Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery

Omar called me today. He is trying to get in touch with everyone. I just thought I'd update in case anyone was still waiting to hear from their office. He will also be working tomorrow. He spoke great English and we had NO problem communicating. He also sent me his cell number that I can text if I need to! So relieved that this is getting straightened out!!

Not sure what to do with myself. I am hungry, need coffee, would love a shower but I'm afraid to intrude on my friend. (She's nauseated and throwing up sometimes.) I'm afraid to leave cause I'm not sure where I would even go or what's around! There is a cafeteria on the 4th floor but the menu is all in Spanish, of course! Anyone else come with a friend and feel this way?

Anybody having their done by Dr Almanza next week

On my way to Star Medica. I am very excited. Anyone out there currently there?

The hospital is unbelievably clean! Everybody is nice. My surgery is tmrw. Pray for me guys. Trying to send pics of the hospital. It's 100% cleaner than any US hospital I have been too. My room has a sleeping area, a separate living area. And a huge bathroom. Amy you were so right!!!

I would love to hear from some of his patients. Looking into going to him at the end of April.. I want to hear the good and the bad..Thanks!!

Anyone have any preferences on which airways are better than others? I was thinking Southwest.

Hi there...long time lurker, first time poster! I finally scheduled my surgery with Dr. Kelly. So far so good. Ana has coordinated my surgery and has answered my questions soooo fast. My question is about a passport. I was so excited to schedule my surgery I completely forgot about a passport. Will I absolutely need one to go down there? I am not sure I can even get a rush one at this point. I'll post my experience after my surgery.

It seems like the only way to share this here is by posting it in a forum. So I am having Surgery with Dr. Ponce De Leon may 10 and I am in the process of having him evaluate this diet and approve it. But this is information I received from a Nutritionist here in the USA who specializes in bariatric surgery and wanted to share it with you all since I often here people looking for this kind of information. I do recommend if anyone is able to afford a nutritionist visit (make sure they specialize in bariatric surgery) before and after surgery they should do it! It might not be nessesary to go all of the time but at least a visit here and there. Pt resource manual_diet …

DR. GARCIA!!!! YA'LL JUST DON'T KNOW HOW I'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH THIS DECISION OF WHICH DR TO CHOSE!!! SERIOUSLY!! LOL!! I'M SO AT PEACE WITH THIS DECISION AND I KNOW THIS IS RIGHT FOR ME!!! SURGERY DATE IS SET FOR MAY 11TH!! I'M SOO READY FOR THIS ADVENTURE!! WONDERING WHO MY SLEEVE BUDDIES WILL BE??!!

So a question I'd like to pose to the boards.... We are all looking to find the right doctor for ourselves. The best piece of advice I have been given is to make sure you are not "booted out the door" after surgery, meaning you get a good surgery but no follow up - sparse information on diet, little communication post op, etc etc. I'd like to hear other's experiences post op as well as what some of you feel about this pre-op. I don't want someone to hand me a few copies of some diet and then send me home without explicit instructions. None of us should be relying on a message board for our post op info! (even tho this board is fantastic!!!) Thoughts?

Looking for people atleast 2 years out or more from sx in Mexico. Im considering self pay between Drs Garcia and Rodriguez. Wondering what your longer term looks like so far.

Hi everyone, I just wanted to give a quick update, I changed my surgeon to dr. Ponce de leon. I have nothing against Dr. Kelly, I just decided that I needed more from my surgeon. I hope to meet some of you soon! Anyone else will be at the INT Hospital (I choosed this one over florence because I get a video of my surgery and the swallow test as well as the nurses are more experienced (from what I heard from people who stayed at both). But I will still be staying at the Lucerna Hotel May 12 and 13, so if anyone else who is staying there at that time please let me know I would love to meet you! Good luck!

I just want to say I had my surgery 4 months ago with Dr. Ponce and so far have lost 63 pounds. He and his staff are awesome! I was at the INT which was also great! I just got back from taking a friend there yesterday. She also used Dr. Ponce but the difference is she used Trish for her coordinator. Trish goes beyond what any other coordinator does in my opinion!! She is so caring and makes sure you have the info and tools you need when you get home! Her assistant even called my friend today to check on her and will be charting her progress every week by phone! If other Bariatric surgeons trust him for their own surgery that spoke volumes to me! Dr. Ponce and his …

Have been on preop diet since Saturday and I've only lost about 6 lbs. I know that is still a good thing but I am afraid that I'll be the loser that didn't shed any weight before surgery. Scared it makes me look like a failure. I know it sounds silly. I have just been really trying.

Hello everyone, Well I have my surgery scheduled with Dr. Kelly for May 10 but have continue my research..... Now I am questioning my decision for several reasons, including the fact that his office no longer answers my messages and other stuff. In any case, a doctor that has come to my attention is Dr. jaime Ponce de leon, but unfortunatelly there is no real information out there about him. I did spoke to both Trish and him today and they are both great, but I would like to hear from people who have had surgeries with him. Thanks!

I scheduled my surgery with Dr. Kelly for the 9th. I'm trying to arrange my pickup and other details with Ana. I haven't heard from her in 2 days. Anyone else have this trouble? At this point, I don't even know where they are going to pick me up...so frustrated!

As anyone heard of ponce de Leon?

I was quoted 240 dollars for one area in Mexico. Does that seem about right?

I just had an initial consultation with a Dr here in the USA & they are quoting me $24,850 for my total surgery costs. Ugh. So I am now thinking of being sleeved with Dr Kelly. But DH is not sure he could get time off to come with me, or would mean bringing the kids with us. So wondering if anyone went alone to MX & were you okay not having someone there, just in case?

Who is the better doctor and what do you know from your research, just taking a poll? I prefer to be in a hospital. Tell me your results and experiences.

I am curious what is a good inexpensive unflavored protein powder. Anyone have any suggestions?

I just had the BEST face time conversation with Dr. Alvarez! What an incredibly nice man! If it wasn't for the fact that I'd have to fly there and then be unable to go back for follow up, I'd totally use him... and how many U.S. surgeons would take time out of their day to facetime a NON-patient??? I am so impressed. That said, one thing he suggested we all look for in our surgeons, is follow up care and accessibility. He said to make sure you have access to your doctor post-op and that you are sent home with instructions and support. Seems like common sense, but I have seen a few people here comment that they were unable to reach their surgeon or coordinator aft…

I have yet to actually interview the doctors i'm considering.. and i'm wanting to pull together a pretty good interview list so i can be as informed as possible. I Know some things may be more important than others but i think it would be nice to see what everyone is asking maybe there's something i haven't thought of.. so please list your questions here. THANKS!! Here's a few of mine: How long have you been performing the gastric sleeve surgery? What are your complication statistics? What happens if complications arise? How does that work with charges? What kind of Preop tests do you run? How many leak tests do you do? Have you had any issues with leaks and…

What type of follow ups have those of you who've had your surgery done in Mexico done? I live on the east coast so certainly can't go back to Mexico for follow ups. I'm a little scared to say anything to my primary care physician before I have the surgery since I don't know what her reaction will be both about me having the surgery and also in my choice of where to have it. Any thoughts?

I was told I could drink two or three protein shakes a day and one low fat, sensible meal. Well I'm concerned about all the calories these shakes have. So I guess my question is there a calorie number I need to stay under for these next 7 days? I feel like I have turned into an idiot the closer I get...afraid to do something wrong! Lol! She didn't say I needed to lose a certain amount of weight before but just to do the preop!

Hi Everyone , I am new to the forum , but I have been reading the post for a while now. I am a 34yr old woman that has battle with weight issues my entire life .My eating disorder progressed when my mom passed and I adopted my siblings(total of 11 children total) I have yo-yo dieted , took every diet pill out there and have even went thru starvation periods to loss weight. Ive even been on various weight loss programs to seeing weightloss counslers. I realized that i needed to do something that was permenant , because if i didnt , i would probably end up killing my self trying to get skinny. I was sleeved on Feb18th,2012 in Mexico with Dr Garcia. Everything was going …

Tomorrow is the big day! A new start. Very few times in our lives do we get chances to just "start over. I have almost made it through the liquid diet with only minor "mess ups." What a journey this will be. Goodluck to the rest of you!!!

I ordered their sample pack, which came with two samples of a few of the flavors, plus a chicken Soup flavor. I know my tastes might change, but even for the pre-op diet, I thought it would be good to test them out. Someone recommended the unjury vanilla with orange flavored crystal light - and it is AWESOME! It tastes like an orange julius! I can definitely do THAT one! I'm also gonna test out the strawberry flavor with lemonade - supposedly it's really good, too! The chicken soup... it's okay. Like having a cup of soup. But each one has 20 grams of medical quality Protein and that makes me happy. Just wanted to share the info.

Hello again, I was very, very excited to decide on Dr Aceves for my surgery. But it appears my fortunes have changed and I will have to take cost into consideration, which...annoys me, at the minimum. Before I continue: YES - I understand that no price is too much to pay for my health. YES - I agree that I deserve the "best money can buy". NO - I DO NOT have a way to get more money...at all. $6k is my cap and will be as such for a while, for reasons I don't care to discuss on a public forum (why does life hate me this much?!?). YES - Now is the best time in the next 18 months to look at surgery. There will be no better time than the next 2 months to get thi…

How long did you take to get a date? What questions have you've been asked to get a date? Im having surgery in Dominican Republic and I'm traveling Saturday march 31st to start preparing for the surgery....I've already started the a diet now I'm waiting for instructions to start my juice diet... Are you having all the evaluations done here in the US or at the hospital where your having your surgery? I'm scared of getting turned down from because of my liver size...

Can't wait! I'm so excited!!! I've been trying to get everything together. Dr Garcia is doing the surgery. I have a countdown going!!! Woohoo!

Looking to see if anyone else will be getting their surgery the same day as me? I just verified with dr. kelly's assistant for that day.......yay can't wait!!!!!! Also has anyone started dieting yet? I have started to force myself to drink alot more water, and i'm trying to find out what everyone used at first for protein.. i don' t want to be losing my hair or tired all the time. What vitamins are you on? Anyone try those protein shots that have 50g of protein in them? Any info would be great!

Was wondering who all experienced this, and if anybody knows why it happens? Is it the fast weight loss or lack of protein and nutrition in the first few weeks or what?

So I guess this works as double duty - an introduction and a (kinda) question. I am a Registered Nurse...a very fat nurse! And I've been that was (fat, not a nurse ) for almost 13 years. I've done diet after diet. Acupuncture, moxibustion, hypnosis. HCG to the point I got gallstones. And each year, my weight just keeps climbing. I'm ashamed to say that the only significant weight loss I had was after I had met the love of my life, and then lost him...(but later found him...and my lost weight, grrrr!). I have stereotypical PCOS and Metabolic Syndrome (hello, black hairs on chin - I grow an impressive beard!), so that has exacerbated my weight issues. I started…

I havn't narrowed down which date i'm going with.. i guess it depends if i decide to pay the expedite fee for my husband and I's passports. Going to apply for them today.. anyone recently have to apply for a passport? How long did it take to get? Was it the full 6 weeks to process? So excited for this day to finally get here.. been a lurker for way too long... :-)

Did anybody ever ask the question (I'm sure we all have) of the Mexico places - if you have a complication post op, will they handle it? What happens if you need to be readmitted for any reason? Would they do it in Mexico? I live in So CA so TJ is considered "local" so I could go back for any problems, but just wondering what answers anybody else has gotten? My insurance won't cover me here in the U.S. if I have a complication and I want it spelled out for me what to do if I have one from a mexico surgery...

Well I narrowed my three doctors down to Dr. Kelly or Dr. Aceves or Dr. Alverez all in Mexico.... Any suggestions wheather good or bad?

Why can't you have caffeine? I better be trying to get off coffee and iced tea.

I can't believe that I only have 17 days before my surgery with Dr. Kelly. Time is speeding by. Need to start making that packing list. I am trying to avoid checking my luggage (I think it is ridiculous that it cost $50 to check luggage!). Do I really need a heating pad?

I am super excited, I have booked my surgery and my flight with Dr. Kelly for May 10th! anyone else having their surgery that day? My plane ticket is purchased, and everything is ready to go. I will be traveling alone, which kind of scares me. Anyone else traveling alone? or have traveled alone?

Is anyone going to Mexico to have surgery on or around this date with Dr. Garcia? This is my date and I am just wondering if who I will see there.......

hi, i hav 3 questions anout dr garcia: what size bougie is used does dr garcia use staples or sutures what kind of pain meds does he use

Was just wondering do you have a catheter with dr Garcia? I will have to refuse one if so.

I went to my GP today and she totally discouraged me. Is NOT a fan of weight loss surgery at all. I got the same ol, same ol', "diet and exercise and let's send you to a nutritionist". I didn't even WANT to tell her that I was considering going to Mexico. Good god I can only imagine the lecture I would have gotten. I emailed Dr. Kelly to ask how they handle this. I would obviously have to go back to Dr. Kelly if I had any complications. Anybody else deal with their GP being dead against it? meanwhile another friend of mine who had a bypass said her bariatric team here in the US feels that the sleeve surgery is showing a LOT of promise. I feel so let down.

A coordinator for a dr. in Monerrey that I called to check prices just happens to live in my town. She has the lap band and is successful. I have the lap band and looking to revise to sleeve. She admits she is not that familiar with the sleeve so any questions i had she emailed her dr in monterrey and he would email her back. He never said anything bad about any dr in Mexico but he was concerned with the low prices some of the drs are charging. He states he uses the Eschelon stapler which no other dr in mx uses according to the rep. I asked dr. kelly about this and he says everyone uses it, why would johnson and johnson make a product and only sell it to one dr. I…

Was just wondering about taking pills after surgery or will I have to crush them up for a while?

Well i was sleeved february 13th. Have lost 14 lbs since the 13th. Which is great. I have had a few questions since ive gotten home from mexico. i email dr. Garcia. He responds with in the same hour usually. I couldn't be happier with his care.I doubt he needs any refferences but I feel like its only right to share my hapiness with others. i have a 8month old, a 2 year old, and a 3year old and im only 2 weeks plus a day post op and i feel good. I WANT TO THANK YOU DR. GARCIA AND WISH ALL OF YOU TO BE FELLOW SLEEVERS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The time is finally here! I have just arrived to the Marriott hotel to be sleeve by Dr. Garcia tomorrow. I landed in San Diego and the driver called me as soon as I got off of the plane. He was very friendly and nice to talk to on the drive overe the boarder. The drive over the boarder to Tijuana was really quick, I was expecting a long drive for some reason. When we pulled up to the Marriott I was met by the bell hops with a proper greeting who opened my door and handled my bags. Very V.I.P which was nice. The hotel is very nice and very clean. As someone pointed out on here the beds are kind of hard but I guess thats a regional preferene? Either way still nice. There…

I booked my sleeve on April 3 with Dr Ponce de Leon. I'm very excited! any one else going to be there around that time?