I'm going to Dr. Aceves for gastric sleeve and my surgery date is August 6th. Anyone else going to be there at that time?

No, but ill be there August 25th for my surgery! please keep me updated and I would love to hear your story after, im a little nervous! Good luck!

 I'm a little nervous, too, but mostly very excited. I'll be traveling there with my dad. So glad my parents are supportive. I will keep you posted on my experience. Go us! 

Hey there,

I guess I'm between you two...can't wait!  Good luck to you both

Thanks! And good luck to you, too. I'll try to post on here if I get the chance while I'm there. I'm starting the pre-op diet tomorrow. Not looking forward to the carb withdrawals, but I'm excited about this so HERE GOES!

The diet sucks eggs, but it's SO worth it! This is going to be the BEST thing you've ever done for yourself, I promise!

Yes, I'm a Dr Aceves fan. You're going to love Dr Campos, too.

One suggestion - take your iPod with bouncy music on it and walk more than I did. I know I'd have had less gas pain if I'd gotten off my bum more. (but not a single twinge past day 4)

Hi, everyone! Just checking in with a report from here in Mexicali. This will be a long one because I want to give everyone a good heads up of what to expect when you're here. 

All is going well so far. My dad travelled here with me and we are now in the hotel room ready for a good night's sleep so we can be back in the lobby at 7 am to head to the hospital for surgery. Eeeek!!!

We arrived at the San Diego airport at 10:00am. We packed light and didn't check any luggage, but we went to the baggage claim area anyway. The driver, wearing a blue shirt with the Mexicali Bariatric logo on it, found us at exactly 11:00. He was walking around with a paper with my name printed on it. There was one other couple (patient and her companion) getting a ride at the same time. The ride took about two hours and was perfectly comfortable in the well air-conditioned mini-van. San Diego's weather was nice in the upper 60s, then in Mexicali it was 111. Hot, hot, hot! The border crossing was completely uneventful.

We drove straight to the hospital to meet with Yolanda, our patient coordinator for the day. I think Yolanda is Nina's mom or something like that. Anyway. You give a urine sample, get some blood drawn, have a chest X-ray, an EKG, and then meet with Dr. Campos who talks to you about the procedure and long term success. He himself has the sleeve. He goes over all the stuff about how the sleeve is just a tool, they operate on your stomach not your head, so it's your job to change your eating habits so you can be long term successful. It was good to meet with him and bolstered all the good advice I've read on the forums. I think meeting with the doctor was especially good for my dad to see that this isn't some hokey operation.

Oh, and since you have to be fasting, only allowed water, for 6 hours prior to the blood draw and other tests, I highly recommend you follow their advice to bring a granola bar with you to eat while you're still at the hospital because I was starting to get reallllllly hungry.

Yolanda came after Dr. Campos was done speaking with us and she gave us our packets of various paperwork and information to look over and sign back at the hotel. She also gave us one antibiotic tablet and one antianxiety medication to take tonight to help us sleep and prep for surgery. Then she took our payments (I brought a cashier's check and that was extremely convenient). 

After that, we were driven to the hotel Lucerna, not within walking distance of the hospital. The rooms are nice and clean and the AC works well which is important to me right now. There is free wifi, a pool, the TV has channels in English, and two complementary bottles of water. You can purchase more water at the hotel bar. Remember to hydrate because it's so hot here and you can't drink anything after 10pm. 

We ate dinner at the restaurant Los Portales and it was really good. I had the tortilla soup and the tex-mex beef tenderloin and a Coke. I had to have the Coke in Mexico since it's so much better than in the US! Our meal came to $54.00, because my dad had a couple beers and we split a dessert. And it's convenient that we could pay in US dollars.

I suggest you and your guest, if you bring one, bring some snacks like granola bars and beef jerky because you'll find yourself needing a snack here and there on this pre-op day. For example, we got to the hotel room around 3:30, too early for dinner, so the snacks could tide us over until dinner. You're allowed to eat and drink like normal between leaving the pre-op tests at the hospital until 10 pm. What I have leftover is for my father to snack on while he's hanging around during my recovery days. Also, bring a refillable water bottle. There are water dispensers at the hospital so you don't have to keep buying bottles of water.

So that's my post for Day 1. I'll tr to post again as soon as I'm feeling up to it.  Can't wait to hear about your experiences in the few weeks!

I'm sleeved! Wow, can't believe it.

Got picked up at the hotel lobby at 7 on the dot and came straight to my room at the hospital to settle in. (Side note: the pill they give you for the night at the hotel makes sure you get a goooooood sleep. I felt like I was on a cloud. Haha.) Gave the paperwork over to Karla and changed into a big hospital gown. Then had the parade of doctors; the anestheseologist, one other doc (can't remember who), and then Dr. Aceves. All were pleasant and quick and efficient.

There were only two of us having surgery today and I went second (don't know how they choose who goes when, just up to the doc). Just hung out with my dad in my hospital room playing solitaire and watching TV until it was my turn.

They give you a pill to make you sleepy and mellow. Once it was my turn to be wheeled away things went fast. You get an IV and they inject an epidural so you're numb from the waist down, and in my opinion that was the the most painful part...which wasn't bad. Next thing I knew, I was in recovery. All together, my surgery was about 1.5-2 hours and recovery for about 2 hours.

Wheeled back to my room where I've been dozing off and on and watching the Olympics. Doing the breathing apparatus exercise once and hour, and walking a bit. I have a little dull pain where the drainage bag is, and some queaziness, but I'm quite pleased with how I feel. I mean, considering a good chunk of my stomach just got cut out!  

The room is nice and clean with a private bathroom. The staff has been great to my dad, too, and brought him a pillow, blanket, and bottled water. He ate his meals in the hospital cafeteria and said their food is pretty good (not that I could have any).  So, if you have a family member coming along with you, don't worry about them, they'll be comfortable. And I was thinking earlier that while it is nice to have my dad here, if I had come by myself, I would be totally fine, too. You typically have a staff member leading you around and there are always people nearby to help.

Thanks Lala285 for sharing your experience. So glad you're doing well. I will be seeing Dr Aceves on 8/30. It helps to know what to look forward to. I've never had an epidural but I guess there's a first time for everything. What did they give you for pain? I'm kind of a baby and loved my pain pump after my gall bladder surgery. Also, do/did you have a catheter? I've never had one of those either so I'm a little nervous about it.

Hi ladybuglv! Well, I'm now on day two and I must say today is harder. Both because my belly hurts more where the leak bag is attached (get that out tomorrow, woohoo!) and by mid-day today I finished my final IV bag and they've now given me liquids to drink on my own. It has been a process of trial and error to realize that I have to take the tiniest of sips because anything more makes my stomach hurt and gives me a wave of nausea. Dr. A said that will improve as I continue to sip and learn my limits.

I don't know what they gave for pain right after the surgery, if anything, and I haven't had to ask for anything. I've been having more issues with nausea than terrible pain. There is no morphine drip or anything like that. I think that's especially because they want you up and walking around as soon as possible because it helps to eliminate the gas they pumped into you during the surgery and aids the healing process. And you can't walk much if you're zonked out on pain meds. However, you could ask them for some, I'm sure. I did not have a catheter. I think they only give you one if you can't make yourself pee after the surgery. Sorry if this is TMI, but it was really hard to pee at first because I was still kind of numb down there. It was this weird sensation of knowing I had to pee, and wanting to be, yet I couldn't. But with some patience I finally went the second time and have been getting to normal now.

You'll do great!

Okay, it's confirmed, Day 2 (the first post-op day) is the worst. Yesterday I felt pretty darn bad. The drainage bag made me sore and I was having waves of nausea and cramping with my new stomach processing the liquids I was drinking. They gave me nausea medication, which made me sleepy so I slept on and off throughout the day. I still walked some, but I was feeling pretty queazy and having issues with feeling hot and cold. But they monitor your BP and temp regularly, and I never had a fever. So go figure. I suppose it's to be expected for the body to do some funky things with such trauma delivered to it! My surgery date buddy (the lady who also got sleeved on Monday) also concurred that Day 2 was the worst. Neither of us were looking like happy campers yesterday. Already today, we both feel much, much better.

This morning I did the barium test around 8am. You, and your travel companion if he/she want to, go to the X ray room and you drink a chalky barium drink and watch on the X ray screen how it goes down your esophagus, through your sleeve, and on down. It's pretty interesting. 

Karla came mid-morning to give me my chest X ray, the X rays of the barium test, a copy of the EKG, and blood test results, so I have all of these to give my PCP back home. She also gave some pain killer to be used as needed, SupraDOL ketorolaco sublingual, and some Pantozol in granulated form for acid reflux. You get a 28 day supply of the Pantozol, but you're supposed to take it daily for 3-6 months post-op. You can buy any of the Proton Pump Inhibitors listed in the patient guide. However, my dad and I just walked to the corner pharmacy and bought a couple boxes of the Pantozol for less than $40 USD. I think the granulated form will come in handy rather than having to crush pills.

Around noon Dr. Campos came and removed my drainage bag. Ahhhh, sweet relief. It felt good to get that out of me. And I was able to take a shower and even changed to my regular clothes (lose cotton t-shirt and cotton capris) rather than staying in the hospital gown. If you're worried about packing too much, I'll tell you that you could easily just pack clothes for your travel days and wear the hospital gowns the days you're here. They're big and comfy. Whatever clothes you pack, make sure you don't mind if they're stained because the cuts on your stomach still might ooze and such. Basically, don't bother bringing any nice clothes. Think of comfort as your top priority.

So far they've brought a steady supply of liquids for me to sip on. Soup broth (so yummy), apple juice, a lemon/lime sports drink, herbal tea, and a vitamin water type of drink. I just sip, sip, sip and never finish all of it completely before they bring me more. But just keep drinking! Yesterday it was really hard to drink. I'd take a sip, get queazy, eyes watering, mouth fill with saliva, feel like I'm going to puke even though there's nothing to puke, then stop and take a break. Then I'd just try again. Let me tell you, some of my "sips" were really just wetting my mouth and that had to be good enough at that moment. Dr. A said it's all normal. Oh, and I know this might be TMI, but in addition to making sure you can pee after your procedure, the walking is especially helpful to get the gas out of your body. They pump CO2 into your body to do the surgery, so afterwards you want to be burping and farting, that's a good sign that the gas is getting out! Haha.

They are taking such good care of us here. They make your bed daily while you're out walking and my dad and I commented on how they mop the floor and take out the trash multiple times of day. And the nurses station is right there, so close. It's not like in the US where you call for a nurse and one might come in 5 or 10 minutes.

Well, tomorrow we are supposed to be ready at 7:00am to head back to the airport. I'm ready to go back home, but I'm positive about my experience here. I wish all of you the best of luck with your procedures and please post about your expereiences. I hope my posts have been helpful and if you have any questions, just let me know.

Good luck all of you!

Hello Lala285 -- I'm having my surgery on Aug 15th. Your comments are very, very reassuring, thank you so much for all the detail. I'm travelling with my wife so it's been great to hear about they've been treating you both. I've been on the pre-op for almost 3 weeks and I've lost 17 lbs -- I'm so excited! And thanks to you, I now feel much better about this important decision. I hope all continues well with you. Please keep posting -- I'll do the same. Thanks again and have a safe trip!

Hi Dario! I'm glad you've found my posts helpful. I was hoping they would help anyone who was as thirsty for information as I was before surgery. Congratulations on your weight loss on the pre-op diet! That is fantastic and an indicator that you'll continue to do well after the surgery.

Best of luck with your surgery and enjoy letting everyone else take good care of you.

And on a side note...If you're a glutton for punishment, you could go with your wife to the hospital cafeteria when you're feeling well enough. The cafeteria is more like a small restaurant. I went with my dad to keep him company during his last couple meals there. Figured I might as well get used to watching other people eat. While I was happy to sip on my liquids, I must admit his quesadilla looked mighty tasty! Their hospital food looks a lot better than hospital food in the States. 

 How was your experience... I am considering him. please ... please...Details from the Airport and back if you don't mind??

Hi aloadoff! I hope you've been able to gather a good amount of information about my experience from my previous posts on this thread. I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Aceves and his team. Tomorrow is my two week "surgiversary" and I've lost 15.2 pounds, plus I lost 9 during the pre-op diet. Woohoo! It hasn't been peachy all the time, but it's been worth it.

Here are the things I have not liked:
Unflavored Unjury protein mix is disgusting. Some people like it, but I am not one of them. I tried it in broth, in juice, I tried putting it in juice freezing it into a popsicle...to no success. I just could not tolerate the weird taste it added to whatever I put it in. It literally made me gag. Luckily, I am okay with Isopure (apple melon is my favorite) so I'm able to get protein in that way. And now that I'm in the Phase 2 part of the post-op diet, I can have flavored protein mix, which I'm fine with. Just something about that unflavored protein mix was not my taste. But who knows, you might like it. You just have to find what works for you. 

Feeling too full after eating just a few bites of soup. It's kind of frustrating. But it's part of the healing process, so I know I have to stop and wait a while before I can have some more soup. I also get hiccups or the burps, which is helped by some chewable Gas X.

Acid reflux. I would get it sometimes before surgery, and I get it occasionally now. I just make sure to take the granulated Pantozol they gave me at the hospital. It works for me.

Low energy. I tend to get pretty tired mid-afternoon. It's to be expected when you're eating so few calories. I try hard to reach the protein and calorie goals set by Dr. Aceves' post-op directives.

Despite those things, that are all just part of the healing process, and different for every person...I am very happy I had the procedure done and I am happy I went to Dr. A. I had surgery on Monday and I was back at work telecommuting the following Monday, and back in the office physically on Thursday. And I felt fine. If you can get more time off, I'd say go for it, because why not take the time to heal. But I was fine with the amount of time I took off and I felt perfectly fine going back to work. I just have to make sure I'm prepared with soup, Isopure, and beverages to sip on throughout the day.

Best of luck to you! Let us know if you decide to go to Dr. Aceves!

I had my surgery with Dr. Aceves on Wednesday last week and I'm back home now -- I've already lost 12 lbs and I'm feeling great. The experience with Dr. Aceves was EXCELLENT! Everything, from the pickup at the hotel and drive to Mexicali, the hotel, the hospital, the doctor's personnel, the operation, and the doctors themselves (Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos) -- everything was superb. The day I decided to get my operation, that same day I decided to never eat like an obese person again. So I followed the pre op diet strictly for 3 weeks and lost 20 lbs, and I'm convinced that helped in my quick recovery. I can only speak wonders of Dr. Aceves and his team. Best decision I ever made!

Lala285 you're right, so I'll accept the challenge: I'll go with my wife to the hospital cafeteria to watch her gobble up some Mexican food while I sip sip sip on water. Thanks for the great help!