Surgeon Testimonial Armando Joya 1.First Impression: quiet and reserved, but at the same time warm and friendly. 2.How did your impression change over time? I continued to have high regard for him and his staff, Dr. Joya and Dr. Espinoza saw me everyday in the hospital and Dr.Espinoza saw me everyday,while I was at the hotel. 3. How would you describe his office staff? I never visited his office as I went directly to the hospital from the airport and from there to the OR all within 2 hours of arriving. His patient facilitator is awesome, speaks perfect English, French and Spanish, and is very busy, but makes sure that you can be in contact with her at anytime 24/7. Gerald who arranges surgery dates and responds to all our preop questions is very personable. I spoke with him at length when I first contacted the Dr.Joya site. 4. What did you like least about him? He is very busy and quiet. Not a man of a lot of words. I might have asked more questions, but then I was also post op when I saw him and not really "bright" enough to ask good questions. I will get to see him again in a couple of weeks for a 6 week check up. 5. What should future patients know about him ? He is very well credentialed and trained, having trained in advanced laparoscopic procedures and advanced training in oncology in Miami, Fl. He is very conservative requiring a 2 week clear liquid diet, and gradual introduction of solid food after surgery. Very gradual. 6. How much does he empahsize aftercare? With the VSG there is very little need for aftercare. He gives clear, precise post op instructions and is always available to answer questions via Gerald. I've asked several questions since coming back and he is always resonsive. I am seeing my PCP for aftercare and if he feels that I need more specific aftercare, he will probably refer me to our local bariatric MD, but I am not anticipating a need for that, since with the sleeve there are no problems with malabsorption, vomiting etc etc etc. 7. Does he have a structured aftercare program ? He might for his R-NY patients, but I am not aware of one for those of us with the VSG. I think that because we come from such a long distance for the procedure it is not realistic to have an aftercare program with him. 8. How did he address the risks of surgery? His web site is very explicit about the surgery, how it is done, in detail and prior to the surgery, his patient coordinator goes over each possible risk, prior to signing the surgical consent. I did not speak with him until moments before the surgery, but I already felt very comfortable with him as a surgeon. 9.How would you rate him overall? On a scale of 1-10 10 being best, I would give him an 8-9. I'm a talker and he is very quiet and not a talker, so I missed getting to talk to him at more length. 10. Which is better, surgical competence, bedside manner, or are both great? I'm an RN and have met many doctors that have a great bedside manner and can't operate worth beans. I much rather go to someone that is not as cozy with a bedside manner, but has a great reputation as a surgeon. When a doctor has both,that is very nice. Post note: I visited with Dr.Joya in the hospital when I was there as the companion of another gal that went there for her VSG. I was doing so well, that there was no reason for me to see him on pt doctor basis at that time. I am released from the care of my PCP and will only need to see him if there's a problem and so far it has been a very smooth post op course. Member Interests
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Hi Everyone, I'm Jane, 59 years old.... 60 in January, lordy, I can hardly believe that! My story is probably ditto of everyone else's ..... WW, OA. eating disorder unit 20 years ago, pineapple diet, grapefruit diet,...... the worse was an idea my sister had in HS.... taking large quantities of yeast tablets.....the idea was that the yeast would fill us up and we wouldn't be hungry. All it did for me was make me break out in hives. I would break out in hives again whenever I ate bread for the next couple months, even after stopping the yeast tablets. I'm an RN and work in post partum with couplet care. I love my job. It has been getting harder and harder though, as I pack around this extra 120 lbs. For the last year and a half I had been following the lapband boards and thinking that that is what I would do, but could never commit to it, but I wanted something, because I did not want to turn 60 with all this weight. It turned out that I was not a candidate for the lapband because of my need for NSAID. (Celebrex and Ibuprofen ) Now I am so grateful for that, after finding out about the VSG. I had been following the Dr Kuri lapband board and asked if he did the VSG, as I had been in touch with several nurses that had used him for the lapbands. His pt coordinator said that he did not and that he would recommend Dr.Joya in Puerto Vallarta. MX I read Dr. Joya's credentials and felt that I would be in good hands. I was impressed by a small detail of his preop instructions. All patients were required to stop smoking and everyone was to blow up 30 party balloons a day, 40 if you were a smoker, to get ones lungs in good shape for the anesthesia and post op course. This indicated to me that he was conservative and concerned about ones entire well being before surgery.
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