New member from FL

[tommyboy]

Hi everyone!

I am a sleever from FL. I had the procedure done on 9/10/2011 by Dr. Almanza, Jerusalem Hospital, Tijuana, MX. I haven't had any complications and I am losing weight at about 4 lbs per week.

I am a Physician Assistant here in FL, and despite knowing how to lose weight and prescribing medicines for weight loss, I have been unable to successfully keep my weight in a healthy range. I have been about 75 lbs overweight for 25 years, with a few months here and there when I was able to lose some, only to gain it back.

I decided to get the sleeve because I am 45 years old and I can see my obesity taking its toll on my health. At the time of the sleeve I was being treated for hypertension, high cholesterol, insomnia, chronic back pain, foot pain, and chronic fatigue. I was borderline diabetic, and my sister is insulin dependent and awaiting a kidney transplant. Last but not least- I wanna look better too!

Although the surgery is no walk in the park (no matter where you have it) I am glad I went ahead and did it. The money I paid for it will be a good investment for my future health and quality of life.

[Zorgdorg]

Congrats on getting it done and your weigh loss so far. How was your experience with Dr. Almanza and the hospital. Did you stay at the recovery house or did you opt for a hotel.

[tommyboy]

Dr. Almanza and the hospital were adequate. The facility is nothing fancy, but clean and orderly. The nurses were always available and appeared to do their jobs well.

The recovery house was nice. The folks there were very helpful and accommodating. There is a nurse present 24/7 for pain meds, info, etc. Some of the staff speak only Spanish, but there was always someone around if translation was needed. The recovery house was very safe also. It's in an upscale neighborhood and has locks and bars on the doors and windows. One drawback about the recovery house is that there is a cook there all day making food for everyone who can still eat- guests of patients, nurses, and other staff. Unfortunately, patients can taste a little soup broth at most.

[Teresa H]

Hey Tommyboy, I am glad to see some one from Flordia . I am from Tallahassee and I am waiting on my husband to say he is ready for this (he is paying) he knows it it the most importain thing in the world right now to me! I am going the same place and same DR. Did you really feel safe there and how many days did you stay? I just want to know as much as I can before I go. Thanks so much and glad you are done , now it is time to enjoy your new life! Good Luck Teresa H

[celticmom218]

Welcome! I am up in Jacksonville!

[strawhat22]

Hi,
I am in Ocala. I have not had the sleeve yet, hopefully in December. Going to the same Hospital and doctor. I love this site, so much useful information from everyone. Can I fly in the same day as the surgery or do I need to be in the night before? If anyone has info on that I would appreciate it.

[MediaHound]

Welcome aboard and please make yourself at home!

[Pmcphi]

How??? How have you done four pounds a week? I have totally stopped....at 30 lbs ( at one month from surgery) and can't get back into the losing mode. What do you eat? Help !!!

[JoyESS1]

Welcome, welcome, tommyboy! I am sooooo impressed, a PA and you went to Mexico! May I ask why you opted to go there and what kind of research you did beforehand? All I can find about Dr. Almanza is here anecdotaly or from his staff or his advertisements. I can't find unbiased information to confirm what he says about himself (number of surgeries, number of deaths/leaks, where school/awards, "world renowned" etc... When I posted on here my second post trying to get information I was all upset and scared and venting and mostly got, "don't worry or don't go or buck up" type answers. I have been here longer now and have read a lot more and I can honestly say the recovery house sounds horrid (my husband would be furious if he didn't have a comfortable bed) and I know the clinic is not for me because I have too may high-risk comorbidities.
One of my secret dreams is to earn a PA myself once I have lost enough weight to drive again and get to school. I have 2 Masters degrees and started out a million years ago (at least, lol) pre med. Then I changed to nursing, to teaching and finally psychology. I am near University of WA which has a great PA program. I am a little nervous that my brain doesn't work as well as it used to, esp. with math and science, because I have neglected those areas over the years.

[Msvetrn]

Welcome, Tommyboy! I had my surgery on 9/8 with Dr Almanza. I dont remember seeing you at the clinic in the am on the 10th...might have just missed you! Your story sounds almost exactly like mine! I can teach all my patients but couldn't follow my own advice! Good luck with your weight loss! Love the dog! I have a Rottweiler...had two but just had to put my girl down d/t Hip dysplasia...so sad!

[ILgal]

Tommyboy,
I am in FL too, Naples. I am trying to appeal my insurance companies denial of the sleeve and approval of RNY. I am so sure the sleeve is best for me and just not OK with RNY. I will most likely be going to MX if insurance does not cover my surgery. I too am about your age and have several of the medical issues you haev also. This is my main reason too for wanting this surgery! Glad to see you are having such great success!

[bobbybeegood]

HI TB, also central florida here. Also an alumni of Dr. Almanaz. I work in Iraq as a medical provider, contractor to the US Army in Mosul. Welcome, I am alittle of 3 months out & Love the results. Down 45 lbs & trying to break into One-Der-Land & keep hovering around 202 right now. I know I usually bounce around the same weight for 2 wks & then one day BAM!, down 5 or 7 lbs. Good luck on your loss.

[madona]

welcome home and congrats Tommy! I am in Hollywood FL thinking seriously of going to Dr. Almanza, his price is so affordable compared to everyone else. I was quoted $4,495...deposit now of $1,000 and balance day of surgery. How much more money should I take with me for incidentals do you recommend. Also was it a "hospital" or clinic where the surgery was performed? They call it a hospital over and over again in all their web advertisements, just curious to know from someone who just got back. How r u coping with pain? How many days before you started feeling normal able to get back into your daily routine?
Sorry for all the questions, just need to know before i do this

[JoyESS1]

welcome home and congrats Tommy! I am in Hollywood FL thinking seriously of going to Dr. Almanza, his price is so affordable compared to everyone else. I was quoted $4,495...deposit now of $1,000 and balance day of surgery. How much more money should I take with me for incidentals do you recommend. Also was it a "hospital" or clinic where the surgery was performed? They call it a hospital over and over again in all their web advertisements, just curious to know from someone who just got back. How r u coping with pain? How many days before you started feeling normal able to get back into your daily routine?
Sorry for all the questions, just need to know before i do this

I have not been to Almanza's clinic but there are tons of experiential posts that tell me his Clinic is in a strip mall and you all just wait your turn for the surgery in the lobby. After all the surgeries are over you are all transported to the house where you rest and/or shop/tour for 2 days. They just recently air-conditioned this house but there are not enough beds for all the companions to have beds too so they are left to sleep in armchairs and loveseats! Dr Almanza does so many of these surgeries every day, all week long so he must be either very good or maybe a little careless---afterall there is little to no follow up if you get an infection after you get home or have other complications. When I was planning to go there I called and talked to Louise about whether there were emergency services nearby and was told that the biggest Trauma Center in Mexico (The Red Cross Hospital) was only 1 block away. That made me feel better until I searched for information about that hospital and read all about the corruption in that hospital and the whole Mexican medical system. I also called the Mexican Consulate to find out what recourse if any (through the courts?) I might have against Dr. Almanza just in case there were complications. I was not thinking ill of Dr. Almanza at all as I asked this same thing about other doctors in Mexico, Costa Rica and India as well. I know what recourse one has in the USA but not about what rights one might give up by going out of the country. I searched and searched for collaborative information confirming Almanza's widespread advertisements about himself and his "hospital". I even asked for such on this forum albeit in a very frightened, demanding, venting manner and got told not to be so afraid and how wonderful the experiences of those who are on this forum who went to him have been. I am so glad for those who have nothing but good happen! I really am. I even decided despite my lack of non-anecdotal evidence, to go there. I picked a date with Louise, marked it on my calander, filled out all the paperwork, began saving money and bought my round trip ticket to San Diego. In the end, I was turned down because of my high risk factors. Thank God, Southwest Airlines allows me to use the ticket to go anywhere I want to as long as it is before April of 2012. I am going to go to Sacramento for my mom's 91st birthday or even sooner, depending when I get my date to have my surgery with Dr. Landerholm (see Puget Sound Surgical Center | Minimally Invasive Weight Loss Surgery and Bariatric Specialists | Seattle, Everett, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Bellingham, Bellevue, Washington or group on this site: Dr. Landerholm: easy on the eyes, body, soul and spirit! (hehehe)) in a hospital near my home. I am going to have to take a medical loan at exhorbitant interest but it is worth it to save my life! Thanks for paying attention to my looooong missive.

[tommyboy]

Madona:

In my opinion, all patients considering a weight loss surgery in Mexico need to be in relatively good health other than obesity. If you have uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure), insulin dependent diabetes, poor kidney or liver function, or other serious health issues, get your surgery here in the USA. That said, Dr. Almanza and the support staff at Jerusalem Hospital seem well suited to care for patients. While there, I observed good sterile technique and good general medical practices. The location is more of a clinic than a hospital by US standards. However, they have an operating room, a 24 hour nursing staff, several rooms, and the necessary equipment from what I could tell. It is in a "strip mall" type setting, but once you're inside, it makes no difference. While there, you'll get pain meds into your IV about every 3-4 hours.

Here's what you need to take with you: over the counter anti-nausea medicine, ice pops (the long, skinny, kool-aid type), 2 pair of pj's/sweats, a little cash to spend in town (a couple days after your surgery, they'll take everyone downtown to shop for souvenirs, you shouldn't need much $$ for anything else).

Allow yourself a week before going back to work if you have a job that is not physically demanding. If you stand or walk a lot at work or do anything physical, allow 2 weeks. Trust me, any surgery like this takes a lot out of you and you'll come home from work exhausted even if you sat at your desk all day.

Good luck. Write back if you have more questions.

Tom