Well, I have now had my 2nd consult and we need to sit down and talk thru both surgeons and decide which to go for.

The choices are:

Dr Ferrer,Valencia.

Done about 160 sleeves, very low complication rate - virtually zero.

Uses size 32 bougie, does 3 line staples and sutures.

Does 3 leak tests before you leave the hospital.

Dr Baltasar, Alcoy.

Done over 700 - as used them before the DS years ago, and is one of the leading in the field,talks all over the world about it and has done loads of ops on people in the US and Norway, as well as Spain and Europe.

Again very low stats with problems.

Uses size 34 bougie, 2 line staples and suture, does leak test no table, and next day and then you have to test at home as well while the drain is still in.

I think he actually taught the other surgeon!

I am leaning towards Dr B, although felt comfortable with either of them.

Pricewise, as we are self pay, theres not much in it at all....Dr F does an aftercare package or I can pay via appts, Dr B does pay by appt - but as most ofhis patients are out of the country he has a very good web based service where he tracks them like that. So the 'better, more experienced surgeon' might actually work out cheaper.

Well.... thats my news, exciting times ahead I think..... I did see a patient in the waiting room who had a DS a year ago, and has lost 90kg! Looking fantastic!!

Kathy :thumbup:

Kathy! I just now realized you are in Spain! Are you a native of Spain or at one of the bases??

I have been to Cartagena once and Barcelona twice. Love Barcelona!! So have been on either side of you : ) How similar to Barcelona is Valencia? I see they have a cruise port there ~ will have to put it on my list!

Definitely exciting times ahead ! ! ! Best wishes in the decision-making process.

Kathy! I just now realized you are in Spain! Are you a native of Spain or at one of the bases??

I have been to Cartagena once and Barcelona twice. Love Barcelona!! So have been on either side of you : ) How similar to Barcelona is Valencia? I see they have a cruise port there ~ will have to put it on my list!

Hi

I'm English, and have been living in Spain since 2003, loving every moment!! We moved out 'cos I met my other half (on the internet) and fell in love! - He had already decided he wanted to move to Spain and so I took a chance on love, and came with him. We've been together since then.

We live about an hour from Valencia (its a small village, so Valencia is the nearest big place, but its a beautiful area. In fact we are taking a few days to visit Valencia this coming week in our motorhome.

We use it to travel all over Spain - and love Barcelona! There are such wonderful places in Spain and such a variety of scenery.

- Where we live I look out my office window and see the mountains, look out the back and theres our pool and garden.... pure bliss! And we are only 15 minutes from the sea.

If you like Barcelona then its worth seeing Granada, and also a lot of stuff around Madrid, - Segovia being my fav, Toledo, Aranjuez, Alacala de Henares, Cuenca, Albaracin....... the list is endless!!!

Its a beautiful country, with beautiful people, a lot of ex pats from various countries, but a more relaxed way of life than England.

Kathy

Definitely exciting times ahead ! ! ! Best wishes in the decision-making process.

Thanks Tiff - I need to do my list of pros and cons of each one - my hubby has given the go ahead so now its this decision and the timing of it all as I have a wedding to go to in England at the end of May, so fear it may not be until after that (but am worried I may go into pre op food fest mode and eat everything in sight!!!)

Kathy