Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

HELP! I have been reviewing surgeons and various facilities and now am a little confused. I have looked into A Lighter Me who works with Dr. Lopez and Dr. Garcia. I have been contacted by their coordinator Louise. I also looked at Dr. Almanza and have been contacted by Sandy and then Melissa. On the A Lighter Me website, Melissa is mentioned as a coordinator. Does Melissa work for both surgeons? Also, Almanza is listed as operating out of Jeruselum hospital (which is really a clinic) but Melissa contacted me and signed her email from Mt. Zion. When I checked Mt Zion's website, it is actually Jerusulem hospital. I have also seen past posts where Dr. Almanza operated Emmanuel Hospital.

Do you see why I am getting confused? I am just looking for a surgeon who is experienced, has low infection and leak rates, has good reviews and uses a hospital. Can anyone help me sort through this and is Almanza a safe surgeon?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I went with successfully slimmer which works with obesity solutions(same as ready 4 change). it seems a lot of coordinators work together despite which company you choose. dr. garcia is an excellent surgeon. the facilities are clean and the staff is awesome. i didn't use almanza because i wanted to be in a hospital, not a clinic. everyone has their own preference. do your research and go with who you feel comfortable with :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for reading and replying. How was your experience with Dr. Garcia? Any issues, complications, ect? I am very interested in people's progress after they had the sleeve.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

LVbigmom,

How was your experience for your post-surgery diet? How much have you lost so far?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I chose Dr. Garcia because he has a hospital. I was treated like gold and the hospital is spotless. It is small but clean. I was worried about ansthesia due to previous gall bladder surgery and the trouble I had coming out of ansthesia. I explained this to Dr. Cordova, the ansthesiaologist (sp) and he put me at ease immediately. He gave me a breathing treatment before surgery and said he would keep a close eye on me. I did not have a stitch of problems. My friend is using Dr. Almanza, she will be in a clinic setting and at a recovery house. Dr. Garcia requires a 2 night hospital stay and then 2 nights they send you to the Marriott. All included in the price (also the night before surgery at the Marriott). I highly recommend Dr. Garcia and his staff, I am trying to get my daughter scheduled there also. I could not be happier. I am 9 days post op and as of today have lost 23lbs. 9lbs post op diet.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for posting about Dr Garcia. I am feeling a bit better.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I love Dr.Garcia! The nurses were great! The hospital is small, but very clean. The Marriott is a dream! lol LOVED having 6 pillows on my bed lol. The staff at the Marriott is also excellent. I will be 5 weeks post op tomorrow and have lost 24.4lbs. I only had a 5 day pre-op diet so that total is from my highest weight pre-op, Good luck with the surgeon you choose! You'll love being a loser! :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

How much does it cost for the sleeve in Mexico? Do you have follow up care with another surgeon in the states?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery with dr. Ponce de leon in Tijuana Mexico, I loved my experience! You can watch my videos if you want, I posted my surgery and many other videos. My coordinator was Trish and the cost $5500 plus air fare. I spend $6000 total with tips, airfare, and stuff I bought there. I had a great experience and highly recommend him and his team. He is very experienced and has taught many surgeons such as Dr. Almanza.

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

How much does it cost for the sleeve in Mexico? Do you have follow up care with another surgeon in the states?

My follow up is by my pcp if I need it, she will do blood work and such. Total cost for me with flight and spending money was $6000

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh wow! Why is it so much cheaper there for? I was quoted $28,000.00 for self pay, here in NC.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The cost of living is a lot cheaper in Mexico, so its the cost for hospital stays and such. Medical school is also a lot cheaper there and surgeons don't have to pay the ridiculous amounts on liability insurance that they have to pay here. In Texas where I am is ~$13000, I heard of other states where is over $50000, so those are very big different amounts and it all depends on many factors. My surgeon is very experienced, more experienced than all of the surgeons I talked to here locally, which was one of the many reasons I decided to go to Mexico, and I am glad I did!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also had my surgery with Dr ponce de leon, and would recommend him to anyone! And I cannot say enough good things about our coordinator, Trish :) My nerves were awful leading up to surgery, and Trish helped bring me back to earth :lol:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Shellbell my surgery is with Dr Garcia on 6/25 in TJ. I'm excited and nervous. My company is taking us on a retreat with a great cookout and I'm going to be on my 3 day total liquid diet :(

How well was your transition after surgery for pain, getting enough Water and Proteins and adjusting to food? How much food are you taking in. Any pointers for me? My last minute dash is getting my passport expedited.

,

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×