December 9 with Dr. Ponce

[scstxrn 213]

Anyone else?

[Proud2BMe 1,016]

I'll be going to Tijuana as well but I haven't settled on a doctor. I'm hoping to have mine toward the end of 2015, or as soon as I can save up enough. I want to fly first class and have enough spending money in case they charge you for some things that you may not be aware of. For example, some doctors include the meds in the price and others do not. Plus many coordinators take the patients shopping there and I want to buy stuff as I may be the last time I got to Mexico. Good luck!

Will you be staying in the Marriott? I would love to but the coordinators I've communicated with use other hotels.

Edited November 26, 2014 by Proud2BMe

[scstxrn 213]

I am staying at the Lucerna. I figure it doesn't really matter to me; I typically fly Southwest and sleep LaQuinta or Extended stay. My biggest reason for staying at a ritzier hotel is 1. reputation in a foreign country and 2. proximity to the hospital.

My husband has forbidden me to go shopping. I'm to have surgery, pace the halls, read a book or five, and come home.... He's a little worried about me. My children actually wanted me to have the surgery and then stay at a hotel in SanDIego until time to come home.

[Proud2BMe 1,016]

@@scstxrn

You are far braver than me. I don't think I could go by myself. Luckily my father agreed to go with me but even he is worried because he has had bad experiences in Mexico before but I think that was in Juarez and not Tijuana.

Try to document your experiences, either journaling or even recording on your phone or such. I love hearing people's experiences.

Best of luck! Hope you become a "loser"!

[Phyllis Ellis 1]

I hope you will post after your surgery. I am going for surgery with Dr Ponce on February 5th. Good luck with your journey...you'll do great I am sure!!!

[scstxrn 213]

I have posted a few different places. Int is tiny, most nurses speak Spanish but there has always been someone that could speak enough English... And I am a nurse. The generic meds are all the same names, that makes it easier.

I wouldn't bring someone with me... I don't like hanging out when I don't feel good, and trish is all the company a girl could hope for.

[Phyllis Ellis 1]

Thank you so much for the update. You have made me feel so much better about the fact that I am going alone. Trish has told me that I will be fine alone...and I agree with you, I don't like people around when I am not feeling well. My daughter is the one who is freaked out that I don't have anyone to go with me, so I shared your post with her and it made her feel a bit better! Good luck on your journey...and I will join you on the losers bench in February!

[scstxrn 213]

I ended up coming home early... To quote my nurse, I missed Los ninos... And I am so happy to have seen them. I am still a little sore, but the meds manage it. I got in my walk today and I am drinking chamomile tea now. I find I miss my nurses accents.

I am down 7 lbs in the time since my surgery. Dr Ponce has you do 10 days of clear... broth, juice, no residue, pulp free.. Then 10 days full liquid.. Then 10 days cream of and Ferber graduates.. Then 10 days of trying stuff like flaky fish, tender meat. He is more restricted in the first phases to reduce the risk of obstruction and infection, but so far I haven't been hungry at all.

Trish gives you a bag of meds and instructions and paperwork before your Iv is out and Dr. Oscar, whose English is as good as any American doc I have worked with, goes through line by line and phase by phase.

And I got a great shirt for my after picture from Trish. I would do it again tomorrow, no question.

[projectionguy 22]

Glad things went well. I am 23 days postop with Ponce. Already all my clothes are baggy (some unwearable). Such a nice feeling!

[scstxrn 213]

I am 9 days out now, the pain is minimal without meds, unless I try to do too much... then I hurt. I've lost 15 lbs since the operation. I'm back at work. I'm so glad that I did this, and I'm glad that I used this surgeon. I'm also glad I used Trish.. wls4abetterlife.com; I feel like having her there to translate what I needed (and her list of Spanish to English/ English to Spanish common requests for/from patients) significantly added a level of security to my feelings that only having brought someone familiar with the area could have provided. She was company when I wanted it and she went away when I'd rather be in solitude. I would do it again tomorrow.

[scstxrn 213]

Ok, so y'all I watched my surgery video yesterday. I am so glad I chose a technician; he was midway through suturing the sleeve, didn't like the shape, went back and stapled some more off the bottom, and finished suturing.. then he picked up all his 'mess', then he went shopping for clots.. that's a big deal in terms of healing and reduced pain.

He just did such a pretty job.