Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

Hi everyone......what Protein drinks/Brands do you all recommend?? Trying to lose some weight before Surgery Thanks so much

Good morning! !! When is it OK to start eating cooked vegetables? Thanks

Hello Everyone! I have been researching the sleeve for about a year now. I have PCOS and thanks to that I am infertile Myrtle. Hubby and I have been trying to conceive for 5+ years. I have tried everything to lose weight, but it never really works. My doctor says its because of the PCOS. So she recommended WLS. . Originally I was dead set on going with Dr. Alvarez, because I had watched so many videos and also joined his Facebook page. Now I am seeing that there are so many other surgeons I had no idea about. Like many of you, my insurance does not include WLS of any kind! (Go figure, government insurance sucks!). I have been trying to figure out how in the heck I'm g…

Hi! I can not stand protein shakes. I add génepro to my chicken broth...and take a yogurt that has 13 gr. Protein. ...can you give me ideas? I don't know what else ...I would like natural skakes...thank you

I read a post by one of the doctors here in Bariatric Pal offering a $100 referral fee per patient, is this an actual deal? How does this work? What are the requirements for the person that makes the referral? How does a potential patient know that this is a real patient that has actually used the doctor? I recommended this site to friends so that they could get a feel of what it would be going to Mexico for their surgery and they were mostly confused by the information they received (they were addressed by BP team members and offered deals and Skype consultations) I have been staying in Mexico for a while and feel very confident on the level of medical and dental care…

For those of us that have had our gastric sleeve, what forum do you recommend for general guidelines on eating, daily challenges, what to expect and what not to expect. I like the Mexico forum but in my opinion it's focused for pre-op surgeon and hospital discussions. So tell me, what other forums do you visit or recommend in the Bariatric Pal universe? Thanks in advance.

Please help me narrow these surgeons down. Here is what I am looking for. I wish I could afford Dr. Jorge Servino at Hospital Galenia in Cancun but $9,850...($4,000 over my budget). I have tried really hard to research and now need opinions and experiences, and pricing - please help...: Looking for great Surgeon and Great Hospital in Mexico: - Sleeve (33/34 BMI) - Self Pay ($6,000 budget +/-) - Accredited Hospital by JCI (Joint Commission International) (screen grab attached with list of hospitals) - Low complications rate – hard to know in Mexico… - Great results and reviews - Preferably taught or practiced i…

I know everyone is different...but when you started the diet pre-surgery how much did you loose? I'm trying to get around about idea of what to expect.

2 more days,nervous, scared, excited....tired and hungry!!!! lol

Hi Natalie, I am just wondering about a sugar free Protein Drink that I have purchased. It has sucralose in it. Can I consume this after surgery? Would it cause dumping syndrome or is it just sugar itself? I am having the GB. thanks

I am considering gastric sleeve, my insurance won't cover it, and I am very close to making arrangements for doing this in Mexico-- aiming for August 2015. I've done lots of internet research but, worry that some of what I read is written, or sponsored, by the surgeon. Any thoughts as to how to get some objective information? Should they be certified by, or a member of a certain organization? I am also worried about after care, i.e. if I have a leak afterwards are we going to loose our house from the resulting medical bills, states side? I really want to do this. I just want to be cautious and make the most informed choice. Any thoughts or advice is welcome!! I am…

Steve Kaiser is another victim of Dr. Mario Almanza and Jarred & Alexis Cohen (owners of WeightLossAgents.com and Gastricsleeve.com) that has barely survived the slaughter. A similar story like so many others! The good news is that Steve has dedicated the rest of his life to help prevent others from making the same mistake that he so innocently got snared by the web of lies and deceit perpetrated by WeightLossAgents. No one should ever have to suffer or die from an elective surgery of this type, but surgery with Almanza is like people being led to a slaughter house. According to the existing laws in Mexico, a victim must file in person with the appropriate authori…

How did you convince your partner or loved ones you weren't crazy to want to go to Mexico for surgery?

I am full of questions.... Has anyone ever had an umbilical hernia and the sleeve done at the same time in Mexico? How do you find out the cost of doing both and if it is possible? How do you find the best facility? I really do not want to be treated like a cow in a herding process. Any advice is great!

Anyone out there headed to Mexico in August?

Went under Feb 19th....haven't looked back since!!!!!

It looks like I may be traveling from US to Mexico alone. How many people went by themselves? How was your experience? I'm just curious. Thanks for your replies in advance

My story has been a whirlwind of decisions and changes. I mean, there was a lot that led me to this point, but I have totally changed my life in 4 weeks. About a month ago I was looking at the pictures from a recent family reunion and I was wondering how I was going to delete my picture from everyone's Facebook page. This led me back to thoughts of losing weight and gastric sleeve. I have been investigating bariatric surgery for a couple of years but my BMI was 33.5 - too low to qualify for even self-pay. And to top it off, I had the nerve to not even have any other illnesses. Having tried every diet and pill on the planet, frustrated doesn't even begin to describe my m…

Has anyone used either in Mexico? I would like to get the sleeve in Jan

Hi guys!!! I am getting sleeved on September 1 by Dr. Altamirano!!!! I am soooo excited!!! =) I know the only way to make the payment is through Chase Bank and that Paypal is no longer an option however I want to make sure I am paying correctly through Chase Bank before I make the actual payment. If anyone could please walk me through this I would be SO, forever grateful!!!! Also does anyone know if you can pay with Visa giftcards (obviously splitting tender), I have one and would like to put my remaining balance towards surgery. If not I will just pay by my Debit/Credit card. Thank you guys! Alison

Hi All, I'm on my Sleeve Journey to my new life, just started my liquid diet for pre op today! Anyone getting sleeved on August 11 in Tijuana? And anyone start their pre op liquid diet?

Ok, so I figured out how to navigate this app and post a topic! Yay! OK so I recently had an A1C done and it's high, diagnosed with high cholesterol 2 years ago, tried every med to bring it down and either they don't work or I have had severe allergic reactions to them. My BMI is 40+ at 5'11 300lbs. I have been there done that when it comes to weightloss and diets....so I have come to the decision to make this surgery a reality. I have been looking at the bariatric pal specials and am torn between Dr.Ponce and Dr.V, Wondering, if anyone has done this on the special, and would really like a detailed description as I am so nervous to make this commitment. Also, would …

Anyone have Dr. Mayotorena ? I'm sure I spelled it wrong but please post if you had him. Thanks in advance.

Getting nervous about my band to sleeve revision. I only lost about 45-50lbs with my lap band and I am extremely worried that I will fail with the sleeve as well. Has anyone had a similar situation? ????

Hi! So glad you are here!!!! I had surgery July 30th, 2 days ago I was able to drink 64oz of liquids. I'm planning on start tomorrow on the full liquid diet. I need a little guidance Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are allowed? I make my own chicken broth with veggies, can I process it with little chicken and add more liquid for this phase? also should I add unflavored Protein to it? thank you!!!

Anyone having surgery with Dr. Joya??? I've been researching him and he has a lot of great reviews, yet, I haven't seen mention of him in these forums....

Good Morning World. My surgery date is set for May 17, 2013 (saving more money to self pay), 7,000.) Has Anyone here been to PVR for surgery with Dr. Castaneda?

Well I am still a little shocked that I flew to Mexico by myself and had the surgery done. I have never been out of Canada before so that alone was terrifying. But I did it. I had my surgery done with Dr. Joya, he was awesome!! I had minimal pain when I woke up and I was up walking around within a couple oh hours. The staff was great, although English was a bit of a challenge for some of them. The hotel was gorgeous and the staff was awesome. I would really recommend using Dr. Joya in Puerto Vallarta. What a nice place to recover. I get to start on pureed food on Monday, can't wait Has anyone else gone to Dr. Joya?? Any other Canadians on here??

No one replied to my last thread?! Looking for experiences from there please ????

Hi all. My surgery is scheduled for Feb 4th 2014 with Dr. Joya. Anyone have any experiences to share. regarding Dr. Joya or surgery in Mexico. Thanks, Jaclyn in florida

I would love to hear from all of Dr Joya's patients! I'm scheduled for VSG January 20th. Please tell me your experience!

UPDATE: Never mind! The passports arrived this morning, so we're all set! What a relief. My parents are sweetly accompanying me for my surgery in Tijuana next week and are concerned their new passports will not arrive in time. They applied to have their passports expedited and were assured they would receive them by August 13, but found out yesterday that there is a backlog of passports being processed so it's no longer certain that they will come before we need to leave for Mexico. They don't even have their expired passports because those had to be submitted with the application for the renewed ones. I've been assured by my coordinator that they'd be fine with ju…

A friend just got back from Mexico having the gastric sleeve at CER with a very common doctor used here. They had to double up in rooms and her roommate was a SIXTEEN year old girl. The girl was 5'7" and weighed 185 pounds. Her mom was there with her, and she had had the surgery a couple years ago with mediocre success. But gastric sleeve surgery on a 16 year old with a BMI of around 30? My friend talked to her and there had been no real efforts on changing lifestyle, dieting, etc. and no health issues. Maybe I am totally out of touch, but I was astounded that a doctor would do this surgery at that age/weight/history.

the Multivitamin I have is NatureMade, it has 18mg of Iron, is it ok, or should I get the iron separate? thanks

Hey guys! I just got to Tijuana Mexico and my surgery is TOMORROW at 4pm!!!! I cant wait!!! ☺ Such a great experience so far! Sorry this is all over the place, just so excited to be here! I flew into San Diego today at 11am and was picked up by David, he is so nice and sweet, I felt like I was hanging out with a close friend. David drove me to Wal-Mart so I could get some last minute things I didn't/couldn't bring on the plane (chicken broth). It took us about 15 minutes from walmart in San Diego to get to the recovery house, so close from the boarder! I just got settled in at their recovery house, It. Is. Gorgeous! I feel very secure, the front has a locked gate tha…

Welcome to the BariatricPal MX Nutritional Support Forum! Your 15-min initial consult is included in your package to get weight loss surgery in Mexico. To schedule it, please go to https://bariatricpalmx.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php and choose a time convenient for you. Please let me know if you do not see a time that works for you. Thank you! When it is time for your appointment, please call me on Skype at nataliestein26. Don't forget you're also invited to the monthly chat sessions scheduled on the first Saturday of each month at 3:00 pm Eastern (noon Pacific)! Just click on the chat button on the bottom right of your screen on this forum. I look forward to…

Hi! I'm 15 days post op and after receiving and starting reading the BIG book I think I've pushed my diet too fast. We received paper work on post op from our dr. But it was conflicting. When I left the hospital and went to the grocery store, my guide was like most people buy yogurt water and Gatorade. Soooo I've had yogurt sense day 3 and other soft daries as well as soft mushy veggies and two days ago I introduced mashed potatoes. I've had absolutely no issue. How bad have I messed up?

I have completed the nutrition questionnaire twice, but still have not received anything. Just curious on how long of process it takes or maybe it was never received? Scheduled an initial consult for August 17, 2015. Surgery is August 11, 2015.

What has everyone's experience been with the plane ride home. I will be traveling home from San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida. I leave San Diego @ 6:30am and arrive in Jacksonville @ 6:30pm. So 12 hours + 3 hours time changes is 15 hours and the airport is almost an hour from my house so 16 hours total. I would love to hear all comments. Not being wimpy, just want to set proper expectations. Thanks. Mike

Hey guys, I seem to be having a problem finding a REPUTABLE Mexican surgeon who is willing to accept direct payment via check rather than credit card, wire transfer, or cash. Has anyone else had this issue? This is the absolute only way that my lender is willing to pay and I am not willing to switch lenders. If you've paid this way please let me know who your surgeon was and what your experience was like. I'm sort of freaking out about it. Thanks!

Gastric Sleeve special in Denver, CO with Dr. John Weaver. Visit WesternSurgicalBariatricCenter.com for more information. The new all-inclusive self-pay price is $12,500. Stay in the US for surgery. Feel free to call at anytime for details on our special promotion.

David sent me an email that had a link to patient history form but it's not working, any one know where else I can find it ? I did email him about it but it's late and wanted to do it now while I have time.

I am schedule for surgery on August 15th and don't know if I should be on a pre-op diet. I don't know what to be eating. I don't know what to purchase to prepare myself for after surgery. I need some guidance. What should I avoid? What are the stages and how long will they last? I need guidance.

Hi I was sleeved on June 12, wondering if there we're others nearby that'd want to keep in touch.

In order to stop something, you have to start something. This beautiful brave soul's name is Kaycha Baez from Florida, and her story speaks for itself. Kaycha's Weight Loss Journey has now turned into a Journey of Justice and wants to take action to help make a difference in taking the first steps in perhaps paving the way for others. Kaycha needs to go to Mexico and file a complaint in person against Almanza and Weight Loss Agents. According to the existing laws in Mexico, a victim must file in person with the appropriate authorities to open an official Mexican Government investigation against Almanza and Weight Loss Agents. As of today, there are no formal complain…

Diana L. Thomas is another victim of Almanza and Weight Loss Agents and wants to be apart of the Journey to Justice Campaign, go to Tijuana Mexico and file a formal complaint with the Mexican Government against Almanza and Weight Loss Agents. Diana will be the second victim of Almanza and Weight Loss Agents to file a complaint with the Mexican Government because the Mexican Government requires an injured party to file in person. There are a lot of great surgeons in Mexico, just not Almanza and Weight Loss Agents. I had to take out this blip from a paragraph of Diana's story, "I had trusted WLA and Dr. Almanza, but when I advised WLA that I had been hospitalized for…

Hi there. New here. Have a ton of questions... Just thinking about doing WLS. My main question is, here in the states they do extensive testing before surgery. Is it the same when you're doing it in Mexico I've been talking to OCCand so far seem great. But it doesn't seem to be too much testing before. Any insight anyone has is appreciated.

I live in remote AK and do not have access to big box stores, GNC, etc. I am stocking up for my sugery in Jan 2015. Can anyone please help me by adding to my list? Or, help me cross stuff off if I don't really need it? Also, other than boullion, what can I consume while travelling on the liquid diet? All I can think of to do is bring bulllion. (I will be on a 3 day clear liquid diet.) To bring to Mexico: -Bathrobe -Flip flops -Pillow (will be able to throw away or leave there) -Light blanket -Boullion (for plane ride down there) -Laxatives (what kind did you use??) -A few light outfits (mainly yoga pants/capris) -The usual toiletries (mini shamps/condish, so…

3 hours and I land in San Diego, getting sleeved TODAY!

I am so excited I am scheduled for my sleeve of 9/7/15!!!!