Andy B.
When I called Dr. Joya, I never imagined what the next several
months would mean for me and my family. I was nervous about having
surgery in Mexico. Being from the United States, my family and
friends were advising me not to go. Needless to say I’m glad I did.
After reading so many horror stories from people who have done this
in the US, I’m thankful for all of the experience and caring hands
of Dr. Joya and his staff in PV. The hospital facility is second to
none. It’s like stepping back in time to when people cared about the
personal touch. If you would have told me that in 4 months after
surgery I’d be down 111 pounds and almost to goal, I would have paid
you any amount of money! What Dr. Joya gave me is a gift that I can
never thank him enough for. I can’t wait to vacation in PV and go
back and shake his hand!
Jason Upton - Olympic Torchbearer Before
After
Jason Upton had Gastric Sleeve surgery Feb. 17th of 2009 with Dr.
Armando Joya. From an article in the local paper Arab Tribune
from Arab Alabama. "Jason Upton says he was treated as a hot
rock star in the freezing snow of Montreal after carrying the
Olympic torch 300 meters of its 27,900-mile journey across Canada en
route to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
But amid the
thrill of his lifetime last Thursday, the former Arab man says he
realized it was not him and his very brief run the throngs of
jubilant onlookers were celebrating, it was something much more.
"People gathered around me for two hours taking pictures and
shaking my hand," he says in an e-mail he wrote of the experience.
Downtown traffic was backed up for what must have been miles, he
says. Horns were blowing and people waving, keeping him warm in the
pure amazement of the moment.
"They weren't interested in me
so much, but more of the symbolism that was this experience," Upton
says. "It was the sharing in the moment which they were so excited
about."
The former head of the Marshall County Republican
Party, Upton is the son of Doris and the late Joe Upton of Arab.
Owner of six Domino's franchises in Marshall and Etowah counties, he
was selected as one of only two franchisees in the United States to
participate in the multi-national event. Accompanied by his
mother, son, Joseph Kalon, his finance/, Judy O'Dell, and sister,
Jody, he arrived in Montreal last Wednesday and began his run day
the next morning in the lobby of the hotel Queen Elizabeth, meeting
with representatives of representatives Coca-Cola International, a
sponsor of the Olympics.
All of the runners through the city
carried the torch - actually, their own torch, given to them by
Coke, along with special torchbearer running suits - for 300 meters.
Upton's part of the relay was set for around 4 p.m.
About 1
p.m., he joined other torchbearers in a staging area in downtown
Montreal.
There he met Hong Kong pop star Eason Chan and was
inspired by his humble spirit. He met a young local resident who
had been selected to carry the torch because of his lobbying efforts
to establish a system of collecting food waste for organic purposes.
In the bus, Upton rode with Liu Yan, a premier dancer in Beijing
who was paralyzed during rehearsals in conjunction with the 2008
Olympics and became a symbol of inspiration globally.
"It was
nothing short of deeply humbling to sit next to her in her
wheelchair as she waited to carry the torch," he says. "They had
built a special stand to connect to her chair in order to make it
all possible.
"I was able to feel the closeness of the world
like only the Olympic Games can bring," he adds.
A short,
cool flash
The ground was covered with several feet of
freshly packed snow. Wind chills felt like zero or lower. Yet the
crowds lined up 20 deep alongside the relay route, Upton says.
He was with a caravan of 60 vehicles strong, including buses,
police and Olympic Committee personnel. He describes the
organization behind the event running like a well-oiled machine,
with months of planning behind every detail.
At his start
site, he got out and waited. Then he saw his moment approaching, a
flame in the cold evening air, carried aloft by a young woman who
was a volunteer for the Olympic Committee.
She lit his torch,
passing on the flame that had been carried from Greece.
"We
high-fived and congratulated one another as she passed the flame on
to me," he says. "I was immediately off to the races."
Actually, he says, it really more of a slow jog. Even so, his 300
meters came and went in a flash.
'Like a rock star'
"As quickly as it began, I was high-fiving the next guy and passing
the torch on to him for his 300-meter jog. At the moment his torch
lit up they surrounded me and extinguished mine, and I was whisked
on to the bus.
"I rode along in the caravan until we had
picked up everyone in our group," he continues. "The cheers from the
thousands of people along the road were amazing.
"The truth
is it isn't until after your run that things begin to sink in as to
what just happened," he says. "It is over so fast that you really
don't have time to digest it."
The day was topped off with a
big party downtown Montreal, which is where his bus headed as soon
Upton's leg was completed.
"I arrived still in my uniform and
carrying my torch - something I will cherish for as long as I live.
"Upon our arrival I was immediately covered with people asking
for a picture with me and the torch. I stood for two hours taking
pictures and letting people hold the torch," he says. "Honestly, the
only way to describe it is to say that I was treated like a rock
star."
The journey down
In addition to the Olympic
hoopla, Upton's short run was the culmination of a long emotional
journey down and back up again, which he says started with the death
of father in 2006.
The emotions of that part of the journey
came to him earlier that day as he dressed in the official Olympic
uniform.
He wished his dad was there but knew he was in
spirit, Upton says. He was thankful his mother was at his side, a
rock he says the family relies upon for support.
Having Judy
and Kalon and his sister there completed the scope of his emotions
that he says ranged from sadness to happiness, from nervousness to
total excitement.
He thought of the depression he fell into,
of letting himself go and gaining 100 pounds.
"I thought
about how much Kalon had really missed because of my state of mind
and the state of my physical well-being," Upton says. "That, in
turn, made realize that I had been very selfish... in depriving
Kalon of building his own memories with his dad like I had enjoyed
growing up."
He says he realizes some depression is a natural
part of losing a parent, but he allowed his depression began to
negatively impact not only his life, but the lives of those around
him.
"That is when the selfishness came in to play," Upton
says. "I had come to a point that my weight and my mindset had gone
from a symptom of events in my life to a cause of negative effects
on others."
A changed world-view
So in February he had
decided it was up to him to change and think of someone other than
himself. He began working out and not only taking better care of
himself, but living for others, specifically, he says his family.
"It has allowed me to once again be the person my dad would want
me to be and that my son and family deserve. I think about how just
a few months ago I couldn't even tie my shoes without being out of
breath. Now," he thought as prepared for his run, "Kalon will see me
jog with the Olympic flame, a symbol of world peace and unity."
All in all, he say, it was an emotional journey that will
forever be a part of his life.
"I will forever watch the
games in 2010 and beyond with a different perspective. It won't be
the remarkable athleticism the athletes demonstrate as much as it
will remind me of this moment in time when the Olympic flame brought
so many unlikely people together to build friendships for a
lifetime.
"To see my family there and to be welcomed by so
many people from all over Canada - and really from around the world
- was just over-powering at times. It has," Upton says, "changed my
view of life and the world forever."
Anita I am so happy to finally be able to write this!
Goal!!!! I hit my goal weight today! I was not a fast loser, but I
knew I wouldn't be. Too many years were spent yo-yo dieting and I
really messed up my metabolism. I knew the only way I was going to
get healthy, and feel good was with Weight Loss Surgery! I was
terrified to have my insides re-routed, which at the time, was my
only option here in Canada, unless I wanted the band...I didn't.
So, I did my research and found the best Surgeon and Surgical team
in Dr Joya. My experience was nothing less than perfect. His team,
right from the first contact were wonderfully helpful, and guided
me..and answered my billion questions. My family was really afraid
for me to go out of the country, so my Mother came with me
to Mexico. The team, and Dr Joya were not only wonderful to me, but
they were very accomodating to her as well! She still to this day
raves about the care I received. One nurse for 2 patients...and the
cleanliness of the hospital was amazing...I mean truely amazing!!!
I have never seen a hospital here even close to the way that
hospital was kept. My Mother and I were looked after completely
once we landed in Mexico. And the hotel...Oh, the hotel..was so
beautiful. We opted to have a beach side room after my hospital
stay, and it was a wonderful way to recover. We watched a wedding
one night, and cruise ships pass everynight...and the sunsets were
amazing. Anyhow. I had my VSG on April 17, 2008. Today I
reached my goal August 4, 2009. I should again state that most
people do lose much quicker than I did, and I wondered if I would
ever really get here...but I have arrived and there is NO turning
back now! This surgery was simple...and the post op diet is easy.
I think having the ghrelin removed from the body does wonders...and
I honestly don't understand why so many are opting for other
surgeries, but of course that is my personal opinion. I never feel
starved like I use to. I do still feel hunger...but it is more of
a..Hey, maybe you should eat something...Not an...I'm gonna die if I
don't eat soon. I can eat about 3/4 of a cup of food at a
sitting now...some days more, some days less. And you are thinking,
"how could that ever satisfy me?" I know, I used to think that
too...but trust me...it is very satisfying. I love that I am not
limited on what I can eat...although I did limit my carbs to healthy
choices for the first 6 months or so. I have never been one to
stick to a diet...I just love food too much...so, yes, I still
indulge, but I indulge in a bite or two...not a plate or two. My
health is now excellent. I went from being a type 2, insulin
dependant diabetic, to a person that shows no signs of ever having
diabetes...and that alone was worth every penny I spent. I also
used to take a lot of antidepressant medications...at present I take
none. I am not saying you will get off of them, because some of us
never can..but I did. I don't suffer anxiety like I used to. I
don't isolate myself like I used to. My life is all about go, go,
go now...my engine is reved and there is not telling what wonderful
prospects my future holds. Thank you Dr Joya...really, Thank
you...you saved my life, and you gave me the tool to make it worth
living. Sincerely Greatful Anita M Duff.
"I went down to PV a nervous wreck, I met with Carol the evening
before my surgery to <interrogate> her... I was so bad off I went
back to my room and left my purse at her place. I called my
husband later that evening crying and telling him I must be crazy
for even thinking about doing this. The next morning I went to
the hospital and when I got there I was just as calm as could be,
as I began to meet the people who were going to be taking care of
me the next couple of weeks, I realized I was in good hands. Dr.
Joya is wonderful, his smile alone will put you at ease. I can't
say enough about the great care I received in the hospital, the
personal attention and assistance from all the nurses. When you
get out of the hospital Dr. Naomi will be visiting you at the
hotel every day, she is very sweet. Nathalie takes care of all
the driving and gets you where you need to go, she helped us
check into our hotel and did the translating for us. She also gave
me a card with her phone number and told me to call >>ANYTIME<< I
needed. And I did. She was awesome and has a great sense of humor
too. I just wanted you to know that you will be in good hands and
well taken care of by Dr. Joya and his staff. Most people ask me,"
would you do it again"?? Yes, yes, yes. I am now 5 months post-op
and I am feeling great. I am down 93 pounds...wow!!!" -Tess
"I am doing really good I have lost 55 lbs and feel great, this year
I went to the San Diego County Fair and I got on some rides, see
last year they said I was to big and could not go on some of
them, but this year they never said one word it felt so good. You
can only imagine how happy I was to go on those
rides................. I still drink my Lemon and water a few
days a week to help me stay cleaned out. And its funny I don't
crave sweets any more, but I still have the urge for salty things
like chips and crackers." - Julie
I
am 8 weeks post op today and I am down 64lbs. I have been lifting a
lot of weights lately and I think that slowed my losing down. since
I am trying to build muscle and muscle is actually heavier than fat
(well that's what I keep telling myself anyway). I have lost
about 5 pant sizes and 2 shirt sizes. I seem to be losing weight
from the top and bottom of my body first and it is slowly moving
its way towards the center of my body, go figure, I hold most of
my bulk in the gut. I have been drinking my water, and eating
2-3 meals a day with lots of little snacks along the way. I eat
nothing but healthy food, no carbs, fat, grease, that kind of
stuff. I drink 1 protein drink a day and all the food I eat HAS
to have at least 5g of protein. Thanks Dr. Joya!" - Frank "I
had Lapband surgery with Dr, Joya on august 14th 2003. I have lost
over 100 lbs and am still dropping. It has slowed down but ill take
it lol. I have done great since surgery and would do it again in a
heartbeat. I have so much energy now and can do so much more than I
could before my Lapband surgery. I started out at 314 pounds and i
am down to 210. Looking forward to seeing under 200 pounds have not
seen that in 12 yrs. I am getting ready for some plastic surgery to
get rid of my tummy hangover. cant wait to see the results of that.
I will be able to exercise so much easier afterward but am doing
great now. Everyone in PV was so nice and the hospital staff was
great too. I was very happy with the results of my surgery so far
and would be willing to talk to anyone who has any questions or
fears of this surgery. I am diabetic and am off all my medicine for
it so that alone was worth it for me. I can keep it under control
with diet and exercise now. My doctor here in the states was really
worried about me having it done but now ever time I go in for a
check up he is excited to see how much I have lost and asks me all
kind of questions and even has referred a patient to me to tell him
about my surgery. I feel like I have a second chance at life and
thanks to my hard work and Dr. Joya I plan to live it up lol. Again
thanks so much and I hope this will help someone else on their quest
for a new life." Lisa Myers Just an update about myself since have lap
bypass on 2/21/05. I had researched have the surgery in the states,
but my insurance were dragging their feet, putting me off & when our
new policy ..by the way, it is Aetna HMO came out in January they
had written verbiage that stated no obesity surgery of any kind
would be covered so I began researching other options & that is how
I found Dr. Joya at Puerta Vallarta. In August my husband and I will
celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary so after much prayer we
decided that I would have this surgery and hopefully become much
healthier..I was on blood pressure medicine which was not working &
was going to have to be upped again, as well as pre diabetic stage &
no energy..feeling awful..you all know the routine. We went to
Puerta Vallarta a few days early and stayed at the Krystal which is
the hotel that Dr. Joya puts you in for your recovery. It was
great & had a fun time before the surgery on Monday. I was nervous,
but everyone makes you feel good. They are great folks and I would
do it all over again..not that I would ever want to, but I feel so
much better. I have lost 72 lbs..from 233 lbs to 161 lbs. My weight
loss is slowing down now & I need to start exercising now to get the
last bits off and to firm up. If you are looking at Dr. Joya..go for
it. You will not regret it and they take good care of you. I met
Karen Greenwood while I was in the hospital and she had a lap band
placed the same day and she has lost 40 lbs. We have kept in touch &
her husband and her came to Fort Worth this week for a Premiere
Jewelry convention and we met & had dinner Wed. night..See her
pictures too. My husband & I took a 25th wedding anniversay trip in
early June so the pictures from Maui are 4 mos post op and the
pictures with Karen are almost 5 mos post op & you can tell the
difference. I have had no health issues & have not had any high
blood pressure since the surgery and no food issues either. I eat
small quantities, but can eat pretty much anything except soft
breads & I stay away from sweets except sugar free hard candy and
sugar free fudgecicles or popsicles. Any questions, email me. Do not
wait..this will change your life! Cheryl Austin Fort Worth
233/161 Gerald
"A little over 12 years ago, I went down to Puerto Vallarta Mexico
to have my surgery done by Dr. Armando Joya. I weighed 235 kilos,
or actually 540 pounds. I am 6 feet tall and basically was
grotesquely obese. As of today I weigh 340 pounds. I am down 200
pounds and I now work with Dr. Joya managing his office and helping
other American patients organize their surgery here with us in
Puerto Vallarta. I am on the path to returning to being a normal
person. Imagine losing 200 pounds... It is just awesome." "Well
I am 2 months post op and I am down 38 pounds. I am down just about
3 pant sizes and 1 shirt size. I am losing it slowly. I did start
working out but then I had to stop because I had to have my
gallbladder removed. But now I am feeling great and heading back to
the gym on Monday." - Richelle Hi
Everyone, I had my surgery six months ago today and have lost 60
pounds and almost 30 inches. If surgery can ever be a positive
experience, this was the top. Between being met at the airport and
being guided through all the hospital checking in processes by
Natalie, an EKG and respiratory tests and bloodwork by Dr. Aldo,
meeting Dr. Joya and Cecee (Dr. Joya's nurse) and before I knew it
being wheeled into surgery. I remember the anesthesiologist talking
to me and then saying sweet dreams. The next thing I knew I was
waking up and my husband and Dr. Joya was there. I know I asked for
more pain medication and the nurses were right there to help me. The
next day, I was checked out and brought to the Krystal where we had
a lovely room and slept quite well. Natalie picked us up right on
time for the airport and we came home. I have had virtually no
discomfort since I've been home other than a little gas that makes
the band feel tight but I live at a very high altitude and Gerald
said that's what the cause probably was. There is no down side to
that as if the band feels tight, then I won't need as many fills. We
shall see. At any rate, I would recommend this to anyone with the
kind of weight problem I had. The doctor and his staff are like
angels at the end of a dark tunnel. Thank you so much for being
there for me and to Susan Vincent, the patient who posted just
before me, thank you for sharing your experience at the airport when
you were going home from your surgery. It was your encouragement
that allowed for me to have this experience and perhaps a new life.
Thank you Susan. Pine Mountain Club, CA - - Bobbi Harner I
underwent RNY gastric bypass with Dr. Joya on April 20th, 2007 and
have lost 103lbs down from my highest weight of 250lbs! I owe much
gratitude to my Mom for traveling with me to PV and being my support
system, my husband and children for loving me enough to let me go,
Dr. Joya for being the amazingly kind and talented surgeon that he
is along with his top-notch staff. This has been a long and scary
roller coaster of a ride, but I wouldn't get off for anything in the
world!!! - Brooke Patten I'm
down 62 pounds and I'm 2 days away from 6 months past surgery. I
feel great. - Sara Russell
J. Miller
State of
the Art technology and procedures done in State of the
Art facilities! The Amerimed hospital in Puerto Vallarta is
state of the art, with clean, sterile, and the very best equipment
available. The operating room was designed specifically for bariatric
surgery and Dr. Joya made sure that it met all of his requirements.
When you are in Puerto Vallarta and Dr.
Joya is providing you service during your medical tourism vacation, if there is an
emergency you may contact the doctor, 24 hours a day via
telephone or email. Someone will be available to assist you!
• Bariatric Surgery
• Gastric Bypass
• Gastric Sleeve
• Lapband
• Bariatric Revisions
• Hernia Surgery
• Dental Work available
• Plastic Surgery available
• Beach Resort Vacation
• Medical Staff visits the hotel
• Fly directly into PVR
• No 3 hour border crossing
• Airport Pickup
• All Tests included
• R/T Airfare available
• US Passport Book Required!
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns, that you
may have regarding our services. If you would like to contact us via
e-mail, please forward your information to
info@drjoya.com and one of our friendly staff members will
contact you directly or via email within 24 hours. We can provide you
with a risk free price quote based on the information
you provide. You may also call us toll free at 866.509.0571 or
817.405.2778
At DrJoya.com we are all well trained, and bilingual,
speaking both English and Spanish. We have been working in the
Medical Tourism industry for more than 13 years. By selecting Dr.
Joya you not only get the best doctors in Puerto Vallarta to assist
you during your surgery, you also get top notch care before surgery,
where you questions are answered usually in less than 24hours, to
post op where we are here for you as well. If you don't have
insurance and are looking to go overseas for weight loss surgery, then let
us
bring you to beautiful Puerto Vallarta. Our staff will get you the
answers to your questions and assist you
with getting all of your travel preparation needs in order.
Our staff will also assist you with any other specific needs you may
have.
All of the Doctors and
staff that work with Dr. Joya speak English and are University trained. The Hospital
is also accredited and is located in the heart of Puerto Vallarta and accessible from every
hotel. The hotel and hospital is about 10 minutes from the airport.
We are completely committed
to delivering quality medical care to prospective patients.
With Dr. Joya you not only get the doctor who leads Mexico in
Gastric Bypass surgery, but you also get the doctor who
pioneered the Gastric Sleeve surgery in Mexico. Dr. Joya
is on the cutting edge of technology working on a cure for Type
2 Diabetes in non-obese patients, and he is also a
Gastroenterologist. By having done over 7500 laparoscopic
procedures including the Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve
surgery, he has helped patients worldwide lose millions of pounds a year,
and all of these treatments can be done at savings over what
they cost in the US. The Amerimed hospital in Puerto
Vallarta has been approved by and work with most major American
Insurance companies.
Copyright 2012 DRJOYA.com Inc., Puerto Vallarta Jalisco
Mexico. By clicking on any of the links on this website, I
hereby agree to all of the Terms and Conditions set forth
in the LEGAL section of this
website. Information contained in this website is provided for
educational purposes only. It is imperative that you consult your own
physician regarding the application of any opinions or information presented
in this website or received in any e-mails from DRJOYA.COM. It is not
intended to replace the advice of a medical professional or in any way to be
prescriptive. The author and website administrator has used sources believed
to be reliable in efforts to provide information that is complete and
generally in accord with the standards accepted at the time of publication.
Medical knowledge changes rapidly. In lieu of the possibility of human error
and changes in medical science, neither the author or website administrator,
nor any party who is involved in the preparation or publication of these
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Readers and website users are strongly encouraged to discuss and confirm the
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People who use this website do so with the understanding that the author,
publisher, website administrator, DRJOYA.COM, Weight Loss Team Inc., Gerald
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surgery in Mexico.
Before
After
"Well
I am 2 months post op and I am down 38 pounds. I am down just about
3 pant sizes and 1 shirt size. I am losing it slowly. I did start
working out but then I had to stop because I had to have my
gallbladder removed. But now I am feeling great and heading back to
the gym on Monday." - Richelle
Hi
Everyone, I had my surgery six months ago today and have lost 60
pounds and almost 30 inches. If surgery can ever be a positive
experience, this was the top. Between being met at the airport and
being guided through all the hospital checking in processes by
Natalie, an EKG and respiratory tests and bloodwork by Dr. Aldo,
meeting Dr. Joya and Cecee (Dr. Joya's nurse) and before I knew it
being wheeled into surgery. I remember the anesthesiologist talking
to me and then saying sweet dreams. The next thing I knew I was
waking up and my husband and Dr. Joya was there. I know I asked for
more pain medication and the nurses were right there to help me. The
next day, I was checked out and brought to the Krystal where we had
a lovely room and slept quite well. Natalie picked us up right on
time for the airport and we came home. I have had virtually no
discomfort since I've been home other than a little gas that makes
the band feel tight but I live at a very high altitude and Gerald
said that's what the cause probably was. There is no down side to
that as if the band feels tight, then I won't need as many fills. We
shall see. At any rate, I would recommend this to anyone with the
kind of weight problem I had. The doctor and his staff are like
angels at the end of a dark tunnel. Thank you so much for being
there for me and to Susan Vincent, the patient who posted just
before me, thank you for sharing your experience at the airport when
you were going home from your surgery. It was your encouragement
that allowed for me to have this experience and perhaps a new life.
Thank you Susan. Pine Mountain Club, CA - - Bobbi Harner
