Driving to TJ?

[Scott]

I only live 2 hours from Tijuana. My wife and I have 3 small children. I would like to drive down to the clinic and have the surgery and drive home the next day by myself. Skip staying at the hotel since I don't live that far away. Is this unreasonable? Should I stay one night in the hotel just in case? If my wife went we would have to leave the kids with the in-laws, and I don't want them to know that I am doing this. And the in-laws don't really like watching all 3 at the same time let alone over night (their older). Thanks for any advice.

[karenlynn79]

I only live 2 hours from Tijuana. My wife and I have 3 small children. I would like to drive down to the clinic and have the surgery and drive home the next day by myself. Skip staying at the hotel since I don't live that far away. Is this unreasonable? Should I stay one night in the hotel just in case? If my wife went we would have to leave the kids with the in-laws, and I don't want them to know that I am doing this. And the in-laws don't really like watching all 3 at the same time let alone over night (their older). Thanks for any advice.

Hey Scott,

I don't think that any doc would advise you to be driving the day after surgery. You will be groggy and tired and disoriented. I have kids so I know how you feel- my family doesn't know either and it's been 2 years! My hubby and I said we were going to Monterey for 3 days and went to TJ and left my son with my mom. I would say at a minimum, come down by yourself and then stay 2 nights and then go home. But I would definitely ask one of the surgeons how soon you could make the 2 hour drive. I wouldn't consider doing it the day after though, personally.

Good luck!!

Karen

[jhawkchick75]

I agree, I would not drive back the next day. I would give yourself one day there and then if you are going to drive i'd have someone drive you. Your pay includes 2 nights at the OCC, so take advantage of it! Could someone drive you to the border and you could have Francisco pick you up and then two or three days later do the same back? I know many people that have gone it alone down there and so I think you'd be fine. Or some have taken the train i've heard. I know everyone is different, but I was pretty sore and wouldn't have wanted to travel the next day.

[DaGreen]

Scott,

Take the train! $18 one way. I caught it in Irvine and was in San Diego in 2 hours where Francisco picked me up. DO NOT risk the hassle of driving across the border and finding the clinic. It would have stressed me out if I had to do that.

I left Weds AM, had surgery around noon on Weds. Thurs at the hotel and Friday I came home. I went by myself and at no time did I feel alone. Everyone that was banded the same day and after was very welcoming as were the people I met on this forum.

As everyone else said, don't risk driving the next day, especially coming back. The line at the border was ridiculous at 5:30 AM and if you have any gas pressure, that would be miserable sitting in a car that long.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[OSuzanna]

Hi Scott:

I had my surgery last June. After surgery I went back to the hotel instead of staying the night in the hospital and then the next day my sister and I went shopping on Revolucion Ave for a couple of hours and then went back to the hotel, packed up and went home. I drove because my sister is a horible driver. We drove to Palm Springs, which is a good two hours from TJ and I didn't have any problems at all. When we got home, I just rested for the rest of the day. No problems at all, just make sure your seat belt isn't too tight and you have elastic waistband pants on.

Good Luck!

Suzie

[SValentino]

Hi Scott,

I also live about two hours from TJ. I drove myself. I did the whole thing by myself and loved it. Francisco met me at the car park in San Ysidro ad took me straight to the clinic. I had the surgery that day and spent the night at OCC. Then the following morning went to the Lucerna and rested. To be honest, I was ready to drive back to OC the next day but stayed because A, I paid for it and B, it was wonderful to stay in TJ, believe it or not. I drove myself home with zero problems. My last afternoon there I took a city tour (the company comes by the hotel on the hour) and had a ball.

Fransisco picked me up at the Lucerna on the last day and took me across the border in a special lane for comercial vehicles. You still have to go through customs and all that, and I waited in line maybe 10 minutes till I was across and Francisco took me back to the car park in SY. Piece of cake.

You'll be fine. I didn't tell anyone I was going down there except three of my closest friends. No need to tell anyone, really. It's your show.