pain then the first day and nothing they gave me helped the pain. I mean it had to off but I didn't feel like the edge was every fully taken off. I really second guessed my decision and how I must not of been mentally ready for all this. I was, but still felt vulnerable. Iv after Iv( me four) stacy (5). The nursing staff was ok, they meant well. I wasn't all that impressed but Im trying to keep it all in perspective. We did a lot of lounging and waiting, for anything. This day I had a leak test, with some salty concoction, it didn't settle well at all and I started dry heaving. Not fun..but back to the room I go. It was all so quick I had no idea what the gentleman was seeing on the screen. We were allowed to shower and wait, till the next jolt of excitement. My roomie Stacey was given a blue test at about 9am, and I literally had to ask the nurse five times for the blue stuff so I could start some ice, anything...I don't recall anything else special this day, besides recovery.

10-27-12

Day three... we waited to be discharged Eduardo said Abraham would be there between 6-8 but he really mean 10-12pm. I had my drain taken out and my staples removed. One of the doctors assistants who name I cant recall was very nice, I really liked her did the removal. I also had my iv removed. Stacy was to leave the same day but its like one hand doesn't talk to the other and they continued to blow vain after vain on an iv she didn't need. We even tried to say we were leaving anytime now to no avail. So Im given some paperwork from the assistant, it was my blood work, the reason I was admitted and what medications I was given and then something about the swallow test. I also received a clear bag that had chap stick, ear plugs, a malox type gel, antibiotics for five days and useless pain meds. I further got a thing of tape and some gauze for my wounds. Numerous numbers to call should I have any issues. And we were off to the hotel. We swiftly checked in with no further directions and chilled. Ok we didnt chill we walked to Walmart were Robbino scared us to hell( tisk risk). I purchased some broth, some gatorade, a bowl and other things I didn't need. Back at the hotel we had broth and chilled till morning.

10-28-12

Wake up and decide were gonna do something to not sit in the hotel all day, conveniently as we were walking out we run into Eduardo, we ask about where Abraham is and when he would be back by, we were told between 3:00 and 4:00. He didn't ask us our needs at all and he and we were off. Stacey and I go to Walmart again(via taxi four bucks) and the other shopping areas to just get out. We spent a large amount of time there because there really was only so much to do. We were excited though because Abraham promised shopping. He called the room at 4:30 to go shopping. We went to his select vendors and were told to buy from them, that they had what all the other vendors had but cheaper( enter eye roll here). I spent $30.00 and left with three small items. Anywho from there we had some beef broth (or so he alleges) and were brought back to the hotel about 7:00pm. Stacy and I really wanted a pharmacy for some Retin A, that didn't happen and the mean girls still sucked. We were told to be in the lobby by 9:00 tomorrow for our flights home.

10-29-12

Going home day! Stacy and I devised a plan that we were getting to the pharmacy before 9:00, luck would have it they are open 24 hrs! So by seven we were off and we were even offered the Mariott transport bus. Hell yeah, he dropped us off and came back ten minutes later. We both left with retin A..and some extras. Ok fast forward to 9:00 we fit seven people not including Abraham into the van, mean girl was hanging off the seat (we felt horrible :-) Our first stop was gas, ok gotta have gas, second stop was Mcdonalds. Yep you heard me right he bought two Breakfast meals to go, we were all confused and little annoyed. Comes to find out that Abraham didn't have the right permits or something to get through the border line we were in and apparently the girls like Mcdonalds..Um ok it worked but ......

Next stop was through the girls and into an alley that leads to the promise land, he has friends all along the way. This guy was selling some type of custard or something, I politely declined but two girls got some lime something. Apparently the guy was not happy that only two people purchased, um whatever.

We make it through customs, show all of the proper paper work and were off... I couldn't get out of the packed van fast enough.

So Im on the plane now and Im glad this is behind me. Abraham is a nice guy but is scattered, there is no real schedule, all all kinda slap jerk (kwim). Maybe he isn't given the right tools to make his job easier? He is trying to please everyone..I will say Im happy with my doctor and the assistant. I found the nurses shoddy at best, not all (the majority though) I personally spoke with two people in this group of patients,who had money taken from them at the hospital, and that pissed me off:-I wouldnt hesitate to go again, but Ill definitely have my expectations at a lower level. Thanks for listening..

Edited to add that Ive been home sense Monday and Eduardo sent a Post op diet on Wednesday. He also sent something saying that Ortiz did my surgery,,,Um no he didnt..

[Jesser 295]

I just paid my deposit last night, through alighterme and Janese is also who I've been corresponding with. I also just got a generic receipt saying thanks for the payment... I've sent emails back and forth a few times asking questions and stuff, but if it's this unorganized, it's making me feel uneasy. If I see that things are just thrown together, I'm not going to feel comfortable with my decision at all.

[Jessieboo 8]

Wow. I had a completely different experience with dr. Kelly and Omar. Omar drove me to tonnes of places to sightsee , shop and have broth. It was organized and seriously a good experience. The first 12 hours post surgery sucked, I was sick (but no pain). 4 days out and I feel nearly normal (minus an appetite or the ability to eat solid food).

I would highly recomend dr. Kelly and his team.

[muffintop 62]

Wow. I had a completely different experience with dr. Kelly and Omar. Omar drove me to tonnes of places to sightsee ' date=' shop and have broth. It was organized and seriously a good experience. The first 12 hours post surgery sucked, I was sick (but no pain). 4 days out and I feel nearly normal (minus an appetite or the ability to eat solid food).

I would highly recomend dr. Kelly and his team.[/quote']

 

Perfect except this post is about a lighter me:)

[Amber'sJourney 14]

Muffintop, I'm so sorry you had such a poor experience! I wrote out my experience last night and am about to post it. I used alighterme also. Yes, I got some generic responses back from them but for the most part they replied to my emails promptly. On the ground I had a different experience with Abraham and Eduardo. I used a different Dr. than you did... when I was getting my surgery there was another patient there using Dr. Garcia and we noted that he and Lopez did do some things differently as well as we received different meds and her drain was pulled out in the hospital whereas mine was removed the day before I left at the Hotel. I had no real pain after surgery... maybe you had more pain because of the difference in Dr's and their orders? I'm just so sorry your experience wasn't better! It's interesting that you mentioned that people had money go missing... my birth certificate ended up missing but I have no idea where or when it happened. I really thought it happened at the Hotel OR that I was absent-minded and left it somewhere (however unlikely).

[920amy 409]

Muffin, Your experience sounds terrible! I did have to giggle thought at the part of your story where Abraham stopped for Mc Donalds for the ladies at the border I have grown up next to the border practically my whole life, and that sounds to be about par for the course! It does sound sh*tty that you and Amber had to worry about things going missing, thank you for sharing that. This way those of us that are going next will be extra concious about our belongings. I think I'm going to get some luggage locks. I am glad that both of you had generally good experiences with your surgeons. I am also using A Lighter Me, and I will be going to Dr. Lopez, so thank you both for sharing your experiences.

[Jessieboo 8]

 

Perfect except this post is about a lighter me:)

 

Lol. Yes, sorry muffintop, got a little sidetracked. Thanks for your very detailed post, it was interesting reading.

 

 

[Kaylee 13]

Sorry to hear about your experience :S at least from a surgical point of view things went well! I wonder if the patient service varies as a result of patient load at the time. I've been told that my surgeons limit it to 4-5 surgeries a day....which seems like kind of a lot lol! So far working with Ronda from a lighter me has been great. Wishing you all the best for your recovery and weight loss journey! keep us updated!

[Mexico 16]

I also.went.through a lighterme with Dr. Garcia on the 19th and I had a similar experience. Not to say I wouldn't do it again but Abraham even said they were super busy and he didn't have enough time for everyone. It seemed very unprofessional and I didn't understand the.point of eduardo. I saw him in the hours.I was waiting for surgery which was at like 4pm. Then I saw him for a minute the next day and another quick minute on Sunday when I was discharged. I was never contacted by anyone when I got back to the hotel and had to call Abraham twice before he called me back to find out when I needed to be ready to go for the airport. I only got a time after he dismissed my question and asked to call me back twenty minutes later after which he forgot why I had called. He also had to ask me like 6 times what time my plane left. On the way to.the airport he decided he had to stop at the bank and about 6 different stores to.find gas x strips for another patient I got to the airport a little less than an hour before my flight...it was cutting it.close. My surgery went well and at 11 days out I feel really good just tire easy. I had to keep in perspective that it is a different culture and while I would have liked more professionalism and organization it was not anything that put my health or safety at risk. All in all I have mixed feelings.

[Readytolose2012 88]

I went with dr Garcia and a lighter me and had a fantastic experience. The only pain I had was surgical gas and Abraham and Eduardo couldn't have been more accommodating. It sounds to me like they overbooked and got to busy.

The other patients I meet while there were all super and we all exchanged Facebook and contact info.

Kudos to all for making my experience a mini vaca!

[Jesser 295]

Janese has been very helpful answering all of my questions, and she stays extremely busy. I'm trying not to think about the negatives and focus on the positives! I read everyone's experiences and I think I know what I'm getting myself into for the most part! Haha I'm a very thorough person and like things organized, but like it was stated earlier, its going to be a different culture and a different way of going about things. I'm sure it will all be fine... I haven't ever read any bad experiences at all so that's a plus.

[muffintop 62]

Janese has been very helpful answering all of my questions' date=' and she stays extremely busy. I'm trying not to think about the negatives and focus on the positives! I read everyone's experiences and I think I know what I'm getting myself into for the most part! Haha I'm a very thorough person and like things organized, but like it was stated earlier, its going to be a different culture and a different way of going about things. I'm sure it will all be fine... I haven't ever read any bad experiences at all so that's a plus.[/quote']

 

Again my post was my experience, just keep your expectations low. The dr was great and I had the sleeve done for dirt cheap!

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

Wow thank you for this informative post. I bet that because they were so busy they didn't have time for everyone. When I was there on September 10th with Ready4Achange it was the exact opposite. They were more accomodating than my group and even stopped to help me out. I know when I booked my surgery I asked how many for that day; there were 4 surgeries. I thought 4 were alot but I guess not. My surgery with Dr Garcia was flawless and would do it again. I didn't have any pain or gas so I have no complaints.

[Jesser 295]

I don't see how all the coordinators keep track of all the surgeries with them being with different companies and everything. I guess they have something on their computer that they all can see so they can keep track of how many surgeries are scheduled for that day or whatever. But I'm sure it does get hectic! Lol

[rdoactv 218]

Wow. I had a completely different experience with dr. Kelly and Omar. Omar drove me to tonnes of places to sightsee ' date=' shop and have broth. It was organized and seriously a good experience. The first 12 hours post surgery sucked, I was sick (but no pain). 4 days out and I feel nearly normal (minus an appetite or the ability to eat solid food).

I would highly recomend dr. Kelly and his team.[/quote']

 

Thanks for the suggestion though for those reading this post and looking for another direction if bothered by what they are reading.