Wow! Choosing a doctor to use in Mexico is difficult. I have literally been obsessed with looking up everything I can on the internet. I have narrowed it down to Dr. Alamanza or Dr. Juan Ponce de Leon. If anyone has any "new" experiences they would like to share I would be very grateful. I have questions about flying after the surgery. I am flying in from Orlando, Florida to San Diego and then being transported to Tijuana. I also need to know if I have to get a hotel room before the surgery or if I can fly in that day and have surgery that afternoon? I'm so nervous. I need to make a decision by Monday and schedule the surgery. I also need to apply for my first passport on Monday. I wish there was some sort of support group here locally. I love that I found this site though. Any and all help would be appreciated.

Hello lovelies!

I've been lurking these forums for quite some time in my research stages (I can definitely relate to the above "obsessed" posts!) and I thought I'd chime in with some support etc.

I don't have a surgery date scheduled yet but I'm pretty sure I'll be going with Dr. Almanza/Ponce De Leon as well. Please be sure to keep us all updated on how your surgery goes! I can't tell you how indispensable the information here is, it's truly a blessing to hear from you ladies.

Quick question -- I see Melissa's name has come up a few times, but I haven't seen the name "Mt. Zion Medical" come up yet, which is what I've been looking at. Is this the same thing? Clarification would be awesome!

Kaysay please do keep us informed on your progress and feelings about Dr Almanza. I'm right behind you on 8/18. I'm think im getting cold feet. I don't have much support here. Im being told by my mom im going to die. And other people say can I really live with feeling sick all the time. My husband was ok with it but now seems to be scared for me.

Why do they think you will feel sick all the time?? And tell your mum that you probably stand more chance of dying from the obesity!! It's only natural that the people who love you will be scared but you need to make your decision as it's your body and life when it comes to it.

Jane x

Why do they think you will feel sick all the time?? And tell your mum that you probably stand more chance of dying from the obesity!! It's only natural that the people who love you will be scared but you need to make your decision as it's your body and life when it comes to it.

Jane x

Hi jane. My aunt had the bypass done a few year ago and she has had many problems. She looks like she is on deaths door step. I have told my mom over and over that the VSG is not the same but she is ALL KNOWING! Over the past few weeks I mention my surgery date and she acts like Im not really doing it. She says things like you better not and you need to stop. Plus she is closed minded when it comes to doing anything out of the US. I guess she will see its not a joke when I call her from Mexico.

Hello lovelies!

I've been lurking these forums for quite some time in my research stages (I can definitely relate to the above "obsessed" posts!) and I thought I'd chime in with some support etc.

I don't have a surgery date scheduled yet but I'm pretty sure I'll be going with Dr. Almanza/Ponce De Leon as well. Please be sure to keep us all updated on how your surgery goes! I can't tell you how indispensable the information here is, it's truly a blessing to hear from you ladies.

Quick question -- I see Melissa's name has come up a few times, but I haven't seen the name "Mt. Zion Medical" come up yet, which is what I've been looking at. Is this the same thing? Clarification would be awesome!

Hello and welcome. I just sent you a PM with Melissa's info.

Hi Christina,

Congrats on your surgery date! I live in Tamarac, FL (west of Ft. lauderdale) so i would love to join the Florida gang. I'm in the "chossing my Dr." stage (Dr. Almanza or Dr. Cure/Colombia). Hopefully i can make a decision in the next few days. I have an appointment with my PCP on Friday so we will see if she is onboard with my WLS proyect. I will work on setting up my ticker.....When do you start your pre-op diet?

:thumbup:

Good luck all you soon to be sleevers! It is such a great tool, but the while afterwards is a lot of learning and questions. Keep posting you will have lots of cheerleaders and people who have been there too!

Anna

Hey Everyone! I'm officially a sleeve sister now:) I had surgery with Dr. Almanza on 8/9/10. Everything's good so far. This is my last day in Mx so I'm going to do some shopping. Let me know if u have any questions:cool0:

Hi Christina,

Congrats on your surgery date! I live in Tamarac, FL (west of Ft. lauderdale) so i would love to join the Florida gang. I'm in the "chossing my Dr." stage (Dr. Almanza or Dr. Cure/Colombia). Hopefully i can make a decision in the next few days. I have an appointment with my PCP on Friday so we will see if she is onboard with my WLS proyect. I will work on setting up my ticker.....When do you start your pre-op diet?

:crying:

WooHoo someone who lives near me! Welcome! We can go to the Hard Rock when we get sexy. LOL. I hope you have better luck with your PCP than I did. Maybe if yours is on board I can go to her too. I start my pre-op diet starts Saturday.-Yuk- There is many people on here who have used Dr. Almanza and can give you great info. Next week I will be able to give you some great info. I call my Pt coordinator almost every other day with questions. But she always takes the time to make me happy. Best wishes on your new journey.

Awesome! How was the recovery house? Did you bring someone with you, and if so, were they able to stay in the house? Any issues with nausea? I always get sick after surgery so I'm way nervous about losing my cookies.

If anyone knows how, they should set up a Florida group on the forum where the different countries are. I don't know how. I could ask my roommate and see if he knows.

Hey Everyone! I'm officially a sleeve sister now:) I had surgery with Dr. Almanza on 8/9/10. Everything's good so far. This is my last day in Mx so I'm going to do some shopping. Let me know if u have any questions:cool0:

Congrats! On a scale of 1 to 10 what is your pain? I'm scared and a wimp!

If anyone knows how, they should set up a Florida group on the forum where the different countries are. I don't know how. I could ask my roommate and see if he knows.

I always vomit. Its not a pretty sight. And I get infections easy.

Hey all, tamboo's friend here. I'm still around, I've been kind of lurking, absorbing all the info I can find. Unfortunately not coming up with much info on the doctors in my area (although maybe no news is good news in that respect).

As for a Florida Sleevers group, you can just create a new message thread in the "USA Local" sub forum - there's a bunch of other states set up in there already, but I went ahead and created one for Florida. That way we can all keep in touch whether we're pre- or post-op.

Here's the link: http://verticalsleevetalk.com/usa-local-vsg-support/8075-florida-sleevers.html

Isn't my roommate the best? I thought it would be awesome if us "Floridians" had our own forum. Let's all meet up in http://verticalsleevetalk.com/usa-local-vsg-support/8075-florida-sleevers.html. We still need to plan on meet and greet post surgery party!!!

Hi Chris,

Went to my PCP; good and bad news. She said if I loose 20 lbs before surgery she'll support me and do my follow up care. She wants to make sure I'm mentally and emotionally in the right place. Also, my body will be better prepared for surgery and life changes. She is onboard if i use the Colombian Dr. since she is colombian too and will be able to track the Dr.'s credencials and experience. Will not do it if i decide to go to Mexico. I guess she is looking after me and herself......So I will talk to surgeon about $$$ and start a diet plan.

How are you feeling? Do you have plans for your last dinner and drinks?? Good luck starting your pre-op diet tomorrow. Remember we are going to the Hard Rock!!LOL