mistyone

I feel so bad for you Christine. How are you doing now?

My doctor said 4 to 6 weeks for swimming. I love Water Aerobics! I had surgery on my knee several years ago. Water aerobics has always been something I can do without injurying my knee. It can also be done easily while still fat! lol :laugh

I had a great experience in TJ and my follow up care has been great too!

Wow! That's cool! I wish I would have asked my doctor to do that.

Where is he located?

I don't think the mother or the child seemed well prepared. It's like the mother mentions about compulsion then says it's all about the stomach. I think whoever her doctor was is unethical and could care less if they fully understood what they were doing. He was just after their money!

Hi B A looser! I can tell you why I made the choice I did, but the bottom line is that you have to feel comfortable with your choice. I chose Dr. Valencia mainly because of his affiliation with UCLA as a professor of bariatric surgery there. I also wanted to have surgery in a hospital. I feel that those of us that are morbidly obese should be in a place that can handle any emergency that might arise. When I asked some of these doctors how they handle emergencies, I felt they didn't give me good answers. I wanted to know that there was an ICU and pulmonary and cardiac doctors in the hospital just in case. You should interview all the doctors on your list. If you can't visit them, then call their offices and ask to speak to them on the phone. Ask about their facilities. Do they have to transport you to a hospital in case of an emergency? What do they have on site in case of an emergency and what DON'T they have. Good luck to you!

I drink right up until I eat. Helps me with thirst while I'm eating.

Any kind of baby diaper rash creams does the trick for me!

You obviously haven't read the other threads elsewhere on this board. I've posted on lots of other topics. This is what was written that I strongly disagree with: "All the other guys in these forums are plagued with complaints and unpleased patients, infested with people selling them, or they are unreachable or both." It looks to me like klvn is saying that ALL other doctors but those on his/her list suck! My point is that there are other doctors beside the ones on the list that have great reputations. Yes, I am very happy with Dr. Valencia. I believe that other choices like Dr. Rumbaut, Dr. Zapada and Dr. Kuri are good choices too. Are they also plagued with "complaints, unpleased patients....etc?" As far as I have found, they are not and either is Dr. Valencia. As for my opinion of the doctors on the list and it's only my opinion.. I would not go to Dr. Ungson - not enough of a track record. I would not go to Dr. Ortiz - is an assembly line and doesn't operate in a hospital.

I lost someone who I thought was one of my closest friends. But when I think about it, we were also eating buddies. Maybe she will come around.

:confused: Wow! This is a pretty broad statement and in my opinion, inaccurate! You couldn't pay ME to go to a couple of the doctors on your list. But, to each their own. I'm glad you are happy with doctors you found.

I was very happy with my doctor. His credentials are very impressive! I felt the care was great. I paid $8100 and it included everything except travel to San Diego. They picked me up at the airport and everything was covered from there until they delivered me back to the airport for my trip home. I would recomend Dr. Valencia to anyone!

Gee lindaa I'm sorry about your experience. I went to Hospital Angeles with Dr. Valencia. But I didn't schedule my surgery through beliteweight. Dr. Valencia spent about 1 1/2 hours with me on the phone before I went down and at least an hour with me before my surgery after I arrived. I thought he was very personable and thorough. He went over in depth, the pros and cons of all the different surgeries on the phone with me. Then I was able to ask him a ton of questions before surgery. We mostly talk about how he plans to bring UCLA residents down to Mexico to assist and observe surgeries there. He said he learned so much practicing in the U.S. and thinks that doctors in the states should have an opportunity to practice in Mexico. I really like his anestheologist (spl) too. I also felt the language barrier a little, but I was able to communicate. I wouldn't rate my experience as a blue light special, but I do understand your feelings.

mikesmom, I'm so glad you found a doctor you like! I wish I could give you feedback, but I don't know about the doctor you chose. Good luck! Do you have a date yet?

I was very happy with Dr. Valencia. I think he has the best credentials of all the doctors I researched in Mex. Good luck!

Oh, I didn't mean that you shouldn't call the hospital for information. I read somewhere else on this board that some of the hospitals have their own coordinators that schedule surgeries through the hospital program but you will get the surgeon that they pick for you. Some of the surgeons on staff do surgeries above and beyond their own patients for the hospital. I would never pick a clinic or hospital for my surgery and not choose my doctor. I would want to pick my own surgeon and not have someone else pick for me. So I guess what I mean is make sure you schedule with the doctor's own office. I'll see if I can find that post about it and put it here.

If you want a good doctor in Tijuana at the Angeles Hospital, I second the motion on using Dr. Valencia. Just go directly to his coordinator and don't call the hospital. They can book you with Lopez and you will find out after you get there! Dr. Valencia's coordinator is at 877-765-8446. Good luck! We're all rooting for you!

Many of us self payers here have gone to Mexico for surgery. As long as you do your homework, you can find a really good doctor there and have surgery at less than half that price.

My friend is in the process of having her band done at the Richmond Kaiser. They do cover it, but they told her that it takes 9 months to a year to go through the process.

I thought I would add to what grateful said about Dr. Valencia. It's so nice to have this board to come on and share information and get help especially when deciding to go to Mex for surgery. I found this article today that makes me feel even better about my choice to use my doctor. US News and World Reports have named the top hospitals in the US. Johns Hopkins Tops Best Hospital List Being that Dr. Valencia teaches at UCLA and UCLA was named #5 in the country, reinforces my decision that I used Dr. Valencia! I am grateful that I was safe and had a good outcome. Those of us that have to self pay are lucky to have this option with a doctor that is a professor for the #3 hospital in U.S. and how lucky we are that he also practices in Mex!!!! Of course everyone should choose a doctor that they feel comfortable with. Just make sure you are safe too!

I have been letting my diet Pepsi go flat and still drinking it. Gee, I guess I'm better off without it!

I've heard of Cosmed, but I tought they only do plastic surgery. I have never heard of that doctor. I had mine with Dr. Valencia. I was very happy. Dr. Valencia has a good price and he has really great credentials. He is a professor of bariatric surgery at UCLA. Good luck to you!

This is wonderful information. Thanks for posting this!

My insurance company excluded any type of weight loss surgery. I went to Mexico so it all worked out fine.