Back home from Tijuana

[homersmomma 77]

Well, I am back home from my trip to Mexico. I am going to try and give an honest review of my experience there and my thoughts about Having the Gastric Sleeve in Tijuana. I Arrived and called the coordinator about being picked up at the airport. I was picked up by the driver in a large black Cadillac Limo. Isn't that the way to go....Fancy. No wet bar, however. Joking. He took me directly to the clinic to do my EKG and get blood work. My first impressions, yes this is Tijuana, yes this is a strip mall with a porno shop and office max, and yes it is small. These are things I knew going in. Following the clinic I was told my pre surgery instructions my pick up time and taken to the Hotel in down town. It is a nicer upscale place. I will come back to that later. After a rough nights sleep due to jitters and all I got up showered and started waiting. I decided to go down to the lobby early to wait for my ride and I met another patient and her companion. I traveled alone, and I will say more about that later. We headed out to the clinic and got prepped for our surgeries . I got to be second that day. Honestly, I was scared and I nearly backed out up until the very end. But, if I wasn't worried and scared about something like this no matter where I was I would be crazy. Just think about it. I woke up in recovery feeling sore and groggy and knowing after this it would be all down hill. I was taken to my room to rest. Which I did with intervals of sitting up, coughing, gagging, walking and so on. Word to the wise here. having worked in a hospital, coughing is really important to help clear your lungs following sedation. Hold a pillow to your abdomen while coughing, vomiting, sneezing ect.. to avoid popping your stitches or staples. Besides your abdominal muscles are weakened. Do this at home also. I ended up staying an extra day as there were no surgeries scheduled so we got an extra day of IV fluids and This whole thing can go well in my honest opinion if you can advocate for yourself. Ask questions, Ask questions, ask questions. What is in my IV, what medicine are you giving me. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Now the clinic......it is clean, they are cleaning all the time. Have you ever heard of a cleaner called Fabuloso? You may want to familiarize yourself with that smell as they use that to clean. Some people are not affected by smells but once you have a gastric surgery you might be. There is an air freshener they use that can also bother you. Prepare for this. Most of the nurses are male there is one nurse, her name is Lupita and she is great she drew my blood with one stick and I admit that I am a hard stick. She started my IV with one try too. I hate being poked. However, most of the people taking care of you will be male. Learn a few useful phrases in Spanish it will be valuable to you n the long run. I and my group where taken to the hotel and shown to our rooms and I will tell you my one fear. I was afraid to eat or drink anything in Mexico because I did not want to get sick. I have heard of people getting sick from something in the Water. I did bring bottled American water to brush my teeth with and drink. Maybe that's just me. The restaurant is adjacent to the lobby of the hotel and I could not stand the smell. There is a nurses station with a direct line and you can call them with whatever you need. Such as changing your dressings after you take a shower or if you need pain medication or if you have any questions. I almost forgot the leak test. They give you this tasty blue Fluid to drink and then off to the radiology center where they hand you a cup of barium to drink, that stuff was terrible. But no leaks.

[raven123 97]

You got through it! that's wonderful!

Who was your doctor? I'm getting sleeved on October 7 by Dr Ariel Ortiz.

This has been helpful Thank you.

[NORCALRN 60]

/hosp. jeruselum? dr almanza reyes? the porn shop gave it away!!! i was sleeved there 7/24/12. wishing you a speedy, uneventful recovery and congrats on your new journey!!! i remember lupita.... and all the nursing staff there is well-groomed and all look alike!!!!!!

[homersmomma 77]

Now for the fun part. People ask me how much money they will need for the trip. I am not a shopper so I stayed close to the hotel or the clinic most of the time. However, I will tell you that they will offer you medicines, compression stockings and a suture removal kit for a price. You will know up front about the price for a copy of your x-ray. Also there is the fee for the fast track across the border. Think about what you really need. The Doctor will recommend B12 shots that you can purchase from them. Everything on the list excluding the x-ray come to about 225.00 message me for specifics.

[homersmomma 77]

/hosp. jeruselum? dr almanza reyes? the porn shop gave it away!!! i was sleeved there 7/24/12. wishing you a speedy, uneventful recovery and congrats on your new journey!!! i remember lupita.... and all the nursing staff there is well-groomed and all look alike!!!!!!

That would be the place.

[sherry24184 253]

I didn't have a porn shop where I was..............darn it LOL! I was sleeved by Dr. Illan at Florence Hospital across from the Bull Fighting Ring on 8/31/13. We didn't have to pay any extra for meds or anything. Funny how they are all so different. Glad you are doing well!

[Pattie1966 35]

I didn't have a porn shop where I was..............darn it LOL! I was sleeved by Dr. Illan at florence Hospital across from the Bull Fighting Ring on 8/31/13. We didn't have to pay any extra for meds or anything. Funny how they are all so different. Glad you are doing well!

Sherry my surgery is scheduled for 9-13, yes in 5 days at Florence Hospital. Did you have a good experience there?

[sherry24184 253]

I had a wonderful experience! Who is your Dr? The nurses understand enough English that I didn't have any problems. Omar was my coordinator and took great care of us with getting fed and everything. Hospital is nice but rooms are ok. Clean but a little older. Once we started walking after surgery you can go out in the court yard. I didn't have any complaints about anything! You can read my blog if you want to see some pics. Sistersleeves@blogspot.com

Best of luck! Hope you enjoy your trip to Tijuana as much as my hubby & I did!!!

[Pattie1966 35]

I had a wonderful experience! Who is your Dr? The nurses understand enough English that I didn't have any problems. Omar was my coordinator and took great care of us with getting fed and everything. Hospital is nice but rooms are ok. Clean but a little older. Once we started walking after surgery you can go out in the court yard. I didn't have any complaints about anything! You can read my blog if you want to see some pics. Sistersleeves@blogspot.com

Best of luck! Hope you enjoy your trip to Tijuana as much as my hubby & I did!!!

Dr Fernando Garcia.

[sherry24184 253]

You'll like it! There are 2 main nurses and then younger nurses. The young ones are the ones that got my IV and it's hard to get an IV in me Don't hesitate to ask for ice or whatever you need. They will get you what you need. Best of luck!

[homersmomma 77]

Communication. I had not considered communication before my trip. But, since my cell phone was not on an international plan that was an issue. I did bring my tablet and at the hotel WIFI is available, but I did not have any connection at the clinic. There may usually be one but not at the time I was there. Make sure that your family outside of Mexico has the direct line to the clinic to check up on you and there is a line you can call the states from in the rooms. I would also like to point out that there are little lockers for you to lock up your cell phone and wallet that only you will have the key to on your person. If you are alone and paranoid like me that is a good thing. Please keep in mind here this is my story and my impressions about my experience. I am not endorsing any Doctor, Clinic, Surgery center, coordinator, or anything else.

[daisy2012 5]

Congrats to you all! I was lucky to have insurance cover my sleeve in San Diego with Dr. Bhoyrul who I can not say enough great things about. Now my best friend who is in Canada is looking into going to TJ for the surgery and we are trying to gather info for her. I am wondering how you all are doing post op and what you plan on doing for follow-up?

[homersmomma 77]

Luckily I have a really awesome PCP to help me out here at home. He has been beyond supportive with my choice.

[atlchick 42]

Dr Fernando Garcia.< /p>

Good Luck tomorrow! I would love to hear how everything goes when you are feeling up to it. I plan to use him in Oct. Thanks!

[wifeofdes 33]

Congrats to you all! I was lucky to have insurance cover my sleeve in San Diego with Dr. Bhoyrul who I can not say enough great things about. Now my best friend who is in Canada is looking into going to TJ for the surgery and we are trying to gather info for her. I am wondering how you all are doing post op and what you plan on doing for follow-up?

I had Dr Bhoyrul as well...great surgeon!!! I was sleeved on 8/28.