"I have wanted to explore gastric surgery for years but would always procrastinate. This past summer I started seriously researching the Sleeve. I found that while my insurance would cover it, I would have to spend 6 months on a supervised diet, psychological testing, counseling, and nutritionist visits in order to qualify. I am an instant gratification guy and not a hoop jumper, so I decided to check out Mexico- never thinking that I would actually pull the trigger. I came across Dr. Alvarez and Endobariatric and was blown away by the reviews. I contacted Susan and she sent me some info. When I breached the surreal subject of traveling (alone) to a Mexican border town to have 90% my stomach cut out with my wife, she freaked out a bit. However the more I read about Dr. Alvarez both online and in the material he provided, reassured me that if I was going to do this- this was the place I would need to go. I slowly softened my wife by filtering down literature, reviews, and videos. She finally got on board and I scheduled my surgery for October 17, 2017.
The fee covers everything except for the flight down but I travel extensively for work so I used Delta miles to get me to San Antonio. They have a pretty good system set up where Rosie the driver is dropping off yesterday's patients at the airport hotel just in time to pick up tomorrow's patients and take them across the border. The worst part of the whole experience was the long @ss ride from San Antonio to Piedras Negras. My ADHD was raging for sure because there is nothing of interest to look at and the internet signal is too spotty to watch Netflix or the like. I wish I would have downloaded something to watch.
Piedras Negras is not much to look at- a pretty downtrodden area, but the Hampton Inn where the patients stay is amazing. I stay exclusively at Hilton properties and have stayed at dozens of Hamptons. This is BY FAR the nicest Hampton I have ever been to.
The next morning the other Endobariatric van takes you to the hospital. Not going to lie- when we pulled up at the hospital is probably where I felt the most uneasiness. It's not exactly Grey's Anatomy hospital. A semi rough place in a rougher part of town. I was relieved to see that it was very clean on the inside and the staff was very helpful and friendly. Dr. Alvarez is in the process of building his own state of the art facility which you will drive by. Once he stops sharing space with a regular hospital (we witnessed an elderly lady in the waiting room screaming in stomach pain) it will be that much better.
After bloodwork they take you to your room and in short order Dr. Alvarez pops in to chat, then the anesthesiologist does his thing. I remember moving to another bed just as I was being "relaxed" but woke up back in my room with 5 bandages on my stomach. I slept most of that day away and walked the halls in the evening trying to ward of gas pains that really never came.
Discharge was the next day back to the Hampton where a nurse is on call and a doctor visits you in the evening. Other than mild heartburn that first day, I had no complications (and have had ZERO since).
The final morning Alvarez says goodbye and you head back to San Antonio. I flew the next day with no issues.
I weighed 334 when I started the two week pre-op liquid diet, 315 on surgery day and on 11/17 (one month) I came in at 277.
I followed the post op diet timeline fairly strictly, give or take a few days. I have had no problems digesting any food that I have tried in very small portions. I usually get the hiccups after about 3 ounces of food so I know when to stop.
Surgery Day is the only night I have ever stayed in the hospital so I have limited experience, but I have to say this was the best medical experience I have ever had.
Here's the takeaway that should speak volumes. If I had it to do over again and had the choice of going to Endobariatric or having the surgery done 5 minutes from my house under the same terms and price- I would go to that dingy little border town ten times out of ten. Hell, even if my local hospital offered it at half price, I would insist a loved one go to Dr. Alvarez. He. Is. That. Good."
