Time for Me - Dr. Almanza - Mexico (My Journey)

[SummerinFL]

I carried this over from my introduction thread since I don't believe that is the place for it. I'll update this as I go, with both good and bad observations to help others.

Pre-op Diet
1. I never realized just how much my plans and life revolved around food. Even as early as my pre-op diet I wanted to take the girls somewhere on the weekend and I felt a little lost because it usually involved where we were eating.
2. It was easier than I thought it would be.
3. I went through a period of bad food withdrawals, like panic attack inducing, must eat everything in sight (but I didn't) kind of need for food.
4. I discovered a love of fish, it's now a permanent change in my eating habits.
5. Water, Water, Water - I already liked it but when my withdrawals would hit water was great for tricking my stomach into thinking I had eaten something.
6. Protein shakes - Gross, disgusting, never found one that I liked. (Maybe I should hunt through here for some suggestions. lol)

Mexico - Dr. Almanza -IMPORTANT: Bring money to TIP TIP TIP! (The driver, the bellhop, even the nurses make minimal amounts of money and the tips can make or break the families of these hard working people.)

Day 1
1. Crossing the border with someone who was ex-Navy and hearing her say, "This reminds me of Afghanistan.", didn't exactly give me the warm and fuzzies. Also, at that exact moment we look over and a guy pops his head up out of a dirt mound with a gun, I was really thinking about what I managed to get myself into. However, once we were at the hotel, I felt more comfortable.
2. Most of the staff speak broken English, enough to be able to understand what you're trying to say but there was a handful that knew English perfectly well, so I would recommend learning some basic Spanish phrases before you go.
3. They don't tell you the restaurant downstairs can provide you with anything you need to eat, you just have to ask. The broth tastes great but be warned IT WILL MAKE YOU POOP.
4. I personally wouldn't leave the hotel alone but you WILL make friends with people there that also went through it. It's a journey, and when you're going through something with people, it will make you closer.
5. The shuttle driver took me to the hospital for blood work and an EKG (standard for everyone) and then back to the hotel upon completion.
5. So the 1st night ends with me just relaxing in the room and watching Spiderman, because it was on and in English. lol

Pictures from Day 1:
Hotel: 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252810%252529.JPG 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252815%252529.JPG 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252812%252529.JPG
Hotel View: 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252813%252529.JPG 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252816%252529.JPG 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252817%252529.JPG 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%2525285%252529.JPG 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252822%252529.JPG
Top Floor Balcony View: 2015%u002525252005%25252005%252520%25252823%252529.JPG

I'm moving Day 2 to another post as you're limited to 10 photos per post.



(I'll come back and edit this post when I have more time)

[BigJ]

You are doing great and you will be very happy with your results. I totally agree with your advice of tip tip tip I did and it makes for a much better time there. Good luck on your adventure and I will check in on you from time to time. I don't get to the PC very often but when I do this is my first stop.

[SummerinFL]

Day 2

1. They give you a designated time the night before to meet downstairs for the shuttle, most of the time I had the same guy driving us everywhere.
2. Arrived downstairs to meet with the shuttle and my two future roommates were there. Remember not to eat anything the night before!
3. On many days it was chilly, so a lot of people who live there will start fires to keep warm, my only complaint here was the smell, sometimes they used rubber and that doesn't smell so nice. (see pic below)
4. We headed over to Hospital and sat in the waiting room where they took us in one at a time to get changed into our surgery gowns and have our IV put in.
5. Then you wait your turn in the waiting room. Once called, I remember going back and laying on the gurney and the Anesthesiologist coming over to say he's going to give me something to help me sleep, then I woke up in recovery.

Pics from Day 2:
Fire Next Door: 2015%u002525252005%25252006%252520%2525281%252529.JPG
Construction Behind the Hotel: 2015%u002525252005%25252006%252520%2525284%252529.JPG (Did NOT detract from my recovery or sleep FYI)
More Hotel Pics: 2015%u002525252005%25252006%252520%2525286%252529.JPG
Waiting Room Before Surgery: 2015%u002525252005%25252006%252520%2525287%252529.JPG
Dr. Almanza and myself: 2015%u002525252005%25252006%252520%2525288%252529.JPG
Final Prep: 2015%u002525252005%25252006%252520%2525289%252529.JPG

So, the next 24 hours are photo free I'm afraid. As I was concentrating on recovery, here is my experience with that.

Recovery

1. You share a room with other people of the same sex. (Who you can't help but become friends with throughout the journey)
2. You'll be groggy, possibly nauseous and the medication the nurse gives out will be a god send.
3. I couldn't get comfortable in the hospital bed so I ended up moving to a recliner chair that was in the room and got some sleep that way. No one made me move back.
4. You will have a drainage tube attached to your body, held in by the stitches. It wasn't uncomfortable, just had to be careful when getting dressed and showering.
5. I personally didn't get sick, I just felt uncomfortable. (One of my roommates said the experience is akin to getting your gall bladder removed).
6. So after the 1st night in the hospital, they shuttle you back to hotel for recovery. There is a nurses station that visits you in your room, as well as a recovery physician that comes in every day to check on you. Again, everyone was just lovely and kind, no complaints there AT ALL.
7. Advice time: WALK WALK WALK WALK WALK - You will be bloated, sore, and gassy. GAS EX IS YOUR FRIEND! Bring the strips, you won't regret it.
8.Once we were back at the hotel I got some quality sleep and was up and moving the next day. Most everyone I spoke with had no issues getting up to move but you get tired very easily so take it slow, you know your body.

Pictures from Day 3:
Hotel Room View, from bed. lol 2015%u002525252005%25252007%252520%2525281%252529.JPG