Travelmego

It feels like forever doesn't it? And yet, the time will probably fly by and I won't be prepared.

Haha SnoHo. They only approve the bypass anyway and I want the sleeve. So even if they did approve the bypass (which I heard they are turning down most), I would still go to Mexico to get the sleeve. I called and found out that most of the tests don't require a pre approval but the ultrasound of the liver does.I don't know if they would approve it with the bariatric part so why bother taking the chance. So, I will get that referral to state whatever it has to do with diabetes rather than the surgery. It's true anyway. Thanks for the heads-up!

Thank you So, the 'Great Nose Debate 2014' comes to a rest without a really satisfactory conclusion (and yet may live again another day!). However, we have more awareness and hopefully everyone makes sure to ask their coordinators if the doctors and staff all cover their mouths and noses. That way, if they are not, they will probably start doing so because it is a new demand from the Medical Tourism community.

I am already mourning food a little and I haven't even gotten it done yet. I feel for you. I think addressing the loneliness issue would be helpful since you say that is a trigger. Can you get out of the house for a bit? Just a change of scenery might help. Or you can hang out with people on here. Maybe play a game? We should put together a spades tournament or something ha.

Congratulations! This will be so helpful for so many people. I wish I was in a larger city so I could attend or lead one. Maybe when I move next year. In the meantime, I can surely hand out fliers and help spread the word.

Thanks for this. I especially like the daily schedule suggestions.

Hi life. After a lot of research I picked Dr. Illan. I made a post with my reasons why. Thank you for your suggestions. I partially agree with your point about art and artists - except making a painting isn't life or death. I get your point though and I did think of that. As for the covering of the nose....as it stands I asked Dr. Illan's coordinator and he said they do and I saw a picture (not a video) where everyone is covered. I didn't see a video of him at all. I am going to ask him when I talk to him via skype just to hear it from the horses mouth.

@@CandyPants81 In Aug. When is yours again? You're in July right? @@rhw94123 HAHA Fixed it. His name is pronounced Iyyan (as you know) and I have it stuck in my head now. My fingers just seem to type it from their own will.

DID I WIN YET?! P.S. I would totally send Alex a dollar. In fact, I am buying his book cuz I heard it is great.

After much research, I picked a surgeon and am booked! Thank you everyone who helped me out. A special shout out to zmdh39 who wrote volumes educating me about how to pick a surgeon. There were 3 surgeons I was seriously considering. Any one of them would have been acceptable to me. I also liked every coordinator I spoke with. Each of us has a 'click factor' that just makes you feel a surgeon is right for you. For me, that 'click factor' was Dr. Illan. Here is why: > He graduated in the top of his class with honors. The university he went to is widely regarded as the leading university in the spanish speaking world including Spain and Portugal. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico) (Yes, I am using wikipedia as a source but I saw it other places too). > He is the Chief of Emergency/Trauma surgery at a large hospital: https://www.facebook.com/pages/IMSS-Hospital-General-Regional-No1/164876160265331 He works at the ER hospital M-F from 7 to 2 pm. As chief, he does the hard stuff like gunshots etc. On days he has 3 bariatric surgeries booked, he has someone cover him at the ER hospital and does not go in. He only does 3 or 4 bariatric surgeries max a day. In other words, he is not exhausted nor doing an assembly line. (A side note: There are a lot of mentions in various places of him being an 'assistant' to Dr. Ramos Kelly. Dr. Ramos has lost privileges from several hospitals for various rumored reasons. I asked about this association. Dr. Illan wasn't an 'assistant' like he was learning from Dr. Kelly. Since Dr.Illan is also a trauma/ER surgeon, the other bariatric surgeons like having him with them - it makes things that much safer in their own operating rooms So he has assisted many surgeons around Tijuana). > He has 2 other surgeons in the room assisting him (so a total of 3 surgeons), plus 2 scrub nurses and a technician. He does the surgery himself - no ghost surgeons or students. > He closes with 3 levels. 1. He does the 3 staple on each side thing using Johnson and Johnson with covidian staples (all surgeons I have researched do this). 2. He then sews a line from top to bottom behind the staple line (many do this but some just do the junctures where the staple cartridges were reloaded, and some don't at all). 3. Then he coats the staples with bio -glue (very few do this extra step). He closes the outside incisions with sutures on the inside and glue on the outside. > He does 3 leak tests (2 during surgery and 1 the day you check out of the hospital). > Complication rate 1 in 500, leak rate 0 and infection rate 0. Talked with a patient who was standing with Omar getting ready to return to the USA where she works as a surgical scrub nurse. She said his sterile technique was excellent, and the OR has excellent technology. She said that the OR was, quite frankly, better than the OR she works out of in the USA. > He tells you in advance of any extra pricing like hernia repair that might be needed. > His coordinator, Omar, gets rave reviews as being very helpful and taking people around to shop and sight see etc. That's a bonus for my travel companion so she won't be bored, nor wandering around Tijuana on her own. Omar is well known for going waaaay above what many expect from their coordinator. Tip: Just so you know, most people tip their coordinators regardless which surgeon they go to. I have heard that the usual tip is $100.00 (some tip more and some tip less) paid at the end of the trip. People also say to bring about $100.00 extra in small bills for incidentals and minor tipping of bell hops, housekeeping, waiters, room service, the wheelchair/cart person at the airport if you get one post op, the driver to and from the airport, etc. > The package is 4,600 all inclusive: 5 nights (pre-op you stay in the hospital if you arrive in the evening), 2 more nights in the Florence hospital, 2 nights in the Lucerna hotel. The hospital has a bed for your companion -not a cot or a lazy boy. Companion pays for their own meals (as is standard). > He does not require an advance deposit. Omar, the coordinator, just asks you to send a photo of the money order once you have it to make sure the doctor's name is spelled right. You just pay when you get there. Very important tip: Plan on taking the money order or cash because the Mexican government adds a 16% surcharge to credit cards. That would mean paying an additional $736.00! That doesn't even include your own bank's charges. > Dr. Illan will do a skype conference with you to answer any questions you might have. His name is pronounced Iyyan or EEyan > He has a thriving and supportive facebook community of current, former and future patients willing to answer questions. Feel free to contact me here to get my name there (I change the display name for fun sometimes). You can find the facebook page here: Team Illan https://www.facebook.com/groups/138579759635044/ *I am editing this post as I learn more information.

Hmm...I will call and ask. They do cover wls BUT it has to be pre-approved (as probably all do). I am not sure they will cover it without having the whole thing pre-approved. I will call and ask today.

Candy - i would say it can't hurt, might help. Darn it! I have a feeling I need to call the referral lady tomorrow and ask her to send them AGAIN but coded for like just the regular stuff. My insurance pays for gastric bypass but with it being a pre-approval thing - I just have this feeling that @@Kindle and @@SnohoGal98296 are right and I need to have it redone. She is going to hate me lol.

Yea he has been dropped from a few hospitals and by a few coordinating companies. I heard some of the companies leave him on their website and do a bait and switch kinda thing. They steer you to another surgeon. That said, there are a lot of rumors going around about what is going on. None of them good or acceptable when looking for surgeon. I sent you a pm.

Hope you found the surgeon that clicks for you!

Do I need to have my doctor change the reason for the tests? I had him put for bariatric surgery on the referral. However, I can surely need these tests just in and of themselves for diabetes and being overweight. My insurance does cover bariatric bypass but not the sleeve. However, I don't want the bypass hence Mexico. Also, it is a pain trying to get accepted for the surgery anyway. If he already did the referral for bariatric, can I go and change it? Or will they be like, 'nice try but too late you already said bariatric'?

But why would we have to lie about the surgery? My pcp is ordering the tests for preparation for bariatric surgery. I don't see why the insurance company would care if I have surgery or not. If blood work is needed, it is needed. I will double check though. Even if they would refuse for bariatric- I have plenty of non - bariatric reasons for getting the tests done.

I would skip it. You need this particular diet so your liver will shrink and surgery will go easier. It is too important to risk not doing it well. You can worry about overall life style later. Right now is the time to focus on you. I don't mean this offensively but in my opinion, it was pretty inconsiderate of your husband to schedule this get together. Perhaps you need to speak with him a bit more on exactly what will be required for the next 2 months. He must not understand it fully. Best of luck to you

Congratulations and welcome to the forum! People around here have lots of tips to share with you. It would help if you could be more specific though. Do you have particular questions?

Congratulations both of you! See you on the flip side!

Hey, I am looking at the first week of August too. I am looking at Dr. Garcia, Dr. Illan and Dr. Quionones now. I have air miles but I want to get the tickets right away so I can be sure to get the seats I want. There is another lady on here that is also going that week. I think we will all be staying at the Marriott. I want to go a few days early (maybe) and hang out at the beach some. I am not sure thought because the all liquid diet might just make it miserable.

Hey, congratulations. You will be just fine. Please be sure to come back and tell us how it went. The details help others.

@@Kindle, would you mind explaining a bit more? So, we should get like 10 gram whey Protein drinks at a time? Then sip on them for like an hour at a time? or should we sip 3 grams of protein every 20 mins or so? I will get the sleeve in August hopefully. I am starting to try to figure out the pre and post op diet. That is very interesting how all these high protein scoops are just a waste of money! Who knew! Those dirty rotten scoundrals! It was marketing!

Did I win yet?

Hey congratulations. Did you set a definite date and send in your deposit? I am looking for the first week of August. I don't know why I put this topic. I guess I just wanted to put a list so people know what the 'usual' tests are.

Someone just said on another thread that she went to Angeles for a leak test and liked it a lot. She said she would have paid more to have hers done there had she known how nice it was.