"Everyone at Mexicali Bariatric Center was wonderful, including Dr. Wilhelmy, and the language barrier was never an issue. When we arrived on 4/13/16, Ernesto picked us up at the airport and on the ride to Mexicali told us his experience with the VSG and answered a lot of my questions about maintenance. When we arrived Karla showed us around the hospital so we felt comfortable and then I went to have blood drawn, and an EKG, the hospital was extremely clean and well maintained. The hotel we stayed in that night, Hotel Lucerna, was clean and comfy with delicious restaurants on-site. My husband and I met Dr. Wilhelmy the morning of surgery, 4/14/16, and he was very kind, explaining what was going to happen and asking if I had any questions. The anesthesiologist was very thorough in explaining how I would be put under, which put my mind at rest. For the 3 days I was at Hospital Almater Dr. Wilhelmy, Dr. Campos and Dr. Beltran came everyday to explain what the day would entail and answering any questions I had. Day 1: Had VSG done that morning, was encouraged to walk as soon as possible, but I slept most of the afternoon. No gas pains, some soreness at night, but the nurses were quick to respond and give medication as needed. Day 2: Nothing by mouth, but I really didn't want anything. I was very tired, but my husband, the Doctors and nurses really encouraged mw to walk, walk, walk and do my spirometer exercises. Day 3: Methylene Blue dye test. It wasn't pleasant tasting and I vomited a few times while drinking it. All the Doctors and Nurses that came in that morning encouraged me to sip it as often as possible. Finally in the late afternoon I finished it, no blue dye was in my drain bag (but I did pee blue for a few times after), so Dr. Campos removed it (feels weird, but doesn't hurt). And I was brought a tray of delicious chicken broth, Gatorade and chamomile tea for lunch and dinner. Day 4: Barium swallow done. The barium contrast didn't taste terrible, just chalky. I would prefer it over the blue dye any day. Got to see my new tiny stomach. Passed all my leak tests and Karla carried us back to the airport for the trip home, with all my post -op instructions, information for my primary care Doctor back home and a CD of the barium swallow study.
At 2 weeks post of as I write this, my recovery up until this point has been uneventful. I focus mainly on water first and then on my protein intake and follow the post-op diet closely. Over the past 2 weeks I have lost 10.5 pounds, which I never could've done in a month on my own before surgery and I am ecstatic to see what the future holds.
If you have any apprehensions about going to a foreign country for surgery, just look at all Dr. Wilhelmy's great reviews and go for it. I would recommend Dr. Wilhelmy and Mexicali Bariatric Center to anyone who wants a caring staff, Doctors and Nurses, a clean hospital and wonderful care and would most definitely refer and friends and family interested in the procedure to them as well.
Feel free to contact me with any questions, I would love to answer them."
