I am going to post about my experience here. I arrived in San Diego and waited 40 minutes for the shuttle - it was late. My husband and I were getting sleeved together so we were able to be together every step of the way - we thought. We went from the airport to the Hotel Ticuan where we checked in and paid for the week. Since there were going to be 10 of us the next day 3/11/13 - we were to have the EKG and the blood work done at the hotel. Martin the patient coordinator came to get the paperwork signed and we were going to be one and two of the five people who spent the first night in the hsopital and had the surgery first thing in the morning. The lab people came in - he stuck me 5 times and had to get someone else to do it. The other person stuck me one time and got enough blood to finish the two little tubes. The EKG went off without a hitch. My huaband and I went down to check back out since we would be spending two nights at the hospital. The hotel charged us for the room since we were in it for 4 hours. We found out later they rented the room out after we were out of there - so they made double money on that room for Sunday night.
Off to the hospital - just like people said, located in a strip center. The three other people had their blood work done and their EKG's done and their IV's started while my husband and I waited in the waiting room for about two hours. I was then taken back, given a gown and shown to a room. Once in a room, the nurse tried to do an IV, noticing all the bruising, he only stuck me once stating that the morning nurse could get me an IV before the surgery in the morning. No IV for me that night. My husband was then shown up to my room with an IV about 30 minutes later. We then went to sleep.
We were awoken about 500am to meet Dr. Almanza - all 5 of us morning patients. He tolld us what he was going to do, what we should eat for the next couple of weeks, and then asked if we had any questions. He then took before pictures and left. That is the only contact I had with the doctor the entire time I was in Mexico. The surgery's started about 30 minures after that for the day. I was number 3 to go. Lupita came up to start my IV and she was fantastic. She got my vein with no problems and was really good. My turn for surgery and I walked down the stairs to the operating room - got on the table and they knocked me out. After the surgery they must have woken me up in the operating room because I walked back up the stairs and laid in the bed for about an hour. My husband was then done with his surgery. We laid together for about an hour. They then told me I had to go to the women's facility which is down the strip center. So, three of us women went. I laid there the whole rest of the day in terrible pain. I felt like there was no pain management - I was really hurting all day. They were giving me antibiotics and anti-nausea meds and said they were giving me the pain meds but I was in a lot of pain. Finally by the end of the day I couldn't take anymore and I buzzed every five minutes until he gave me something. He said he gave me some - then when I said I didn't feel any different, he finally came clean that he was out of pain meds and had to call over and get some more. So, finally a shot of the good stuff and that was the first relief I had all day.
Then the day after surgery was no better. I got released early in the morning to go back to the hotel. When I was walking out my husband was walking in - they moved him over to this facility for more observation for Tuesday. At the hotel the nurse came right in and shot me up with antibiotics, anti-nausea, and pain meds. I took a shower and I tried to sleep. I laid in bed as long as I could. I got a call about 300 in the afternoon to go back to the hospital for an IV bag of fluids. When I was leaving the shuttle that was picking all of us up brought my husband back to the hotel. The fluids took a couple of hours and then back to the hotel. When we got back I was asking about pain meds and the nurse told me to take the pills they had given us. So, I have an IV site still in, and I am supposed to be swallowing pills? Ugh! This is one day after surgery. Miserable since it still hurts to swallow anything - much less the antibiotic - and the pain pill.
The next day we had to go get the x-ray to show that it wasn't leaking - so drinking the gross blue stuff. Then in the afternoon get the drain out and the IV site out. Everything hurt and there was absolutely no pain management. I hated Mexico. All I can do now is pray that the actual surgery part is done right - and I don't know yet to be honest. Stitches should come out tomorrow. I do finally not hurt every second of every day. I am finally able to swallow without it hurting everytime - but I am 9 days out.
I am sorry to burst everyone's bubble - but mine and my husbands experience were not all sunshine and roses. Our experiences sucked in Mexico. If we had to recommend it - we would not. We would tell people to do it here in the states. Pay the extra money at your local hospital. They will negotiate a cash deal with you - and give you better care than you will receive in Mexico. That is how I feel.
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