If you had surgery in Mexico, how did you handle your follow-up?

[SandSandles 4]

Just curious about those who traveled a distance to have their surgery in Mexico. .. How did you handle follow-up on the procedure?

Did anyone NOT have follow-up by a doctor?

Did anyone have to try and "find" a VSG friendly doctor when you got back home?

I am never sick and rarely go to the doctor. In the past 5 years I have gone once a year for a regular check-up. Last year I had mentioned "lap band" to my PCP and he was dead set against it. So IF I a go proceed, I will probably have to find a new doctor.

Has anyone ever been turned down by a doctor for having VSG?

[SandSandles 4]

Wow... 33 views and no responses yet.

Come on y'all... makin' me nervous. hahaha

[SouthernSleever 228]

I went to Dr Aceves for my sleeve. Before then I went to my PCP to ask him to do some follow up blood work and also to prescribe some blood thinners for preop. He refused and didn't like the fact I was going to Mexico...screw him. I talked to my OBGYN and she was all for it, she gave me the number to a PCP who I first saw when I got back from having my sleeve. She treats me like she would anyone else. The key is to have a really good Dr do your sleeve so it is unlikely that you will need followup care. The sleeve, if done right, really takes care of it's self. Dr A sends home notes and xrays most US Drs are very impressed. HTH

EDIT to add if your PCP was against LAPBAND then I'd say that's a point scored for him. He may like the vsg!

[pasquini 369]

There's follow up?

Seriously, I am only 2 weeks out and don't have any particular plans for follow up care. If I have an issue then I'll deal with it. But as for now I am not planning any follow up. I even removed my own stitches

[Rootman 1,101]

I choose MX because I did not want to wait or put up with being coerced into getting a bypass - the sleeve is what I wanted after a LOT of research.

I followed up with my PCP for blood panels and hoped for the best that there would not be any complications after surgery. I've heard horror stories of people being denied insurance coverage but decided to take a chance anyway. Everything turned out fine. I was advised that a local bariatric surgeon will "take over the case" for a cash payment of $2000 just to cover their "risk". I've not had to avail myself of his services.

So it is not without its risks and only you can decide if you want to take the chance. For me it's worked out wonderfully. I've lost ~125 pounds went from a TIGHT 3X top and 52 bottom to a LARGE top and 38 bottom. I LOOK thinner than I have in decades despite being still at 250 pounds. I tell everyone it's "all pure muscle" It can only get better from now on.

[SandSandles 4]

I choose MX because I did not want to wait or put up with being coerced into getting a bypass - the sleeve is what I wanted after a LOT of research.

I followed up with my PCP for blood panels and hoped for the best that there would not be any complications after surgery. I've heard horror stories of people being denied insurance coverage but decided to take a chance anyway. Everything turned out fine. I was advised that a local bariatric surgeon will "take over the case" for a cash payment of $2000 just to cover their "risk". I've not had to avail myself of his services.

So it is not without its risks and only you can decide if you want to take the chance. For me it's worked out wonderfully. I've lost ~125 pounds went from a TIGHT 3X top and 52 bottom to a LARGE top and 38 bottom. I LOOK thinner than I have in decades despite being still at 250 pounds. I tell everyone it's "all pure muscle" It can only get better from now on.

That is fantastic!! Congrats.

[SandSandles 4]

There is a WLS support group that meets a local hospital. I am hoping I can go to the meetings and perhaps connect with a doctor through that network.

[Valentina 2,642]

I've asked myself that same questions dozens of times. What about the follow up care?? That's really too frightening for me. If I were self pay and for whatever reason went to Mexico I would have to save enough more money to allow me to stay for two weeks so I would be close the the surgeon in case of complications AND for routine 2 wk follow up check--or AT LEAST one week!!!

To have no plan for a routine follow up after MAJOR abdominal surgery is questionable reasoning. What a spin of the roulette wheel!!!!!

Think it throughly through and then think it through again. To Thy Own Self Be True!

My personal opinion on this day,

Valentina

Wow... 33 views and no responses yet.

Come on y'all... makin' me nervous. hahaha

[Oregondaisy 2,019]

There really isn't a lot of follow up care. You need to have labs done, but any doctor can do those. We are prone to anemia and B12 deficiency,

so those need to be checked as well as the regular blood panels that

doctors do.

[SandSandles 4]

I've asked myself that same questions dozens of times. What about the follow up care?? That's really too frightening for me. If I were self pay and for whatever reason went to Mexico I would have to save enough more money to allow me to stay for two weeks so I would be close the the surgeon in case of complications AND for routine 2 wk follow up check--or AT LEAST one week!!!

To have no plan for a routine follow up after MAJOR abdominal surgery is questionable reasoning. What a spin of the roulette wheel!!!!!

Think it throughly through and then think it through again. To Thy Own Self Be True!

My personal opinion on this day,

Valentina

I have no other choice. My insurance will not cover it. I have to self pay. I have the money for Mexico, but NOT for what they charge in the states (double). It is either this way, or continue to live obese.

Also, I only have a few vacation days left from work, so I will have to go back to work in 5 days after surgery.

Again... it is either this way or NO way. I figure I am reasonably healthy for a fat person. I have a VERY high pain tolerance, and I have always healed rapidly.

It would just be good to be able to stay on top of things and make sure my blood levels and Vitamin levels stay good.

[SandSandles 4]

There really isn't a lot of follow up care. You need to have labs done, but any doctor can do those. We are prone to anemia and B12 deficiency,

so those need to be checked as well as the regular blood panels that

doctors do.

Thanks! I will definitely watch those things!

[dishdiva 5]

I'd look into something -- I had a leak and multiple infections one week after my sleeve was done. Just got home from hospital for 15 days. You think my insurance will pay? Forget it.

The first words from the hospital in their letter to request coverage mentioned surgery in Mexico. Which it didn't need to, IMO, how would they have known. Say why the patient showed up at hospital, treatment, etc. By the way, One of the reasons I went to Mexico was to save some $$$ -- THEN, brilliant me thought, I'd have LEFTOVER money for any complications. My hospital total (not including surgeons, other docs, blood panel, etc. is approaching $60,000. The only Q now is how fast is my insurer going to drop me.

Things will be better tomorrow!!

[SandSandles 4]

I'd look into something -- I had a leak and multiple infections one week after my sleeve was done. Just got home from hospital for 15 days. You think my insurance will pay? Forget it.

The first words from the hospital in their letter to request coverage mentioned surgery in Mexico. Which it didn't need to, IMO, how would they have known. Say why the patient showed up at hospital, treatment, etc. By the way, One of the reasons I went to Mexico was to save some $$ -- THEN, brilliant me thought, I'd have LEFTOVER money for any complications. My hospital total (not including surgeons, other docs, blood panel, etc. is approaching $60,000. The only Q now is how fast is my insurer going to drop me.

Things will be better tomorrow!!

WOW... that IS a mess. So I see how important it is to have a PLAN. That means more urgency in finding someone, and hope my "network" idea will be successful.

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to answer. Really hope things work out for you!!

[SandSandles 4]

I'd look into something -- I had a leak and multiple infections one week after my sleeve was done. Just got home from hospital for 15 days. You think my insurance will pay? Forget it.

The first words from the hospital in their letter to request coverage mentioned surgery in Mexico. Which it didn't need to, IMO, how would they have known. Say why the patient showed up at hospital, treatment, etc. By the way, One of the reasons I went to Mexico was to save some $ -- THEN, brilliant me thought, I'd have LEFTOVER money for any complications. My hospital total (not including surgeons, other docs, blood panel, etc. is approaching $60,000. The only Q now is how fast is my insurer going to drop me.

Things will be better tomorrow!!

I saw that you have band to sleeve revision. Do you think some of your complications might have been still part of the hard time you had with the band? I have heard bunches of horror stories about lapbands now. Wow.

[meepmeep17 13]

Originally I went to my GI specialist and she was very negative about it, possibly because she only sees people with complications. My PCP was behind me 110%, even with going to Mexico. I explained why I wanted VSG and the reasons I was considering Mexico. I went to Dr. Kelly and she looked up his credentials, so the fact he was trained in the US made a difference. I had my surgery 5/16/11, got home from Mexico 5/20/11 and had an appt with her 5/23/11. I am going to WLS clinic next week to meet with a NUT and and their exercise person.

Just curious about those who traveled a distance to have their surgery in Mexico. .. How did you handle follow-up on the procedure?

Did anyone NOT have follow-up by a doctor?

Did anyone have to try and "find" a VSG friendly doctor when you got back home?

I am never sick and rarely go to the doctor. In the past 5 years I have gone once a year for a regular check-up. Last year I had mentioned "lap band" to my PCP and he was dead set against it. So IF I a go proceed, I will probably have to find a new doctor.

Has anyone ever been turned down by a doctor for having VSG?