RE: Dr. Joya Gastric Sleeve Surgery Re: Whoo Hoo! I'm in Onederland
Be sure to read the instructions you will be sent by Dr. Joya's office. Print them off and have them where you can refer to them quickly.
My experience could not have been better. I flew down, sailed through the airport at PV, make sure you do NOT get distracted by the timeshare people. They will come up to you acting all official and try to divert you to their table. Just be polite and keep going until you see someone holding up a sign with your name on it. They will take you to the taxi that Dr. Joya has arranged. The hotel was ok, I was there in July and did not find it too humid. The air conditioner could have been cooler, but it was ok. The taxi driver took me to the wrong hospital from the hotel. Dr Joya uses two of them, and even though I showed him the paperwork with the name of the hospital Dr. Joya wanted me at, he took me to the one he was familiar with. Take plenty of one dollar bills for tips. Everybody works for tips. Buy and take your tape, anit-biotic crème and bandages for your wounds with you in your suitcase. I also took bullion cubes and protein 'bullets' with me, which came in wonderfully handy. Buy GAS-X and a spray bottle of mouth moisturizer. These little things will make your stay much more comfortable.
You will have to check out of the hotel after one night, the hospital only wants you to bring your most necessary items, not your whole suitcase. I took a 'bag within a bag' that held these and checked my suitcase with the bellman. It was returned to me safe and complete when I checked back in after the hospital stay.
The hospital is clean and nice. I had a private room with a large private bath. The room had a wonderful large flat screen TV and the remote control also controlled the thermostat in the room, which was displayed on the TV screen, so you could adjust your room temperature whenever you wanted. The nursing staff was great and usually anticipated your needs before you even asked. Dr. Joya's team has this process down to a science. Upon leaving the hospital, you take a taxi back to the hotel. It was not nearly as comfortable as the adjustable bed and flat screen TV with remote room temperature of the hospital, you get a little spoiled. Make sure that there is bottled water in the hotel room, or you have procured some for the next couple of days until you leave. They will come to check your progress each morning, but wound care is now up to you...that's where the bandages in your suitcase come in. There are previous posts on this forum, but I bought paper tape with 2 x 2 gauze. You puncture wound will be about the circumference of a nickel.
The best advice I can give you is ASK FOR A WHEELCHAIR when you arrive at the PV airport to begin your journey home. When you do that, not only do they furnish someone who will skillfully get you through customs ahead of everyone, but you will be offered the roomiest seat available in the plane (not first class) but forward cabin. If you have a transfer flight, they will then meet the plane with another wheelchair and transport to your connecting flight.
My last day in PV, I felt well enough that I took a taxi downtown to do a little shopping and sightseeing. I also drove myself home 115 miles from Kansas City to Columbia. You experience may not be the same, if possible I would arrange for a driver, but for me it was not an option and I did just fine.
UPDATE, I have lost six more pounds, current weight 194! I'm wearing a size 16 jeans. I can't tell you how happy I am. I have already 'hit the wall' just like I did before when trying to lose weight, and know that if my stomach would have held more, I would have eaten myself silly. Now I can't do that. Also I'm not near as hungry as before. I'm making much better food choices, eating my protein first, then vegetables. There is no room in your diet for empty calories anymore.
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Betty Pauley, Columbia, MO 65203
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--- In drjoyavsg@yahoogroups.com, "Betty Pauley" <bpauley@...> wrote:
>Hi I'm Tina from Oregon, and am sooo happy for you. I am getting
ready to schedule a surgery for January. a new year and a new
beginning. I am 285 now and am fortunate to be diabetic free as well
as have normal blood pressure and breathing at nights etc. Im just
miserably uncomfortable. I am however afraid a little still. Was
wondering if you can tell me abit about your experience traveling in
Mexico, and your journey. Again, I am so happy for you; CONGRATS!!!!
>
> Well, this morning my digital scale hit the number I've been
longing for 199.5! I had the gastric sleeve on July 11 in PV. The
surgery couldn't have went better. I started my journey at 264 back
in March of this year. I was below 250 when I actually had the
surgery, thanks to strict adherence to the Pre-Diet regimen. I have
had issues with Acid Reflux and am still dealing with those and
learning to live with it and manage it. Would I do it again YES, it
has given my my life back and hope for a much longer future that is
diabetes free, easier on my painful joints, and my blood pressure is
now within normal ranges. I am on half the dosage of BP medication
that I was before surgery, and by the time I reach my goal, hope to
be off of it completely.
>
> I'll take acid reflux over diabetes, hip replacement surgery and
the increased risk of stroke and heart disease any day.
> Betty Pauley, Columbia MO.
>
> <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?
s=97359714/grpId=18313975/grpspId=1705061104/msgId=2032/stime=12259025
46/nc1=5191946/nc2=5191951/nc3=3848642>
>
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