davidblackmisty

Hey Thanks for everyones replies. I have been a stay at home mom for years but last week I went to work to help pay for my surgery. It just felt wrong to put all the pressure on my hubby to come up with $7000 extra when I am the one with the weight to lose. He is supportive and would pay it without a 2nd thought but this way I am helping and also not setting around wishing for my surgery date to get here! I was becoming obsessed with the site and it just made it seem that much further away til I got mine done. But I do feel better now that I know most people have done wonderfully after going to Mexico without all the testing. I am lucky that I dont have any comorbidies so I feel better about it.

Nurse, I totally agree with you in not wanting to go thru insurance hurdles just to have to pay almost as much as MX patients once you add in copays and deductibles. I would like to have my Dr. close to tell me what I am doing wrong or right tho.

Thanks for everyones support! I have had previous surgeries and done great! Even after my c-sections I was up and doing basics things after 2 days. Maybe a little slower than normal but I handle pain pretty well and I heal VERY quickly. I was wondering what they give you for pain to take home. Is it medicine from Mexico or America? I am just worried that I will take the wrong vitamins or not know I need something in particular without the follow up care. Luckily I am healthy at this point except being 245 lbs and 5'2". I am almost 30 and just starting to notice some comorbidies. I am having occasional acid reflux and joint pain. Also my feet KILL me and I am sure its from carrying this weight around. I am hoping that since these issues are just starting that they will be cured quickly and easily with the surgery. I also want to get it done before more severe issues start showing up such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Ok so I have definetly decided on surgery in Mexico with Dr. Rod. I am 100% confident in his ability as a surgeon and I know I will be fine during surgery. My nerves are coming into play reading posts from people who had surgery here in the states. They seem to have SO much more Dr. support. Before surgery they go thru all kinds of tests and from what I'm understanding in Mexico you go thru basic tests the day before surgery. States patients have nutritionists and Mexico patients seem to be on their own with written instructions to decipher. States patients have their WLS Dr. close so they can make an appointment for any concerns but most Mexico patients can't afford to return there for follow up. Did anyone else who went to Mexico have these fears? If so what did you do? My insurance won't cover this surgery and I don't have the $17,000 cash to have it done locally so I am for sure going to Mexico but I would just like to hear from people and see how they dealt with all this alone.

Thanks Tiffykins! You sound alot like me. I NEVER eat breakfast. Theres just not much I like as far as breakfast foods go and also I hate cooking that early. I have been so worried about still eating junk food. I know I will be able to eat considerably less food after surgery. But I already eat small amounts of the snacks so I am scared that really nothing will change. I know I can do this tho! I am 100% dedicated to it. I think if I had done it 5 years ago I wouldn't have done it right but I am ready now!! I also have my husband's full support. So I know he will help me any way he can. As far as cleaning out my house of snacks, I don't feel that's fair. My kids have to ask to get a snack so they aren't sitting around all day eating like me. I don't see anything wrong with them eating a sugary snack once a day as long as its done in moderation. I cook very healthy foods. We eat chicken several times a week and I NEVER fry foods, even tho we are from the south. A bottle of vegetable oil lasts 6 months here because I don't use it. If a recipe calls for it I substitute olive oil. I even bake french fries. So if my husband and kids want a cookie I am fine with that and I won't force them to stop eating them. I know I will buy healthier snacks for myself like fruits and hopefully they will follow behind me and eat that instead but until they start abusing food I won't force them to!

I wish I could get rid of junk food 100% but unfortunately I have 3 kids. We will def start eating healthier once I get the surgery but I wouldn't feel right about making them cut out all snacks when I am the one with the problem.

I have decided to have the sleeve. I am self pay so I am saving money right now and looking at a February surgery date in Mexico. My worry is that my eating junk food will sabotage my diet!! I usually only eat one big meal during the day which is usually dinner. Sometimes I don't even eat that. So my problem is that I eat small snacks ALL day long. Its anything from cookies to ice cream to chips. I eat them in small amounts but when I'm eating every 30 minutes it adds up to ALOT of calories. Will the sleeve cause me to stop this or will I still be able to? Also I do not like the "stuffed" feeling that someone people describe loving so much so I won't eat if it makes me feel that way. If anyone has the sleeve that had my snacking issues please let me know how and if you overcame it. I want the sleeve but I don't want to pick the wrong surgery since I'm self pay.

Was there a deposit? Did you pay the remaining money before surgery or when you got to the hospital/

I would LOVE to go to Dr. Alvarez but he is a little more than I am hoping to pay. Right now Dr. Rod is my 1st choice. He seems to have alot of people happy with him and he is reasonable priced. NC Redneck, how much was your total cost (if you don't mind sharing)? Although I am leaning towards Dr. Rod I would still like suggestions of other Doctors in that area so I can check all of them.

Hi, I am starting my search for my WLS Doctor. I am definetly doing it in Mexico since I am self pay. I live in Tx so I am going to drive to save airfare money. Does anyone have any recommendations or for that matter horror stories for doctors in Monterrey or any other Mexican towns close to the TX border. I am leaning toward Juarez because my mom lives close to there and she is keeping my kids while I am gone but I will go somewhere else for a good Dr.

I am saving also. I am using BeLiteWeight also. I am going to Juarez and since I live in TX I can drive there so I won't have the cost of the plane tickets. I am going to use my income tax so hopefully I will be sleeved in February.