Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

Today I decided that I am now going with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. I am still having my surgery on April 10th. I knew he cost more but I felt more comfortable with him. Can't wait soo excited and also thanks to Amanda Rae for all the insight.

Hello! Was just wondering whether there is anyone else out there having their sleeve on the same day as me? I am booked in at Mi Doctor Hospital under Dr Lopez for the 20th March. I know it's going to be difficult for me and I'm a Registered Nurse that works in Endoscopy/theatre, but I am travelling from Western Australia alone. Was hoping I could befriend someone whilst there! Any advice and support would be greatly appreciated. I have been reading many many posts on this and other sites so think I know what to expect and what to pack. Unfortunately I will have to endure a very long flight with 2 plane changes along the way, so just keeping my fingers, toes…

I'm just starting to look into VSG and doing the procedure in Mexico. I'd appreciate any insight as to what to expect, how to get started, etc.Do I just pick a site (ie: Ready 4 a change) and wait for someone to contact me? What's an approximate time line from first contact until surgery date? Thanks!

Hey guys... Heading to Mexico March 22 to be sleeved with Garcia and understand there is a dentist... Anyone used these services and if so, is it a good/clean place to go, is the work good, is it that much less expensive and what type of things did you have done?! Thanks

Was just wondering who else is going through this. After my surgery me and my wife split up. Was two months later. Was reading a couple of study's and there is like a 90% divorce rate with weight loss surgery did not realize it was this high.

I am still trying to figure out how to go about finding a dr here in the us I was sleeved in Mexico on 2/25/2013 and I am 4 weeks out so farI am doing great but I hear there is test that I am going to need to do and I do not have a doctor at all so what do u ladies and men do for a dr here in us for the check ups after the sleeve??? btw I am from Missouri so if anyone knows of one around here please let me know sleeved by Dr. Cabrera and Dr. Venzuale on 2/25/2013

Besides AMazon? Anyone seen it in a specific grocery store? Need to find it ASAP! Thanks!!

Hi Everyone - Wanted to see how everyone who had their sleeve done in Feb are doing. Any challenges? Feeling okay? Foods you avoid? Anything fun to share?? Hope you are doing well. Tami

My sleeve is scheduled for April 11th with Dr. Alejandro Lopez at Mi Doctor Hospital in Tijuana. I am TERRIFIED for a number of reasons. Besides the obvious (going under the knife), I am afraid of failure, i.e., not reaching my goal weight because of my addiction to food. I chose the sleeve after reading that removing the large portion of the stomach also removes the hormones that cause hunger, but I've heard conflicting stories. Should I expect my cravings to diminish or at least decrease? Also, I'll be traveling to Tijuana alone (my traveling companion will arrive the day after my surgery). Has anyone else been alone during the surgery? If so, did you feel safe? I…

Anybody go through alighterme and have surgery with Dr. Jesus Ortiz, not Dr. Ariel Ortiz? I haven't found much about him, besides that he's young.

Hfgh

Surgery with Dr. Lopez so far so good. Lucked out with a great roommate and lots of support from my coordinator. MiDoctor hospital is very, very clean and hospitable. My biggest problem is nausea, but it also has to do with the fact that I'm a revision surgery client. The nurses are really helpful and give m nausea medication frequently, but I try to walk every hr to help with the digestion. The first night I won't lie, I questioned why I did this, but I've got to stay focus on my goals.

In going to tj in may and while I realize things are not what they seem sometimes I'm very worried about the border violence. Anyone who has been please ease my mind!

How much money should we bring with us? Should it be USD or Peso? Also read somewhere about tipping.....who do we tip and how much? HELP!

I need feed back on Dr Ortiz at the occ in Tijuana . Did anyone get sleeved ??? Are you happy with the outcome ????

I was sleeved on the 18th and am still in my clear liquids diet. I make sure to get my 70g of protein a day but struggling with the 64 oz of water. I have been having severe headaches and has pain. I am wondering if my jaw hurts from not chewing? Has anybody else felt this? I'm sure the headaches are from detoxing off everything, I was a low BMI and did not have to do a pre-op diet. I feel like I can't wait to have more substance and that this month might just be the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with! I though my husband would be more supportive when it comes to meal times, but so far I have been expected to cook every meal, which in turn brings me to tears and dow…

My boyfriend and I were just debating, so I thought I'd just come ask those who are post-op. He says I will need a converter for the power outlets ; not to adapt the voltage but to change the shape to fit my cords. I'm taking my kindle and cell phone. Will I be okay with my regular cords and just plugging them in the wall? Or will I need some sort of converter? ~Kat

His great very cheap and everything went wonderfull drs and staff are assome at hospital and hotel

Hey everyone. I will be heading to Tijuana 3/25 for surgery with Dr. Kelly. Just wondering if there is anyone else out there soon to be sleeved by Dr. Kelly. Chelle

Has anyone ever used this company? If so how was your experience? I just can't seem to find much info on them. TIA

Last night was an adventure, and not the kind I love. I had issues with my heart, something that has happened before, and I ended up in A-Fib heart rhythm. The team here was all over it and got me back on track, very professional even though I was emotional and panicking. Per Dr.'s orders I stayed another day. Tonight is my last night and tomorrow I head home. I humbly ask for prayers that tonight is a healthy and uneventful night and that I awake healthy and ready to embark on my journey home. I'm homesick and want to hug (gently) my family. Thank you, Amanda Rae

HEY GUYS!!! Need your opinions. How is Florence Hospital?

Ok, when I scheduled my surgery I didn't even notice on the calendar that it was Easter weekend. No biggie, we are not a religious family. I also wanted to keep it as quiet as possible as I really didn't want to put up with the negativity I was sure would come my way so only my husband and sister have known. But now that I am four days away and leaving town on Tuesday, I figure I would just suck it up and let everyone know why I wouldn't be around for Easter dinner. I am quite grouchy from the pre-op diet and not ready to have long drawn-out discussions about this. So, it turns out that my mom and middle son are actually very cool with this!!!! You know what the…

Hi, I'm new to the forum, this place is great! Im looking to get the gastric sleeve and I found one hospital in Mexico that was going to do it for $4500. Right before I was going to pay the deposit I was told that I had to pay an extra $1000 because my BMI was 50. Has anyone else been told this before? Thanks,Tony.

So, I'm out looking for a few cute maxi dresses to bring with me to Mexico this summer, and I'm in a depression now lol I hate shopping for clothes being fat. It really is getting to me. Just the depression alone is killing me. I just went and bought me some water to drink at work today rather than running next door and getting a Coke. It won't hurt to try and go ahead and lose some weight now. I ended up gaining like 20 more pounds when I knew I was going to have WLS... Food funerals I guess. Now I'm paying for it

So, I was reading a thread earlier about many people switching from Mi Doctor to Oasis. I can only assume that spurred the dream which now has me lying awake in bed typing this post. I'm to have surgery on the 28th, and thought I wasn't that nervous..but, I dreamed a large number of us arrived at Oasis, Dr Kelly, Dr Illan, and Dr Garcia lined up to greet us like a receiving line. We stood in line, were issued a gown and a number painted on our foreheads. Then put in rooms, 4 beds each. Later, we all stood in line outside the OR, occasionally a nurse coming out and calling "Uno, Dos, Tres"..people were then wheeled out on cots and lining the hallway for recovery. Next..ab…

Doctor Fernando Garcia is now offering single incision vsg and I choose to use the single incision faster recovery

Posted my update here with photos! Down 40 pounds and 25 inches! Weighed in at 179.4 this morning =) http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4615121/2-Month-Post-Op-Update-WITH-photos/ http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4615122/Side-View-Photos-because-it-wouldnt-let-me-add-them-to-the/ I had to do 2 posts because it wouldn't let me upload two seperate picture collages...one is front view, the other side view. I've lost 10 inches off my waist alone and am now zipping into size 12 jeans at Gap very comfortably...can do 10s at Old Navy with their vanity sizing =)

I'm on the hunt for a accurate bathroom scale and need suggestions! I want one that is a body composition scale that reads muscle vs fat and what my water composition is....anyone !!??

I had my surgery on 3-18-13. I am just 5 days post-op. I went to Mexicali so that I could have Dr. Aceves do my vertical sleeve. I am so glad that I did. I was originally going for the lap band, thank god I continued my research and became more educated. Almater Hospital and there staff was excellent. Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos were amazing and they have great bed side manor. I never would have received that kind of care in the states. Anyone who is looking into a vertical sleeve I would totally recommend them. My journey of course has just started, I am excited to become the new me, and will be reaching out for support from fellow sleevers!

Hello everyone! I am fairly new to the site I have posted a couple things while doing research. I have officially made my decision, booked my date and bought my flights! I will be seeing Dr Ponce on May 2nd. I am just as nervous as I am excited, this is something I have been thinking about for the last few years. I feel very fortunate to have such a supportive family and partner, every time I start to freak out and think no i shouldn't do this he kindly reminds me of the reasons I am doing it. One of those reasons being he would like me around for a long time. I cant even begin to explain all of my emotions around doing this, everything becomes so real the minute you buy …

I am a supportive spouse and will be traveling with my wife who is being sleeved April 2 by Dr.Garcia at Mi hospital. We arrive Monday the 1st. I plan to document our journey with photos and information as we go! This is a very exciting time for my wife and our family. Such a life changing event. I am very proud of my wife for having the courage to do this as well as doing so much research to reassure me. I have to admit that I was quite skeptical about it when she first came to me but after all the research she has done, and after learning more- I am very excited for her. And support her 100%. We went through a very tough process with our damn insurance and after all the…

I have had my band for almost 3 years and I hate it!! Dense meat is not an option for me and most fibrous veggies won't work either. I slime, puke, pb or whatever you call it at almost every and I am sick of it.. I could never get a "sweet spot" and never really a good amount of weight. I am 5'0 weighed 200 the day of surgery and 188 today bmi 37. I went to my surgeon who did my lapband deemed my lapband and failure and suggested to I covert to the sleeve. However the person who does the insurance said I didn't "weigh enough" to send it to my insurance and it called out the $17,000 price tag to me. Which was out of the question. So I am looking those who have gone to…

I'm headed to the airport in a few short hours ... Thankfully a relative of mine could get off work and will be meeting me there on Friday. She should get there just in time to be with me during my recovery. WOo Hoo!!

Although I considered punking out several times, I actually made it on the plane! I'm so ready to get to the losers bench. My surgery is later today with Dr. Garcia at Mi Doctor.

Im at the airport, so scared, I've taken an ativan and 3 dramamine, let's hope I do ok!

I'm new to this so I hope I don't sound silly. I wanna have the sleeve done in Mexico and I was wondering if anyone has heard of Dr. Quinones good or bad??? thanks for any advise you can give me to help with this journey!

Hi VST I had the sleeve gastrectomy on the 11th my wife an I drove down to SD airport on the 10th and were picked up by Abraham the driver for alighterme we then drove straight to the Marriott, it's about a 20 min drive the place is great very nice they give u 3 free bowls of broth 2 Popsicles and 2 free bottle waters all you have to do is call the front desk or go down to the restaurant, the next day at 7am we were picked up and taken to Mi Doctor Hospital (witch is a real hospital NOT a strip mall like Jerusalem) where we met Eduardo (TJ cordinator for Alighterme) we pretty much were checked right away (I've herd some haven't been so lucky guess alighterme has a excell…

So I flew in last night (really last) and arrived in San Deigo at 11:30. My phone was dead and had to wait a couple of minutes to charge it up then I called my driver. The company I'm with picks us up at the airport. He had called me the night before to give me his cell # so I could call when I was in. He was waiting for me in the parking lot. Originally I thought I would have had to get a hotel until pickup the next day but he said he would cross tonight. So we did and it took us a whole 30 minutes. I must say that I traveled to Mexico before but in the south....Tijuana surprised me bc I was told it was old and different. It's not. The Marriott is better than s…

I rolled on as the sky grew dark I put the pedal down to make some time There's something good waitin' down this road I'm pickin' up whatever's mine Here we go! Amanda Rae

I started my damn period..what do I do? Call the front desk? Haha sorry I need some tampons asap.

To be honest I haven't even tried this product but I have just bought it for my auckland - LaX trip (and home again) in a few weeks . I've got friends who have tried it and say its great! Www.fly1above.com It's a 100ml bottle of concentrate you put into your water bottle Benefits - electrolytes (fatigue) , vitamin B (energy) polyphenol (supports circulation) low calorie ... As I'm on a loooong flight anything to help w circulation sounds good to me. I'm worried about blood clots - will also get the compression socks. I'm on my iPhone so won't list the whole ingredients but its apple juice / cider vinegar, magnesium etc ... Have a look on the website - just though …

Does anyone know if doctors will give a Valium or Xanax to calm down a very nervous, scared emotional patient? I have to wait until 4 for my surgery. That's a long time to dwell and be nervous. Tomorrow is my day. Driving to Tijuana. Crazy scared.

Hi all - I'm having surgery in TJ with Dr. Aceves on April 1st and traveling alone. To those who travelled alone - How was your experience? Were you miserable and wishing constantly that you had support?

I am new as a member to this forum, but I have been reading your posts anonymously for months. I am so grateful for this site. I was out of options and then I found this. I was so confident in my research and the stories here that I booked with Dr. Garcia and will have the sleeve done on 3/29. Just want to say that I am happy I found this site and will share my story for it to benefit someone as your stories have helped me tremendously.

I just want to know where everyone had their surgery (or will have), how much they paid, who the surgeon was (or will be) and what your overall experience was and how you are doing now. I really wanted to stay here in the states but couldn't find an affordable option here, I did lots and lots of internet reasearch. I paid for my own surgery, no insurance. I finally settled on Dr Ismael Cabrera and Dr Louisiana Valenzuela (they perform surgery as a team) at Hospital MI Doctor in Tijuna, Mexcio. Everything was great, I was very pleased. The only thing that could have been a little better was some of the nurses could have spoken better English or in a few cases any En…

So, I'm most worried about not eating for 3 days prior rather then the actual surgery?! Which drs dont make u do it? And why do the others make u if its not entirely necessary??? I understand about shrinking the liver but I'm on the lower BMI end. I've asked my coordinator 3 times just to make sure I do have to do liquid diet for 3 days. Help please!

I got 21 more days til i get sleeved by Dr. Illan in Florence hospital in Tijuana. Im Sooooooooo excited....nerves have not hit just yet! But it wont bother me ive had my gallbladder taken out n i know what im looking forward to!! I will be leaving apr.10 fron florida to san diego and will be sleeved on the 11th!!!!!! Again im SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

My wife and I are both getting sleeved on May 15th. I have heard great things about the hospital, doctor and staff, but haven't heard much about the Marriott or things to do in Tijuana. Any suggestions or any feedback on the hotel? Is there anything to do there? Also, my biggest question...Are all the tv shows/stations in Spanish?

Just had a thought. If I am self paying in Mexico to have the VSG, and when I get home I have any post-op complications, will my insurance cover me???