A review: Tijuana, VSG, DR Kelly and Me!

[Gibson_girl]

Ok, I'm going to give every bit of my story in detail so grab a glass of water lol. I'm new to this board but just found it, I'm pretty active on a few others.

It all started around the first of March, 2013 when my friend (who just scheduled with Dr Kelly for May 16) mentioned you could get weight loss surgery in Tijuana for about 5k. I laughed so hard I almost spit out my drink and was like YAH RIGHT, I'll get right on that. After I went home I did a ton of research and a few days later I said, ok, if I'm still this heavy next year I will schedule the surgery, possibly in the states. I've been a medical professional for 15 years and had that old Tijuana reputation in my mind. After researching for hours, days on end I found Dr Kelly's profile. Hey, this guy is a member of FACS and the American Society for Bariatrics etc and had done a transplant surgery residency in the US. Really? 7,000 surgeries? Really? Well ok, I was impressed. $5500, REALLY? lol.......ok. I prayed and thought about it for a long time and looked at other surgeons. I read all the Dr Kelly gossip, about his unfortunate death and him leaving his coordinators behind. I can totally relate. I'm a midwife and deal with major complications that are not something I cause or can avoid. He operates on the most at risk population possible. Then I read that the bariatric surgery death rate was 1 in 400. I prayed about it and felt totally at peace. I looked at Dr Aceves and he seems wonderful also, but I just couldn't justify the extra $3,000 when Dr Kelly had as much as more experience........he just never split from his coordinators and had them drag him through the mud. One of the most respected midwives in this area lost a baby a few months ago, which of course tore her and the family a hole in their hearts that will never close. Thankfully we support talented midwives (she had taught and trained so many over the years) when something out of control happens, in MX I guess they drag you through the mud for years. In MX I'm sure that all Drs have deaths, there is no way that they have escaped the 1 in 400 statistic if they have done thousands of surgeries. It is just impossible. I talked to Lora a lot and even had Dr Kelly call me. I prayed some more and decided instead of waiting until I gained another 100 pounds in a year to just go ahead and go for it, so I scheduled for April 9th. I texted Lora constantly, she was always so sweet and helpful. She was a patient of Dr Kelly's also and doesn't get paid per patient, just a salary. I even tried to trick her once to see if she was really a coordinator and asked her if there were any other surgeons she might suggest. She said I had a lot of options but she had chosen Dr Kelly. I was relieved to know she really did just work for him (I'm a suspicious person lol).

The week before my scheduled surgery I started the pre-op diet. I had a higher BMI (50, 49.something at my actual surgery) so it was all liquids for me. Ugh.....terrible. Then on day 4 my husband developed pneumonia and my daughter caught the flu from him. Surgery cancelled. Lora was really nice and I rescheduled for April 22nd. Lucky me I got to do the preop diet again (I regained all the weight back from the 4 days before from pizza....i'm sick) and stuck to it the whole 7 days! I lost 11 lbs.

The day of surgery I picked my mom up super early and we headed for our 7 hours of flights to San Diego. I tried to buckle my seat belt and it wouldn't buckle. Oh my goodness. I had to ask the stewardess what to do and she discreetly handed me an extender. Nothing more reassuring you need WLS than not being able to fit into a pretty large seat belt on the plane. When I got to San Diego I received a text from Alina telling me Dr Kelly's wife would be there in about 10 minutes. I had to sit in the sunshine for 10 minutes, oh the horror. A gorgeous, sweet lady got out of a very nice 15 passenger van and introduced herself and grabbed my luggage. It was Dr Kelly's wife Cecy. On the way to the hospital she apologized for her English, it is ok. We communicated pretty well and she told me about the areas we were passing etc. It was neat. When I pulled up to the hospital I was impressed. From hearing about it I thought it might be a bit run down but it was very nice. I was taken to lab, xray, seen the attending Dr and the cardiologist all within about an hour. They took care of you but there was no waiting around until that was over. After that I was in my bed having a nervous breakdown and praying with my mom. I asked for something to calm me. They gave me something and it helped a little. When they came to get me the Anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. Ooops........Dr Kelly had already been in twice. I forgot to mention that. He took his time and answered my zillion questions, what a kind caring man.

I got in the operating room and it looked much like the one I was in for my csections in the states. The anesthesiologist asked if I was ready and said slowly, ok ok bye bye and the next thing I realized I was waking up in my room. They had me in recovery for quite a while and I guess I was awake but it's all a blur. I was NAUSEOUS! I mean the kind of nausea you get when they twirl you in those things at the county fair that make you stick to your seat. They had given me a dose of Zofran already but it was awful. Dr Kelly ok'd it more often. Kudos to you that get up and walk. I couldn't because I would have fell over. I truly think it was a reaction to the anesthesia, I tend to be really sensitive to medications. It was the exact drugs they use in the states, (oh I checked) but people are different. I finally went to sleep and woke up about 11 hours later. This was the first time I asked for pain medicine. They gave it right away along with some Zofran. I had an IV with 5% dextrose so you won't get famished even though you aren't hungry. They don't use narcotic pain medicines unless you specifically really, really need them because you need to walk. I was given a strong IV NSAID and it worked lovely and controlled my pain. Yes, I was sore, I felt like someone punched me in the upper abdomen 100 times. The first day is definitely the hardest but you heal so quickly it is amazing. I've heard from some the nurses at Oasis speak English. Um, well, they speak enough to understand what you need and are very sweet but I met very few that were fluent. I used Google translate a few times with the free WiFi. There is an attending Dr there at all times and they all spoke English probably better than I do lol. Everyone went out of their way to be kind, and they cleaned the large room twice per day. My mother was very comfy with her twin size bed. She's about 5'2" and watching her lay there I figure someone 6ft or more would fit comfortably. It wasn't tiny and had drawers underneath. I also had a nice lil closet for my stuff. The hospital bedding is sooooooo warm and cozy, like a really thick comforter and all. Nice touch.

By day 2 I was feeling good and ready to roll! I met a lot of patients, all happy, except one who was happy with the surgery/hospital but was angry with the booking agent for switching/downgrading her hotel at the very last minute. I told her about booking directly with Lora and the Dr. By that time I was so ready for something to drink that I snuck about an ounce or two of apple juice. I'm just going to admit it, don't follow my mistakes. Alina stopped in with a very nice packet outlining your food each step of the way and which medicines (antibiotics, prilosec and pain) to take when. We went to Hospital Angeles because they have a new, super cool machine for leak tests that is better than the one at Florence/Oasis. It's definitely an upgrade you don't get unless you book with the Dr because otherwise it is the agencies taking care of your hospital arrangements etc and it is out of the Dr's hands. The stuff you drink tastes gross and Dr Kelly came running over with some juice for me so I could get the taste out of my mouth quickly. He is very thoughtful. We all took pics together in the lobby afterward.

Upon arrival at the Lucerna I was so excited. This isn't Hilton Nice, this is W nice. Huge hotel set up like Villas with a pool with a bridge over it, a courtyard with a fountain and fish etc. The broth was actually good, I was skeptical. We walked around the very safe area both days and felt like I was on vacation. I saw Dr Kelly everyday but the day I left (which is expected, seen him for 4 days). I rested and walked around, just had fun.

On the last day Cecy told me to be ready about 9am but our flight didn't leave until 1pm so I figured it was border issues. We actually flew through the medical lane and was in San Diego by 10am. She was taking my mom, a breast cancer survivor to the Cancer Survivor's Park as a surprise. How sweet. It is beautiful by the water. We stayed and then said our goodbyes at the airport and she told me she knew plastic surgeon's, dentists, etc and they drive from the airport multiple times per day so if I wanted to follow up with Dr Kelly and come back to TJ just let her know and she'd pick me up. They are very kind, warm people.

The flight home seemed like forever but it wasn't bad or painful. I'm 10 days post op today and have lost 22lbs already (11 preop and 11 post op). Oh, and the day I got to the Lucerna I weighed myself and I had gained back ALL the weight I lost preop. I kinda freaked but was told it was water. They were right! Don't fret.

I loved my experiences and wouldn't have changed it a bit! I've been blessed by God every step of the way, from finding and good surgeon and guiding his hands to healing me very quickly. I'm still paranoid about complications, but that is just me. So far, so awesome!

Feel free to PM me with any questions or just to say hi!!

Everyone wants to hear the negatives........so I'll have to come up with some. The traffic is TJ is nuts. Cecy is a good driver but I'm a horrible passenger and it is like NYC going 60mph. They test you for HIV at the hospital without your permission in your preop labs, as a medical professional in the states I thought this was crazy.....but I could really care less. I would bring extra juice in your suitcase, I brought gatorade bottles and the little 10 oz apple juicy juices because I wanted them for my room and didn't feel like walking to get them although I walked for everything else lol. I can't do artificial sweeteners so I brought my own Jello too, the kind you find on the regular shelves that doesn't melt when it is warm.. I think it is called Juicy Jels or something. That's all I can come up with lol.

[L.Gould]

Nice to hear another awesome experience in Mexico, I went last September, considered Dr. Kelly very strongly, he's originally from my state, went with another surgeon though. I wish you continued success!!!

[1deanna]

Thank you so much for that post it really eased my mind. I'm still saving to do my surgery and I'm sure I will go with Dr Kelly. It is posts like yours that gives alot of us non VSG people comfort that all will go well.

[Gibson_girl]

Thanks for the kind words! It's posts from others and researching his US credentials that really made me comfortable with him. I wouldn't have changed a thing!

12 days out I have lost 15lbs postop, plus the 11lbs I lost preop. After surgery it's been easy, the preop diet is important but tough!

[DebbieD]

Thanks for taking the time for such a great post! Even reading the "bad stuff" I ran into about Dr. Kelly, I found SOOOO.....MUCH MORE GOOD STUFF! I knew I made a good choice!

[yankegal]

Your story sounds very similar to mine, I researched Dr Kelly and learned a lot about him, his studies in the states, even met two drs in the states that knew him. so that is what sold me! when I got there I was brought to the Lucerna hotel, beautiful!!! we got there 2 days earlier because of cost of flights, it was cheaper for me to fly out earlier, so we relaxed by the pool and my husband ate and ate and ate, me I drank water, and had yogurt. When I met Dr Kelly he came to the hotel and sat for hours with us, because truthfully I almost chickened out! but after discussing tons of things he made me feel so relaxed, I was now ready! so the next day they came and picked us up, the roads are very bumpy and they do drive fast! the hospital and the people that worked there were fantastic, most spoke good English except 2. two other drs. came in to speak withme about my health, and took me for xrays, and then I was ready to go! Dr Kelly came back in and said are you ready? I said yes I am. so off to the or I went, when I came to, I too felt nauseated, but they gave me some medication and I fell asleep, hubby was in the bed next to me. leloved it there, he walked all over the place and ate all kinds of food, he loved it! he even walked to the beach and the bull ring across from the hospital. I never got to see it! I stayed two days then off to the other hospital and got my test, then off to the Lucerna, the worst part for me was the bumpy ride, and smelling all that wonderful Mexican food! but after surgery I could care less!! Dr Kelly came to see me each day 2 x a day, and at night, one night he brought his wife and young son, she didn't speak any English then so she must have learned. I invited him to come visit us anytime and him and hubby talked a lot. He is a great dr, he was worth every penny I spent, and I would do it all over again. I have contacted him for references for plastic surgery. I hope to go back again to visit and maybe to have a tummy tuck. Good luck to you, I enjoyed reading your post, it really brought back a ton of memories. My surgery is almost 2 yrs come Aug. and I have had no problems and have maintained my weight.

[realisreal]

Love to see posts like this!

[SANDRA62]

I sooooo can't wait...Ghaaaa!!!! July 31st get here already!!

thanks for your posts...it really helps to know I made the right choice!

[Think]

I know, I never thought I would want the summer to pass so quickly as I do right now! I am certain I have decided on Dr Ramos Kelly and every time I see posts like these it reinforces the reason I have made my decision.

Good luck to all!

[saccarmen]

I am scheduled 7/29 with Dr Kelly. Nervous and excited

[coloradogirl]

Thank you for posting this story. It was so inspiring that I booked my june 18 surg with dr ramos-kelly after I read this.
I'm hoping for a good experience like you.

[SANDRA62]

SACCARMEN I will make sure to say Hi if I see you there!

[Rox]

Thanks for your story

[fsuchick97]

Thanks so much for the detailed information. I'm new to the site and when I first saw the posts about having surgery in MX, I thought it was crazy and scary idea but your post is really helpful and makes me think that I just might have some options, seeing as I just found out earlier this week that my company's insurance policy no longer covers wls. THANKS SO MUCH!

[Gibson_girl]

You are welcome. I'm 4 months out and down 80lbs. I would go to MX, to Dr Kelly 100X if I had to so I'd never return to the old me.....the one that ate a huge meal and was ready for desert 10 minutes later and again in an hour.

I've been a little naughty this month, but I still lost 7 lbs (I was at 73 at 3 months I think). I've done nothing crazy, but eating carbs and drinking lemonade etc. I'm going to reset tomorrow and eat my protein and work out. 80 more to go!

Good luck! If you need any help with surgeons or hospitals I'd be happy to help. I picked Dr Kelly because he is arguably the most experienced along with Dr Aceves, but Dr Aceves was 3k more with no apparent advantage. I'm still friends with the Dr and Lora, they are on my Facebook!