Back from my surgication!

Mar 06, 2009

LOL.  Thought I would steal the ideal of "staycation" and call it what it is!

I sent a long email to another poster, and realized it might be good to put it here in my blog so here is a summary of my experiences down in Mexicali!

Dr. Aceves was great!  It was very surreal to go to Mexico - not in a bad way, just really hits you when you are finally in the van and headed there.  It somehow seems so clandestine to meet a man named Ernesto, hop in a van and drive to Mexico.  hah!

The hospital was nice.  It had everything just in miniature.  And it was warmer than a US hospital in that they had nice plants throughout, artwork, lots of wood, etc.  When you get to the hospital it is a bit of a whirlwind.  Lucy, a nurse there, whips you through your pre-op testing.  Then you will meet with Yolanda who I absolutely loved!  After that, Dr. Campos will talk to you about life changes, etc.  He was great.  Adored him! 

The morning of the surgery you are taken to the room you will be in for your stay.  They are nice.  Then the Internal Medicine Dr. comes in (don't remember his name!) and will tell you if you are all clear for your surgery.  Then the anethesiologist and finally Dr. Aceves.  You may or may not be first for the surgery.  Seems like he does about 3 every day.  Happily I was first.  Hate waiting!

I don't remember much after being wheeled out of my room.  I remember getting in the operating room but that is it.  Surgery takes 1-2 hours and recovery the same.

I was in a lot of discomfort (not pain) after the surgery the first day.  My upper back was very sore.  Felt like if I could just find the right spot to crack it a bit I could get relief, but I couldn't get comfortable.  I had some nausea that first day.  The second day was the most painful - but not unbearable.  You'll FINALLY get to have something to drink on the second day.  That helps!  The day of the surgery you get nothing at all (IV of course) and your mouth will get very dry.

The nurses are all wonderful.  They speak little English, so the useful phrases will be really handy to have.  But they are the kindest, sweetest and gentlest nurses I have met.  They are all young and really want to help you.  One of my recovery room nurses came to my room the third day to check on me.  Her name was Betty.  She said she wanted to check up on me since I had such a hard time in the recovery room with my back.  That was so kind.

The hotel you will be staying at is fantastic.  Beautiful pool!  They have three restaurants and you will get a "final meal" the night before your surgery.  I went to the Italian restaurant and it was wonderful.  And CHEAP compared to the US!  I took two extra days after my surgery to stay at the hotel and further relax and recuperate.  I couldn't face the thought of a five hour flight after just getting out of the hospital.  I don't regret that decision at all.  If you can do it I recommend it.  The coffee shop at the hotel has a special menu for Dr. Aceves patients, so I was able to get the apple juice, jello and broth every day (which is basically all you'll be allowed to have after the surgery).

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