Bariatric Pal Team MX and Dr. Jalil Illan

[fancypants67 162]

I'm SOOOO excited to read this!!! I have paid my deposit and booked my surgery with Dr. Illan for Aug. 23rd!! AHHHHH!! Let the countdown begin!

Could you tell us how your experience was?

ABSOLUTELY!! I actually came down the day before my surgery, so I took the train down from where I live...Stacy picked me up at the train station in downtown San Diego (she was waiting there before i even arrived!) and we drove right down to Tijuana. We zipped right through the border (they don't really stop you going into Mexico) and she took me to the Holiday Inn. The hotel is really really nice, VERY clean and the bed was super comfortable. TV was mostly Spanish speaking but that's no biggie. WiFi worked so I played with my ipad. The next day Stacy picked me up and took me to Oasis at about 9am...the hospital is LOVELY. Everyone is so kind and attentive. The room was private, and it looked brand spanking new. Needless to say I was a nervous wreck...when the nurses came in to take my vitals, my blood pressure was very high. Since I traveled down there alone (which in retrospect i'm glad I did because then I didn't have to worry about anyone other than myself) I calmed myself down with some Netflix in the room (Family Guy!). I then had blood taken, an EKG and xrays over the next couple of hours, Dr Illan came in and introduced himself and he was so reassuring and patient and answered all my questions. That wait before surgery can seem like an eternity, but all the while the staff was keeping me company, checking on me and making sure that i was comfortable. I went into surgery around 1:30 or 2 i believe, the next thing i knew, I was waking up in recovery (this was the hardest part of the whole ordeal for me, only because of the gas discomfort and one bout of nausea ...but i never DID get sick!). They wheeled me down to my room and from then on, the nurses came in approximately every hour and a half to check on me. I only had 2 other instances of nausea and they passed quickly. The gas was uncomfortable, but not painful. For some odd reason, if I laid on my side for a while, then rolled to the other side, that would cause me to burp and it helped a lot. They really DO want you up and walking around pretty much right away, which i'm not gonna lie, i wasn't anxious to do, but I did...but they know what they are doing and they are right, it helps move the gas. The first night is difficult, because you don't get much sleep...but again, I'd be worried if they DIDN'T come check on me! But everytime they came in they told me what they were doing and asked if i needed anything. I spent the whole next day in the hospital, took a shower, walked and tried to catch up on my sleep. The 3rd day (thursday) I was taken back to the hotel by Stacy...she had a whole "care package" ready for me with Vitamin Water and Protein powders and Jello. Also the Bariatric Surgery book which is dove RIGHT into immediately. Roberto was my "guide" later in the day and he was AWESOME! He was so easy to talk to! I checked back into the Holiday Inn, I took a nap and a shower, and then Roberto and I went over to Revolucion for some French Onion Soup (Broth)...it was AMAZING! As a matter of fact, it was so good, we went back the next day too!! On thurs and friday night, a doctor came and checked on me and answered any of my questions and told me how to care for my incisions and take my meds. Saturday morning I was picked up pretty early (8:00am) and taken back over the border to the US. we were pretty lucky because it only took about 45 minutes total. In fact, I was so lucky, I was able to take a MUCH earlier train!!

Now I'm 4 weeks post op and I feel AMAZING! I'm down about 35 pounds since I started my pre-op diet. Honestly, I am surprised every day by how lucky I am that this recovery has been a piece of cake. I had surgery on 8/23 and went back to work on 08/30 with no issues whatsoever other than being a little tired at the end of the day. I believe the majority of that had to do with the care and treatment I had with Dr Illan and the staff at Oasis, as well as the support and advice given to me by Bariatric Pal Team MX. Granted, this recovery is a slow process...and it is a LOT of re-learning how your body reacts to different foods and drinks...and what is hunger and what is thirst (thats the BIG one for me!). But literally EVERY day is a little bit better and easier. I cannot TELL you how happy I am that I did this!! I do not regret it for one minute! My life has been given back to me. I understand the trepidation people feel with going to Mexico for surgery...believe me, i felt it, and I faced it from family when I told them I was doing this, but honestly I cannot recommend it enough! If you are considering it...DO IT! I wish I had done it a long time ago. Throw the "Mexico" concerns out the window because I truly believe the care is even BETTER than in the States. It's true...I feel like a new person!

[cindy6210 6]

What is the book you were given after surgery? What kind of pre op education did you have? How and when did you get the pre op education if you had any? What kind of post op education did you have? Do you feel you were prepared for the surgery and taking care of yourself and your sleeve after you got back home? How do you know when to progress to the different stages of the post op diet?

[fancypants67 162]

What is the book you were given after surgery? What kind of pre op education did you have? How and when did you get the pre op education if you had any? What kind of post op education did you have? Do you feel you were prepared for the surgery and taking care of yourself and your sleeve after you got back home? How do you know when to progress to the different stages of the post op diet?

The book given to me was written by the gentleman that started this website Alex Brecher. I don't have it with me, but i think its called the Big Book of Bariatic Surgery. ??? (Bill can you help me on that one?) Honestly, I mostly just scoured the Internet. I lived on this forum and a couple of others and lurked for a couple of years (i initially thought i was going to get a lap band...i researched and applied for Gastric Sleeve about a 2 years ago, turned down by my insurance) ...I talked to my GP a bit, but he wasn't really much help and I really didn't know ANYBODY that had this particular surgery...let alone in Mexico. So then in May, I decided to try my insurance again...a month passed and I never heard from them (and STILL haven't), that is when i decided to look into Mexico. I have a friend whose family goes down to Mexico for ALL of their healthcare needs, and she raved about the care they have been given...so that helped. After I made my decision, I paid the deposit in June, picked a date at the end of August and just waited and hung out on these boards...i was like a sponge. About 3 weeks out, Stacy sent me an email with my pre op diet and told me what to expect and what was expected of me. I was as prepared as I COULD be I believe. I mean, I was going into the unknown, no matter HOW much i read...so I was still scared, and everyone recovers differently...for me, this has been really easy. Upon leaving they gave me handouts explaining what I can eat and when I can eat it (each week the list increases)...and it STILL is a learning experience. Right now I am at 5 weeks post op and I'm eating solid foods again...soft meats, fish, chicken, no steak. I just chew the holy hell out of everything but I feel REALLY good. It's trial and error. I will try something and go "ohhh Steve the Sleeve doesn't like THAT". Or learning when I'm actually FULL. You CAN'T know EVERYTHING because everyone is different. If I posted on here that I ate part of the insides of a ground beef and bean burrito (no rice), some people would think i was nuts 'cause i'm only 5 weeks out...but i CAN, it was my birthday and i DID it...and felt good...some can't or would think i was crazy. I think a huge part of this recovery is mental. TRY not to overthink everything. Be informed, that's awesome, but don't over analyze if you can help it. Try not to pretzel brain twist everything...it is what it is. Lifestyle changes are inevitable...adapt with a good attitude. STAY POSITIVE...BE POSITIVE. I never let myself dwell on anybody elses recovery story ... I went in with the mind set that "mine will be easy! it's all good!" and it really HAS been. Even surgery day...of COURSE i was terrified...but i knew that a better life awaited me on the other side. I even went into the surgery room SINGING (no joke...whatever they give you to relax you REALLY works!) hahaha! If you need anything, please feel free to ask away...be a sponge, absorb it all...but most of all be positive!

[cindy6210 6]

i have the book mentioned. It doesn't seem like the company gives much education either before or after surgery or am i missing something?

[thebabeupproject 8]

Hi. So glad your surgery went well. If you don't mind my asking, is the Oasis Hospital the same as florence hospital? Am thinking if having surgery there, but I'm not sure the conditions. Was it a modern hospital?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using the BariatricPal App

[roro504 10]

This review was EVERYTHING I needed to make the final decision on where my fiance will have his surgery in MX! Initially I looked online for doctors and made a decision. After talking to our representative and doing more research I wasn't feeling so great about our decision. I decided to put my bariatric pal account to use and dig deeper...BOY WAS THIS THE BEST thing ever! Not only did we find the best surgeons recommended by bariatric pal...the reviews from actual patients has been super helpful! I'm excited about him going to MX to have the sleeve now because I feel much better with our choice to go with Dr. Illan at Oasis! I can't have my King out here being treated like a pauper lol!

[snogueda 43]

My journey began when I met Stacey Yanez threw a friend of mine. I had been researching surgery in Mexico because my insurance would not pay in the states. Not only did her and her husband Bill work for a Medical Tourism company.... They lived in Mexico. They drive, eat, work, sleep and experience life in Mexico. They know the doctors and hospitals. They see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears. Nothing is word of mouth! So when Stacy said she lived in Arkansas at one point in her life I knew that was the sign I needed to trust this lady. Then she recommended a doctor. She didn't recommend this doctor just for sales and marketing she recommended the doctor because Bill, her husband, has chosen this doctor for his gastric sleeve! If she could trust this doctor with her husband that was good enough for me. I booked my surgery and then my flight. Three week of preop diet and I was on a plane to TJ Mexico. I thought OMG I am really doing this!!! Stacey picked my husband and I up at the air port and from that point on I was fine. All worries vanished and all fears melted away. I knew I would be fine because Stacey and Bill said I would be. The next day I went to hospital florence for preop and met the internal medicine doctor and Dr. Illan. They did blood work, X-rays, and an EKG. Everything rolled smooth and I was in surgery at 12 noon. Surgery lasted 45 min to an hour and I was awake fully by 2pm. The nurses were wonderful! Rosa was over the nurses and she was amazing! She was just sweet as pie! They all spoke enough English that they could communicate. Ross spoke English extremely well. They kept nausea and pain meds coming. I was never doped up so much I couldn't walk. I walked and walked the halls trying to get rid of the gas. My biggest problem! Never felt sick to my stomach or threw up (my worst fear). A swallow test was done the next and that was the worst to me. I hate that Barium liquid. GROSS! The hospital beds were so much more comfortable than the US. Usually after a hospital stay I need back surgery lol but these were nice. Oh and a bed was provided for my husband too. Two days in the hospital and then to the recovery house. I had heard nasty remarks about recovery houses...... Let me say this Bariatric Pal has top of the line Recovery houses! I would much rather be in a recovery house than the hotel! It was like a condo! We had a fridge, microwave, stove, Water cooler, new furniture, soft beds, a billion channels on TV, and wifi. I forgot to say that 24 hours a day during this trip you had someone available to you and when I say available I mean the were in the waiting room at the end of the hall at the hospital or in another condo at the recovery house. They would go get you and your companion anything you wanted! From Coke and food to Shampoo and soap. These guys were top notch! There was another gentleman that had surgery the same day as me. My husband and his wife were treated like royalty by Bariatric pal. Bill and Stacey went out of their way to make us feel like family. I am forever grateful for their kindness.
Dr Illan and Palola, the nutritionist, came to the recovery house to speak with us and gave us the opportunity to ask questions that we may not have thought of in the hospital. Dr. Illan was available to us at any time. I don't know of any doctor in the United States that will give you that kind of attention and bed side manor! I am currently seven days post op and I spoke to Dr. Illan yesterday! He called me! I have NEVER had a doctor call me. Nurses call me but not the doctor themselves. Best doctor ever! The owner of Bariatric Pal Team MX David Lopez personally made sure our stay at the recovery house was perfect. He sat down with us and listen to our reviews and any constructive criticism we had which wasn't much lol. Mexico was a wonderful experience! I can't wait to go back on vacation! Oh and we had a super early flight back home and Stacey personally made sure we were there in plenty of time! I have nothing but waves of great reviews for this company and Doctor. If anyone has any questions please please ask! If you need numbers to speak to someone to schedule your new journey let me know! Tell them you read Chasity's review! And no I don't gain money from sending them people. I value their service and attention to every little detail and I want you to have the same great experience too! I have had no complications. No pain meds since I left the hospital. No vomiting or severe nausea. I had the perfect sleeve experience. I owe that wonderful experience to a great company, Bariatric Pal Team MX and a stupendous Dr. Jalil Illan!!!!

Hi Moe, im having my surgery with dr illan on the 1st. This post just helped me a lot thank you. I wanted to ask you if you felt the need to go back for a follow up check up? My concern is that my insurance wont give me medical attention if something might go wrong after surgery: infection, leak or what not. I know your surgery was a while back but how did everything heal for you? Thank you in advance

[cheesezrider 23]

I really had the perfect experience I am at a year out and only had one issue. I had a B1 deficiency. Numbness in my legs. Insurance paid for my care because they can't refuse to. I had no need for follow ups I took my stiches out myself. I have lost 140 lbs and till loosing if you have any questions feel free to look me up on A Facebook Chasity lane or email me at chasitylane34@yahoo.com

[rcr89 7]

I really had the perfect experience I am at a year out and only had one issue. I had a B1 deficiency. Numbness in my legs. Insurance paid for my care because they can't refuse to. I had no need for follow ups I took my stiches out myself. I have lost 140 lbs and till loosing if you have any questions feel free to look me up on A Facebook Chasity lane or email me at chasitylane34@yahoo.com

Congrats, I have my MGB with Dr. Illan on 3/21, I'm soooo nervous, but your positivity is heart warming. Thank you and Congrats again!

[Apple1 2,572]

Your review has really helped me to know that I have made the right decision. I am going to be sleeved on May 15th by Dr. Illan and I can't wait to be on the post-op side of this surgery.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[cheesezrider 23]

MAKE SURE and put me as your referral person thanks guys! If you need anything just give me a shout! 8703155963!!!!

[cheesezrider 23]

1 year out and 140 pounds down!

[amyoliviaa 5]

I don't know if people still read on this thread but i'm very much interested. I've been looking to get VSG (Vertical Gastrectomy Sugery) since last year; the beginning of last year. I found an insurance company that I thought I could trust and sadly it was a scam. I'm currently trying to save up for the surgery so that I might be able to get it this year. This thread has confirmed who I want to be doing my surgery. I've been looking at surgeons all of last year and trying to do research and now I know that I was right to keep looking at Dr. Illan and researching him. Thank you for posting this!!!

[pegrae 88]

Amy, Dr. ILLAN is amazing! His team is the best. Join our Facebook group. You will find a group that cares and wonderful families new to you. When you join, tag me Peggy Bourassa. I will be happy to help in any way I can.

[Guest]

I don't know if people still read on this thread but i'm very much interested. I've been looking to get VSG (Vertical Gastrectomy Sugery) since last year; the beginning of last year. I found an insurance company that I thought I could trust and sadly it was a scam. I'm currently trying to save up for the surgery so that I might be able to get it this year. This thread has confirmed who I want to be doing my surgery. I've been looking at surgeons all of last year and trying to do research and now I know that I was right to keep looking at Dr. Illan and researching him. Thank you for posting this!!!

Hi,
Feel free to ask any questions about the surgical procedure, will be my pleasure to answer your questions!!