Successful Bariatric Surgery in Bogota Columbia

Dear Friends who struggle with obeisity, I just returned from Bogota Columbia where I had the laparoscopic RNY procedure by Dr. Alvaro Valencia and Dr. Andres Silva at the Reina Sofia Clinic (hospital). It was a successful operative procedure plus a wonderful personal experience. Affordablebariatrics.com is the website for this wonderfully packaged program whi*****ludes the cost of the surgery and pre-op testing, hospital stay, airfare up to $700, 11 nights at the Intercontinental hotel (a junior suite room), all meals, an escort/translator/friend to take you to your pre-op appointments, visit after surgery and even take sight seeing post-op, transfers from the airport to hotel to airport, additional $10,000 insurance for complications related to the the surgery, a private duty nurse for your stay in the hospital (4 days) and for your first night at the hotel and a cell phone for access to local numbers and for family to call from the States. As a registered nurse of 29 years, I have very high standards when it comes to health care. I found Drs. Valencia and Silva to be very compassionate, knowledable and currrent in their knowledge. I immediately felt confident allowing them to do my surgery. I arrived on August 30th and was picked up by my escort and Dr. Silva. I was taken to the hotel and early the next morning I was picked up for the start of my exams (endoscopy, blood work, EKG, meeting with Dr. Valencia and Dr. Silva and the nutritionist). All went very well. The endoscopy was easy with the use of a short acting medication called proprofol which lasts about 10 minutes and you are awake. This is a medication also used in the states. On September 1st, I met with the anesthesiologist and the internist who cleared me for surgery which is also done in states and also had pulmonary function tests. On September 2nd, I had my surgery at 2PM. It lasted about 4-5 hours and I was transferred to the recovery room without any problems. My doctors were there as I awoke as well as my private duty nurse. Most of the doctors spoke English (especially Dr. Valencia and Dr. Silva). The nurses didnot speak English but we got on okay with the aid of a translation sheet and it was never any problem to get my needs a across to them. I awoke with a four small incisions using dissolvable sutures and liquid band-aid type coverage as well as a drain in the left flank area and a foley cathether for the urine for just the first night. I returned to my room by 8:30 PM with my private nurse and the doctors. That night I got out of bed, took a few steps and sat in the chair. I couldn't believe that I was able to do that!!!!! I had the usual breathing treatments to expand my lungs which is so important after surgery. The doctors focus on getting up and walking as soon as possible which is also the focus in the states. The pain was not too bad-about a 2 on a scale of 1-10. For pain, they give a substance called domperidol which is not used in the states but is very effective. I had only three IV doses the whole time. For discharge, I was given tylenol with codeine. I never took any of that. The foley came out early the next morning. I was happy to have that the first night which eliminated the need to get up to urinate so I could sleep which I did!!!! The next three days focused on walking as much as possible. On the second day post-op I started on broth and water and herbal tea which was divine. Each day I walked more and more and on the evening of the third day post-op, my IV taken out. FREEDOM!!! The next morning my drain was taken out and I was discharged with my nurse to the hotel. REAL FREEDOM!!!! The hospital is clean and comfortable. You get a nice private room with TV with cable channels like CNN and FOX. The rooms are cleaned about three times a day which NEVER happens in the USA. The medications post-op include ranitidine and pain medication-the same meds and IV supplies we use in the States. Pre-op and during surgery you are given an IV antibiotic, a cephalosporin which is routine. Each day you also get a little shot low molecular weight heparin to prevent blood clots from from in the lungs or lungs. This is pretty routine also. While in hospital, the surgeons visited two to three times a day!!!! I know that never happens in the USA. They also go walking with you in the corridor to be sure you are walking okay and acutally doing it. That was nice. They are great surgeons and very fun and loving people. Also, my lovely escort Maria, saw me every day while in the hospital and called in the evening to see how I was doing. She spoke excellent English which was great. I was lucky to have another American there at the same time having the same surgery and we became bariatric buddies and supported each other. There is so much support and love there that I had to say the operation was about a 2 but the experience was a 10 plus!!!!! On September 6th, I was discharged with my nurse to the hotel which was great. I had a quiet day there and was visited by Drs. Valencia and Silva that evening and every evening. This was very comforting. By the next day, I was doing so well that I was given permission by the doctors to go a short site seeing trip with my escort and the other patient and her escort. We had a great time. We went shopping for local crafts and then to the coffee growers association. It was great fun. The afternoon I rested and drank of course. That is most important to drink at least 6 ounces each hours. The hotel sent up broth and we stopped to pick up the drinks we liked. It all went so well. I started on Nexium in the hospital once my IV came out and will continue that for three months. For the next couple of days we went sit seeing and shopped. Great shopping and Bogota is a beautiful city. I felt saft but we were always out with a Spanish speaking person. By afternoon, I would feel a little tired and would have a siesta. Each evening we visited with our surgeons. The time flew. I left on the night of September 10th and arrived home safe and sound feeling great, no hunger and full of energy. Bogota is 8,000 feet above sea level which might have accounted for some of the tiredness but I don't feel that now. Now that I am home, I am starting slowly to add protein according to the plan the bariatric surgeon I was seeing here uses here in the US. That is going well too. Overall, this experience was OUTSTANDING. It was a great option since my insurance company denied me twice even though I met all the criteria. It costs $15,000 which was half price for me in my state and I paid cash which gave a 7% discount and a $500 discount if I signed up for So, it came to $13,600 and change which is a great price for all you get. I will tell you as a nurse for 29 years, you will NEVER get the attention from the surgeons in the US that you will get from the surgeons and nurse in Bogota. I am so happy and so grateful for everything that happened. And, after day 10 post-op, I have lost 15 pounds effortlessly and with HUNGER!!! I hope you check out this website and if it is write for you, GO FOR IT. You will be happy you did. I wish you lots of luck for a new life. If you need to ask me any questions, please email me at [email protected] Best wishes to you all. You deserve it!!!!! Marianne

I am also considering Columbia. However this post looks like an advertisement for the website. I have also looked around and found a posting for this doctor that wasn't as favorable. The woman in the posting said she probably would not have made it thru if it wasn't for her husband accompanying her. I would like more feedback from others that have tried Bogota as their surgical option.

Dear S. Waiting, I read your response to my posting and I suppose in all my zealousness and successful outcome, I want others to know how well my experience went. I am now five weeks out and have lost 35 pounds and fell great. You might have read a posting from a patient who had the open procedure and not the laparoscopic one. I say this because I was the first patient from the U. S. that Dr. Valencia did laparoscopic surgery on. Laparoscopic is very different from RNY open-it has much less pain and a much shorter recuperation time. I wish you success in your efforts to find a surgeon and in a sucessful outcome. Marianne