While writing my previous blog, You’d Be So Pretty If, I wrote the following paragraphs about the steps leading up to and through my surgery. After looking through it, I realized that my blog was turning into a novella, and this section would be better suited as a stand-alone post. So for those of you interested in the steps leading up to and through my surgery, the story is below!
All Roads (Planes) Lead To Mexico
One of the most common responses I received when I told people I was going to Mexico for surgery was shock and horror. I’ll be honest, Mexico wasn’t my first choice. Unfortunately, the US health insurance/healthcare system sucks. No matter how many doctors recommended a WLS procedure, my health insurance company refused to cover surgery. Fortunately, the friend I had mentioned that had WLS a few years ago, had also gone to Mexico, and I had already been watching and researching the surgeon she worked with.
My initial plan was to go in August, shortly after the kids’ school year started. Covid had other plans though. In mid-June our household finally caught covid. While the rest of the family snapped back fairly quickly, it became apparent that I wasn’t going to. Thanks to covid, I had some significant cardiac issues start to arise. This pushed my surgery date until I was more stable.
At the start of September, my team of doctors figured out how to treat my heart issues. I started walking daily, right after I would drop my boys off at school. Knowing my weight probably contributed towards the issues I developed, I knew I wanted to start getting more active in preparation for surgery. There were still those weird throat issues we had to resolve, but overall, I was healthy. I started to notice each time I was weighed at the doctor, the number kept going down. The walking combined with what little I was eating was starting to show.
By mid-November, we finally figured out the throat issues, and I started the process of booking my procedure. One of the drawbacks to having surgery in Mexico is that I was going to have to assemble a local care team- a dietician, a doctor to help with follow-ups/bloodwork, and a personal trainer to help me as my body changed.
Taking The Leap
The doctor I had chosen to work with, Dr. Jorge Maytorena was based at a medical center in Tijuana. When I contacted the clinic, LongTerm WLS, I was shocked to discover that I could essentially book the procedure whenever I was most interested. I only needed to get approved for the procedure and pay a deposit to secure my surgical date.
The process was fairly simple. Once I made my initial inquiry, I was assigned a “concierge” to help me navigate the booking process and answer any questions I may have. I ended up booking the procedure for mid-January. This way, the kids would be in school, and there wouldn’t be any holiday temptations/social gatherings that would make me feel awkward.
After copious amounts of research, I decided that a mini bypass was my best option for several reasons. In addition to the fact that it was the recommended procedure for my bmi range, the risks, operating time, and recovery period were lower than a traditional bypass. Not to mention, the results were comparable (and better in some cases) to having the full bypass. It also didn’t hurt that it’s been clinically proven that having a gastric bypass, though slightly riskier, has a better success rate for keeping off the weight long-term. This is due to the fact that it’s both restrictive (smaller stomach size) and malabsorbtive (less small intestine). It also alters hormones in the gut so I’d feel fuller longer.
Assembling My Local Team
I knew that once December rolled around, my diet would have to change drastically, and I would need to create and work with a team of local professionals that would help ensure my success, both prior to and after surgery.
I was committed to starting a bariatric diet that would prepare my body for surgery a few weeks ahead of when I would need to, just to help with the adjustment and my health. Given that, it was very important to me that I would be able to find a professional that had a proven track record with helping individuals who had experienced repeated weight loss failures.
I was excited to find a local dietician that did just that. I felt even better about working with them when I learned one of their specialties was helping patients who were preparing for & recovering from bariatric surgery. After my first visit with them, I experienced a massive amount of relief. In addition to helping me with meal planning & and accountability, they also sold specialized food that made it easy for me to stick with a diet that was appealing, healthy, and convenient.
Knowing that in addition to a dietary change, I’d need to work on my strengthening my physical body, I found a local gym. I knew I’d need accountability and encouragement, so I met with one of their personal trainers to explain my situation and develop a plan. As an added bonus, they also offered red light therapy, something I was very interested in for post-surgical healing. I started working with my trainer once a week and going to the gym 1-3 times a week.
I attempted to find a local practice that offered bariatric surgery to help me maintain other potential post-surgery issues, but I wasn’t able to find anyone. Fortunately, my primary care doctor offered to help me monitor my levels and help answer potential questions. She said she preferred me to have the surgery locally but understood that without my health insurance helping it wouldn’t be affordable.
I also made sure to surround myself and my family with support for the time I’d be away and for part of my recovery. My mother agreed to be my travel & surgery companion, despite the fact she absolutely hated flying and was nervous about my procedure. I spoke with my mother-in-law, and she agreed to come help Fredric with the boys while I was away & for a few days after I returned while I was recovering.
From Thanksgiving until I left for Mexico, (approximately 7 weeks), I lost almost 40 lbs. I was working with my personal trainer, going to the gym several times a week, and following a carefully planned out diet. My body and plans were as ready as they were going to be!
Holy Cow, It’s Time To Go!
January 18th, 2023 rolled around much more quickly than I anticipated. I was ready though- the more I had to defend the choice I made, the firmer my resolute became. I understood that I was going to be facing a whole host of physical and emotional changes after surgery, however I trusted myself, my team, and the process to reach my goal of a healthier and happier Crystal.
Confident in my research and knowing I had been putting in the hard work, I arose that chilly, pre-dawn morning, fully packed and ready to go to the airport with my mother. We were set to fly into San Diego, and despite the weather causing some havoc, we were able to be there in time for our shuttle driver, Edgar, to pick us up and take us across the border.
The procedure I booked not only included my surgery & medication, but it also covered my shuttle and a guest condo for the night before surgery. The guest condo was essentially a very basic Airbnb- there were a few bottles of water, (the tap water in Mexico isn’t safe for consumption), several beds/bathrooms, and a TV.
Surgery Time
My surgery was scheduled for fairly early Thursday morning. We needed to get up early so Edgar could get us there in time to have my pre-surgery labwork done. The sunrise drive from the condo to the medical center was chilly, but I enjoyed watching the sites in Tijuana pass by.
We arrived at the facility and had to wait in a frigid lobby until all of my paperwork, payments, and pre-surgery labwork was done. When we got up to my floor, I was informed I would be the first surgical patient of the day. This meant that I had to rush to get ready because I only had a few moments before different members of the surgical team were coming in to introduce themselves and go over the procedure with me.
A lot of different people flooded into my room for the next 45 minutes, and I’ll be honest, for the most part, I forgot their faces almost as soon as they left. The only one that stood out was Dr. Maytorena, but seeing as I had researched him so much, that’s not surprising. I was given my IV (that took several uncomfortable sticks and multiple nurses to get it in correctly) then shortly after I was wheeled away for surgery.
The only time I second guessed myself was during this time. They wheeled me up into a surgical suite that looked a lot different than I was used to seeing in the US. While I assessed my surroundings, everyone around me was speaking Spanish and I had no clue what was going on. I remember telling myself “Well I guess it’s too late to back down now…” The next thing I knew, I was waking up, and the procedure was done.
I slept most of that day, but I still managed to get up and start walking around the floor I was on and start to tolerate ice chips. The next day, I progressed to broth & other clear liquids, and my walking/standing endurance was increasing. I was shocked with just how well I was doing and how quickly I was feeling better. The worst part was when I blew my IV and they had to place another in. 3 more sticks and a fancy vein finding light later, the problem was solved.
That Saturday morning, I was scheduled to get my checks and leave for my return flight. Everything looked and felt great, so I was given the green light when Edgar arrived to take us back across the border. Due to how long it takes to cross the border, we had to be ready to leave no later than 6:30am, despite our flight not leaving until 2pm. The wait time at the airport wasn’t pleasant-I was exhausted, uncomfortable, and ready to be home.
The plane ride back was absolutely miserable. The flights were long, the seats were cramped, and I felt like a bottle of soda that was being shaken nonstop. At one point a passenger who was trying to get his luggage down accidentally hit me, right where my incisions were. I about fell over from the pain. I’ll be honest, I spent the entire journey home wishing I had booked a hotel room in San Diego for Saturday instead of a flight- it was genuinely that bad. Fortunately, we made it back safely, and I happily collapsed into my bed shortly after midnight.
My recovery was and is going much smoother than I anticipated and as of today, I have zero regrets about my decision. There have been a lot of adjustments that I have had to make in regards to my eating habits, such as slowing down when eating and learning to listen to my body. I am also working through my eating disorder triggers and finding healthier outlets for those triggers. However, I’m close to reaching a total of 100 pounds lost since June 2022, which is a huge motivator. I can’t wait to see what changes the next few months bring and how much my life improves!