BeautyVGSJourney

yeah that is also my main concern. I have been doing some research in the subject about best ways of preveting them, and it seems to definetly be compression stockings and lots of walking. I will probably start a youtube video soon, so I will try to find some scientific research to back up all my findings

Definitely understand! Keep us posted!

You are correct Debly there are always two sides. I know Dr. Kelly is a good surgeon because even Trish says so, there are just things that make the drama continue and is only making matters worse. In any case don't worry about the other staff and continue to be excited about your decision, this is a very personal journey for everyone and is why we should all decide on our own. Do you have a date yet? Good luck!

That is awesome ladies I am flying out of DFW on the 10th too. My surgery is the same day with Dr. Dias De Leon. Anyone staying at the Lucerna? I live in Fort Worth and definetly would be in other local sleevers!

You are correct DDFin, in Spanish they say "por la plata baila el mono" for money the monkey dances. He was at least well trained by her, I agree not cool.

Hey everyone, For those of you who had surgery with dr. Ponce de leon, or are considering him or just plainly interested, I just came across this video, its pretty cool. http://www.globalnews.ca/video/weight+times/video.html?v=2191228745#video

ok you posted it a couple of days ago but I just saw it today! LOL

Its interesting that you had this happen to you and posted today because just this morning I was having a conversation with two Physician Assistats and one Medical doctor about it, I am a med student (PA to be exact)..... So it went like this, we were doing blood pressure, height, weight and BMI checks (as well as other stuff) at a health fair. Someone mentioned a patient that she recetly had who was 33 and had a BMI of 54, so one of my profesors said something to the effect that for those patients she really thought they just had to have surgery. Later another profesor came and she is bigger than me, and I asked her what she thought of the gastric sleeve, her answer was that she did not believe in those things because she saw too many patients with too many problems after having it (keep in mind that after more questions she admitted she knew little about the sleeve and she also has served mostly underrepresented populations who actually already lack health care), so I realized she would not be someone even willing to honestly talk about it so I left it at that. I later talked to the other PA and doctor (the one that had mentioned surgery earlier), they admited that they knew very little about the sleeve, but that there comes a time when people really needed surgery to succed at weight loss. After talking to them I realized what their apprehancion with it being done to someone with no immediate health problems, that they may not learn to eat (and or threat other underlying problems and take on alcohol or drugs when they cannot eat to deal with them) and might not be ready for a life change that it entails. Many doctors, PAs, NPs and other health care providers just don't kow the science behind it but see the patients who came to them because of gaining weight and other complications after the surgeries, not realizing that the majority of that was caused by the patient him/herself not the procedure (yes bypass has a lot of malnutrition but even that one is very successful with limited risk for patients who follow all directions). Has patients we need to keep in mind that this is a last resort surgery, I like many of you have a lower BMI (I actually lost a little weight recently I just found out and my current BMI is 35) but I have tried every diet in the book and those not in a book too! and nothing has done it! I confided in one of my teachers today and told her that I was having it done and why and after my explanation based on scientific evidence (I told her I have done a great deal of research and shared some with her before telling her I was doing it) she said she understood. Perhaps the best thing you can do is educate your doctor, and let him/her know that you have done your research (but back it up with information you have found) and let him/her know that you know it will take a great deal of effort from you to stay healthy (eat the Protein, Water, Vitamins, exercise and the like for the rest of our lives!) but that you just need help getting there. I believe if more clinitians knew more about it they would be more supportive. There are those (like I found out today) that don't believe in the surgery at all and will not listen even when research is presented to them, but your doctor does not appear to be one of them; just genuinely concerned. Make sure you are really ready for this change and if your answer is yes then you will know what to do! Good luck!

Lol mommyinneed I thought about that too. I decided to go with INT too because of that mostly. I also hear they have more experienced nurses and is very close to the hotel Lucerna.

yeah too bad I won't get to see you :-( I wish mine was earlier but have school until then! Keep me posted! I am planning on starting a youtube journal in the next couple of weeks.

Protonix uses the same mechanism of action as Nexium and Prilosec (proton pump inhibitors), in other words they slow acid production in the stomach. Some medications and other things can make them work less well (simple things such as some antibiotics), so if you are taking any meds make sure you check with your doctor.

Its what my research has told me too, but I don't know first hand yet.

Congratulations SexySlim, and good luck with your new life!

Good luck! my insurance will not cover anything either, but after much research I decided to go to Mexico with dr. Ponce de leon, the whole thing will be less than ~$6,000 and he is a great surgeon, has more experience than most of the ones here in the USA. There are many other Mexican doctors (and from other parts of the world) who have much more experience because both the bypass and sleeve were very slow in being approved in the USA. My doctor actually did a free surgery for someone in canada, this show it and part of the surgery. http://www.globalnews.ca/video/weight+times/video.html?v=2191228745#video

Congratulations! I am glad you are doing so well! Take care.

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!

Just wanted to update this post, I am no longer going with Dr. Kelly. I am going May 10 with Dr. Ponce De Leon, anyone else?

Check your inbox!

Dr Ponce de Leon taught many surgeons in Mexico about the sleeve including Dr. Alm, he also performed Alm gastric surgery for what I heard.

It's really hard to get any feed back on Dr. ponce de Leon. I know he has had many patients, yet not many speak up I am thinking of going with him May 10. Thanks for the info, what hospital where you referring to"? I have the option of having it at Florence where dr Kelly does his surgeries also or at INT.

I did sue, for me this all started with a phone call a few days ago. I will be happy to elaborate in private message I do not want to add to the drama since I still believe Dr. Kelly is a good surgeon.

yeah I liked the video part too, my daugther got very excited to that (she is a science geek like me). I hope we get some responses from some of his patients!

I heard that a few days ago, but when I talked to Ana on the phone a couple of days ago she told me it was only Dr. Kellys account that was hacked not the other one, she said to keep using the wls- one, that is where I emailed her and got no response. I guess I am just tired of all of the drama, if is not one thing is another.

I am glad you all got some emails back, I have not. I really have tried giving Dr. Kelly the benefit of the doubt but I hate not hearing back from them. Good luck with your surgeries!

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!