wannabaloser

I am having surgery on March 9 with Dr. Fernando Garcia. I am going to pay $5200 (I have to pay $500 extra for a high BMI). Airfare for my husband and I is $600. I had to put down a $500 deposit to hold my date. I am so excited but so nervous. It felt like the date would never get here and now it feels like it is coming too quick!

I hadn't thought about that but that makes sense. I already know I can get across with no problem and it's not like they can keep us forever.

I am going with Dr. Fernando Garcia. I decided on him because he had such good reviews from people on here. I have not found one negative comment about him. I also really like his coordinator, Alma. She is so nice and helpful. I also liked the idea that his deposit was refundable. I am using my tax return for the surgery and I was worried I would not get it in time for my date. Alma assured me that I could change my date with no problem and cancel it if need be and get my money back.

My husband and I went into Piedra Negras 2 years ago with our 3 kids. We were only there about 4 hours. We were close so we just went in to see what it was like. When we came back out we had NO idea you were required to have a passport now. None of the 5 of us did. We spent probably an extra 10 minutes at the crossing than the othe cars. Most of that was them telling us why we needed a passport now. I know stuff has gotten stricter since then but I think since we will be with one of the medical vans that cross daily it won't be as big of a problem if we were crossing along in our personal cars.

We may wind up without a birth certificate as well. My surgery date got moved up to March 9 and I can't even order mine until next Friday when my birth certificate gets here. I called my coordinator and she promises me it is fine as long as we have an ID and birth certificate. She says they have patients on a daily basis cross back with just that. I would not worry that much about it. We can get into Mexico with no problem so at least we will have the surgery complete if they won't let us back.

Oh that is so cool!! We should get together! I am going March 9 so we are really close on dates. I would love to have support from someone else going through this. Do you have kids? I have a 14 year old daughter, 13 year old son, and 4 year old son.

My husband and I are going to be in Tijuana for my surgery from March 8-13. Does anyone have any suggestions on places to see or things to do while we are there? I know I won't be up for much but would like to do something. We have 3 kids so it is not often we get away for a week alone. I also hate to make my husband just sit around in the hospital or hotel when he is taking his whole vacation for this. Please send me ideas and let me know what you did while you were there!

I live in Cypress. Its on the West side of Houston.

Hey Jesser, I looked at your profile and saw we live about 1.5 hours away from each other. I am also having surgery on March 9. We could be sleeve buddies and help each other out! If you went with Dr. Fernando Garcia we could even have our surgeries together. That would be awesome to have someone so close to talk to and maybe even meet.

Another reason that some Doctors are more than others is that the cost of living where they work is more than in another place such as Tijuana. Also Tijuana Doctors are cheaper because there is more competition. Some of the more expensive Doctors are in towns with very little, if any, competition. Also they may be in resort towns where the cost is very high to even fly. Sometimes there are other factors that contribute to the cost other than experience. You should consider this also. If you are comfortable with a cheaper Doctor don't rule them out because they are cheap. It may be one of those reasons. I am going with Dr. Garcia and I am just as comfortable if not more comfortable with him than with the more expensive Doctors.

Have you thought about going to Mexico? I am paying $4700 for the surgery and $600 for plane tickets for me and my husband. I know it is a scary thought to leave the country but it is just right over the border and the Doctors in Mexico have done thousands of surgeries compared to the hundreds American Doctors have done.

My tax return is coming earlier than expected so I moved my date up to March 9 with Dr. Garcia. I am getting so nervous.

My fourteen year old daughter thought the same thing!!!

Lol, you sound like me. I am scheduled March 23 with Dr. Fernando Garcia and I already have lists coming out the wazoo. My husband said he is scared I won't wake up in the mornings if I didn't put it on a list. I am alsdo worried about the plane. This is only my secoind flight.My husband has flown all over for work so at least he knows what to do. I was originally going to go alone but I just got too nervous about flying alone. I wouldn't even know where to take or pick up my luggage. Now I am just worried about the seatbelts fitting. Oh well if I was not worried about something I would be worrying about why I wasn't worried.

I am sorry, I was wrong about the title of that thread. Here is the link to it. Read it and if you think it will help convince your husband let him read it. www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/48360-i-cant-wait-to-not-have-to/

There is a thread on here titled "what I won't miss about being overweight". I think that thread sums obesity up great. It is everyone just talking about the small things they are excited about when they lose weight. Its stuff normal people wouldn't even notice. You should search for that thread and show it to your husband. My husband is basically supportive but he was still nervous about the surgery. I showed him that thread and now he gets it. It was alot of stuff I could not bring myself to express because they were embarrassing things to talk about.

I have only told my husband and my mom about my surgery for this reason. I can't wait to hear all the rumors about why I am losing so much weight all of a sudden. I would imagine the two biggest rumors will be that I became either bulimic or I am on drugs. No one wants to think you could be doing something right with your life. They want to expect the worst so they feel superior.

Not that I know of. I just moved to this area and only decided to have surgery about 2 weeks ago so I don't know much about support groups. If you find one please let me know. Thanks!!

Sorry about the typos. I am on a tablet. I can reschedule if needed.

I am going with Dr. Fernando Garcia with Read4aChange. I researched and found he had the best reviews. I chose R4aC because of Alma. She is so nice and helpful. She set up my appoinment for March 23 and told me to worry about the deposit later. She said she wanted me to get the date I wanted and they have alot if people scheduling due to income tax time. She also said I can rescheit uf needed. Also the $500 deposit is refundable if something were to happen and most companies don't offer that.

I have never smoked so I am not the best help on this question. I can say my grandmother smoked 2-3 packs a day for 50 years. She got very sick from COPD and had to spend 2 weeks in the hospital. When she came home she never smoked again. She also made her home non-smoking which I am sure helped alot. If she can stop I know you can!! Also I have heard people have really good results from a medicine called Chantix. You should ask your Dr. about that also. Good luck with this and your weight loss.

I have insurance like you but I am going to Mexico anyways. My main reason is that after I pay my deductible and copays I will come out cheaper going to Mexico. Another reason is that I want the surgery now, not in 6-12 months. Also it doesn't hurt that my husband and I will get a mini vacation while our kids are at my moms for the week.

I tried to look him up because I heard of other people using him but I couldn't find any info on him. Good Luck! IIt will be exciting to have someone doing surgery the same day as me.

I agree that it was meant to be. I started out thinking I was going to get the lap band as well. Luckily while I was doing research I ran across this website. I saw all the people who had to have their band removed due to complications. I also saw how great people did with their sleeve with few problems. I was also glad I didn't have to worry about fills and stuff like that. I think the band is good for some people but just not for me, especially not with my high bmi.

I am from Houstand I am self pasy also. I am going to Mexico to have my surgery. With surgery and 2 airplane tickets I am paying $5200. I am using Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana. Have you considered that? I just started the process and I already have a date for March 23.