Waitingame

So funny, right before I went into surgery I was like, oh wait, what is and he smiled real big and said 36. He read my mind lol ( or most likely that's a really common preop question lol).

My doctor Lopez uses a size 32 Bougie. For those of you that has this 32 Bougie. What problems do you have. I have heard many comments on sizes of Bougie's.

Flying out May the 7th also. Surgery on the 8th. Everytime I get scared, I think about staying in this body and how bad I am going to continue feeling with being on 2x blood pressure medicine instead of one. As I get older, I see my body go south on me. I have a low BMI but every year I put on that much more weight. I find myself looking in the closet at the clothes that I should be wearing. No more excuses. I am bound to TJ when my turn comes up. Trust me that no one is as scared as I am.
Lets do this together Cerenatee!

So you have 16 days of diet? Mine is May the 8th. Started my pre op on the 25th.

Hi, I just heard from Hope who has her surgery yesterday with Dr. Lopez. She's raving about him, the hospital, and the hotel.
She said Dr. Lopez is great. He's been to see her twice since the surgery. She said she had 3 surgeons in the operating room - Dr. Lopez, Dr. Ortiz, and some woman.
She said the nurses are great - very friendly and attentive. She said you couldn't get the kind of service she's receiving in the US. Her only concern was the nurses didn't always wear their gloves. She said be sure to remind them.
She said Abraham, our coordinator, is wonderful. She went by herself - I'm going by myself also - and she said he stayed with her and kept her company. The day everybody got there he rounded them up and took them sight-seeing and to dinner. It was only broth but it was good.
She said some woman was bragging about Dr. Kelly the morning of her surgery and it finally got on her last nerve. Dr. Lopez has never lost a patient and his complication rate is at .025%. He's cautious and he's thorough. Dr. Kelly has lost 2 patients, he's lost his surgery privileges at 3 hospitals, and he's on drugs. Apparently the other lady didn't know about all that and freaked out when she was told. Why people don't do their research I'll never know. I RESEARCH EVERY FREAKIING THING. I checked every license, called every hospital (including the one in Chicago where he interned), checked out every association, read almost every article he wrote - and only after all that did I go by everybody's experience. Experience is great but since the dead can't complain, you need to look at more than experience.
Anyway, I hope this helps. Hope was FREAKING THE FREAK OUT before she left. And now she's like, what was the big deal? I was such a drama queen. You can't get a better review than that.

I've posted this before - but it's so relevant to us ... You can do it !!

I will now ad my two cents worth in also because on May the 8th, I will be having surgery with the same doctors, cordinator (Janese) and company A Lighter ME. Does this concern me? You bet it does. I have worked in hospitals for years in ICU. I believe this lady had every right to be concerned about her health and well being.
I would have been very upset and scared. As a patient, you are in another world. You are by yourself and most of us have no ideal what comes next other than reading people's experiences good or bad. It is hard enough researching and endless reading to make sure that you have chosen the right company and doctor. This is our life that we are putting into another's hands. This is a very serious surgery not a pedicure as someone stated.
I was going through another company at first but after talking to Janese, changed my mind because of trusting that doctor Lopez was best suited for my surgery. I researched his credentials and due to his experience,I felt that I would be more comfortable with him. I canceled my appointment with no problems with a full refund in order to go with what I feel, is the best choice.
I totally agree with this patient about her concerns. So far my experience with Janese has been a good one. She always gets back to me promptly . I would feel better knowing that, if I have problem as serious as that. I would be able to contact the person that I corresponded with from the beginning. The person, meaning the cordinator that I am trusting with my life. I understand that we do not know our coordinators personally, how ever, I expect my cordinator to treat us all like they would want to be treated when going to a country that you are hearing bad reviews about constantly.
We as patients have to be concerned about issues like crossing the border to start with. Concerns about the doctors we put our life in the hands of. Is the hospital equipped enough to take care of complications. Can our Mexican nurses understand us when we tell them how bad we hurt or what is going on with our body. If we start bleeding profusely. So many issues here.
I feel so bad for that lady. I cannot imagine how she felt. As far as the Mexican cordinator goes, she only met him for a short period of time. She did not have time to build a rapport with him like she did with Janese over a period of months. My suggestion to help keep this companies good standards would be to have another cordinator to handle their case load when not available and to stay in contact with that patient until they arrive safely at home.
As I stated, my experience has been very good with Janese. She has been on top of any questions or needs that I might have. I have been talking with her for about three weeks. I have sent in my questionnaires and my deposit. I am looking forward to the rest of my journey with this company. I am a firm believer about all on this sight should talk about their experience good or bad. We are here to help support each other. We are here to make sure that everyone has a good experience by telling our story. I thank this lady with all my heart for sharing her story. For me, I pray to have an successful journey to a life of freedom from aches and pains from being over weight. Thanks to all of you for voiceing your opinion and stories. It has helped ease my worries of this surgery.

May the 8th for me with Dr. Lopez TJ Mexico

The best one yet. Thank you for telling your story. This should help a lot of people who are searching feel better about having surgery in Mexico.

C'mon. Everyone has a right to their opinion but you came in here to instigate and cause drama. You're not adding anything helpful to this thread. You're taking away from it. Not cool.
Amanda Rae

RCT - First of all, Mexico is NOT a third world country. You are obviously ignorant on the options in Mexico and making judgements. We don't need people to bring those of us down that are struggling with Obesity and are looking for ways to make our life better and regain our health and happiness. We are here to encourage, support and inform. And lastly the correct form of the verb is RUN. You would have RUN out of there not ran.

Sad because we all have the same goal. We are here to help each other. We are here to ease the pain of worry. Support is something that I don't take for granted. I am very thankful for the people on this sight for their understanding and being there for me when I need them the most.
I believe that when someone goes through WLS and they have a good experience. They are forever thankful and loyal to the ones who helped get them there. I love to see people praise their doctor, coordinator and company for doing a good job.
If you are unhappy, I believe you should speak out. Everyone on here has that right. Should have that right without being judged. Good or bad we all need to know what each others experience was like for them. That's how we learn to make the decision of who we want to trust with our life. At first I was so confused about who to use for my doctor. I did research and still changed my mind. This forum really helped me get through a lot of fears that I had. People on here wants to support you. I am forever thankful.

YIKES... That was supposed to be DON'T go on what one peron says

That is great news Leslie01. My experience has been a good one thus far with Janese. I have yet to meet Abraham but am looking forward to meeting him. Hopefully mine and everyone else's experience will be a great one. Things happen good and bad and cannot be good all the time. This is why we have these forums. We can tell our story. Good luck with a fast recovery and hope you have a successful weight loss and a happy beginning to a new life. Thanks for your post. This company and Janese needs people to tell about their good experiences. You made a positive impression on me. I am sure on others as well.

Thank you, I am looking forward to seeing your success. It is amazing the transformation and freedom this surgery makes.
From this day on you will bloom. Healthy and gorgeous is all anyone can ask for. Not to mention all the compliments you'll get.
I am from Nashville Tn. but now living in a small town in east TN called Spring City. I have been to Birmingham several times. Maybe we can all get together sometime. This is going to be so exciting. I am thankful to be able to have this surgery. Thanks to Mexico and the coordinators that work so hard to make our dreams come true.

Sorry, you are going through a hard time Gettinsleeved. So happy to hear that you had a good experience. This company A Lighter Me must be doing a great job. From my understanding they have been in business for 10 years. I feel bad for this lady. There must have been an over sight there. Sometimes things happen. It sounds like she is now happy with her care and is ready to move on.
I am sure that these people mean well. It's just a scary journey for us all to go through with a good ending.
I hope your recovery is fast with no complications. Keep all of us posted and show lots of pictures throughout your journey. This helps us people who have not yet been sleeved have something to look forward too.

That is great news Leslie01. My experience has been a good one thus far with Janese. I have yet to meet Abraham but am looking forward to meeting him. Hopefully mine and everyone else's experience will be a great one. Things happen good and bad and cannot be good all the time. This is why we have these forums. We can tell our story. Good luck with a fast recovery and hope you have a successful weight loss and a happy beginning to a new life. Thanks for your post. This company and Janese needs people to tell about their good experiences. You made a positive impression on me. I am sure on others as well.

This surprises me. I am here now and the experience with Janese and Abraham has been nothing short of perfect. In fact my drain was taken out after my shower today by Jessica the nurse. She then gave me gauze to change today once arrived at the Marriott. Did you not get your package to take??? All gauze and tape in there. Further dr Ortiz just left my room. He came to the hotel!!!! He was checking on all his patients to day. I would recommend lighter me. I have heard horror stories from OCC and meet 5 people with their drains still in today. They go back tmr to get them out! Of course each person has a different story. Count on me to giving a glowing reference. Far exceeded my thoughts.

I think if you were concerned about this thread being helpful to someone you would of not attacked the OP and tried to make her sound like a ill informed whiner...
People will continue to go to your doctor,don't worry.
But as an employee they (you?) should take the less than stellar performance of these people and try to improve it. Instead of attacking the client.
I understand that it's a move them in move them out business and once they dump these people off its no longer their worry.
But you can not discredit every person with an issue and not take some responsibility.
To the coordinators;
These people are more than just your "bread and butter"
They have the right to speak up if something's not right. And you have the responsibility to make changes to less excellent care!
It's a major surgery that comes with risks not a damn botched pedicure.

I talked to Ronda this afternoon, and she said they are having some issues with the website right now regarding one of the web masters. My husband does computer work, and all of it seemed very plausible and I was glad she took the initiative to call. I also did all of my research from several different sites. Yes, the price was one of the things that I took into consideration, i.e. was he TOO cheap, but after all of the positive things I read, I did research into his background as well. I also researched his license, his death rate (0 btw), his complication rate (.05%), and I talked to many people who had done the surgery with him. Ultimately, the choice for me was his price point, he has done more than 3,000 sleeves, he does 3 leak tests (many others I researched only did one or two), and the fact that he operates in a full hospital which has a complete trauma center and blood bank. I also have found both Ronda and Janese, at least for me, to be very attentive to my needs. They have both been very responsive and in my opinion, caring. I have obviously not been sleeved yet, but my experience thus far with ALighterMe could not be a better one. Again, this is only my opinion, but I feel great about my choice, and am excited about what is in store for me!

No, it did not include airfare That was the cost of all tests, the surgery, hospital and hotel stay and on ground transportation.
As for the language, I did go to another country It was something I was willing to do. And Dr. Lopez had, (at least with me during our consults) had
the interpreter present but he never actually used the interpreter. He spoke to me in english. If he faltered on an english word I think the interpreter would have piped in. I speak spanish but I didn't tell anyone that... sometimes you learn more by being quiet and just listening :ph34r: