VSG while staying crunchy. Is it possible?

deedee · November 10, 2009

Joon,

I just wanted to say congratulations on your surgery date! I'm from WA State, so I definitely know what the term crunchy means. My mother went to The Evergreen State College and leads a pretty natural lifestyle when it comes to a lot of things (less so now that she has had diabetes for a decade). I do think you will be able to incorporate your practices back into your life, although you might need to initially incorporate supplements as you heal. I have always been lactose intolerant and pretty much keep dairy to a minimum. You may want to make an appointment with a nutritionist who understands how you'd like to live and have her look over your post-op diet information so that the two of you can brainstorm.

Good luck on your journey!

joon · November 10, 2009

Thank you DeeDee! Thats a good idea.

joon · November 10, 2009

Oh, Also, No surgeon in the US will operate on me at BMI 31.6 I dont feel worried about having surgery with Dr. Aceves in Mexico though. My family is from India and I know that is a country where many people would think the care is terrible. There definitely is terrible care there, but there is also excellent care there. I dont think one can discount a whole country.

Norma · November 10, 2009

I had read their published research results (which included complication rates.) Jossart & Cirangle have VSG complication rates at the lower end of those published in the medical journals. You will not find anyone better or more experienced to do your surgery anywhere in the world.

Mexican surgeons never have any complications. This is because they have a culture of telling people what they want to hear No respectable medical journal would believe a doctor who said he never had any complications. Why should anyone else?

I traveled to San Francisco to have my surgery because of Dr. Jossart's reputation and experience. My total cost for the surgery and 1 year follow-up care from the doctor and dietician was $17,300. This is not as cheap as surgery in Mexico, but what kind of follow-up care are you going to get from Mexico?

Money doesn't grow on trees. But...this is irreversible and major surgery.

Dr Aceves states he has had no leaks and no deaths. His care and attention was better than any I have ever received in the United States in my 50 years and 16 various surgeries. I am not expecting to need much face to face follow-up care but I have the same commitment from Dr. Aceves for a year at only $9000. I have already had two contacts from his office and have only been home for a week. I had better customer service from his coordinator than I have from any of my specialists' offices combined.

There are excellent surgeons in the world who are not Americans and there are doctors and hospitals in the US that I would not trust with my health as well.