- Name: Holly Ford
- Age: 33
- Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
- Surgery date: March 14th, 2017
- Testimonial date: March 29th, 2017
- Surgeon: Dr. Mario Almanza
I had a very good experience with Dr. Almanza and all of his staff/nurses both at Green Health Hospital and at the Hotel Hacienda del R o, they were all great! My husband and I flew to San Diego and were picked up by one of the drivers, Tony, and taken with another couple across the border to the hospital where they did our EKG's,a few minor tests and some blood work. After we were done with our short visit at the hospital the driver took us to the hotel. The hotel was very and nice and clean. All of the hotel staff were very helpful and friendly. The next day we, approx. 6 other patients, were picked up at the hotel early in the morning, along with our travel partners, and driven to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital and were checked in. Then Dr. Almanza and his entire team came down and met with each of us, chatted and answered any questions and we all took before pictures with the doctors. After that we were taken back one by one to be prepped for our surgeries. After being prepped and waiting for a few minutes I walked to the operating room and spoke with the anesthesiologist for a few moments, verifying a few of my medical details, and then I was put under. I woke up in the recovery room and after a little while I was wheeled to my room. After a couple of hours in my room they told me that I needed to try to walk a bit so I got up, it was painful but certainly not as bad as you would expect after such a major surgery. I walked a little bit to start and then tried to increase my walks each time. The gas strips were very helpful after coming out of surgery. I brought ear plugs with me on the trip and they really helped me to get a very good nights sleep even at the hospital. I would definitely recommend bringing ear plugs! The next day after we returned to the hotel it was nice to shower and get settled back in to our room. My husband plugged in the heating pad which felt really good both on my stomach and on my back. I rested most of the day, but took walks around the hotel and through the common pool area every hour or so. It was so nice being surrounded by other patients! It didn't feel like anyone was judging you, but rooting for you. It was very nice and I felt a great sense of comradery with all of the other patients. The next morning we were driven to get our leak test done at a different clinic. The drink is not great tasting but necessary. After we all had our x-rays done they gave us each a copy of our x-ray and we were driven back to the hotel. That day I felt really pretty good so we spoke with the drivers and one of them took us to the downtown area that has lots of shops and things to look at. It was really nice getting out of the hotel, taking a stroll and doing a bit of shopping. That night I received my last IV and in the morning my IV was removed along with my small drain. Later that day we were driven back across the boarder and taken back to the San Diego airport. We did not have that long of a flight being for Oregon but it was hard on me. After we arrive home I was exhausted and it took me about 2-3 days to feel good again. Luckily I am self employed so I was able to take that extra time to recover. I had a low grade fever, in the evening for several days, after I returned home but I was taking my antibiotics and it wasn't bad. You absolutely have to take the medicine as the doctors recommend, crush any pills and open all capsules! One time I did not do as was recommend and I could totally feel a huge difference in my pain level and the temperature of my fever that evening. My recovery over all has been really good. Today I am 2 weeks post surgery and have lost a total of 37 lbs since I started this journey. I am very happy I made the decision to go to Mexico and have Dr. Almanza preform the gastric sleeve surgery on me. I only wish I would have found out about Dr. Almanza and the gastric sleeve surgery a couple of years ago. I highly recommend Dr. Almanza and he entire team.
