FInally on the Sleeved Side!!

[Pedro115]

Hey Sleevers!

Sorry it took so long to get you all updated, it's been a hectic week! I went into this hoping to update daily, but things moved so quickly and internet service was so shoddy it was not possible. So I guess it would be easiest to give a day by day review of my experience, and list out some things that I may have missed in prepping for my surgery.

Day 0
So I went into panic mode the night before my flight to San Diego because I learned my brother would not be able to go with me. He spent a little too much time celebrating Ohio State's victory and was charged with a DUI. I was absolutely terrified to know that I would be traveling completely alone to a foreign country where I would undergo major surgery. I then started to think about how I've spent the first 35 years of my life alone, and I guess it seemed pretty fitting to end my unhealthy life alone.

Day 1
My flights were a breeze - US Airways allowed me to utilize all three seats that I had purchased for my brother and I, so I comfortably had the entire row to myself on my way to San Diego. I did get a little freaked out by the size of the Phoenix Airport here my flights connected - it's quite large and laid out in such a way that you can get lost very quickly if you do not pay attention. Upon arrival at San Diego airport I called to check in with WLA, who directed me to Zone F, outside of baggage claim 1. What they did not tell me was that Zone F is outside of baggage claim 1, in terminal 1. My flight unfortunately landed at Terminal 2.

***TIP! To find Zone F, follow the signs to United Airlines Baggage Claim, I suggest you stay inside the airport as you make your way to Terminal 1, I just walked around the building following the zone signs. This took about 15 minutes to walk the exterior, I am sure it is much quicker to walk through the airport.

Once I found Zone F (marked with a green sign, between two sets of 3 tall palm trees) WLA called back to confirm I had arrived, and advised that the Drivers would be there momentarily. Within 5 minutes two shuttle vans arrived, and I was surprised to find that 5 other patients and their loved ones were traveling with me. The drivers loaded up the vans with our luggage and off we were to Tijuana!

***TIP! Don't forget to bring some smaller denominations of cash to tip these drivers - They do their best to get you to where you need to be, and lug all of your suitcases and bags around for you. I tipped $10.00 on every trip and $20.00 on the way home, they do a great job of taking care of you!

The Mexican Border is only 15 minutes from the airport, and following a brief 2 minute border inspection we were in Mexico! To my surprise, as soon as we had crossed the border I received a text message from my cell phone carrier, announcing I was now in Mexico, and that outgoing calls had been shutoff, and that I would need to call them from a different phone in order to activate international calling. Text Messages were $.50 to send, $.05 to receive, so you may want to check with your carrier to activate international calling coverage before you leave!!

As mentioned previously, there were a total of 6 of us traveling to TJ together, 2 of us were scheduled for surgery the same day, and 4 of us were scheduled for the next morning. We were taken directly to HMN hospital, where we were told we would all be receiving our blood work and EKG. They no longer use a 3rd party lab anymore, everything is done right there at HMN. HMN hospital was very clean as soon as you stepped in the door, and everyone greeted us kindly as we were escorted with our bags to the top floor for admission paperwork. One at time we were taken to a small consultation office where we went over our surgery information, and signed off on the paperwork for the Anesthesiologist. I was then asked to have my surgery the same day, as was everyone else! We were then taken to a private room for blood drawing and EKGs.

After about 2 hours of chatting with one another in a small lobby, Dr. Almanza came out to greet us all individually, and then went over the procedure. He is very soft-spoken and his English is a little choppy, but you can understand him just fine. He fielded all questions from our group until everyone was satisfied, and off he went to prep for our surgeries. It would be another 2 hours before we were taken down to prep and dress for surgery, and all of our group had a great time getting to know each other. It was at this time that I met Nikki & Ty from Utah, and Janet and Jeff from Seattle. These people would become my lifesavers and great friends for the next 5 days as I was the only there alone. These wonderful people kept me company, and went out of their way to help me with some things you may not even think about if you are there with a loved one. I cannot thank them enough for making my trip much less stressful!

Finally we were escorted down to hospital rooms, men in one room, women in another, 3 beds per room. We were provided hospital gowns and asked to changed. We were then given an IV and some antibiotics, and were asked to wait in these rooms until our surgery. We were then escorted down, one at a time to the pre-op room, where the anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. After about a twenty minute wait in pre-op I was rolled down the hall to the surgical room, where I was given the anesthesia, and I was out like a light!

When I finally came to I was being wheeled back into the same room where all of us had been asked to change, and where Jeff and his wife had already returned from surgery as well. My first impression as I started gaining full consciousness was that I didn't feel much pain at all, but after sitting up and putting some shorts on I started feeling the incisions and gas pressure. The nurses were back in the room within minutes to put me back on IV fluids / antibiotics, and inject pain meds via IV as well. Unfortunately for me the pain meds that we were given were not quite strong enough, as I have been on high strength opioid pain meds for almost 3 years since my back injury. I inquired about more potent meds and the nurses called down to the anest. dr for approval. I'm sure I could have gotten on without them, but they were quick to get the additional meds approved and injected. Within an hour after surgery I was up and walking around, moving the air around as much as I could, the more you walk the better you will feel - this goes for your entire stay down there!!

I spent the majority of the night walking the halls as I had some terrible gas pains whenever I tried to lay down, and actually spent some time sleeping in the chairs in the elevator lobby! Once morning arrived, Dr. Almanza returned to check on our incisions and progress. We were finally allowed to drink some water and apple juice, which is like heaven after a full day of not having any liquids! After a few hours of IV fluids we were asked to change clothes and gather our belongings, and were then taken to the Hotel Real del Rio, which was very nice. I lucked out and ended up having my own room, as everyone else had brought their loved ones with them. Beds were comfortably, rooms were clean. The hotel dr and nurses were very attentive, and came around every 3 hours or so for more fluids, pain meds, and antibiotics. They are also very quick to respond should you call their room with a question.

The next morning we were asked to drink some contrast @ 7 am, and be in the lobby at 7:45, and we were taken to a third party clinic for a leak test and xray. Thankfully everyone's scans came back clean, and we were returned to the hospital, where we were allowed to take a shower and have our bandages changed. The next morning the hotel dr came by and reviewed and distributed our xrays, looked over our incisions and drain, and happily informed me my IV and drain would be removed later that evening.

Everything went off without a hitch, and a day later I was driven back over the border and dropped at my terminal. I have been lucky in that I haven't experienced any nausea whatsoever, and the gas pains had all but disappeared by day 5, and I am well on my way to a full recovery! Tomorrow I go over my friends house to have his nurse wife remove my stitches, which I cannot wait for as they are starting to get itchy! I have not felt hungry in the least, even with only drinking fluids and small protein shakes, and am proud to report I hit the 40 pound mark this morning! I am more excited now than I have ever been for my future, and I owe it all to the people and information on this forum, without which I am not sure I would have had the courage to go down to Mexico for this procedure! Thanks to Everyone!!

I would recommend this to anyone who asks me, and would do it again in a heartbeat - I would have to insist on asking some one a little more reliable to accompany me tho!

[ev1223]

congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[littlebit]

Good job! Good luck to you! sounds like you are going to do awesome!

[anil_manipal]

Ha Ha Finally , I have been waiting for your post.
Thanks a lot for feedback Pedro. Glad to hear that you are doing great.

[Jmichelle]

I wish I could love your post! Thanks so very much for the detail and day by day account as those little details are so important! I'll be going first week of March. Good luck on your journey!

[Ann2]

Pedro! There you are! I thought you had died!



You did great. You're going to rock this. I can tell. You're one of US!

[poodge]

Welcome to the sleeved side Pedro-so glad everything went well for you. YAY

[Cnjzmom]

Congrats. I'm glad it all went so well for you and THANK YOU for all the great info. God Bless

[ceceliam]

Pedro, Thank you for your detailed post. Glad to hear it was a breeze. Congratulations and wishing you a quick recovery. Cece

[rockscott40]

congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SweetPea22]

Thanks Pedro for the update ! I am waiting ....18 more days til mine and your detailed experience has helped to ease my mind as I am traveling alone as well. Congrats !

[Carak]

Thanks so much for all the details. Makes me a little less nervous.

[Wayne2]

That's wonderful news! Congratulations and welcome to your new life!