(Long) Back home! My experience with Dr. Lopez at Vida w/ pix!

Hi all, 

i just got home this morning about 1045am, and hubby and I went to a Vietnamese restaurant and I had some yuuuumy Pho broth! So good. Now at home resting, I feel great!

My journey started on Sunday afternoon, I live I'm San Diego so we arranged to meet my driver Victor at the cell phone lot at the sd airport. On the way my husband said, if it's someone creepy dude in a rickety jalopy I'm not letting you go! But he was calm and so was I once we met Victor. He's a sweet older gentleman and he had a very comfortable newer model Honda van, and he put me at ease immediately, very warm and friendly. We picked up two ladies from their terminal, cousins who we're having surgery with Dr Cabrera at Mi Doctor, so sweet.

crossing the border was a cinch, we drove right through. The Marriott is lovely, and our co-ordinator Tatiana was there waiting for us. She helped check us in, and had our bags sent up to our room, and let us know she'd be there shortly to meet with us individually in our rooms.

i was more than pleased when I entered my room, I felt so comfortable. Tatiana came up an briefed me on the schedule for the days to come, and gave me some paperwork to review. She said she was my contact for anything I needed at the hotel, but Sandra would be my main co-ordinator for the rest of my journey and said she'd be over soon to meet me.

Sandra came, she was amazing, and took care of me every step of the way. She let me know Dr Lopez had two surgeries scheduled tomorrow (Monday) and I would be second, in the late morning. She ordered me som broth from room service and left me to relax.

I took a nice bath and went to bed early, the bed was sooo comfortable. Staff at the marriott was wonderful, the only complaint I have is that room service is veerry slow. But otherwise a wonderful stay.

The next morning I headed to the lobby and met my new driver, and the other patient having surgery that day, we'll call him V, and his gf. Once in the van we headed for our EKG and we all chatted and got to know eachoher. They were from Idaho, or Iowa, I think, and V was over 500 lbs, but no co-morbids and was getting the sleeve with Dr Lopez as well.

After our ekgs we headed to Vida hospital. Beauuuuutiful.

Downstairs lobby:

Upstairs check in floor:

I didn't wait long before the nurse called me for my blood work, in this little medical room:

After my blood was drawn I also gave a urine sample, and was escorted to the patients lounge to wait for my results and my turn for surgery. Very comfy! Recliners, blankets, tv and magazines.

While I was waiting I met Dr. Lopez, my anesthesiologist, and my surgical nurses. They all answered my questions and made me feel so cared for and comfortable! The nurse placed my IV with fluids, and explained my lab results (all normal).

when it was my turn, the nurse helped me up and I walked right into the OR! :) I got on the table and laid down, while the anesthesiologist placed the medicine in my IV. Last thing I remember was hearing dance music and thinking "surgery party!".

i woke up in revert, about an hour later to the nurses gently waking me and telling me I did great. I had to pee sooo bad! I tried a couple times with the bed pan but it was not comfortable so I asked to go to the real bathroom. The nurses reluctantly agreed since I was fresh out of surgery, but they helped me. My legs felt like cinder blocks and I inched to the bathroom. My abdominal muscles were very sore getting up and off the toilet. 

First night was hard. I was peeing a lot, but it helped me get my walking in because I was otherwise not interested in leaving my bed at all. Dr checked on me a couple more times and nurses all day. I had my second leak test (first was in the OR with gas), which was drinking a thick blue liquid then checking my drain for any sign or blue, it was fine.

i had a hiatal hernia repair as well, dr showed me a pic, yikes it was big, and gross! Crazy that I had one and V didn't, his gf said he's the "healthiest fat man in the world", I believe it!

Second night was easier, but was getting antsy about still having an IV and drain, and my tummy was still sore. I had a little anxiety and a little remorse, I was even surfing the "regrets forum" here on OH! Lol. But the recovery boutique downstairs was awesome, and I still had frequent visits from nurses.

Inside my private room:

The third day, Wednesday, I felt more like a human being. My drain and IV were removed and I felt wooorlds better. We left and had our third leak test drinking that gross liquid in front of the X-ray, all good there! We got copies of our X-rays and lab work to take home. 

Then it was back to the marriott! Slept well, felt good albeit some minor ab soreness, this morning I was totally fine. Crossing the border back to the US took about five minutes, no issues!

if you've read this long, bless you! Here's some other stats I forgot:

• I'm 28, 5'1", 207lbs on day of surgery (that's also what I weighed this afternoon)
• Dr Lopez and his staff were amazing, and I loved Vida hospital.
• doing well from the beginning getting in fluids 
• no significant gas pain (I took gasx strips and lots of fennel tea)
• The bougie dr Lopez uses is 32f
• Felt safe and comfortable the whole time, made friends.
• Dr Lopez only did two surgeries that day
• all my take home meds were included and provided by the dr at the hospital (pain, antibiotic, antacid)
• i have not been physically hungry at all, but I miss eating solid food for sure
• the worst part for me was the drain and IV, hated it! Surgery was fine compared to those damn things.
• as of today all my incisions are closed and very small, minimal ab soreness.
• the girls who rode back with me had dr Valenzuela, they were pleased with their experience as well. They were from Texas, no passports but used birth certificates and drivers license just fine.

if you have any questions, feel free to ask! It was a phenomenal experience, way better than the states IMO, and I'd recommend dr Lopez to anyone!

Congratulations!! Great review and great pictures!  Linda

Thanks Linda! 

Aww I'm so happy things went well for you.. I have been waiting on your post. Your descriptions and pictures were great. I have a few questions: how soon after your surgery did you see your husband? Did he stay in the room with you the night of the surgery? How did the payment process go? And was your deposit given back to you or did you just reduce your balance by that amount?  And as far as clothing did you just bring jogging suits I can't imagine wearing jeans with the incisions on your stomach. 

And congratulations..  

Hey you! :)

 I went alone, my hubby just dropped me off and picked me up in SD :) V's girlfriend got to see him a couple hours after his surgery I believe, after he left immediate recovery with constant supervision by nurses (where I was when I kept having to pee) and into a reg recovery room (still on hospital floor, not boutique till second night).

I believe she stayed in the recovery boutique downstairs the first night but visited him during visiting hours.

i was fully paid up before I got to Mexico :) I wrote a check for the balance and deposited it in Specialized Bariatrics account at Bank of America (ask your coordinator for acct info if you want). The balance is the total fee minus your deposit :)

the only thing I had to pay for was my extra charge for hernia repair, I paid with credit card at Vida before leaving (make sure you alert your bank you're traveling so there's no hiccups).

i brought loose dresses and loose pajama pants, loose tops, and was comfortable.

it was a great experience, you'll love it (as much as someone could love surgery haha!)!

That's right I forgot I can deposit the money in Back of America. I need to call Rika, so I can take care of that  next week.. Did you purchase your vitamins there?

Nope I ordered all my vitamins on Amazon :) 

Thanks so much for posting. I have been waiting to hear from you. :-) Three more days for me...I can't wait! :-)

So excited for you!!

Hi how was every thing I haven't seen you post lately..