So I had my first appointment with my PCP yesterday. She was never aware that I decided to have this surgery, let alone that it was in Mexico. She had referred me to the Weight Wise program where bariatric surgery was a possibility at some point, but was surprised to hear that I did self pay. As I have had some issues with concentration, memory and focus lately I wanted to get all my vitamin levels (etc) checked to see where I'm at. She's also getting my glucose checked to see where I'm at there. I was pre-pre diabetic when she last checked so it will be interesting to see where all my levels are now.
Interestingly, she was fine with the fact that I chose to do this surgery. She was unhappy/unthrilled/whatever that it was in MEXICO *gasp* Actually. She really did literally gasp. I brushed it off. I read that as ignorance to the care that you get in Mexico and made sure she knew that I had great care and was really happy with my surgeon and the facilities. She was really happy with the weight I've lost (40 lbs as of yesterday woot woot!) and is happy to see I'm also off my anti-depressants at this point. She did mention that the issues I'm having COULD actually be related to the depression (I have PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, also mental health issues run in my family) but time will tell if that comes back up in the future. It will be monitored closely, of course. If necessary, I will go back on them but I'd rather not as it was helpful in my weight regain and subsequent deeper depression so I'd like to not go down that road again if I don't have to.
Showing posts with label Jerusalem Clinic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerusalem Clinic. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Surgery day outline
I guess I never really posted how the whole thing happened. I know I'll want this information later and it might be helpful to others that are considering this procedure so I'm going to go over it now.
April 27
We met up at the San Diego Jet Blue terminal at 8am with Terry, Leslie, Darlene and Jason who were also getting the sleeve the same day as me. Our transport arrived on time in a VW van to take us to Tijuana. The trip over the border was uneventful. I think we stopped for about 2 seconds... didn't have to talk to anyone, nothing. Vehicle just got its pictures taken, that's it and then we were off.
We arrived at the Jerusalem Clinic about 9am and sat around upstairs for quite awhile. Blood was drawn, EKGs were done, met Dr Almanza and he discussed the procedure a little, consulted with Juan Betancourt (patient coordinator/admin) and Dr. Betancourt (his brother and VP of the place) were done and then we were taken down to the room to be put in a gown, IV put in and weighed.
Not too much longer later you're walked into the surgical suite. Within moments you talk to the anesthiesiologist and you're out like a light. You awake in the recovery room beside the surgical suite and are then walked to a waiting bed. From then on, its basically pass out, pain meds/saline by IV, walk a little to get rid of gas pains, pass out, ad nauseaum until the next morning.
April 28
By 9am they put some more meds in your IV and you're transferred to the recovery house/hotel (whichever you've chosen). They dropped us off at the hotel, made sure we were situated and then we didn't see anyone again until around 8pm that night when we were picked up again for transport back to the clinic for more pain meds and antibiotics and then transported back to the hotel.
April 29
They picked us up around 10 am and they took us to radiology to have our leak test. They give you this nasty blue water that you're supposed to drink down while they drive you. Once you are called in for your test, you're done with the nasty blue stuff and instead, you get even nastier clear stuff. You have to drink it while standing in front of the xray so they can take pictures while it goes down and make sure you're ok to go home. After the test, we were driven back to the clinic to have the xrays reviewed. We were there not even 10 minutes before we were released and headed back to the hotel again. Yay no leaks! That night we were picked up again around 10pm and brought to the clinic for 1 last pain med and they took the IV out as well as the drain. It doesn't hurt. It feels really weird, but it doesn't hurt to have it removed. They don't sew up the spot where the drain was so you're left with a 1" slit that has to heal without the stitches.
April 30
They picked us up at 11 am and off we headed to the USA border to go back into San Diego. The drive was very quick. They had warned us originally that it could be up to 3 hours waiting to get through but it was an hour total from the time we left the hotel until we were back in the states!
We flew home May 1 :)
April 27
We met up at the San Diego Jet Blue terminal at 8am with Terry, Leslie, Darlene and Jason who were also getting the sleeve the same day as me. Our transport arrived on time in a VW van to take us to Tijuana. The trip over the border was uneventful. I think we stopped for about 2 seconds... didn't have to talk to anyone, nothing. Vehicle just got its pictures taken, that's it and then we were off.
We arrived at the Jerusalem Clinic about 9am and sat around upstairs for quite awhile. Blood was drawn, EKGs were done, met Dr Almanza and he discussed the procedure a little, consulted with Juan Betancourt (patient coordinator/admin) and Dr. Betancourt (his brother and VP of the place) were done and then we were taken down to the room to be put in a gown, IV put in and weighed.
Not too much longer later you're walked into the surgical suite. Within moments you talk to the anesthiesiologist and you're out like a light. You awake in the recovery room beside the surgical suite and are then walked to a waiting bed. From then on, its basically pass out, pain meds/saline by IV, walk a little to get rid of gas pains, pass out, ad nauseaum until the next morning.
April 28
By 9am they put some more meds in your IV and you're transferred to the recovery house/hotel (whichever you've chosen). They dropped us off at the hotel, made sure we were situated and then we didn't see anyone again until around 8pm that night when we were picked up again for transport back to the clinic for more pain meds and antibiotics and then transported back to the hotel.
April 29
They picked us up around 10 am and they took us to radiology to have our leak test. They give you this nasty blue water that you're supposed to drink down while they drive you. Once you are called in for your test, you're done with the nasty blue stuff and instead, you get even nastier clear stuff. You have to drink it while standing in front of the xray so they can take pictures while it goes down and make sure you're ok to go home. After the test, we were driven back to the clinic to have the xrays reviewed. We were there not even 10 minutes before we were released and headed back to the hotel again. Yay no leaks! That night we were picked up again around 10pm and brought to the clinic for 1 last pain med and they took the IV out as well as the drain. It doesn't hurt. It feels really weird, but it doesn't hurt to have it removed. They don't sew up the spot where the drain was so you're left with a 1" slit that has to heal without the stitches.
April 30
They picked us up at 11 am and off we headed to the USA border to go back into San Diego. The drive was very quick. They had warned us originally that it could be up to 3 hours waiting to get through but it was an hour total from the time we left the hotel until we were back in the states!
We flew home May 1 :)
Monday, April 18, 2011
Counting down and trip deets..
1 week away.
Trying to get all my last minute information handled. Hubby thinks we should bring 2 suitcases. I think he's insane. We're going to be gone for 5 days and I'll be in jammies/yoga pants pretty much the entire time. No reason we need 2 suitcases! Besides, I'll be in a wheelchair the entire trip back so he would have to push me AND transport luggage. That would suck donkeyballs.
I start liquids/softs diet on Easter Sunday which should be great fun. After the surgery, we're still trying to get a handle on what kind of things I can eat. There's alot of differing opinions out there that's for sure. I'm going to be strict so that I can get the max use of the benefits of the "golden shot" of the VSG.
We fly in to San Diego on Apr 26 and we're staying at a Hilton for the night. Then the next morning, we head back to the airport for our medical transport to Tijuana, MX. They will bring us to the Jerusalem Hospital there and I will have my tests all done and the surgery same day.
Standard hospital stay is 2 days and thankfully Hubby will get to stay there with me. After 2 days, they release me to (normally) the recovery house. We've chosen instead to stay in a nearby hotel (Hotel Ticuan) for a little measure of privacy. Also there was comments that if the house was full, Hubby could end up sleeping on a couch or sent to a hotel by himself. We didn't want that chance so we're paying for the 2 nights at the hotel. Apparently its VERY nice and we've rented the best room in the place (a suite) for only $80! They advised me that they will leave my IV port in and when I need to see the nurse for pain meds, tests, etc, they will come and pick me up. They'll bring me back to the hospital to do it and then bring me back to the hotel.
On Saturday April 30, I will have the swallow test to check for leaks. I was already advised to ask for a red popsicle instead of trying to drink the nasty barium solution. I have a hell of a gag reflex and there's no way I'd be able to get that crap in me. Once I pass that, I'm released and they bring us back to San Diego where we're overnighting again at the Hilton. We fly home (with a layover in Seattle) on May 1. Unfortunately we couldn't find a better flight so we're coming home at something like 11pm. I am going to see how I feel for work on the Monday. My intention is to go to work but I'll see how it goes.
My employer does not know I am getting this surgery. They only know that I'm having surgery. My boss asked me if the surgery was "necessary". Yes. Yes it is. I will die from obesity related illnesses and I'll be off work more for them than this time off for surgery. I have a pretty technical job. I hope that I won't have any issues with concentration or tiredness afterwards that would affect my job.
Trying to get all my last minute information handled. Hubby thinks we should bring 2 suitcases. I think he's insane. We're going to be gone for 5 days and I'll be in jammies/yoga pants pretty much the entire time. No reason we need 2 suitcases! Besides, I'll be in a wheelchair the entire trip back so he would have to push me AND transport luggage. That would suck donkeyballs.
I start liquids/softs diet on Easter Sunday which should be great fun. After the surgery, we're still trying to get a handle on what kind of things I can eat. There's alot of differing opinions out there that's for sure. I'm going to be strict so that I can get the max use of the benefits of the "golden shot" of the VSG.
We fly in to San Diego on Apr 26 and we're staying at a Hilton for the night. Then the next morning, we head back to the airport for our medical transport to Tijuana, MX. They will bring us to the Jerusalem Hospital there and I will have my tests all done and the surgery same day.
Standard hospital stay is 2 days and thankfully Hubby will get to stay there with me. After 2 days, they release me to (normally) the recovery house. We've chosen instead to stay in a nearby hotel (Hotel Ticuan) for a little measure of privacy. Also there was comments that if the house was full, Hubby could end up sleeping on a couch or sent to a hotel by himself. We didn't want that chance so we're paying for the 2 nights at the hotel. Apparently its VERY nice and we've rented the best room in the place (a suite) for only $80! They advised me that they will leave my IV port in and when I need to see the nurse for pain meds, tests, etc, they will come and pick me up. They'll bring me back to the hospital to do it and then bring me back to the hotel.
On Saturday April 30, I will have the swallow test to check for leaks. I was already advised to ask for a red popsicle instead of trying to drink the nasty barium solution. I have a hell of a gag reflex and there's no way I'd be able to get that crap in me. Once I pass that, I'm released and they bring us back to San Diego where we're overnighting again at the Hilton. We fly home (with a layover in Seattle) on May 1. Unfortunately we couldn't find a better flight so we're coming home at something like 11pm. I am going to see how I feel for work on the Monday. My intention is to go to work but I'll see how it goes.
My employer does not know I am getting this surgery. They only know that I'm having surgery. My boss asked me if the surgery was "necessary". Yes. Yes it is. I will die from obesity related illnesses and I'll be off work more for them than this time off for surgery. I have a pretty technical job. I hope that I won't have any issues with concentration or tiredness afterwards that would affect my job.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Surgery date
I have a date.
April 27th. That's my new birthday.
I will be "sleeved" in the Jerusalem Hospital in Tijuana Mexico with Dr Almanza Reyes
I've spent a great deal of time researching not only the procedure itself but also the hospital and the doctor. I'm confident in this choice.
Why did I choose Mexico? Cost and time.
It would be at LEAST a year or more before I *might*be able to get the surgery here.... and if I did it self pay at home, it would be $20,000. That's money we just don't have.
The surgery is nearly a 1/3 of the price in Mexico and I can do it in mere months from making the decision. I of course still have to qualify but with a BMI over 30, I'm in a good category.
April 27th. That's my new birthday.
I will be "sleeved" in the Jerusalem Hospital in Tijuana Mexico with Dr Almanza Reyes
I've spent a great deal of time researching not only the procedure itself but also the hospital and the doctor. I'm confident in this choice.
Why did I choose Mexico? Cost and time.
It would be at LEAST a year or more before I *might*be able to get the surgery here.... and if I did it self pay at home, it would be $20,000. That's money we just don't have.
The surgery is nearly a 1/3 of the price in Mexico and I can do it in mere months from making the decision. I of course still have to qualify but with a BMI over 30, I'm in a good category.
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