I did the gastric sleeve surgery in Antalya.
It was a mixed experience. First, the surgery is not done by Holo World Health, they are more like a health tour agent who helps get you to the right people and buys your tickets and arranges everything for you. Mona has been very responsive and took me to the clinic and has been with me through all the tests. She has been very good and I felt supported especially up until the surgery was done.
The surgeon was qualified and did a good job as far as I am aware (it has been one week since the surgery).
The hospital was very busy and we had to use the emergency entrance. There were constantly new things that were sprung on us that I was not told in advance. I just felt that I was taken from one office to another to another and had to sign a lot of paperwork without getting adequate time to study it or ask questions. Letting people know in advance about what tests and how they will be taken and communicating the plan and steps that will be taken before, during and after the surgery could be better. I felt like I never knew what is going to happen next. The pain management after the surgery was not very good and the first night after the surgery was agonizing. I have not been that miserable before. The nurses basically were saying well yes it hurts that’s understandable you had surgery. You have to wait for three hours till we give you more medicine. And three more after that. Rooms are fairly small but private.
The nurses do not speak English so it is very challenging to communicate. They tried to use the translator app. But they do try and provide good care. Even though like I said pain management has been done poorly especially the first day when it was needed the most.
After the miserable three nights and five days at the hospital, I returned back to the hotel. Unfortunately, the part was completely poorly organized. I needed to be on Liquids only diet and hotel did not have a stove or a microwave. They did give me a small electric portable stove when I asked after a few days. The hotel in general looks ok but the quality is average. There was poor lighting, some furniture was wobbly, room service didn’t replace shampoo, conditioner, soap, the breakfast that was included was not that great and had nothing I could eat on my after-surgery diet, which was again another oversight.
So, overall the practical details were handled fine for the most part but there were things that definitely should be improved.
