jjinWA

BitterSweet: we will be close behind you, flying to San Diego Dec 7th with surgeries schedule Dec 8th. I wish you the best of luck! Swim Kieran: We live in Seattle WA area so flight is not too bad. 2 1/2 hrs non stop. We did book 1st class on return trip so that the girls will be as comfortable as possible. We go through life where situations arise that require difficult decisions. You are right though, every person that has made the decision for WLS has had to muster strength and guts to make such a decision. It is truly for our very health and well being. I am so excited for my daughters to finally get on the losers bench! MEXICO HERE WE COME!!!!!

The words of encouragement here are exactly why I stay glued to this site. Making the decision to go to Mexico for surgery was huge for me and my daughters. I love them dearly and would not want to put them in jeopardy. I believe that our choice of location and surgeon is a sound decision based on research and accreditation/credentials awarded to the Bariatric center and surgeon. Yes, I had surgery here in the US because I had a more tolerant and accommodating Ins. plan that sees WLS as a positive step towards preventative measures. My daughters were not so lucky. :-(. Fine, it is what it is. We moved on to plan B. The feedback provided by the hundreds of posters who have gone to Mexico before us help lead the way for those of us who will follow behind them. The arrogance of the doctors here in the US should not be a surprise to me or anyone else. I am going to look for a PCP here that is 1. Nurse Practioner, 2. Woman, 3. Nonwhite! I think with that combination I should be able to find a care provider that is competent, caring, compassionate and into diversity! I will leave the white male doctors out of my search in the future! Hehee. Kindle, you are correct. I know the stigmas behind the WLS are huge and add Mexico to the equation and the shock factor goes even higher. I will have the ability to do an honest compare between the procedures, facilities, and care plan between WLS here in the US and there in Mexico. Having had the surgery myself here (June 17 2014) and being with my daughters in Mexico when they have their Sleeve surgeries in Mexico in Dec. I have not shared my WLS journey at this point, but to help pay it forward I WILL do as you have suggested here and in other posts. I will tell anyone and everyone who is genuinely interested about our experiances. If it makes even one person more comfortable with their decision to have the surgery in Mexico then it will be worth the insufferable negative responses from those that are ignorant in the matter. My doctor here in the US is F.A.C.S certified and the surgery was performed in a Center of Excellence facility. The doctor we chose in Mexico (dr. Arial Ortiz) is also certified F.A.C.S and OCC facility is also accredited Center of Excellance. If those credentials and accreditations were good enough for me here in the US to have my surgery, they are good enough for my daughters to have the surgery in Mexico! Thank you to all the Mexico WLS posters! Your important data and feedback help so many others to see another opportunity for a second option when our first open is denied by insurance companies!

Ahhhh, an air gap. Can't imagine getting there but would love to dream that I could. Right now my thighs rub together and wear out the inside seams of my jeans! Note the air gap in this picture! Hehee.

He would not even accept them as a patient if they went to Mexico.

But for those that cannot pay the fees here in US.... Well no help there.

We have nonprofit hospitals where no one can be turned away. We have court appointed attorneys for those that cannot pay.

Sometimes, as I believe is the case with many of us here on this site, we have no choice but to do our surgeries in Mexico because of the cost constraints. Perfect world would allow us to have the perfect surgery by the perfect dr. in the perfect location. But the world is not perfect and many times not even fair. So we make the best of the situation and move on. Making the decision to have surgery in Mexico is not an easy one to make. Unbiased surgeons in the US willing to assist in the followup care would help to alleviate some of the worry. I have to wonder if such attitude would be the same if it were not Mexico. I do believe greed and prejudice comes into play here. You call WLS elective.... I call it a life saver.

I wonder what happens to any person who has had surgery in another location, say overseas or in another state, and is relocated do to a job change, etc. does that mean they have to return to the surgeon wherever it was performed? That is ridiculous assumption. If a dentist made dentures for a patient and there needed to be an adjustment, would another dentist refuse to work on the dentures because he would not want to be responsible or liable for the ill fitting dentures? If a woman delivered her baby by another doctor because she was out of town and the baby came early, would her OBGYN tell her that he can no longer be her doctor because he didn't deliver the baby? I agree with Bittersweet. We are a very global society and people move about all the time. The excuse about liability is lame. I did not ask my surgeon (dr. Houseworth) to be liable for the surgery performed by another surgeon. Why would I even expect that? I simply wanted him to do the follow up such as bloodwork and eventually the 6 month barium swallow if deemed necessary. How in heavens does that put him in a risky position? Here is my reasoning why he declined. There is no real money in it for him. The surgery is where the big bucks are. He is much to busy to bother with the small stuff. He was more then happy to take my daughter's money while we were going through all the pretesting because he thought the final event would be the ultimate expensive surgery. Well, since that is not going to happen, we can just p... Off! We will continue with the planned surgery in Mexico and we will do the followup bloodwork etc with a PCP in the area. As noted in this thread, we will not explain where the surgery was performed but will simply ask for the orders to be placed for the required bloodwork. Any immediate complications, if they arise, will be addressed via urgent care or ER. If not urgent we will head back to Mexico and revisit Dr. Ortiz. The flight is cheaper then the dr visit here in the US! Greed is the name that comes to mind here... And prejudice. But it is what it is.

I will contact OCC and see if they can recommend a dr. here in the US for follow up. We are not very far via plane trip, we can fly down to Mexico for follow up work if more serious issue occur. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

I will contact OCC and get a list of follow up instructions. Good advice here everyone. Thanks for your feedback. I will put my trust in God as I always have and will put good vibes out there in the universe. It will all work out!

Yes, ER is the only option that we have at this point. So sad we have to resort to that.

One daughter has been denied twice. The other specifically excludes WLS. No luck for either of them unfortunately.

Amazing you found a doctor that would do your follow up work and accept you as a patient after you returned from surgery in Mexico. My daughters live in the Seattle/Tacoma Washington state area and have received one refusal after another, with all the doctors saying they will not accept them as patients if they have surgery in Mexico. Even my own surgeon , who performed the sleeve surgery on me, turned me down today when I asked him to take them as patients! I need help finding a doctor in this area. I am at a loss how to find one!

I had sleeve surgery in the US at the Franciscan Weight Management System here in Federal Way, Washington, by Dr. Houseworth. I have not seen him since the day of surgery, as my follow up appts have been with his Nurse Practitioner. I am 4 months out and have see her twice. My daughter did all the prep testing with Dr. Houseworth also, but even though the insurance company paid for all the testing, they ultimately refused her WLS. So after spending several thousand in pretesting, she is now left with only one option.... To go to Mexico. We selected dr. Ariel Ortiz with FACS credentials,through OCC, which is a Center of Excelleance. Both distinctions that are also assigned to Dr. Houseworth. I asked the NP today if she would be willing to do the followup work for my daughter when she returned from surgery. She discussed with dr. Houseworth and he declined to keep her as a patient if she had her surgery in Mexico, even though she has done all the pretesting with him. REALLY???? I don't get it. Is she just supposed to forgo having the surgery because the insurance declined coverage? She cannot even get approved for a loan for $28,000 that it would cost her to have the surgery here in the US. What option does she have if she does not go to Mexico? I am at a loss as to why the drs refuse to see patients after having surgery in Mexico. She has been refused service by Dr. Holzclaw, my PCP, also. Is this just a Washington state issue? Does anyone know of a dr in the Seattle/Tacoma are that will accept my daughters as patients after they return from Mexico? I am so frustrated and ticked off!

I compared by surgeon here in the US who performed the sleeve for me, to the surgeons in Mexico. Both my daughters will be headed to Mexico in Dec. My surgery was performed in a Center of Excellence ( not a hospital). My surgeon was FACS certified. I stayed in "hospital" one night. Based on this comparison I believe that Dr. A. Ortiz follows this same procedure and has the same accreditation. I am comfortable with the choice we made for my daughters. I agree with other comments however. There are several really good surgeons in Mexico and you have to go with your best choice based on your own research and on your own comfort level.

. I second that!

I used my fitbit to monitor my steps. My first goal was to get in 2000 steps each day. Right after surgery I accomplished reaching that goal by walking several short distances each day. I increased my steps by 2000 each week. Again, reached those goals by walking several times each day. By 2 months out I was getting in a total of 10,000 steps, which equates to about 4 1/2 miles. Today, 4 months out, I am getting in ave of 22,000 -25,000 steps which is 9 -11 miles. I accomplish this by talking my walk in the morning and then again in the evening. Total of about 2 1/2 to 3 hrs each day.

I take one dose of Benefiber, with my first drink of the day, usually Crystal Lite. So far that has been adequate but directions on the bottle indicates two doses can be had each day.

There is no deception to this. It is simply my own private business and I will share with whom I choose and will exclude the facts from those I choose. My life... My choice.

Glad your coworkers were supportive. For others, clients and coworkers may not be so supportive. Each individual case is different. So many factors bear weight on the decision to share or not to share. It really should be left up to each individual how and if they chose to share their own personal journey. I wonder how many men discuss their Viagra scripts. :-). As I see it WLS is a very private subject and one I will share only as I deem necessary and only if I think the sharing of such info would be considered helpful.

Uh, is there anything out there that works better then my fitness pal? I love that app and would be lost without it. Such a great app!

It's funny how women will be bolder then men in their comments about my obvious weight loss and change in appearance. 52 lbs does show! I had two comments this week from men that made me smile. First male friend,that I had not seen in months, said "Wow you look great." Of course no mention of weight loss. I know he could see the loss, but was too politically correct to say it verbally. Second male acquaintance mentioned that I looked great and loved my new haircut. I have had a new do lately. I smiled and thanked him and said yes, the new haircut did wonders, but the 52 pound weight loss really helped! He said I knew there was something different. You look great! But then you were always beautiful. What a sweetie. Women will be much more direct and outspoken. Like "you have lost a TON of weight!" Ha! Hmmmm a ton, eh? Didn't realize I was THAT heavy...

I never was one to drink coffee back, but do love my mochas. I have cut way back on those since surgery. Used to be venti size now order tall (starbucks). So today here is my normal drink please "tall, decaf, nonfat mocha, no whip, no foam, 1 pump chocolate." The guy behind the counter always teases with me. When he calls out my name when ready, he says with a smile... " here's your cuppa nothin!"

I love jay Robb piña colada protein powder. Mix it in smoothie with frozen tropical fruits and pineapple juice. So good!