Home and Healing (warning LONG post)
Home from Mexico and healing up from my Surgery on Monday.
For all of those that are considering surgery in Mexico but have been discouraged by friends or family due to the safety, I had the most wonderful experience.
Trish was amazing and made sure that my companion and I were well taken care of every step of the way. The hospital staff was attentive and quick, never waited more than 30 seconds for someone to show up when I rung for a nurse. The hospital itself was immaculate, cleaner than any hospital that I have been in here. Tijuana was safe as long as we were out with Trish, and she was more than accommodating for me and my companion. She took my companion shopping the day that I was out of the hospital to make sure that I had some rest because I really needed it! When I was feeling a little bit better, we went to the beach and to a street festival (which as you probably saw by my previous post was overdoing it. I recommend that if you go, you put yourself first, and not your companion. I wanted to make sure that my companion was having a great time and not bored! She loved it, me, not so much....
How am I feeling after surgery? I will break it down by days. . .
Surgery day... I arrived in Mexico, was soooo scared and nervous that I spent my entire flight from Calgary to San Diego throwing up. I arrived in San Diego and was greeted by Carlos, who drove me and my companion to Tijuana. I was shocked about how easy it was to get across the border, they didn't want to see my passport, they just opened up the back of the van and said vamoose.. I was driven right to Hotel Lucerna, where Trish met me and said that Dr Ponce said that I could have my surgery that day if I would like. I agreed. I just wanted it over with since I was so sick and nauseous. So off I went, saw the cardiologist. talked to the dr's and was in surgery by 5 that evening. the rest of the day was a blur.. I came out of surgery and just slept. The first night I was up a lot with the gas pressure but was overly nauseous and couldn't get up and walk around.
Day 2.... gas pain was HORRIBLE, still nauseous and I was given anti nasau meds which helped. I walked as much as I can, but mostly slept. The nurses were very good to me, got me to have a shower and changed my bandages. I was able to walk more after that and that seemed to help with the gas. That evening i was able to have some ice chips and I was greatful but it hurt at first but got better quickly. So the day consisted of a lot of sleeping, some walking, and LOTS of burping!
Day 3.....This was a turnaround day for me, and for the other people that I was able to talk to there. WOW, what a difference. I still had a bit of nausea, they gave me something for it, and I had a shower again, they changed my bandages again, and I got up and started walking. There was a lot of burping and I was finally able to pass gas "the other way" ... what a relief!! There was really no pain from the incisions, just the gas pain, and the sipping still hurt. They brought me the blue liquid for the leak test, which was AWFUL, so I drank it, went in for my leak test and since all was well, the drain tube was removed, and that was amazing, but I was one of the rare ones that gets a fever and nausea from the drain removal... was easily fixed with some anti nausea meds. I was released shortly after that and went straight to the hospital to sleep. I really needed some peace and quiet, so Trish took my companion shopping, and ordered me some broth from room service. I slept like a baby, and was sooo comfortable. After my nap, I had my first broth and it was amazing! I drank some juice, some tea and sipped on water. That evening we jus****ched tv in the hotel and relaxed.
Day 4.....got up, went for a walk and sat by the pool for a little while to feel normal. Went back to the room and had some tea and water, and a shower. Since the Lucerna was full the day I was released from the hospital we were staying at the Marriot, very nice hotel, but not as homey as the Lucerna, and the staff was not as nice there. So we packed up and moved back to the Lucerna. Trish came and picked us up and took us to the beach that day after we had spent the afternoon sitting by the pool. The beach was so pretty with the waves crashing on the beach, we were down there for a little bit, then Trish bought me some gatorade and we went on to the street festival. We walked around there and bought some little things and enjoyed the music, and finally went back to the hotel... by then I was exhausted and NEEDED to sleep, but there was packing to do and preparing for the flight the next day... soooo finally I got to sleep.
Day 5... felt alright, but very tired. My back was sore from all the walking the day before. There was no real incision pain, and the gas pain was pretty much gone, but replaced by back pain (my fault). I had some popsicles, and tea for breakfast, and took my meds and we were picked up by the shuttle to take us back to San Diego. The waits at the border are typically about 3 hours, but we had a medical pass and were able to bypass most of the line, we were across the border in less than 20 minutes! Since we allowed for so much time, we had a LONG wait at the airport, not good for backpain, but I was greatful to be on my way home. long story short (HA) I was home about 12 hours later, my husband picked me up from the airport and now I am home relaxing and sipping.
Day 6... No real pain anymore, just a bit of backpain, and sipping, sipping, sipping...
For all of those that are considering surgery in Mexico but have been discouraged by friends or family due to the safety, I had the most wonderful experience.
Trish was amazing and made sure that my companion and I were well taken care of every step of the way. The hospital staff was attentive and quick, never waited more than 30 seconds for someone to show up when I rung for a nurse. The hospital itself was immaculate, cleaner than any hospital that I have been in here. Tijuana was safe as long as we were out with Trish, and she was more than accommodating for me and my companion. She took my companion shopping the day that I was out of the hospital to make sure that I had some rest because I really needed it! When I was feeling a little bit better, we went to the beach and to a street festival (which as you probably saw by my previous post was overdoing it. I recommend that if you go, you put yourself first, and not your companion. I wanted to make sure that my companion was having a great time and not bored! She loved it, me, not so much....
How am I feeling after surgery? I will break it down by days. . .
Surgery day... I arrived in Mexico, was soooo scared and nervous that I spent my entire flight from Calgary to San Diego throwing up. I arrived in San Diego and was greeted by Carlos, who drove me and my companion to Tijuana. I was shocked about how easy it was to get across the border, they didn't want to see my passport, they just opened up the back of the van and said vamoose.. I was driven right to Hotel Lucerna, where Trish met me and said that Dr Ponce said that I could have my surgery that day if I would like. I agreed. I just wanted it over with since I was so sick and nauseous. So off I went, saw the cardiologist. talked to the dr's and was in surgery by 5 that evening. the rest of the day was a blur.. I came out of surgery and just slept. The first night I was up a lot with the gas pressure but was overly nauseous and couldn't get up and walk around.
Day 2.... gas pain was HORRIBLE, still nauseous and I was given anti nasau meds which helped. I walked as much as I can, but mostly slept. The nurses were very good to me, got me to have a shower and changed my bandages. I was able to walk more after that and that seemed to help with the gas. That evening i was able to have some ice chips and I was greatful but it hurt at first but got better quickly. So the day consisted of a lot of sleeping, some walking, and LOTS of burping!
Day 3.....This was a turnaround day for me, and for the other people that I was able to talk to there. WOW, what a difference. I still had a bit of nausea, they gave me something for it, and I had a shower again, they changed my bandages again, and I got up and started walking. There was a lot of burping and I was finally able to pass gas "the other way" ... what a relief!! There was really no pain from the incisions, just the gas pain, and the sipping still hurt. They brought me the blue liquid for the leak test, which was AWFUL, so I drank it, went in for my leak test and since all was well, the drain tube was removed, and that was amazing, but I was one of the rare ones that gets a fever and nausea from the drain removal... was easily fixed with some anti nausea meds. I was released shortly after that and went straight to the hospital to sleep. I really needed some peace and quiet, so Trish took my companion shopping, and ordered me some broth from room service. I slept like a baby, and was sooo comfortable. After my nap, I had my first broth and it was amazing! I drank some juice, some tea and sipped on water. That evening we jus****ched tv in the hotel and relaxed.
Day 4.....got up, went for a walk and sat by the pool for a little while to feel normal. Went back to the room and had some tea and water, and a shower. Since the Lucerna was full the day I was released from the hospital we were staying at the Marriot, very nice hotel, but not as homey as the Lucerna, and the staff was not as nice there. So we packed up and moved back to the Lucerna. Trish came and picked us up and took us to the beach that day after we had spent the afternoon sitting by the pool. The beach was so pretty with the waves crashing on the beach, we were down there for a little bit, then Trish bought me some gatorade and we went on to the street festival. We walked around there and bought some little things and enjoyed the music, and finally went back to the hotel... by then I was exhausted and NEEDED to sleep, but there was packing to do and preparing for the flight the next day... soooo finally I got to sleep.
Day 5... felt alright, but very tired. My back was sore from all the walking the day before. There was no real incision pain, and the gas pain was pretty much gone, but replaced by back pain (my fault). I had some popsicles, and tea for breakfast, and took my meds and we were picked up by the shuttle to take us back to San Diego. The waits at the border are typically about 3 hours, but we had a medical pass and were able to bypass most of the line, we were across the border in less than 20 minutes! Since we allowed for so much time, we had a LONG wait at the airport, not good for backpain, but I was greatful to be on my way home. long story short (HA) I was home about 12 hours later, my husband picked me up from the airport and now I am home relaxing and sipping.
Day 6... No real pain anymore, just a bit of backpain, and sipping, sipping, sipping...
On May 26, 2012 at 8:24 AM Pacific Time, justmest wrote:
Home from Mexico and healing up from my Surgery on Monday. For all of those that are considering surgery in Mexico but have been discouraged by friends or family due to the safety, I had the most wonderful experience.
Trish was amazing and made sure that my companion and I were well taken care of every step of the way. The hospital staff was attentive and quick, never waited more than 30 seconds for someone to show up when I rung for a nurse. The hospital itself was immaculate, cleaner than any hospital that I have been in here. Tijuana was safe as long as we were out with Trish, and she was more than accommodating for me and my companion. She took my companion shopping the day that I was out of the hospital to make sure that I had some rest because I really needed it! When I was feeling a little bit better, we went to the beach and to a street festival (which as you probably saw by my previous post was overdoing it. I recommend that if you go, you put yourself first, and not your companion. I wanted to make sure that my companion was having a great time and not bored! She loved it, me, not so much....
How am I feeling after surgery? I will break it down by days. . .
Surgery day... I arrived in Mexico, was soooo scared and nervous that I spent my entire flight from Calgary to San Diego throwing up. I arrived in San Diego and was greeted by Carlos, who drove me and my companion to Tijuana. I was shocked about how easy it was to get across the border, they didn't want to see my passport, they just opened up the back of the van and said vamoose.. I was driven right to Hotel Lucerna, where Trish met me and said that Dr Ponce said that I could have my surgery that day if I would like. I agreed. I just wanted it over with since I was so sick and nauseous. So off I went, saw the cardiologist. talked to the dr's and was in surgery by 5 that evening. the rest of the day was a blur.. I came out of surgery and just slept. The first night I was up a lot with the gas pressure but was overly nauseous and couldn't get up and walk around.
Day 2.... gas pain was HORRIBLE, still nauseous and I was given anti nasau meds which helped. I walked as much as I can, but mostly slept. The nurses were very good to me, got me to have a shower and changed my bandages. I was able to walk more after that and that seemed to help with the gas. That evening i was able to have some ice chips and I was greatful but it hurt at first but got better quickly. So the day consisted of a lot of sleeping, some walking, and LOTS of burping!
Day 3.....This was a turnaround day for me, and for the other people that I was able to talk to there. WOW, what a difference. I still had a bit of nausea, they gave me something for it, and I had a shower again, they changed my bandages again, and I got up and started walking. There was a lot of burping and I was finally able to pass gas "the other way" ... what a relief!! There was really no pain from the incisions, just the gas pain, and the sipping still hurt. They brought me the blue liquid for the leak test, which was AWFUL, so I drank it, went in for my leak test and since all was well, the drain tube was removed, and that was amazing, but I was one of the rare ones that gets a fever and nausea from the drain removal... was easily fixed with some anti nausea meds. I was released shortly after that and went straight to the hospital to sleep. I really needed some peace and quiet, so Trish took my companion shopping, and ordered me some broth from room service. I slept like a baby, and was sooo comfortable. After my nap, I had my first broth and it was amazing! I drank some juice, some tea and sipped on water. That evening we jus****ched tv in the hotel and relaxed.
Day 4.....got up, went for a walk and sat by the pool for a little while to feel normal. Went back to the room and had some tea and water, and a shower. Since the Lucerna was full the day I was released from the hospital we were staying at the Marriot, very nice hotel, but not as homey as the Lucerna, and the staff was not as nice there. So we packed up and moved back to the Lucerna. Trish came and picked us up and took us to the beach that day after we had spent the afternoon sitting by the pool. The beach was so pretty with the waves crashing on the beach, we were down there for a little bit, then Trish bought me some gatorade and we went on to the street festival. We walked around there and bought some little things and enjoyed the music, and finally went back to the hotel... by then I was exhausted and NEEDED to sleep, but there was packing to do and preparing for the flight the next day... soooo finally I got to sleep.
Day 5... felt alright, but very tired. My back was sore from all the walking the day before. There was no real incision pain, and the gas pain was pretty much gone, but replaced by back pain (my fault). I had some popsicles, and tea for breakfast, and took my meds and we were picked up by the shuttle to take us back to San Diego. The waits at the border are typically about 3 hours, but we had a medical pass and were able to bypass most of the line, we were across the border in less than 20 minutes! Since we allowed for so much time, we had a LONG wait at the airport, not good for backpain, but I was greatful to be on my way home. long story short (HA) I was home about 12 hours later, my husband picked me up from the airport and now I am home relaxing and sipping.
Day 6... No real pain anymore, just a bit of backpain, and sipping, sipping, sipping...
Dr. Sauceda future patient - body will be by Sauceda!
Surgery 4 Jun 12 Dr Ponce de Leon in Mexico I was down 57 lbs prior to surgery.
So glad that things went well. I know from my view they went REALLY well..LOL I hope the back pain alleviates itself quickly and that you continue on with your awesome recovery!!
Welcome back home and to the losers bench!! Keep sipping, relaxing and walking
Welcome back home and to the losers bench!! Keep sipping, relaxing and walking
Highest Weight Ever:312 StartW:272 CW:164 SW:253 GW:180 Height 5'10"
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