My Adventure in Monterrey - Part 2

[lkarelee 0]

Arrived in Monterrey after a short 1 hour flight from San Antonio. When we deplaned we were loaded onto a bus and taken to the terminal. Oh BTY - if you fly AeroMexico...you have to ask for the entrance forms - otherwise you have to stand in line and fill one out.

Thru customs with a green light and walked about a half a mile to the lobby. A taxi driver was holding up a sign for "ready4achange". Because my plane was 2 hours late - the poor guy had been waiting there all that time...I have him a nice tip.

We drove to downtown Monterrey - about 20 minutes with NO AC....so I was drenched by the time we arrived at Dr. Zapata's clinic. And let me just say a word here...his 'clinic' looks like an abortion clinic from the 60'. Small, dingy, none to clean bathroom; my panie level was starting to rise again. I kept telling myself RUN this is a huge mistake.

But I didn't because when I met Dr. Zapata he eased all my fear.

Dr. Zapata is tall, 40ish, nice looking and very, very calm. We talked for 10 minutes or so - he showed me the lap-band he would use and the new low profile port.

There were 5 others there so they loaded us all up in a big surburban and another 15 minutes to the hotel. We stayed at the 4 points Sheraton - very nice - but if you are a light sleeper, bring ear plugs and a sleeping pill, the hotel is right next to the railroad track. I had neither so I didn't get a wink of sleep....nerves and noise.

Alma (patient coordinator) came to the hold around 7:00 and gave a brief talk on what to expect the next day...very nice lady. The driver picked me and one other lady up at 6:30 - my surgery was scheduled for 10:00 am.

The hospital CIMA was beautiful, spotless, coordinated, but very few people spoke English. Not too much of a problem, they have done this a million times. BTY, do not take anything but an ID to the hospital - maybe your cell phone...but you don't need anything else. Slippers, robes, toothbrush and paste are all supplied.

Okay - on to surgery - I'm moving to POST-OP now:w00t: Check for part 3 over there. The surgery!!