Thoughts on Dr. Almanza

[reginator17 9]

I agree as I was also a big kid but seriously this was not right he was really not even hefty just had a little belly and a cute round face. It was a real eye opener to see a parent willing to put a knife into their own child basically she said so he could audition for a larger spectrum of roles! It was just one more what the #### moment for me there.

[StephF89 41]

Reginator, you still went through with the surgery, though, correct?

Hope you are doing well.

How are you feeling?

How's your healing process going?

 

Shame about the child. I was a fat kid... I know some parents will do a lot of things to/for their kids that other adults don't understand. Not that I advocate operating on children for weight loss stuffs, but maybe he had a co-morbidity or 2... Or 3. We don't know the whole story. Hopefully it was a medical necessity and not the parents making an iffy decision. :-/

 

 

[reginator17 9]

I did go through with it, but

[reginator17 9]

I had confidence in dr. Almanza he was great it was the initial whirlwind plus the aftercare that really has turned me. I'm doing well getting fluids and Protein in pretty smooth. Again, this is more of a warning like I wish I had had before paying and getting whisked all over the place there, for another 1,000 you can get full aftercare in a hospital with accredited nurses. I was always reading threads and thinking why are these people so negative, I get it now. I have been there and I don't ever want anyone to have that type of unneeded experience. Again, Dr.Almaza great, creepy Dr.Betancourt who has lost his license in Mexico just learned that today, no good. The clinic was crowded, busy, and not very clean. To each there own, and buyer beware.

[Diamondeyed 399]

Thanks

[rmeofone 43]

Just got sleeved by Almanza on 1/21. It was a Monday, and there were 9 of us that day. What I learned is that Monday is the most popular day for scheduling (Get back to work on the following Monday...). One of his coordinators SHOWED me the schedule for the rest of the week and it was only at 4/day. So..... timing is probably important.

 

Betancourt was....different for sure. It seemed we were stacked up in the waiting room waiting for the next procedure to be completed. Started at noon...I was sleeved at 6pm and the last sleeve was done at 11pm.

 

The staff was completely courteous and helpful, but with limited English.

 

I stayed with my fellow sliver, Marcus most of the second morning in the clinic room receiving IVs, then off to the Hotel Ticuan, which was a bumpy 15 minute ride away!

 

We all returned to clinic later on that day (4pm) for an additional IV + anti-inflammatory + penicillin. Crammed in auxiliary clinic for 2+ hours while we all finished our IVs

 

On the third morning, it was off to the radiologist for the blue liquid leak test (Nine of us in that same damned bumpy van!) Took 1 1/2 hours, but everyone was ok and it was back to the Hotel Ticuan until 4pm that aft.

 

At 4pm, we ALL went back to the clinic annex to have our IVs and drain tubes removed. Again, very cramped It only took 60-90 minutes and we were shuttled BACK to the hotel Ticuan.

 

BTW - we were instructed (And I did) that that all we needed to do was ask for popsicles / pain meds / sleeping meds and the staff nurse or hotel staff would respond. They all were great! PLUS, we received 3 coupons from the hotel restaurant for chicken Soup broth (I loved it).

 

Finally, on the 4th day (Thursday) we were split into two groups for border crossing based on flight times: My flight was at 1:21pm, so I left with the group leaving at 6am. Needless to say, I was walking the halls at 4 am ready to come home (Notice I said walking - did a lot of that this week).

 

It took time to negotiate traffic to the border (~5 miles away, but took 60-75 minutes). But the border crossing was a non event. All but one of us had a passport, we we handed to the driver to show the border agent. The other guy had a birth certificate plus drivers license which worked as well.

 

OK, here comes my opinion: I am doing great, no problems, no gas pains, no complications. Dr. Almanza is an incredibly skilled surgeon with a ton of experience at this. In fact, someone mentioned there that he was going to be limiting his work STRICTLY to VSGs. However; I was not too happy with the scheduling and the feeling that we were a production line. The facilities were, in my opinion, too small and cramped. It seemed as though the nine of us were sitting on each others laps while either waiting for surg or getting our follow-up IV's.

 

Bring on the Q's...

[StephF89 41]

I am glad to hear you are doing well!

I am prepared for the "cattle call" atmosphere, as some have described it.

I'm glad to hear that you were with someone who had a birth certificate and ID, as that may be my situation.

 

Question: What were the 2 time frames for trips to the airport for return home flights? (You mentioned there were 2)

 

Again, glad you are doing well and I'm glad you are safely home with your new sleeve

[StephF89 41]

I'm going to dr almanza in feb and I've heard nothing but amazing thing about him and his staff. Yes I'm scared/excited but I guess I'll see!

 

When in February?

[HikeEveryMountain 112]

I've heard great things about Almanza. He must be good to have such full schedules all of the time. I personally chose Dr. Sergio Quinones, also in TJ. Price was very comprable, and having been sleeved three days ago, I am nothing but ECSTATIC about the care I received at his clinic. He was personable, answered every question - speaks excellent English - spent a lot of time checking up on me. His whole staff was incredible. I don't think I would have gotten any better care in the US. As I was preparing to leave Mexico for the airport, one of the nurses showed up at my hotel just to give me a popsicle and say goodbye. I highly recommend Quinones.

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

I am glad to hear you are doing well!

 

I am prepared for the "cattle call" atmosphere' date=' as some have described it.

 

I'm glad to hear that you were with someone who had a birth certificate and ID, as that may be my situation.

 

Question: What were the 2 time frames for trips to the airport for return home flights? (You mentioned there were 2)

 

Again, glad you are doing well and I'm glad you are safely home with your new sleeve <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

 

I'm curious. If you're aware of the "cattle call" situation and you know you can get a different type of care for around the same price, why opt for the rodeo?

 

Amanda Rae

[Jesser 295]

The things I've heard about Almanza and his "hospital" sound like something from Tales from the Crypt. Lol

[StephF89 41]

Cuz it suits me and my personality. I don't need frills and such, not judging anyone for NOT chosing Almanza based on the "cattle call"-esque atmosphere. I choose what i believe is best for me, as I'm sure you chose what you believe is best for you. I was merely explaining I read enough to understand the way things are ran there. I'm not looking for judgment, suggestions, or critisim. Frankly we are all in the same boat, yea? To each their own... My wish for ALL regardless of starting BMI, where in the country they have their surgery, and who does their surgery is a healthy and speedy recovery

[JamesHRN 114]

All I can say is I had Dr Almanza do my surgery in July 2012 I had great results and would have him do it all over again

[Keepgoing247 116]

My husband and I also used Dr Sergio Quinones. We were sleeved the same day. We were the only ones that had surgery that day and we had great care for Dr Quinones as well as his staff.

 

Also, Dr Quinones is a Proctor for Johnson & Johnson.

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Cuz it suits me and my personality. I don't need frills and such' date=' not judging anyone for NOT chosing Almanza based on the "cattle call"-esque atmosphere. I choose what i believe is best for me, as I'm sure you chose what you believe is best for you. I was merely explaining I read enough to understand the way things are ran there. I'm not looking for judgment, suggestions, or critisim. Frankly we are all in the same boat, yea? To each their own... My wish for ALL regardless of starting BMI, where in the country they have their surgery, and who does their surgery is a healthy and speedy recovery <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

 

I was just curious. No more. No less.

 

Amanda Rae