Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

I am one week post op with Dr Garcia, I am supposed to start full liquids tomorrow. I received more than one diet plan and I am confused. What did you add in for full liquids at week 2?

She had surgery yesterday just wondering how she's doing.. Sent from my ADR6400L using VST

Anyone else?

So, although I am insured by Aetna, I dont think they are going to approve my surgery. My bmi is only 36 an although I have 1 comorbidity (high blood pressure) I am only on 1 medication and the insurance requirements are that I am supposed to be on 3 concurrent meds. So yes I have high bp but not high enough and yes I am at an unhealthy weight but not unhealthy enough! I really tried not to just ball in front of my doc.... So now I am contemplating Mexico and I am honestly terrified and unsure of where to start! Ive been reading thru the posts and am glad to read all of the positive results..but what happens when u get back home? Who do you go to for check ups or addi…

I am scheduled for September 24th with Dr. Garcia, I signed up with Ready 4a Change.. Anyone else?

Hi there, I am new here and thought I would finally say Hi after lurking for a few days I am going to be having surgery with dr Ponce whenever I can figure out the funding for the surgery I am so super excited I just can't get enough information about everything. The only worry I have is when I come home and taking care of my kids while my husband is at work, I have 3 in school and 2 at home and I have read alot about the whole energy drain that tends to happen after surgery. I am sure I will end up having some help but I still am nervous about it.

Down 8 lbs. Messed up alittle tonight. Had a small bowl of steamed rice. Hopefully wont hurt me but i have been alittle sick since i had it.

What do I need to bring with me to Mexico? I know I need Gas-X strips, but I haven't been able to find it in the strips. Any advise would be most appreciated and if you can add where you found the products too, that would be great.

So, I am sitting in the airport, Day 4 post op, waiting to catch my last flight home. Reflecting on the past 5 days has been amazing. I used Janese at "a lighter me.com" who was fantastic! I got to San Diego and immediately Samuel, the driver called me and picked me up. He showed my some cool ships in San Diego and then we headed to Mexico. Once I got checked into the hotel, the pre-op diet was driving me crazy, so I decided to get busy and check out Tijuana. I walked to WalMart and a local grocery store and never felt unsafe whatsoever. And I was alone!! When I checked into the hotel, Eduardo, my on site coordinator was there and helped me, then he called me again that n…

So far so good. Lost 6lbs in 3 days. Protein shakes are binding me up!

Anyone going October 14,2012 ?

I fly out of South Florida on Friday to Cancun and now there is a Tropical Storm that is supposed to turn into a Hurricane. The cone has South Florida in it's projected path to hit on Sunday/Monday. My surgery is on Saturday and I am supposed to leave Cancun to come back to South FLorida on Tuesday. I really don't know what to do this is awful!!!!! The surgeon leaves until the end of September so if it doesn't happen this week, I will have to wait another month and that is just depressing but then again, I can't leave if a hurricane comes here as I may get stuck in Cancun. Can I scream now? lol

I know I touched on this on a previous post but don't feel like I got many responses regarding after care. I am still TRYING to go thru insurance but chances are kind of slim so still researching my Mexico option. My husband and I are really concerned with what happens after you get home? Are you just on your own? What about additional check ups or leak tests or nutritional guidance? What are the post mexico sleevers doing about after care?

I wonder how many people had the sleeve at this BMI? I just need to lose 70 pounds. Will be happy if I lose 40-50. THANK YOU

Hi out there, What are you waiting for? If you are someone who is sitting on this board and you are reading ALL the postings and not saying anything—this is quite normal. I did that for a few months too. I was trying to figure a few things out about weight loss surgery. Having WLS is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. Right now you are slowly killing yourself with your fork! What I learned once I started asking questions there are an enormous amount of helpful people on this board that helped me along the way and answers my hundreds of questions I had. You can NEVER ask too many questions OK. Two of my mentors gave me an incredible amount of suppo…

Well here we go. Two weeks of this begins today.

How come some doctors do three incisions, but others do five? Do they all use different methods? Just curious.

Hi everyone!! I'm very new to this site so if I put anything in the wrong place I apologize, was wondering if anyone has experienced this doctor and also I'm needing advice on the presurgery diet, have not received instruction yet. Any advice will be much appreciated thank u and God bless!!

I will be off to Tijuana to have my surgery on 8/31. I am taking my sister who had the surgery exactly one year ago with Dr Kelly. I traveled with her for her surgery and she will travel with me this time. After watching my sister for the past year and her great success (she is at goal) I decided it was my turn. I know what to expect and have no qualms about Tijuana or Dr Kelly. Her surgery took 38 minutes and she was up and walking around within a few hours. The Hotel Lucerna was fabulous and had the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on in a hotel. FYI, there is a Starbucks right across the street and although I won't be enjoying it, my sister will. We t…

Hi Everyone, I want to know why you are still trying to make up your mind about having Weight Loss Surgery (WLS)? I know what took me 6 months to make up my mind. I was doing a LOT of research checking out everything I could think of. I must have asked at least 1,000 questions to the people on 3 different WLS boards. So, if you are in those stages you are doing all the right things. Keep asking questions until you feel comfortable with where you are heading. If you aren't sure if it will work for you—I thought the very same things you are thinking. I want you to know is DOES WORK. I had WLS almost 4 years ago, and I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. So stop u…

Does anyone know his price and what the wait time or process is like for him?

Just sleeved 2 days ago in Mexico I am at MI hospital. My doctor was Dr. Lopez and his wife Dr. Osana. Both great doctors very personable and no complications. Passed both leak tests and I am ready to go back to the hotel for two more days and recoop poolside and maybe do a little sightseeing, lol.

Does anyone h ave a phone number for Trish?

My surgery is on Sept 28th w/Dr. Perez, if anyone else is going around this time please let me know. Thanks!

Hi all, I may end up in Mexico as a self-pay (long story with possibilities of insurance coverage etc. omitted here). My preference is to go to Tijuana because if I do, my sister might be able to come with me as my support person. She's a physician and speaks fluent Spanish so I figure she'd be good to have around. So I am doing a little preliminary looking around. So far I am considering: Dr. Kelly, Dr. Ponce de Leon, Dr. Fernando Garcia, and Drs. Alejandro Lopez & Jacqueline Osuna (they work as a team). Obviously I want someone who is an excellent surgeon. I'm also looking for: a smooth running experience (people who are on time to pick you up at the airport et…

Can anybody give me a heads up on the facilities in PV? I am going in Nov. to be sleeved and would appreciate any advise/info.

Hi All, I'm hoping that ill have surgery on 9th October, anybody else?? I am going alone so would love to meet up with others that are going at the same time. I'm ready to be part of the losers bench :-) I'm going to have my US immigration interview on Thursday so hopefully I will be a citizen and have my passport by then. I have paid my deposit so I pray things work out!!

i'm currently living with a slipped lapband and need to have it removed. even though i've lost 110% of my goal weight, i decided against getting rebanded because i was told the percentage of it slipping again is too high. the thing is, i'm 4 years post op and i'm still not done paying for the first surgery which is why i need to travel from ohio to Mexico. i'm thinking of going with dr. Almanza because he seems to have done a lot of revision surgeries. how many days are you actually in the hospital / recovery home / hotel? i thought i'd have surgery day one, recovery house or hotel day two and travel back home day 3 but i heard that you're actually away closer to 5…

Hi everyone. Im losing my nj family care insurance sept 30. Its under horizon ***. Im halfway through the doc visits, testing, etc. im beside myself. My plan C is surgery in mexico and so far plan B is to buy a horizon health plan until surgery is over. Any advice?

So I've decided to have the VSG in Mexico in December but after reading all the posts about complications and issues, I'm scared of what I will do if something goes wrong after I've been home. Since this is a maor surgery and there are risks, I wouldn't expect any surgeon (US or otherwise) to automatically cover the complications if they weren't at fault. I will have healthcare at the time of surgery but they do not cover anything to do with WLS or complications from it. I'm a student and on work study, so paying out of pocket for thousands of dollars in medical bills would not be something I could manage. My biggest questions are: 1. If you havr had WLS surgery and …

Ones anyone know if they actually test us? I'm really worried about being able to quit.

Anybody been sleeved by Dr. Rodriguez at Star Medica in Cd Juarez? I have been looking on this forum and don't see many references to him.

So, I bought me a little lock box the other day so I can start saving up for the surgery. Seems like its going to take forever, but every day I get a little closer! I live here in Texas, so my family feels more comfortable if I go to Dr. Alvarez. He seems like an awesome doctor and I've heard lots of great reviews on him, but it's going to take twice as long to come up with the money to go to him. I know surgery isn't something you should take lightly and I shouldn't just go to someone for the best deal or whatever. I've also read others who have went to doctors much cheaper in Tijuana and they are doing just fine. I just don't know what to do! Lol

Wow!! I just wanted to take a moment now that I'm officially on the losers bench to share my experience with Dr Aceves and his staff.... Wonderful is the only word I can find!! The entire experience felt like going to a spa!! From beginning to end it was quick efficient and organized. From emails and phone calls with the coordinator Nina to the driver Ramon! I was always escorted everywhere ... Anything my friend that went with me needed was seen to... Like she wanted her teeth cleaned... Yolanda... Ninas mom set it up!! The doctors come in three times a day! The housekeepers clean constantly and clean your room three times a day! Almater hospital is a small effici…

Hi all, I am thinking about getting sleeved.my questions are what kinda meds do they use to manage pain(scared of pain)? What if you have other meds u gotta take pill form? I am thinking Dr Garcia or Dr Lopez any feedback would be appreciated. I am feeling a bit like a failure cuz I seem to lack the seld discipline to lose weight with diet and exercise and I am wondering will I have enough to follow up with the directions pre and post op? I know I am an emotional, boredom and head hunger type? Have a good day

have any of you used the border parking on the US border? I am going to TJ but was told it might be cheaper to park at the border parking lots than it is to park at the airport.. wondering if anyone knows what the going rate is? TIA

I am headed to TJ MX Thursday!! What are cheap options for phone calls/texts/video calls?

To tj for surgery? Has anyone else done that? And no passport just my birth certificate and ca drivers license....or should I just wait till I get my passport? I don't want to have any problems coming home

I've been emailing back and forth with alma( coordinator) and getting really excited to get sleeved by Dr Garcia!! Any advice and suggestions greatly appreciated;)

Due to Tropical Storm Isaac, I rescheduled my surgery. I was supposed to be in Cancun today, surgery tomorrow but decided it was best to stay here to secure my home in case it came my way since I am in South Florida. Thankfully it is not coming directly to us now although we will be getting wind/rain still. I have to wait another month but I know the weeks are going to fly by. If anyone is going to Cancun at end of September, please let me know

Hi all! Thanks so much for all the info. This is my first post, but I e already learned do much from browsing around here. My insurance only covers the band or RNY. I'm 100% sure I want the sleeve, but not sure I'm ready to do it in Mexico. I'm single with three kids, and I don't know if I can be that far away for that long if I don't have to. All the local surgeons seem to be charging in the $18K range, and their staffs aren't too helpful or good about returning my calls. I live right in the center of the state, a couple hours from SF, and about 90 minutes to Sac or Fresno. Any suggestions?

Eekkk hard to believe I am 8 days away from the big day!!! My husband and I fly out next Monday and my surgery is Tuesday in tijiuana with limarp and dr pompa. I am super excited nervous and scared all at once!!!! I am 29 years old mother of three ages 5, 3, 6 months. My weight before pre op diet was 230lbs today 3 weeks in I am sitting at 212lbs (18 lb loss in 3 weeks pretty pumped about that!!!) 5'5". Hoping for a smooth transition (I know aren't we all). Good luck to everyone!!!!

Hi, I am new at this. This is my first time posting. I am scheduled to be sleeved Sept. 18, 2012 in Tijuana with Dr. Almanza. I am traveling by myself and was wondering if there is anyone else scheduled on this same day with the same doctor. Next I am interested in finding out what brand of protein powder is the best to use. I welcome any information I can get as I very nervous about this whole thing and scared something will go wrong, thanks.

I started my pre op today.. my surgery is on the 25 with Dr. Almanza ..... I am super exited but at the same time I'm worried and scared.. I'm in my 'what if" mood.. I have read great stories and scary stories, Like every one else I'm scared of having complication. I am a self pay and have no insurance and I'm unemployed. I pray for me and others for God to take care of us and that everything comes out good. A speedy recovery for us . So we can keep enjoying what God gave us.. LIFe.. for us to keep enjoying life with our love ones.. God bless us sleevers ..!!!

Just scheduled my surgery today for August 7. So far Nina said I'm the only one for that day. I'm going down by myself and was wondering if anyone else is going to be there around then

Hello, Does anyone else have their surgery booked for around this date? I hear he has three other surgeries this day. If this is you I would love to communicate. I am travelling alone from Canada. Donna

Does anyone know of any doctors in Mx that accept Care Credit?

Havin surgery Sept 14th performed by Dr. V. Was wondering if anyone else has used him. For me, he feels like the right choice.

Is there anyone out there that has gone to MX from Alabama? Particularly from the birmingham area? I need to find a new PCP as the one I have is not supportive of my decision at all. Never even mentioned going to MX after she was so blunt about how she felt about it. So bummed.

I all I was just sleeved yesterday afternoon here in tj mx by dr.kelly. What a great experience very little pain and soreness. The gas x strips work great. Can't wait to get to the hotel tomorrow.... Getting a little stir crazy!!! Haha wanna get outside for some fresh air!