I have been sleeved myself since march 16th down over 20lbs and feeling like my body is back to normal so to speak.

In the last few weeks I have come to understand that its possible to go to a clinic that doesn't take proper precautions and many are having leaks and infections. One lady I heard ran up a $285,000 hospital bill in the U.S. after her lowest price sleeve turned into a night mare.

Another lady I talked to quit one clinic she worked at that had many leaks and infections.

She also told me that these same people that got mistreated DON'T speak up about it afterward.

Please if you have had a bad experience speak up! When a lot of these are coming out of the same place we should be able to collectively do something about it!

I feel so bad that there are many people going to places (with lowest VSG price) that are ramming people through without proper care (because they are doing 12 per day in the same O.R) and then ending up with leaks, infections and feeding tubes, man this is so bad!!!

Please lets do something about this to save the misery of others.

I've not been here long but it all sounds shady to me. People who worked for a Dr usually know what is actually going on. I think adults can sort through the BS themselves.

Alex,

If the rule is that coordinators and employees of dr's can't post negatively, can you just make it a blanket statement that they can't post what appear to be glowing reviews but are often just thinly veiled advertisments for their employers? This seems like a fair solution to me.

Thanks for this forum it is my absolute lifeline and as much as I hate that not all opinions can be out there, I understand that to keep this going requires revenue so I'm willing to take the good with the bad.

I have recieved extremely insulting private messages from the person who started this thread. He made extremely rude statments. These were untrue, generalized statements that blasted all American citizens. I had to finally put him on ignore to stop his ranting and ravings!

Why.... what was the purpose of the messages

I don't disagree with you. My issue is mostly with coordinators or people that work for them (you know who you are) going around and slinging mud at their so called competition.

How did you know I was in middle of watching Bill O'Reilly ???

Alex,

I wasn't taking from your overall tone or from some of the messages that have been deleted or reportedly deleted that coordinators are the main focus of your concern. Maybe that was a misinterpretation on my part, but it seemed to be aimed as much at the regular VST members. Clearly there are way more of us than there are coodinators. We're just regular people trying to improve our lives and we rely on info from others to make informed decisions.

For example, hearing the story of someone who was in the hospital bed next to someone who had a leak or severe infection is valuable info to others. Especially since the person who had a complication probably isn't in any shape to post their experience. Although we know the dangers of second hand information, we also know its value in some situations. However, I think most of us can appreciate the fine line you have to walk with allowing those types of posts to remain on the forum. It seems like the general opinion here is that we prefer to sift through the information and decide what we take as truth from a particular post.

As far as the coodinators go, most of us seem to treat them like a little fly buzzing around. Like BJean said, once I figure out someone is a coordinator or seems to have a vested interest in a doctor, I don't pay much attention to what they have to say.

In closing, I personally am not ignoring your request/recommendation for us to address concerns to you in private. However, I firmly believe that if I can't say what I have to say to you or anyone else here "in public" about a general issue then I probably don't need to be saying it. As we can see from another member's post, she has been dealing with some unwanted PMs. I don't want or plan to be inappropriate with you or anyone else in the course of a PM, but I think in that form of communication, things can become a little more heated. So, although I don't have much else to say about it, I'll keep my thoughts about post deletions in public for now (within the VST guidelines) and I won't be offended if you or anyone else chooses to ignore or not respond.

Thanks for taking the time to clarify your position on these issues.

Very well said, Mary. I'm totally with you on this. And I too don't have a lot of need to go the PM route when I want to communicate about something that has happened in an open forum. But then I'm a communication nut. The better we communicate freely, the more we learn and the more likely a situation can be resolved.

Because if people who have had bad experiences (whoever their doctor is), post about what happened to them, the better informmed we will be in the long run. It's very important data we're gathering here and we need it all tossed on the thread so it can get sorted out for those who are in the process of choosing a doctor.

Edited June 4, 201016 yr by BJean

By the way, if it is someday proven that the clinic in question has been maligned terribly and that everyone who has posted his or her bad experiences has lied, I will be the first to apologize to the clinic and doctor for having believed the worst.

Nothing would make me happier because right now I am scared to death for the people who choose to use them. And if I have used strong language it is because I am so afraid for innocent patients putting themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.

I agree completely.

so... sorry guys... I'm really not trying to drag this out, but I'm wondering if the report of someones death was confirmed or was absolutly disconfirmed, and if so what was the source of the information. I apologieze if this has already been posted and I missed it.

thanks

It was reported that there was a death of a Tijuana doctor after a surgery. There was no death of a Tijuana doctor. There was no surgery performed on a Tijuana doctor so it's impossible that there was such a death. Thus it has been confirmed NOT to have happened. People have tried to confirm that it happened, but have been unable to because IT DIDN?T HAPPEN.

These same people have been on the same witch hunt for quite some time. They are being dealt with legally. We are in the process of pursuing legal remedies to stop these people from posting their libelous statements.

That could happen here too and if you don't have insurance that covered it, you end up with a bill. Read the boards from people who have had problems here.

I completely agree. Those studies speak of the complications rates and risks involved.

I didn't read anything about a doctor having had the surgery. Maybe that was one of those posts that was deleted? Or maybe I just haven't followed this close enough.

Thank you for posting your momma's story Amanda.

I hope she gets to come home soon and she recovers from this horrible experience!

Well don't worry, honey, it couldn't be the doctor's fault or the way the clinic handled her. It's because ALL doctors have complications and that's just the way it is.

That was written with my eyes rolling back in my head. I don't know if you left anything pertinent out but if you've posted the highlights of you and your mom's experience, it is quite simply unacceptable medical care. There are no excuses that can make this appear to be an acceptable problem that is within the inevitable 1% (or whatever percentage one cites) of those complications that happen with all doctors.

This story alone should scare anyone away and this is not the only horrendous experience that we've read about from that particular clinic/doctor. I hope everyone who is considering surgery will come to this forum and read what's been posted. I know everyone thinks it can't happen to them, but it can and it very well might happen to them. Be smart people. You're worth the best possible medical care that is available in the world. Do your research. Save your money.

Choose a doctor that you know has a good reputation, one that you can interview personally. One whose clinic or hospital you can visit prior to surgery. Find someone who offers post-surgical support, if possible. This is not a risk free surgery. And it carries the kind of risks that can be lethal. Take good care of yourself, you are worth it!

And RTR, I hope you are okay and your mom has a full and complete recovery as soon as possible. We will certainly keep our fingers crossed for her. I hope you will keep us informed of her condition. How are you doing?

And I have nothing to hide either. I get it now PNW218. So you got one or more surgeries via Jerusalem/Emmanuel so that is why you are so defensive about this. You don't care that Betancourt isn't a doctor but he says he is.

I will not war with you either, in fact I am done.

Many places in the U.S. and Mexico are doing hundreds of VSG's without issues for months. The place that you defend are doing 12 a day in the same OR and are having major problems. Go ahead defend if you like, but why? I think maybe you are working for them.

Oh, if I found out the place I had my VSG got sloppy and were having major problems coming out of there I sure wouldn't defend them!

I am currently sitting in the San Diego airport waiting for my flight home. I had VSG surgery with Dr. Almamza on Thursday, and I feel great.

These boards freaked me out, I was very concerned going to Jerusalem Hospital in TJ. Well I'm here to say that I am so happy I went. My surgery was on Thursday, there were only 4 that day and we all came out feeling great. The clinic was spotless, and it was very professional. While at the recovery house I met some really nice people, I didn't hear one single negative comment. I later found out the they had no idea about VerticalSleeveTalk.com, lucky them.

I honestly would send my mother to Dr. Almanza. I was treated like family, I don't have one single complaint. I feel better today than the day I flew down last week. If needed in 8 or 10 months I'll go back for a tummy tuck.

Congratulations Bryan, I am very glad that you had a safe experience and were not another statistic for an infection or worse leak. The fact that you are OK doesn't negate however or invalidate the trouble that too many other's have had in J/E. Hopefully the bad press has propelled this clinic to shape up. Best wishes for an uneventful recovery and successful WL journey.