- Name: Kellie Childress
- Age: 48
- Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
- Surgery date: March 8th, 2017
- Testimonial date: March 16th, 2017
- Surgeon: Dr. Mario Almanza
My name is Kellie and I had my surgery on March 8,2017 with Dr. Almanza. I am now a week post surgery and I have lost 30 pds since the beginning of my ten day diet and now post surgery.
From the beginning of our pick up at the airport on March 7th till the drop off back to the airport on March 12,2017, It was an AWesome experience!Like me before the surgery, many people have asked what exactly is done and how does the surgery process work with this surgery in Mexico? So, I am going to give you a little run down because I believe knowing helps ease the mind and makes everything easier to understand.
Day before Surgery: Sweet guy picks your group (you will develop lifelong friendships with your group as they are going through this like you) up at the airport and took us directly to the surgery center for blood work and heart check up with the cardiac doctor and his nurse. We were then taken to our motel, where a wonderful and friendly nurse and hotel staff met us with a bag of jello, water, apple juices and helped us get into our room. The restaurant provided us with free broth because after 10 pm that night, you can no longer eat(Now, the broth was not very good, but I was told later to ask for the good broth as it tasted much better).
Day of Surgery: You and others are taken to the hospital where you meet the doctor, which for me was Dr. Almanza. He comes in with his nurse and he meets each of the patients, after he tells you about the surgery you are about to have and makes you feel comfortable with the process.( Dr. Almanza was a surgery patient himself and lost 85 lbs and has done over 15,000 weight loss surgeries.) He takes a picture with each patient and just makes you feel like this process is well worth your time and energy. The nurses (which are absolutely wonderful )prepare you and take you to surgery one person at a time. I had to be there at 9:30 am, but my surgery was not till after 3 pm. But, it was okay, It really kind of all goes fast. After surgery of course there is pain but mostly from gas. Make sure you have gas strips, heating pad is helpful and most of all walk, walk, walk to help relieve the gas. There are a group of you and you are all going through this thing together. Our group was uplifting each other and that always makes it easier. Might I say again, the nurses are so sweet and want to help you as much as possible. Yes, you are in pain and nauseated, but the iv meds help and you will get through it.
Morning after Surgery: Dr. Hernandez came around and checked on incisions of each patient and we were then taken back to the hotel.
Next days after the surgery, the hotel nurse's comes 2x's a day and change dressings of bandages and give iv medication. The hotel doctor comes in on days each day and checks on you as well as goes over any information or questions you may have at the time. All the doctors were very nice and acted as if you were their only patients. I cannot say enough about the AWESOME nurses that helped me at the motel. They went above and beyond the call duty providing care even at 3:30 in the morning. We developed some lifelong friendships with the nurses because they were just caring and campassionate and truly want to see you move forward and succeed.
During those days, you also will be getting x rays done (The drink you have to drink is horrible, but this too shall pass). During those days, the nurses will also have shuttles to the market for shopping. The hotel staff is absolutely Awesome and will help you with any additional places or things you may want to go to or do in Mexico while you recover. (Alonzo the worker in the afternoon even personally walked my sister and I to the nail salon up the street.) The staff wants to make sure you are safe and do everything they can to help make your experience the best.
Day you leave: You meet your shuttle out front and they will get you across the border and to the airport terminal you arrived on. For us the border process did not take long, I guess it depends on each day.
I am now back home and have done well. Experienced some chills and nausea, but really doing well. I am not really hungry, tired of popsicles, bullion and jello, but I know they are only temporary. I can't say when I smell certain foods, it doesn't bother me because I am still in my right mind and my desires are to take a bite. But, I know what eating will do to me and I resist the urges. I am determined to make a change in my life and this is a surgery I have desired to have for some years now. Thank you to Weight loss Agents for making it possible to make payments and make this desire my reality. I don't know what the days ahead hold, only God knows that, but I do know I have been given this opportunity one last time to change my life. Stay tuned to see the new me in the days ahead. Kellie
* This is an actual testimonial, however, your results may vary. For more information, please read our Testimonial Disclaimer and Risks of Surgery.