atroglet

I had a fabulous experience with Dr. Illan and his staff! Everything was spot on from the first moment of contact. I would NOT hesitate to send friends or family there for surgery!

See my answers in red...

You are being ridiculous and trying to take the attention off of the real issues here. Stop wasting my time and our member’s time with your ridiculous tactics.

Again, you are being ridiculous. Everyone on this site knows that I know Alex, THE founder of this website, not one of. Then again, everyone else knows him as well. And, once again, your reading and comprehension skills are truly lacking for someone who claims to be a teacher. Of course it is not predatory. I have been a volunteer member of the staff here for years. I worked for Alex for one year as a coordinator until I resigned because, as stated before, I received a promotion at my day job and was no longer able to continue to do both. Next, Alex is not a doctor, so your “Could such a relationship be considered predatory since you are a patient, as well?” statement just screams of ignorance on your part. Perhaps you ought to use your law enforcement skills a little better so you actually know what you are talking about.

I have never worked for a doctor. Sorry. There are those great reading, comprehension and law enforcement skills of yours again.

I already answered this. Practice your reading skills and find the answer.

Again, check your reading and comprehension skills. I have already covered this.

Some knew me from here, some I had referred to Dr. Illan, some were referred to me by other victims or other people who know me from here and outside of here and know that I am standing up for their rights. By the way, it is now eight. You seem to have a very difficult time understanding my connection with the bariatric community and the fact that I know a lot of people as a result.

I didn’t say they were all long time users. I said I have been a member here for years and many people here know me. And shockingly, I also have a life outside of here. This is not the only place where people know me from. Some people have joined because we requested they do so in order to share what has happened to them in the hopes that others do not experience the same thing. Others are long-term members who have created an alternate ID due to such wonderful people as you who like to bully victims.

Now, I am not and will not waste any more of my time answering the same questions over and over again simply because you have poor reading and comprehension skills and apparently suffer from some type of memory loss.

Instead of having Omar feed you information, I again challenge you to see if he has the cajones to man up and speak for himself. I am done with you. I have no time for enablers, and that is what you and the Omar worshippers are. You are all so in love with him, so hypnotized by him, that you continue to defend him knowing he is a criminal, knowing if he enters the US he will be arrested, and knowing he victimizes woman. By your insistence on defending him, you are enabling him to continue to take advantage of his patients.

I’ll be honest, I couldn’t really give two hoots about his sob story about his past. He made his decisions, he needs to take responsibility for them and accept the consequences instead of running to another country like a coward. What I do care about is that in no way, shape or form is it acceptable for any employee of a physician to take advantage of his patients and seek romantic/sexual relationships with them. Whether the patient is supposedly willing or not, it is his responsibility to not allow this to happen. He is unprofessional, unethical and has no morals, none! As I said, he is a pig and he disgusts me. I will defend these women in any way I know how.

Here are her answers to the questions that were asked.

Those are not answers to the questions asked. That is all just "camouflage ". And any "reader" knows that.

I have been reading this thread from the beginning .. I'm not new , I didn't have surgery in Mexico.. All this fighting is crazy... All that matters is that people know to be careful of Omar's advances and not to fall into a relationship with him either .. I don't believe Susan or anyone ever said "dont go to dr illan" ?? If you want to go then go. He seems like a good surgeon.. Just go with the knowledge of Omar's antics. Simple as that .. That's what this post is for .. A warning about Omar. Yes if Dr Illan knows this information it's kind of sad on his part , but that doesn't affect his operating skills!!!

I would take great pause in going to a surgeon that employs a known felon.

I would go to Dr. Illan again and again and again. I would send my family to him with no hesitation or apprehension. Since you guys are so into name calling so I will call you the Susan fan girls. In her first post she did say she will take Dr. Illan down too...which sounds vindictive to me. I am a Dr. Illan fan girl, groupie or whatever you kids want to label me.

And for the record, Susan, you didn't answer one (not one) of those questions asked to you. Because I, for one, would like to know the answers to those questions specifically. If you want to be the big savior of all mankind you better expect to have to answer the tough questions. You put someone's laundry out to air you better expect to account for yours.

For the record, the Team Illan founder's and head admin's names are published at the Team Illan Facebook page. (The group is "closed," but not "secret.")

They have all posted their information in other places as well.

Yes, please show us where their full names are linked together with their Bariatric Pal user names. Other than Alex's faux pas. Oh that's right, you can't.

This was public info and posted in error. I removed the names as soon as requested.

But they are STILL in quoted areas!

He accomplished what he wanted...he got the so called "bullies" names out there.

Regardless of what is being said on another thread all of you will be super impressed with Dr. Illan as a surgeon and a doctor. Do not be afraid of Omar. He is an awesome coordinator and is really a kind soul. Your relationship with anyone else is what YOU make of it. Please ask me any questions you may have. I am 9 months out.

I used Dr. Illan for my sleeve surgery. I had prior band surgery that went all wrong. (See my story). So when I had my sleeve my band was already gone. The doctor is amazing and I know has done many band to sleeve revisions. None have woken from anesthesia without a sleeve. I had a ton of scar tissue from my previous surgery and he cleaned it all up and did a wonderful job!

I would surely call the patient care coordinator (Omar) and talk with him about it. He can answer every question and you can even speak with Dr. Illan.

I completely agree! Dr. Illan's team is just plain awesome! Every doctor came in to meet me and go over my case. They answered every question I could throw at them and passed with flying colors. They all spoke understandable and good English. They just seemed to be interested in me and my case. (As I had previous complications in US from lapband surgery). PM if you have questions.

I just wanted to reiterate what both posters above mentioned as my review of Dr. Illan has also been removed.

I also did many, many hours of research over a four month time period. The bottom line was the reviews of Dr. Illan, speaking with him and most of all the professionalism of his Patient Coordinator, Omar.

Everybody I talk to has had the same team of doctors and series of events during their surgery and trip. As well they should as it is a successful system. They have it down to a science.

Please contact me if ANYONE has any questions. I would be happy to talk to you!

I will also be curious to see if this post remains visible.

It is EXACTLY as she said!! Wonderful experience! I only wished I would've done this sooner!

There's another concept here…that is that the only person who can really sabotage your weight loss efforts is you.

I'm the main cook and bottle washer for my family. My husband is appealing a decision by the insurance company against weight loss surgery, but has been a little crazy with the kids since that point.

Look, just because someone orders pizza doesn't mean you have to eat it. Or even stay in the house while they do. Just because your husband wants Del Taco at 8 doesn't mean you have to drive him there. And yes, I TOTALLY get that you don't want him driving impaired. On the other hand, you're not the boss of him. If you see the first 2-3 pages of the Enabling thread, before it jumps the shark, these behaviors are what got us all to the point of WLS.

There's nothing that is harder at first than saying no to the people you love. My husband in particular is a pouter if everything is not just so. He also pouts that I have "gotten a jump on him" in WLS, and complains about how unfair it is. But I refuse to let that influence me off the path I have chosen.

Marfar, I know you're working through all this. But saying no to yourself is also important. Substitute! Make the drive but don't order something. Or, have your excuse ready and stick to your guns. The other night I was asked by a bunch of friends to go out and have a drink. I was just recently cleared for alcohol in very small amounts and I really enjoy the odd cocktail here or there. But I hadn't had a drink yet since surgery and I knew it wouldn't be putting me in an ideal situation. I said no, but it wasn't easy because I got the whole, "Oh, come on! One drink with us. It'll be fun! You've worked so hard." It's like they were the voices in my head. But I left. And it really wasn't hard to not have a drink when I was home and in a situation that I control. You know?

I know it sucks to be in a situation that you need to weigh the long term outcome vs the short term "benefits" but it is a muscle like any other and it needs to be exercised in order for it to work properly. We fatties are brilliant at ignoring the long term in favor of gratification. But we can change. And unfortunately, that change often needs to happen in spite of what is going on around us, or who supports us.

Perfectly said!

I was sleeved 10/16. Was 253 at my highest in April when I got diagnosed with Diabetes type II. Doc put me on Metforming and referred me to Weight Management Center. I quickly lost 17 lbs after being prescribed Metformin...which lessened my hunger from fluctuating blood sugar levels. But then the weight stabilized there.

At the start of preop diet (4 days), I was 236. Morning of surgery, 228. Day after surger 238...added 10 lbs of Water, courtesy of the IV. But now am 212 as of this morning and it's the lowest weight I've been in probably 8 years. Went from size 20 pants to size 16. Not too shabby.

So to recap...am down 41 lbs since my heaviest, 24 since start of preop diet and 16 since surgery....and in between all that had a 10-day stall at 217. lol Back losing in the last few days and feeling groovy.

The best part of it all? I AM NO LONGER DIABETIC. Surgeon took me off Metformin THE DAY AFTER SURGERY. I'm off Lipitor and last remaining med (for BP), I should be off soon. I could live with being "chunky" but NOT with Diabetes. And that is the BEST news of all.

This is my story to a "T" but with different numbers!

Oops. Sorry about that....

How do I add a friend to MFP using just their user name?

How do I add a friend to MFP with just your user name?

How do I add a friend to MFP with just their user name?

Personally, when I had my lapband surgery I made up excuses to friends and coworkers. I told them I had a come to Jesus meeting over my vacation to start eating smaller meals (mostly Protein drinks) and start moving more. Fine and dandy until 8 weeks later I get REALLY sick.

I became septic because of a nick of my liver during surgery and almost died. One lie became a million until I wasn't sure who knew what.

Needless to say, I won't be broadcasting it but if asked I will definitely tell them what I'm doing. Plus I just didn't feel good about myself making all kinds of crap up. What if I could help someone who is also obese out with the truth than making them feel like more of a failure because they can't be the type that can diet and exercise the weight away.

Don't know if I'm making any sense but just the way I'm going to deal with it. To each their own.

I am on 10/11 with Dr. Ilian

I'm just wondering if your doctors used the same incision area from lapband for the sleeve?

Ok this is new to me. Does everyone wear Spanx? The two times I've worn I feel like a stuffed sausage and can't use the bathroom well. (I know thats weird). What's the deal?

I know you were looking for others stories but I don't have one. My opinion is you must not have any expectations from friends or family going into this. I have chosen this for me. I don't much care what others think, how they react or do or don't help me with this. It's my journey! If they want to hang on for the ride then great but I'm not going to sit around and wonder why so and so is acting a certain way. Do YOUR thing!

Lory. I'd like to be your sleeve sister. This is a great place for support, to have questions answered, and to share what we are learning. I'm a month post-op and extremely happy with my decision to have my band removed & have the conversion to the sleeve.

Which recovery was harder do you think? Lapband or sleeve?

Is there anyway for the surgeon to know how much scar tissue is in there before surgery?

Prior to the sleeve, I had four open abdominal surgeries. A prior surgeon had told me I was loaded with scar tissue so I discussed the possibility with my surgeon of having to be opened for my sleeve surgery because of all the scar tissue. My sleeve surgeon said he would do everything possible to not open me up and luckily he didn't have to. Instead of an hour to hour and a half, my surgery took 3 1/2 hours. He said it took him well over an hour just to find his way around the scar tissue but he did it! The PA later told me they gave me some little baby scars to go along with the big scars. :-)

I wouldn't worry about this as a possibility unless you have some underlying issue that would require an open incision.

Oh! That is good to hear!! It puts my mind at ease!

That was one of my first questions to my current surgeon.. How would he handle it differently this time? Can't go through the same area because of scar tissue so he'll come in from the side. Also will start with a 5 mm laparoscopic tool versus the 10 mm one. Also is consulting with the vascular surgeon who did the graft. I had already spoken to him to be sure that he didn't see any issue with the surgery... He didn't foresee any issues.

Interesting