KatInFL

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Congrats! You look fantastic..and it's always great to hear no regrets, for those of us still pre-op. ~Kat

I'm looking about every other day at tickets. The best airline/price is going to be so subjective...it depends on where you're flying from and when, in addition to how far in advance you are looking to book. I've had reasonable success before going to whatever booking site you prefer (expedia, orbitz, kayak, etc) and setting up a daily notification for the flights you're looking for. I'll get them for a week or two and then have an idea of what a ticket usually costs, then attempt to get the best deal I can within the timeframe I need. It's sort of luck of the draw, though...sometimes you'll pay more than you want because it's the time of the year or another factor you can't control. ~Kat

Good luck! For me, it was almost a relief to make that first commitment to a surgeon and then to a date. I hope for you, too.

If it makes you feel better, there wasn't a special from any airport within a 5 hour driving distance of me. So...maybe you didn't miss out. ~Kat

Glad it went well for you!!

If there is, I sure haven't found out! But I think stats are hard to find, even on US based surgeons. I always try to research board complaints on any new doctors I see here in the US but haven't found anything that is similar for Mexico. I'll be looking to see if anyone who's done other research has resources I haven't yet found! ~Kat

No drama here, nor is there any prejudice. I'm simply stating an opinion, which has nothing to do with you personally or the surgeon you used/work for. ~Kat

Lora, I'm not suggesting that you don't have experience to share and advice to give that could be helpful. I'm sure you DO understand what it's like to go through this process and that part of your story, specifically, could be really helpful. I'm saying that coordinators (although you say aren't one, it's the same in my mind...the difference is just that you work directly for Dr. Kelly rather than an outside company) or anyone else that has a vested interest in a surgeon's success should disclose that when they post (either by identifying themselves as a coordinator/employee/Dr or just outright saying it in their posts) when they are touting a particular surgeon. To people who are new to the forum, I think it's important they have all the information necessary and understand if you have a vested interest in a surgeon's success. You *have* to have an interest in Dr Kelly's success in order to work for him, whether you are paid by the hour or by the patient...otherwise, you'd be out of a job. Of course we all have biases based on our individual experience, but I think it adds an extra layer of bias when you work directly for a surgeon and are posting an opinion about surgeons. It's a different ballgame than just simply sharing your experience of going through the process....and makes for an uneven playing field, in my opinion. I'm not at all disparaging Dr. Kelly. I've heard amazing things about him. I've heard great things about a variety of doctors here and through other sources. I'm just saying that I feel like it's unfair for *anyone to state an opinion about a surgeon when they have a vested interest in that surgeon's practice. ~Kat

I haven't figured out the exact differences between prices, either. I'd suggest deciding on where it's best for you to travel to for surgery, then start researching some surgeons in that area. Keep in mind that travel to and from is a separate cost, so that may play into your final decision. Also, coordinators are a preference, as far as I've been able to deduce. Most surgeons have them but many surgeons opt for coordinators that are a separate entity vs an in-house employee. I chose a surgeon that has an in-house coordinator because I felt like I didn't need a middle man, just someone to act as a liason between myself and the surgeon. While many say it doesn't affect the cost, I can't see how it doesn't. The external coordinators provide a service, they are for-profit entities, and from my own research at the time, the surgeons who used them tended to be more costly. I was fine with doing the research all on my own (it's something I love to do and do before I do *anything big, much less have surgery) and wanted to keep my costs as low as possible, so a surgeon with an in-house coordinator was the best option for me. A coordinator certainly isn't a necessity. The things that were most important to me (I wanted a hospital vs a clinic or outpatient surgery center, etc.) were the things that helped me make my final decision. After that, I narrowed it down and emailed several, then made my final decision. ~Kat

You handled it well! I tend to think the best of people and would have thought that she was trying to help, in her own, overstepping way. I haven't told many people I'm having surgery other than immediate family and my very closest girlfriends. I want to avoid the looky-loos keeping their eye on my plate!! Luckily, I transitioned to working from home a few months ago, so there's no one here during the day to notice what I eat but the puppy. But Puja had a good point. I have a dear friend who had a very severe heart attack a year ago, a type that is commonly referred to as a "widow maker". After his attack, he was in physical therapy for a while and completely revamped his diet. In an effort to support him, I would often go out of my way to make special low fat/low carb dishes for him when we had get-togethers that included food. He didn't always eat them and told me many times I didn't have to do so, but it made me feel like I was being supportive to at least provide the *option of him having food that was heart healthy. ~Kat

I am going to Mx because my employer's insurance excludes all weight loss surgery, no exceptions. The out-of-pocket cost where I live is prohibitive. I researched a LOT and decided on a surgeon, not the least expensive, not the most expensive but one I felt comfortable with. If my insurance covered it, I wouldn't have any issues getting it done here. There are a couple of Centers of Excellence within driving distance of me and I also live close to some amazing medical institutions that have tons of resources for bariatric patients. My PCP is extremely supportive and, while Mexico wasn't his first choice, he understands why it was my choice. He is happy to treat me post-op and if he runs across something he feels is out of his element, he checked with a collegue at a nearby bariatric practice who agreed to see me if I needed them. So, I trust the care I'd get here, and even more importantly, I wouldn't have to leave my child for several days, if I were to have it done here vs Mexico. It's just not to be for me and I choose to look at the positives of going away...I'll get a little more pampered, a mini-vacation of sorts, time alone with my significant other, and my sleeve.

Good luck!! I've never been able to manage to get up the gumption to shave my legs prior to surgery. I always joke about it and apologize to the surgical staff. They always assure me that the last thing they care about it my leg hair and if they're lying to me and making fun of me, at least I'm under the good meds when they do so. I'm sure you'll do great. ~Kat

I'm not trying to start (or re-start) anything, but I do get the concerns of information being shared as if it were unbiased or factual when it's anecdotal. I'll point out that when I was researching surgeons, it was a huge issue for me personally to see coordinators and other people who had a vested interest in the success of a particular doctor posting about why that doctor was better/ more skilled/better experience/whatever than another. I wish that doctors, coordinators, and other people who have a vested interest with a particular surgeon would state it in their profile or signature. Not that the information they have isn't necessarily great, it's just that if all they know is a surgeon they work with all the time and have a responsibility to, it's hard for me to think their perspective isn't colored by that. We all share anecdotal and experiential information, it's why most of us are here, but it's up to each individual to keep in mind that anything that is represented as factual rather than one person's experience should be researched and backed up with other sources. ~Kat

I am going with him because he trained under a surgeon that has a fantastic reputation. He's not been in practice on his own for all that long, I think, but he has a lot of experience under the other surgeon. It was the most affordable option with a surgeon and hospital I feel comfortable with. Also, it doesn't hurt that his in-house coordinator is someone I'm comfortable and have spent a long time communicating with. Finding an in-house coordinator was a priority for me, since I felt like it was not possible for a company that works with multiple surgeons to be totally unbiased in helping me choose a surgeon that was a good fit for me. I know tons of people (I'd guess the majority of them) that choose Mexico and go with different coordinator companies that love them and have amazing experiences. I just knew that wasn't the route for me. Here's his website: http://www.bajabariatrics.com/ It's not the best website I've ever seen, but since I've started researching surgeons in Mexico (about a year or so ago) it's been my experience that the surgeons who have their own websites vs a site that is owned and operated by a coordinator company is minimalistic, at best. It is exciting to have other people going at and around the same time as I am! I'm not worried or nervous at all, but my boyfriend, who will be traveling with me, is going to be a nervous wreck.

I am pretty sure, at this point, I am going with Dr. Illan.

Not set in stone yet, but I'm hoping to schedule, this week, surgery for 3/23. ~Kat

I was reading some older topics and saw a couple of people post about having the sleeve after having experienced back issues (rods and screws, etc.). I had a spinal fusion at L4-L5 approx 3 years ago. I have a question and a concern for anyone who has had chronic back issues then a sleeve... 1. Did you find some of your chronic issues with your back eased after losing the weight? My pain mgmt Dr swears it will be a fantastic benefit of having the sleeve surgery. 2. I'm worried about potentially having to go without medication for my back prior to surgery. I have a conference call with my surgeon later this week and will discuss it with him, but I'm worried that I'll be asked to stop my daily pain meds prior to surgery. I have no idea how I will be able to sit up, much less travel across the country, without pain meds. :/ Has anyone experienced taking pain meds regularly prior to surgery and been able to continue them up until the day of surgery? ~Kat

I have chronic, severe back pain for which I have had multiple surgeries and routinely see a pain management doctor. My pain mgmt Dr is supportive of my having wls, as any weight loss will only help my back. I will be going to Mexico, as my health insurance excluded coverage for all wls. I'm a little concerned as I've reached out to a couple of different coordinators for doctors and both commented I'd have to stop my pain meds at least 3 days prior to surgery. It's flat out not an option for me. Not having my meds has previously ended up in ER visits for me, the pain is nearly blinding and at about an 8-9 on a scale of 10. I can't imagine sitting on a plane and traveling for basically an entire day, with no meds. That type of travel hurts even when I AM on meds! I take an extremely common, generic, extended release version narcotic. I've had surgery while on this type of pain medication previously and had no complications from anesthesia or anything else. I'm curious if anyone else here has had the sleeve and had a chronic pain condition that required medication. If so, did you have to stop your pain meds prior to surgery? How did you manage? ~Kat

Congrats!! You look amazing!!

That's a good point; I hadn't really thought of absorption after surgery. Obviously, being ER, I can't crush, chew, or otherwise make it more digestable for my new stomach. I am at a middle of the road dose, so lowering the dose is certainly on option, as is changing to some other med. My dream would be to lose enough weight where my back isn't supporting so much of me and I can drastically reduce what I have to take to function. Even if it doesn't work out exactly that way, I have an amazing pain management doctor who has been treating me for years that is fantastic about trying different things to help me determine what works for my body. It'll just be more of that, after surgery! ~Kat

I've never had an issue before, with the small amount of international traveling I've done, with prescriptions. As long as it's clearly marked in a bottle prescribed to me, I don't see why not. In any case, when I DO travel, I travel with the minimum amount possible for the timeframe I'll be gone. It's one of those things where I'd just prefer to protect myself from potentially being without meds due to theft.

It's MS Contin ER. Basically, an extended release morphine...so no NSAID in it. I will add it to my list of questions to ask the Dr directly. I really can't imagine attempting this while being in out-of-control pain. I've had multiple laprascopic procedures and never had any issues. I actually have a fairly high pain tolerance and haven't needed pain meds for recovery from surgical procedures the last couple I've had. But I'm a little (okay, a lot) worried about even attempting this without meds for my back. Thanks, ya'll, for your responses! ~Kat

I've been reading for right around a year, too. Part of the reason I was/am leaning towards Dr. Kelly was because I've seen the BS that has occurred with coordinator/coordinator companies and I was hoping to avoid all of that. Plus, I feel better about using a coordinator that works directly for the doctor. I can't help but think that coordinators that work for multiples doctors will always have their own experiences and agendas that impact potential patients making a decision about which doctor to use. I've done a TON of research, at this point well over a year. A coordinator change won't be the deciding factor in which surgeon I ultimately go with. It's just nice to have the information vs changes with no explanation. ~Kat

I was so certain of my decision and now I want more information. At the end of the day, price will certainly be a factor but not the deciding factor. It does help to have ya'll to put some of the pieces of the puzzle together, though. It makes me feel better about the Dr's office just going through some changes rather than things being flaky. I, admittedly, have issues with change so the change of coordinators part way through the process is something I'll just have to talk myself through, if I do end up going with Dr. Kelly. ~Kat