My Mexico Sleeve Experience - Almanza

[Charity]

Hello all! I'm back home in Missouri, sleeved, and finally comfortable and happy. The first few days were miserable, but I'm finally able to say that I'm happy I did it. So here's the whole story.

I arrived in San Diego late on Thursday night. My sleeve pal Terry had gotten a hotel for us, so I took a taxi there. We hit it off right away, and talked for a while before going to bed. The next morning, we went to the airport to wait for the shuttle from the Jerusalem Clinic. It was a little chaotic because of construction and trying to meet up with everyone, but we figured it all out. The driver came to pick us up in a VW van. The driver spoke some English, but two of the people in our group were fluent in Spanish, so it didn't matter. The drive to the border took about 15 minutes, and the clinic was about 10 minutes from the border.

Once at the clinic, we all sat in a teeny tiny waiting room. The front desk person asked for our passports, and one by one, we were taken into a little room off the waiting room to have blood drawn by Lupita. She is an EXCELLENT stick - the blood draw didn't hurt a bit. After that, we were given our blue booties and taken into the clinic.

Upstairs, we met Dr. Juan Betancourt, who took our medical histories. Another MD came and got an EKG on all of us. We were each given our rooms (2 people per room), and IVs were started. It was a long wait, and one by one, they came and got us for surgery. When it was my turn, I walked into the OR, they asked why my lapband had been removed (slipped), and then they put something in my IV to relax me. That's the last thing I remember until I woke up in recovery and asked for something for nausea. I was in recovery about an hour, I guess, and then someone came and walked me back to my room.

That night was rough - the night nurse, Christian, was HORRIBLE. I am a nurse, and ended up getting into a huge fight with him because he had missed some of my pain medication. As soon as Lupita came in the next morning, she gave me a drip of pain medication and reflux meds. A few hours later, I was feeling MUCH better. I did, however, opt to stay at the Clinic the entire stay there. The frequent nausea was the absolute worst part. It wasn't a lot, just a mouthful of bile, but it was the worst part. Thankfully, it subsided after about 24 hours.

That night, a different nurse was on. He was MUCH nicer, and much more on top of things when it comes to pain meds. That night was great, and I woke up the next day feeling MUCH better. ...that is, until it was time for radiology! I got the blue dye down, which was pretty gross, but the worst part was at the office when I had to drink a cup of clear contrast. The volume was so much that it made me throw up. Thankfully, I had no leaks or anything. After that, I went back to the clinic to relax for the rest of the day. That evening, I got my drain pulled, my IV pulled, a shower, and a shot of morphine. I slept like a baby.

The next morning, I got up and went to the Recovery House to wait for my flight. The Recovery House seemed very nice, and Servio was very accomodating while I waited. The driver came to get me at about 12, and the trip over the border took about 1.5 hours. After getting over the border, it was smooth sailing through the airport and on to home.

In all, the experience at the Jerusalem Clinic was amazing. I'm down about 11 lbs since Friday, which makes me happy. I'd do it again, or recommend the clinic in a heartbeat. I'm starting my tummy tuck fund, and plan to go there next summer (1.5 years) for plastic surgery if I need it! Amazing. If anyone is doubting - do it. Your life will change SO much!

[N2DVN]

Thanks for sharing details! Congrats on the 11 pounds! Cannot wait to go in 63 days!

[scgal21]

Glad to hear your experience was a positive one and you are on your road to a new you! Please keep us all posted on your journey.

[Sunflower]

Charity, thanks for your account. And congratulations on your surgery and already losing 11 pounds. Sorry about tha night nurse messing up your meds. Seems to be a recurring theme with him.

[DavidNM]

Very similar to my experience last week. We stayed at the TiCuan which was a very nice hotel. I wouldn't have wanted to stay at the residence house because someone was cooking constantly. It's so good to me home. Everything seems to be working out fine - a bit gassy - but I guess that's to be expected.

[newme2011]

Glad it all went well and you are home !
Julie

[AKGirl65]

Just a quick post about the recovery house. Maybe something was different the two nights I stayed but they didn't cook 24/7. It was early morning and early afternoon. The cook was gone by 4. The smell did bother me a little but I just went to my room and shut the door and everything was fine and I was in the 5 bed room. I wouldn't hesitate to do this again at the clinic and with dr. Almanza. I think it helps being mentally prepared and realize for a couple of days you're going to be uncomfortable. I was never in any pain and was lucky never to be nauseas.

[Georganne]

Are they cooking because of "other patients" that are there for other type of surgeries who can still "eat"? Otherwise it dosent make sense if they are cooking for post op gastirc sleeve pts since you cant eat (unless its broth they are heating) but really??

[Charity]

They cooks are there because all the food that is prepared for the staff is done there. That includes the doctors, nurses, drivers, cleaning staff, and all the guests of patients at both the recovery house and clinic.

[DavidNM]

They're cooking for the guests of the patients, the hospital and the staff.

[Shoppingbeemom]

Congratulations!