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  1. KWKIKI
    KWKIKI
    I am now closing my 4th day post op.The travel from Tijuana home was nightmarish. I am so happy to be here. I have had some real pain when putting anything down, like something is stuck, bit it seems to be a little better in the evenings. It also seems better with warmer liquids. However, I hate everything I go to eat! All chicken broth tates like a mountain of salt. Sugar free jello tastes like mountain of sugar. I had no hunger at all until today. I'm not sure if it was real hunger, or that I am home where I eat and so I wanted to. I am getting the chills alot, like I have a temperature. I am trying to getthe antibiotics in, but it' a chore. For those of you going to Almanza, please be sure to request anti nausea meds almost as soon as you come out of anesthesia. My trip home took NINETEEN HOURS! It was so not oK. lol. I just want something to put in me that isn't too sweet or too salty. Oh and can't be acidic either - I know. I have like 9 days until I can have my 1 soft srambled egg. I look forward to that more than I can tell. I did manage a whole bottle of water and a 1/3 plus a 1/2 cup of warm tea today, thats the most i have been able to intake yet. Oh and the Gas X strips are not just a suggestion- they are a 1000% necessity. Don't go without them and make sure they are immediately availble when you wake from anesthesia- seriously, that will be the worse time of it. The incisions are getting less sore and starting to feel a little itchy sometime, good sign of healing.
    If you are staying at the Ticuan hotel do not stay on the side of the hotelwith the low numbers, I stayed my first night in 526 and the next in 705, to be honest 705 was a nicer room, until about 8pm, when club Las Palmas, wich is right there began blring samba music until---6AM! Don't buy silver from the guy with a little jewelry stand rightoutside your hotel, he's a liar, it's not silver. He speaks perfect English so you'll know who it is. Any questions I can answer I will be happy to do so! Oh and another note, many people before the surgery were confessing the cheating they did on their pre op diets. I was really surprised. What didn;t surprise me is the ones that had made thise confessions were the same as the ones that seemed to have the most pain and vomiting post surgery. Stick to the diet.
  2. MissBee
    MissBee
    Here is a question I have for you, what type of testing did they do for you befor the surger?
  3. decemberroses
    decemberroses
    I agree--the travel was murder. I am having the hardest time getting liquids in. I have only had about 28 ounces today, but I feel so stuffed and uncomfortable that I just can't drink anymore. I puked and dry heaved quite a bit after surgery, and not only did I not cheat, instead of the few days of liquid, I did a full two week pre-op and then my required days of liquid. Dr. Almanza actually complimented me on my work. lol! I walked and walked and walked and then I walked some more because I couldn't sleep anyway. Yet I am having the hardest time getting rid of the air still.
  4. Dawnrogers7
    Dawnrogers7
    I appreciate your information and the fact that you are not sugar coating everything! My main concern is I take medication and it is 10 pills/day. I am scared sh--less that I wont be able to swallow them all.
    Your trip home doesn't sound like any fun. I will be taking a straight through flight from San Diego to Portland and God willing will only take 2 1/2 hours.
  5. Dawnrogers7
    Dawnrogers7
    I also am not a fan of salt and I'm wondering if there is a low sodium version of broth or do we need the sodium? I really appreciate the info on the Gas X strips and the heads up on the room and on the shady non silver dude. How did you go about packing? I'm afraid of bringing too much and it will be too heavy. Can you please give me some tips on other essential to bring and what I don't need? I so appreciate your information!!!
  6. jenifer
    jenifer
    I was there last on the 5th of March. When they pick you up from the airport, they take you to a lab where they will draw blood, EKG, and viral signs are checked. A doctor will ask you a series if questions. Then you are on your way to the hotel. Oh, the guy with the silver almost got me, the jewelry is beautiful but he wanted too much from me so I walked off. :-)
  7. Bethwowo
    Bethwowo
    I'm on my liquid diet now...no cheating..the flight home scares me as it will take all day. atleast they can't kick me off the plan in the air! Thanks for the update. Good luck with continued success!!
  8. Mktmathis
    Mktmathis
    Im on day two of my liquied diet! No cheating here! Im not that hungery at all, which is weird for me. I went the whole day yesterday with only 50 grams of protien. Did a lot of broth, jello and popcicles. the best broth I had so far was homemade cornbeef and cabbage out of the crock pot! Yummy! Surgery is on friday. I leave thursday... getting close!
  9. Just J
    Just J
    This is really good info seeing as though
    I just arrived yesterday and having my
    Surgery today! So far every body here
    Has been so nice.
    I too will watch out for the silver guy.
    I have stuck to the pre-op diet they put
    Me on, I hope it helps.
  10. terry miller
    terry miller
    The silver guy got to me lol
  11. KWKIKI
    KWKIKI
    Ok...heres some more. The "lab" they take you to is ike something out of a 70's porn. LOL.no really. The "Dr." there asks you the same questions about 5 times. It is sketchy at best, but it's over and done with quickly. Sleep whenever you can. I mean this. Because they will get you up at 4 a.m. if it suits their schedule. The drivers are good guys. The nurses in the hospital are fine. If you know you are due for pain or nausea meds and it's a 1/2 hour past time, CALL the nurses room (at the hotel) the nurses there are over loaded. The day shift seem to have it together better than the night shift. Listen, no sugar coating this...it's an assembly line. It is not "the best care" by far, but it does the job! My main objective was to be sleeved and to lose weight, and I am 100% on my path ...I have the sleeve and am down 20lbs already. If you are expecting high end medical service, you will be thoroughly disappointed. If you go in knowing they do their minimal and you need to take control of your recovery time while you're there, you will do much better. Oh..ok...this is important, the day of the "X-Ray" they give you this purple stuff to drink. #1, make sure you have it by 10pm the night before if you want to sleep because they'll bring it to you late if not, #2, you only have to drink HALF of it, they skipped telling most of us this. here is a big one, before you go from the USA, buy a small bottle of Binaca or it's equivilent. Why? Because the yucky purple stuff is NOTHING compared to the nasty stuff the radiologist makes you drink right when you get in the xray room and you are going to want to get that taste out of your mouth like...pronto! Next big moment is when they remove the drain...it doesn't necessarily hurt, its a tad uncomfortable, but it mostly just feel really weird. I found I could get my water in much easier once it was removed. Every day gets better and better. Just J, I do not envy you and what you are feeling right now...ouch! I am hoping you recover quickly. Don't forget...ask for the meds!
  12. Mktmathis
    Mktmathis
    that is really good information! I leave Thursday, so I will keep all that in mind
  13. dietingdonna
    dietingdonna
    Awesome thanks for the real deal true story!
  14. kendraavant_ortiz
    kendraavant_ortiz
    That purple stuff and the clear yucky stuff was awful. Simply awful. The music from that club kept me up all night long. I was so annoyed, but at the same time I loved the view. My flight home was grueling at best, no pain but my body was really weak and I wanted to just lay down. If any of you can get your hands on a pair of compression hose (TED hose) get them at least knee high, I found that to help prevent post-op issues on the long flight. Especially for the window dwellers like me.
  15. KWKIKI
    KWKIKI
    OK, so I have been home now for a few days. I took out my stitches when I was told to, I suggest leaving the larger incision in for a few extra days. I didn't and the incision is not closed properly. I can actually take in liquids and soft foods without pain. I tried the "NEW WHEY" protein stuff, and it is NASTY! It tastes like a dirty kennel smells. So I went for 1/2 the protein and am drinking an ensure/protein drink a day in the mornings. I seem to be losing like a 1/2 lb a day right now. Pretty cool I think! Food is finally tasting normal too, for a while it was either WAY too salty or WAY too sweet. Energy, ot lack there of is not a wives tale, I really do get waves of total exhaustion and I am shaky and a little dizzy sometimes. I hope that will improve with time and being able to eat more regularly as time passes. I do get hungry, not sure yet if its real or mind hunger...still working out the kinks.
  16. secretblonde
    secretblonde
    i would have painted a far prettier picture for the newbies... My care was excellent at the hospital, and the staff was great and efficient for the most part...
    everyone goes through their own journey and recuperation will be different for all...

    the silver guy is a scam, lol, but if you know anything about TJ you would already know this.. he sets up because the gringos will buy from him .. go cheap, give it to your granddaughter ... (my group did not buy) we did shop on Revolution Ave the day before surgery and had a blast talking with the shopkeepers.... One lady even got a Massage (real one) and enjoyed it.

    The broth at the Hotel is very good... dont shy away from it... and please the broth is FREE, but please leave a TIP
    (no i am not a plant for the hotel employees, lol, i just work in the service industry)

    do not be afraid of Mexico.. you are safe... they LOVE tourists.. its their life!
  17. KWKIKI
    KWKIKI
    Well secretblonde, isn't it great that you can make your own blog/post about YOUR OWN experiences and paint a prettier picture for the "newbies" as you so called them. Me, I'm going to stick to the facts as they are/were for me and the many other women in my group when I was there. It's not all rosey and it's just as I said in MY experience. Also, most of Dr Almanza's patients do not "know " about Tijuana, as they aren't living right over the border. Like I said, I do not regret my decision, just wished I known what I was able to share with some who seemed to appreciate the candor.
  18. dietingdonna
    dietingdonna
    Thank you so much for your honest story and picture. I have never been there and I do want to know exactly what to expect!!!! I am traveling alone so I need 100% the truth so I am not shocked and then get scared ya know. Lord knows I have done 1000's of hours of reading and research on the sleeve and Dr ALmanza. But I am an intelligent adult and know that most people (and the Dr himself) will never paint a true picture!!! THANK YOU
  19. decemberroses
    decemberroses
    KWKIKI, you are spot on, and the description of the lab made me lol! In fact, the day we were there, the nurse and the doctor (who truly does ask the same questions over and over) were even kissing and flirting and giggling with each other. :-D And they forgot to mention to us as well until after that we needn't drink the whole bottle of purple stuff. I was SO stuffed trying to drink that, and stopped at a little more than half. I definitely concur with getting something in your mouth ASAP after that nasty clear stuff during the leak test. It was horrid and had several of us puking afterwards. I don't regret my decision either. At all. It felt like hell the first few days, but even then I didn't have regrets. If I was somehow going to do a do-over, I would probably go somewhere else, but not because this was the most horrible thing ever. I will admit, I'm just a little spoiled and would have liked a little more of a low-key operation. But really, I am happy with the end result.

    "Ok...heres some more. The "lab" they take you to is ike something out of a 70's porn. LOL.no really. The "Dr." there asks you the same questions about 5 times. It is sketchy at best, but it's over and done with quickly. Sleep whenever you can. I mean this. Because they will get you up at 4 a.m. if it suits their schedule. The drivers are good guys. The nurses in the hospital are fine. If you know you are due for pain or nausea meds and it's a 1/2 hour past time, CALL the nurses room (at the hotel) the nurses there are over loaded. The day shift seem to have it together better than the night shift. Listen, no sugar coating this...it's an assembly line. It is not "the best care" by far, but it does the job! My main objective was to be sleeved and to lose weight, and I am 100% on my path ...I have the sleeve and am down 20lbs already. If you are expecting high end medical service, you will be thoroughly disappointed. If you go in knowing they do their minimal and you need to take control of your recovery time while you're there, you will do much better. Oh..ok...this is important, the day of the "X-Ray" they give you this purple stuff to drink. #1, make sure you have it by 10pm the night before if you want to sleep because they'll bring it to you late if not, #2, you only have to drink HALF of it, they skipped telling most of us this. here is a big one, before you go from the USA, buy a small bottle of Binaca or it's equivilent. Why? Because the yucky purple stuff is NOTHING compared to the nasty stuff the radiologist makes you drink right when you get in the xray room and you are going to want to get that taste out of your mouth like...pronto! Next big moment is when they remove the drain...it doesn't necessarily hurt, its a tad uncomfortable, but it mostly just feel really weird. I found I could get my water in much easier once it was removed. Every day gets better and better. Just J, I do not envy you and what you are feeling right now...ouch! I am hoping you recover quickly. Don't forget...ask for the meds! "
  20. KWKIKI
    KWKIKI
    OK- so ...I am glad most of you appreciate the truth. As I said- absolutely no regrets. I have one more thing to add, it;s about the incisions. Wait an extra day or 3 before taking out your stiches from when they tell you to. Do not freak out when they are not "closed" all the way after removing stiches, just get the "wound" closing strips and use them. I was lucky to have a family member who had just gone through this to ask, my dauighter was freaking out and demanding I go to the ER! It will all be ok.
  21. billieromany
    billieromany
    Sitting at airport now they brought me 7 hours early so I will be dead by time I go home omg. My second flight is 4.5 hours long thru the night. I just can't wait to get something in me where the bad taste don't be there. I more hard as heck to get any fluids down going straight to my bark attic surgeon tomorrow and talk about options I just want maybe a low fat yogurt not sure if I want anything I know fluids r a must but they after taste sucks!! Any suggestions
  22. Wendylady
    Wendylady
    I am so glad I came across this post. I have my surgery scheduled in May and want as many details I can get before I get there. I had my lapband done here in Washington state so I've been through the surgery and pain part but I'm concerned about going so far from home for my sleeve. The price in Mexico is awesome and everyone I've talked to is great. I just don't want to be blindsided.
  23. Suzanne3/12
    Suzanne3/12
    Hi KWKIKI, this is Suzanne from your surgery group. I am not having trouble getting food down as long as I take it slow. I am wondering if I am eating too much? It is hard to get enough protein each day and I certainly don't get down enough water. I feel like I'm sipping something all of the time. I bought a juicer and hope this will help with nutrition, I just don't want to be eating too much and ruining what my surgery did. I have lost 20 pounds since 3/12, I have 50 to go, wish I knew if I was doing this right??
  24. Bobbi
    Bobbi
    I'm heading out for my surgery Thursday and the honest reviews actually put me at ease as now I know what to expect and can prepare for that. Only thing I'm afraid of is resisting the silver guy.. It's like kriptonite for me anyone else getting surgery this weekend?
  25. thea kinzer
    thea kinzer
    I am going for surgery 5/9 and appreciate all of your posts, I had the lap band with Dr.Ortiz in 2006 and understand Tijuana and the hotel parts, I don't understand the need for 10 days of liquids pre-op and think I will have a hard time. I am an RN and if I understood why I would do better with it.I am looking forward to it being finished and having a real chance at losing weight. I appreciate all of your comments Thanks
  26. Truffles
    Truffles
    The 10 days is based on your BMI. The need for it is to shrink your liver to make the surgery safer. The risk of not following the pre-op is that your liver isn't in a satisfactory state and Dr. Almanza has to abort the operation.

    I know it's tough. Stick with it. It will be over before you know it.
  27. daniellednw19832
    daniellednw19832
    I was told to pre diet for 5 days and my BMI is very high. I decided to diet for 10 days just to make sure I don't get sent home
  28. Michelle P
    Michelle P
    Secretblonde. As far as I'm concerned, a pretty enough picture has been painted. Had I started this, it would not have been nearly as nice. Glad tohave saved the money, and I knewit would be third world going in, but don't make it something it's not.
  29. ceceliam
    ceceliam
    I know this is a old post, but it relates to me since my surgery is coming soon. I appreciate all the candor.
  30. tashakelson
    tashakelson
    Did anyone bring cash to get the extra $200 off?
    If so, was there any problems with securing your things or carrying that amount of cash with you (airport, border etc).
    Do you pay your balance the first day you arrive?
    Thanks in advance for the info ��
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