My experience with Dr. Garcia in Mexico- Warning: very long

[ladyberg]

Arriving in Tijuana late Sunding evening I made it across the boarder to the Marriott hotel for the night. The Marriott was very nice and clean. A van transported 3 of us to the Mi Doctor hospital for VGS surgery the next. When we arrived, we filled out paperwork then were assigned a hospital room. I stayed in room 302 which was close to road and you could hear traffic all night long. They did supply earplugs for you to help with the noise level. The hospital is underconstruction and the workers are bagging hammers from 8am until 6pm, which was horrible and you could not rest. I had to have 6 IV starts in 2 days due to IV fluids infiltrating the surrounding tissue. The nurses were nice and tried to communicate the best they could. Some spoke english better then others. The nurses (2 of them) were in first to take blood, do an EKG, get you gowned and start your IV. They wait until all your labs are back before they start any surgeries which is around 1:00 pm. The first doctor in to see me was the internal medication doctor who is a female. She makes rounds every day on all the patients. Next the anesthesiologist to evaluate you for surgery. Last to visit you was Dr. Garica to review your labs and answer any questions. I was taken in first to the OR. Next thing I remember waking up in the recovery having a fat upper lip. They said that I bit down on the ET tube when they were taking out. I looked like a had Mick Jagguar lips. I went alone so they gave me a button to push if I needed the nurse once back in the room. The nurses came in and gave you medication around the clock, even if you did not ask for anything. They do have morphine for pain (in shot form) but it is not offered and you have to ask for it. The medications given were Zofran, Toradol, Reglan, Ancef, Tramadol, Zantac, Dexamethasone all IV. They give you a Lovenox shot to prevent blood clots for 3 days while you are there. I was up walking the halls pretty quickly after the surgery (not due to any gas pains) just wanted to keep my body moving.On day second day I noticed one of the suture sites (which they use dissolvable sutures) was red and hurting but had no drainage. I had 5 sutured areas in all and it feels like you have been stabbed with a knife in your upper abdomen. Unable to get comfortable to due pain over the sutured area. I mentioned it to the doctor on day 2 but she said we would just watch it. Went down to do the barrium swallow test with constrast- which showed no leaks.. Then I was required to start drinking fliuds and a blue constrast dye to check for leaks in the drain tube. On day 3 before discharge the nurse and doctor came into together to pull the drain tube and change the dressings. Once again I told her that I had an abscess forming under the skin (because I am an FNP I have treated many myself). I requested to be placed on Augmentin which she dissagreed with me and told me that american doctors overuse Augmentin and put me on Avelox which I was required to pay for because it is not the "regular" antibiotic they use for patients. The drain tube was pulled (which I only had a scant of blood in mine). It did not hurt, it just felt uncomfortable because you could feel it moving across your abdomen. Was then discharged with the other 2 patients (given toradol for pain and maloxx for gas, 2 bottles of water and 2 bottles of gatorade along with the paperwork and a CD copy of the barrium swallow showing no leaks) and was transferred by the van back to Marriott. They give you phone numbers and tell you to call them for any problems. Of course your cell phones don't work in Mexico and to dial out of the hotel you have to international which cost 4 dollars. NO ones comes to check on you. Was able to drink small tolerate amount of bottled water and gatorade and the hotel chichen broth. Day 4 the diahrrhea started. I did not know if it was from the surgery or gatorade. The infected site was not getting better even with the antibiotic. Was able to walk around the hotel and sit by the pool for awhile but still uncomfortable. The morning of day 5 I was getting ready to leave the hotel and cross the boarder. Thats when the diarrhea got pretty severe. Went to the hotel lobby and was able to buy peptobismol by the pill. Left San Diego and made it back to Atlanta around midnight. Woke up this am the more pain in the abdomen. Our office has Saturday hours so went into today to see my doctor. Was changed to Augmentin and given lortab for pain. If the area does not clear up I will have to be referred to a surgical doctor here to have the area opened and drained. The discharge note stated that there were "no complications" during the stay. I believed that they did not want to mention the abscess/cellulitis that was going on. I am sure it makes their record look better concerning post-op infections then it truly is. The female doctor tried to tell me that I had formed a granuloma not an abscess to which I say that..... hogwash. I wanted to share my story with others and ask that if you read this please pray for me that the new antibiotic will clear up my infection.

[Gayle]

Hi Ladyberg!
I am sooo sorry to hear of your problems! It really sucks to hurt like that!
I, too, am in the Atlanta area, as are at least 3 other sleeves I have become acquainted with. Perhaps we should meet up for an Isopure mocktail some day .
I see that you had your surgery 5 days after mine. As I have come to learn, everyone feels better in their own time. It took me until Day 9 to feel human. I hope you are feeling somewhat back together WELL before I did. Hang in there, and thank you so much for sharing your story from an insider's point of view.
Hugs

[xxtac66]

Oh Ladyberg! I am sooo sorry you have an infection! You seem to know exactly what is going on which is half the battle, unfortunately, they didnt want to deal with it across the border. I hope your local doctor can help you heal without further complications. Prayers going up on your behalf for a smooth and quick recovery. Keep us posted on your progress. Hugz!

[Ms.lovely65]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I had dr almanza, but went instead to the recovery house where we were closely monitored and treated with the very best care. The only complication that I have is that my primary psychician had problems taking out the very small stitches which opened two of my incisions. Now I have to wait longer for them to heal and watch out for infections. Also, my primary care dr. Doesn't know too much Bout the gastric sleeve diet so j have to find nutritionist quick. Lol

[itsmytime]

Hi there!
I've heard good things about Dr. Garcia but I know sometimes things can happen. It does sound like they just weren't sure or didn't want to admit the infection. I have no idea. I have heard of infections after surgery in Mexico but it also happens in the U.S. I really hope the infection gets cleared up. I know you don't want any hospital bills if they have to go in and drain the infection! I don't know what that requires but it sounds like you do. What does opening you up to drain the infection mean? Will they be able to do it through the incision without having to open you up? Hopefully it doesn't come to that! I will add you to my prayer list!

[Sunflower]

sorry about your bad experience. What did Dr. Garcia say about all of this? Dr. Ramos Kelly did my surgery, and he came in and checked on me in the hospital and hotel every day. I was very well cared for. Feel better! And ocngratualtions on getting sleeved.

[ladyberg]

Hi there!
I've heard good things about Dr. Garcia but I know sometimes things can happen. It does sound like they just weren't sure or didn't want to admit the infection. I have no idea. I have heard of infections after surgery in Mexico but it also happens in the U.S. I really hope the infection gets cleared up. I know you don't want any hospital bills if they have to go in and drain the infection! I don't know what that requires but it sounds like you do. What does opening you up to drain the infection mean? Will they be able to do it through the incision without having to open you up? Hopefully it doesn't come to that! I will add you to my prayer list!

When you look at the suture sites if there is redness, pain (different then soreness), or drainage- then what happens is some type of bacteria (bug) has invaded the tissue under the skin. This is a warning sign of an infection. First you start the patient on antibiotics (the correct one to cover the type of bacteria causing the infection) then if the area does not improve, you must have the area opened back up (just cutting through the top layers of skin) and then drain (squeezing out the underlying pus) irrigate with sterile water then pack the area with idoform strip. This is what is called an I & D in the medical world. My doctor did a culture of the drainage yesterday so you know exactly what type of bacteria is growing and what antibiotic gives you the best coverage. Hope this explanation helps.

[ladyberg]

sorry about your bad experience. What did Dr. Garcia say about all of this? Dr. Ramos Kelly did my surgery, and he came in and checked on me in the hospital and hotel every day. I was very well cared for. Feel better! And ocngratualtions on getting sleeved.

You have 2 doctors at the Mi Doctor hospital. Dr. Garcia whom does the surgery and Dra. Velazco whom does the daily rounding in the hospital- she is the one that takes care of you daily and checks the wound sites. You only see Dr. Garcia before the surgery and the next day when he comes in to talk with you about the surgery itself. Dr. Velazco is the doctor who discharges you from the hospital. I am sure Dr. Garcia does not even know what transpired between me and Dr. Velazco because according to her discharge summary there were "no complication during or after the procedure stay".

[mamamckinzie]

Thank goodness you stayed on top of the infection! Glad you got your culture done..keep us posted and best of luck for a better recovery now that your stateside.

[cowgirldiva17]

I am so sorry to hear about the infection. Prayers going up for a quick recovery and many blessings for you on this journey!! Keep us posted.

[Sunflower]

You have 2 doctors at the Mi Doctor hospital. Dr. Garcia whom does the surgery and Dra. Velazco whom does the daily rounding in the hospital- she is the one that takes care of you daily and checks the wound sites. You only see Dr. Garcia before the surgery and the next day when he comes in to talk with you about the surgery itself. Dr. Velazco is the doctor who discharges you from the hospital. I am sure Dr. Garcia does not even know what transpired between me and Dr. Velazco because according to her discharge summary there were "no complication during or after the procedure stay".

Don't you think you should inform Dr. Garcia? I'm sure he would want to know.

[DecoGirl]

I too just had the vertical sleeve done by Dr. Garcia and have a total of 4 suture sites and two look INFECTED. I just came back from ER where I waited 2 hours in the Phoenix area, and decided to go to a regular doctor tomorrow morning. Both incision sites are very red and look a little yellowish under the surface. ALSO MY DRAINAGE INCISION HAS BEEN OOZING A YELLOWISH PUSS TYPE STUFF. Not a lot of it, but it seems to me it shouldn't be oozing anything at all.

My advice to anyone considering having this done out of the country is to not do it. Is it really worth the risk?

I just came back from San Diego today and I can't even focus on recovery because I have to first address the infectious wounds.

DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE.

[DecoGirl]

I want to thank you ladyberg, for sharing your story. I just posted the above comment as well, and I am very upset. I was also in room 302. I was actually in another room, while they were cleaning 302 on the 20th. You must have just been released prior to that. I don't remember seeing you.

Please keep me posted on whether the augmentin works because I will be asking the doctor for that very medicine tomorrow when I go.

[ladyberg]

I too just had the vertical sleeve done by Dr. Garcia and have a total of 4 suture sites and two look INFECTED. I just came back from ER where I waited 2 hours in the Phoenix area, and decided to go to a regular doctor tomorrow morning. Both incision sites are very red and look a little yellowish under the surface. ALSO MY DRAINAGE INCISION HAS BEEN OOZING A YELLOWISH PUSS TYPE STUFF. Not a lot of it, but it seems to me it shouldn't be oozing anything at all.

My advice to anyone considering having this done out of the country is to not do it. Is it really worth the risk?

I just came back from San Diego today and I can't even focus on recovery because I have to first address the infectious wounds.

DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE.

Was Dr. Garcia aware of the infection sites or did Dra. Velazco just tell you that you had formed a granuloma and blow you off about it not being an infection? Did she put you on any antibiotics?

[ladyberg]

I want to thank you ladyberg, for sharing your story. I just posted the above comment as well, and I am very upset. I was also in room 302. I was actually in another room, while they were cleaning 302 on the 20th. You must have just been released prior to that. I don't remember seeing you.

Please keep me posted on whether the augmentin works because I will be asking the doctor for that very medicine tomorrow when I go.

Your doctor needs to culture the infected areas to know what antibiotic to put you on. Today I went to the surgical doctor and he numbed the area, opened it up, and squeezed the pus out, then packed it. This is going to be the only way to irradicate the infection.