Janese58

My surgery was on Tuesday and I drove on Sunday. I would have driven sooner but I was in Mexico for my surgery and didnt get home until Saturday.

Its not just a couple of thousand cheaper, its almost double to get it in Florida. I went to Dr Ramos Kelly too and I paid $5500. He now charges $5700 I think but still worth it. I spent exactly $5600 after tipping and all. No where near $10,000. Of course you would have airline charges but even that wont be over $1000.00 if you plan ahead. Good luck though whatever direction you take.

I hate insurance. After reading what everyone goes thru on here with theirs I didnt even attempt to use my crappy Kaiser plan. I went to Dr Kelly. Saved alot of time and frustration. Good luck with everything. Keep us posted.

I eat between 1000 and 1200 a day. I use an app on my phone to record what I eat. I know I am losing slower but I dont want any problems with not getting enough vitamins etc. I also am a nanny and cant be weak or light headed from not eating enough. This was a problem the first 2 weeks out.

The sleeve if worked right will help you eat healthy for the rest of your life. Like someone else said "its calories in calories out". Its basic. Its much easier for me to eat 1000 to 1200 calories a day with my new little stomach. I couldnt have stayed this course with my old big fatter rounder stomach. I can eat healthy and eat a piece of candy or ice cream without getting sick. I just add it into my daily calorie count. I wanted to eat like a thin person and not be able to pig out at buffets anymore. So far so good. I also didnt care how long it took to lose the weight as I am 53, and losing alot of weight in a short amount of time would only make me look older and saggy. If it takes a year or more to lose 80 pounds, ok Im good with it. Its all about personal choice. Do alot of research before making the decision.

I went to Dr Ramos Kelly. He was awesome. I loved the hospital and the hotel we went to after. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It costs $5500.00 at that time. It has gone up a couple hundred since then.

Being able to take motrin and aspirin was one of the reasons I had the sleeve also. If you do some research online about the pros and cons of the VSG it is listed as one of the pros. Many people with arthritis need to be able to take motrin so it is a plus for those people to have the sleeve as opposed to the bypass. Tylenol has never worked for me. The old advice about not taking aspirin or motrin is old thinking and refers to the bypass, etc. not to the sleeve. That being said I wouldnt take it one month after surgery. Dr Kelly said to wait at least until 3 months out. Thank god I havent had a headache or back ache since my surgery. Before my surgery I was taking maybe 4 motrin a day and a couple aspirin a few times a week.

Dont freak out. Everyone is different. After 3 weeks time I felt like I hadnt even had surgery, so think positive.

Beans are a no.

Yes...start an adkins type diet...quickest way to drop a few pounds fast.

For me I was up and able to go to work after one week, but Im a nanny, and my boss is a nurse and her husband a doctor so they wouldnt let me return to work until after 12 days. I am also 53 yrs old. 3 weeks seems like a long time. I was going crazy by the time I went back to work. Everyone is different.

If you go to other gastric sleeve forums and put his name in the search bar you can get info on him.

I drink the Adkins ones but add a little water and ice to make them thinner. I hate breakfast and breakfast foods so I drink this on the way to work.

I went thru Sandy Johnston at "ALighterMe.com" Sandy did a great job answering all my questions and getting my paperwork thru. I loved Dr Kelly and his staff. The only thing you have to pay for is your airfare and tips. Everything else is covered in the $5500.00. You can pm me with any other questions. I loved my 5 days in Mexico.

Insurance sucks!

Try Mexico. I went to Dr Ramos Kelly. Loved every minute of it! There are numerous reports from people on here that went to Mexico.

I didnt lose a pound the first week. I am down 16 pounds since my surgery on July 26th. I lost 10 the 2 weeks before so total is 26. Im happy with that. Im not starving and I eat what I want and have lost 26 pounds...win win.

I had my surgery on July 26th and can eat anything..including taquitos ( rather taquito), small taco, liver and onions, few bites of steak. Just chew chew chew before swallowing.

My best friend is pissed I got the surgery. I was her eating partner for the last 18 yrs.

I have Kaiser also, in Orange County. My deductible is $3500. so I didnt even bother with them. I also had a BMI of 37 with NO commordies. My copay is $70. Isnt health insurance wonderful? I had my surgery done with Dr Ramos Kelly in TJ Mexico for $5500.00, which includes 2nights in the hospital and 2 nights in a great hotel. Let me know if you have any questions about him.

Call your cell phone provider. I actually changed my plan to include Mexico (I have Verizon) and when I got there my phone didnt get reception 80% of the time. I ended up using Skype (on my laptop) to call (not video calls) Verizon to fix my phone. It was frustrating. My laptop came in handy when I was in Mexico.

I was sleeved on July 26th by Dr Ramos Kelly. The hotel Lucerna was a $44.00 upgrade for me. I dont know where I would have been staying if I didnt pay the extra $. Trish actually took the $44. cash from me the day I arrived in TJ before my surgery. I used Sandy Johnston from "A Lighter Me".com. to book my surgery and do all the paperwork with. Trish was there in TJ, and stopped by my room that first day and also came by my hotel the first day I was there. Dr Romero and Dr Kelly came by my hotel room also. I didnt take any pain meds once I left the hospital. I walked around the area of the hotel and went down to the pool while I was there. Everyone is different though. I felt fine as soon as Dr Kelly removed that damn drain. That was the only thing that bugged me.

I too have insurance (Kaiser to be exact) and didnt want to deal with their crap so I self paid and went to Dr Ramos Kelly. Much easier than dealing with my insurance. I am thinking about canceling it and saving the $300.00 a month and use ugent care if I get sick. After paying the $300 a month I cant afford the $70. copay.

Oh yea..I loved that pineapple jello. The gatorade is better in Mexico too. They use real cane sugar in their drinks instead of fructose corn syrup. I suggest bringing some home if you like it. I hate the gatorade we have here in the US.