"Read if you REALLY want to know what goes on for your weight loss surgery in Tijuana
I went to Tijuana to see Dr. Alejandro Lopez for my surgery revision gastric bypass on April 6th. I did know I was in the risk of having to have another open surgery again, since my original one was done open.
I went alone which probably my first mistake. I was picked up at the airport in San Diego and travel to TJ. When I got to the Marriott, my room was suppose to have Ben pre arranged by the coordinator Sandra Castañeda. Apparently not, the hotel looked and looked, no reservation. They did finally get a room. Later I found out another patient that arrived later had to stay at another hotel.
I did get a call shortly from Sandra Castañeda, telling me she will be up to greet me later in the afternoon. She never gives you her number, just says that someone at the desk can always reach her. I felt a bit odd since I am in another country as her patient.
Sandra does show for a brief visit to let me know a person will come to the room to take blood for blood work ups. He did show as said.
The next morning all the patients met down in the hotel lobby and we checked out of our rooms. We were shuttled to a small store front where a doctor met us there to do an EKG and take our weight. I then realized I had forgotten to take my cashiers check to pay for balance. I told Sandra about the situation. Told her I could have daughter overnight the check, even take a picture to prove I had the check. But she said no. I then had to rewire the funds using my IPad. Glad I had the money to cover it. Sandra was very unsure how much I owed as a balance. I had to show her an email I had received from a Gerald person who I booked my surgery from. I had paid a $750 deposit. I later wondered if was my first sign to not go through with the surgery.
After we left there, we were taken to the clinic. It's not really a hospital just a large clinic with a few beds. There it seemed very sterile and cold. No one really around just one person at the front desk. We went to the second floor where we were seen by the person who took the money. The patients that had a companion was told they could not go to the 4th floor with us. We were taken back one by one and placed in gowns.
We gathered in a room with recliners to await the iv to prepare for surgery. I was the first person since my surgery was a revision. Dr. Lopez and his staff came in introduced himself to us and left. He seemed very nice.
The nurse came and got me to escort me to the operation room. Weird, they had a aprox 2 foot tall board at the entry you literally had to step over to go into the room. The nurses prepared me and I was out.
I woke up in the most excruciating pain nurses trying to take me to the bathroom. I was so out of it. I found out from another patient that my surgery took over 7 hours! My daughter called me frantic!!! She kept calling trying to get in touch with Sandra and no luck. The clinic told my daughter someone would call her and NO on did till after the surgery was done. By that time, she was sick!!! She had no clue what had happened. Dr. Lopez came in later that afternoon and I thought it was still Monday and it was Tuesday. I had lost a whole day lol. He explain I had a lot of scar tissue that prevented them from doing the surgery Lipo. They had to open me up. All in all I have no issue at all with Dr. Lopez. He came to see me and ask if I had questions etc.
2 days upstairs where I was watched and then I was taken to the 3rd floor to the very nice rooms. That area looked like a spa, very soothing. There I was met by other recovering patients.
Later in the afternoon I was greeted by Sandra Castañeda. She came in to see me and to say I owed her another $350 cause my bmi was 50 and if bmi is 50 or over I owe $350. I told her she knew my bmi the day we did the EKG. I had ask her if there was anymore I would have to pay, she said no. I questioned her cause I was signing paperwork that confused me on extra money owed. I reminded her of that conversation, she said it was her fault for not collecting it etc. She also told me she had to buy a band to go around my waste and it was $40.00. She claimed she bought from her own money. I told her I would pay that. She continued to argue with me and I stood fast on my decision. She also said, that there looked to be no other charges due to my lengthy surgery. I said thank you!!
As she was leaving, she said to be ready to be picked up at 10am sharp the next morning. I got up that morning and decided to wire the $350 she had ask for. I decided it wasn't worth the headache. I was up ready, packed and waiting with other awaiting patients to leave at 10 am. But no Sandra at 10am. The staff tried to call her and no answer, would just go to vm. Finally about noon? She showed up. Told all but me to go to the van. She was taking them to have a leak test done. I thought why now would they do a leak test? This was the first thing they did when I had mine first gastric by pass done in 2001. What if there was a leak and you're going home the very next day??? Make zero sense to me!! So I was told by Sandra that she would be back in 40 mins to get me. I sat and waited 2 hours for her to come back. I was very uncomfortable during that time. There were no other patients but me left. Finally the driver came in and said he was waiting for Sandra. She was up on the 4th floor and we would leave when she got back. I told the driver to please get her, I was tired of waiting and deserved better treatment then this. Finally Sandra came in and now she had a piece of paper indicating I now owed an added $1,000.!!! I am like I just paid you the $350 and gave her the $40 for the stretch band. She said ohh yes thank you. But now I have to collect $1,000 more. I am like forget getting anything more from me!!! She argued and argued. Told me I couldn't leave!! Told her watch me call a taxi take me right back to San Diego and I will put myself in a hotel till my flight out. She still claimed I couldn't go. I simply told her watch me and I was not going to be held hostage here!!!!! I ask why I was left behind????? She claimed no room, a lie!! There was plenty of room in the van. They also had my luggage with them and I had my pjs on. She left a few minutes and returned and said let's go. I was then taken to this very very grungy place for my leak test. I was taken back and stood in front of this ray machine where I drank this stuff. I could see my throat swallow and was pretty interesting. What I also noticed is how dirty the place was. While standing there I saw an area straight ahead that was a junk table. On the table was a paint can!!! I was like that is real clean lol.
After I left there I was taken back to the Marriott hotel. Again no room reservation lol. I stayed there till later Sandra called to say what time I was being pickup for for airport. I was never given any discharge papers or nothing. I have not had one single follow up call. I ended up in the hospital when I came home. My surgery site was getting infected and very dehydrated. I was checked out and all is good now. I am under Bariactric doctors care.
Here is what I will say to sum up, do not by any circumstance go alone. Don't do revision surgery in Mexico I feel to risky. And go other location then Tijuana. Place seems very unsafe.
Most people go for sleeve and get 3 or 4 stitches. So risk is minimal.
All in all I am lucky when I refused to pay more that I came home safe.
Sorry so long but this is the entire story so you can make a very informed decision to go or not go.
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