My surgeon hasn't even submitted my paperwork to the insurer yet because I have one more visit to go. But, just in case, I'm already thinking of Plan B 'cause a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do!

Can anyone who has used Dr. Alvarez in Mexico give me their experience with his office? Thanks for any information you can provide!!

I will be there in two weeks. Starting my preop today. I'll be on clears for two weeks. Supposed to be one week but dr a said I can do two weeks, he says the longer the better! Woohoo! Good luck to you. I have met him in person and I know I couldn't have made a better choice. Any questions let me know. Susie

I will be sleeve next Saturday 6/30...... The countdown has began !!!

I will be there in two weeks. Starting my preop today. I'll be on clears for two weeks. Supposed to be one week but dr a said I can do two weeks, he says the longer the better! Woohoo! Good luck to you. I have met him in person and I know I couldn't have made a better choice. Any questions let me know. Susie

Susie,

I hope that you have a great experience with Dr. Alvarez, I know that you will

I am so excited to get there myself. Good luck with the pre-op diet. Just focus on the future and you can do it . I tried to get in in July but the soonest date he had was the 30. My hubby has to be at work on Mondays so I chose a Wed- Sun travel time for that reason.

I wish you all the best! Stay in touch.

Joyce

Susie' date='

I hope that you have a great experience with Dr. Alvarez, I know that you will <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I am so excited to get there myself. Good luck with the pre-op diet. Just focus on the future and you can do it <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. I tried to get in in July but the soonest date he had was the 30. My hubby has to be at work on Mondays so I chose a Wed- Sun travel time for that reason.

I wish you all the best! Stay in touch.

Joyce[/quote']

Hey Joyce, thank you for ur thoughts. I'm on my fifth day preop and it's easy and hard at the same time. I had a lot of low blood sugars being that I am a type one diabetic but Susan and Dr. Alvarez really helped me out. I did mess up but not horribly and that's also the reason why I started it one week early, that way I can find my flaws and get better at staying focused. I wish u the best as well Hun. K.I.T. Susie

Yeah, the diabetes is hard to deal with in the liquid phases. My Dr told me to take my diabetes meds the day before surgery but not take them after. He says it is just too hard on the stomach and I may not need them.

I am happy to hear that Dr.A and Susan are able to help you out. That is comforting.

Take each day as it comes and make the best of it, that is about all we can do. I will keep you in my prayers.

You will be in my prayers too, thank you! This preop is so hard! And now I've gained what I've lost because my aunt is coming to visit ;(. Ugh, sucks!

I paid my deposit to Dr. Alvarez and my surgery will be in August. The insurance process has worn me down and I don't feel like dealing with it anymore! I could be halfway to my goal weight before the insurance company gets its head out of the sand. Anybody going to Dr. A around 8/29 or 8/30?

Congrats on your decision....I was having a very emotional hard time today, but in route to Walmart as we speak to pick up traveling size essentials & post-op suggested clears.....I'm nervous as hell & a lot scared, but I will be on that plane tomorrow morning!

Congrats on your decision....I was having a very emotional hard time today' date=' but in route to Walmart as we speak to pick up traveling size essentials & post-op suggested clears.....I'm nervous as hell & a lot scared, but I will be on that plane tomorrow morning![/quote']

I saw your earlier post because, of course, I have been stalking this forum. I understand having jitters, but you will do wonderfully! I had a video-conference with Dr. A and he is so cool! Truthfully, I spoke to him longer than I have spoken to the surgeon whose office I have been going to for 5 months!! After speaking with several of his patients in this area, I was sold. Be confident in your decision and just think of that one thing you want to do when you get to your goal weight!! Let us know when you arrive!

I want to wish everyone who is going to Dr. Alvarez the best. I too will be visiting him on August 6th and that day can't come fast enough. I have never felt more assured in a surgery as I do with Dr. Alvarez. I truly have made the best decision for me. SweetSusie and I met him in person at a seminar he held in Houston and that just further iterated my choice in doctors. It was also nice to meet Susie in person as we were already conversing here on the forums. Having someone to talk to who is experiencing the same things, or trying to achieve the same goals really helps. I'm sure you all will have a wonderful experience.

Now lets get this show on the road!!

Hi everybody, it's Sharnae & I am officially sleeved as of Saturday morning, Saturday was pretty ok, but Sunday & Monday was really rough. The acid reflux & th gas is kicking my butt.

Far as Dr.Alvarez he is so kind and gentle and has the best bedside manner. He is available to answer all of your questions and personally takes time to one and visit each of his patents 2-3 times a day. Although Dr. Alvarez is not the cheapest option, he was th best option for me. Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Dr. Alvarez is AMAZING!! I had surgery 2 years ago TOMORROW!...and I am down 200 pounds!! Highest weight was 350' date=' currently holding 150 give or take a few pounds. I was nervous at first, but once I met him and the staff I knew it was the best choice! I had paid for the surgery myself (i had no insurance).

My entire experience was AMAZING!!...I can HONESTLY say that I had the best care at his facility that I have ever had in my life. I was 18 years old when I had surgery. For me, my recovery went very easy..little to no pain at all, followed my diet instructions, exercised..and weight just started coming off. I know everyone is different I am just telling how it worked for me

Susan his patient coordinator is awesome, she helps with anything and gets back to me almost instantly! Even post-op I still talk to them!

He is truly an incredible doctor with a huge heart [/quote']

I am so glad I found this.....I have not met him but surgery for me is aug 4th.........thank you everyone...

I am scheduled with Dr. Alvarez on August 13. I didn't go with the lowest cost option, but rather with my "gut". My insurance specifically excludes weight loss surgery, so I knew I would have to be self-pay. I was originally thinking of the Lap-Band with Gastric Plication with a surgeon in Houston, but the more I researched, the less comfortable I felt about, so I decided that the VSG was the best option for me, but in Houston I just couldn't afford it, and started looking at other options. I was so grateful to find someone over the border in Texas, so that I wouldn't have to travel so far. Then after checking out Dr. A's YouTube videos, I felt like I had already met him. I am very grateful that things have worked out this way, and I am looking forward to utilizing this tool for my health. Thanks for listening.

I am scheduled with Dr. Alvarez on August 13. I didn't go with the lowest cost option, but rather with my "gut". My insurance specifically excludes weight loss surgery, so I knew I would have to be self-pay. I was originally thinking of the Lap-Band with Gastric Plication with a surgeon in Houston, but the more I researched, the less comfortable I felt about, so I decided that the VSG was the best option for me, but in Houston I just couldn't afford it, and started looking at other options. I was so grateful to find someone over the border in Texas, so that I wouldn't have to travel so far. Then after checking out Dr. A's YouTube videos, I felt like I had already met him. I am very grateful that things have worked out this way, and I am looking forward to utilizing this tool for my health. Thanks for listening.

I felt exactly the same way. A friend of mine has the lap-band and used Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. At first I was leaning towards the lap-band too, so I was researching Dr. Ortiz. Then I started changing my mind and decided the sleeve was what I wanted to avoid any future complications with the band. Altho Ortiz does the sleeve, I couldn't compare my friends experiences as I changed procedures. I started looking through other doctors. I came across some that are much cheaper than Alvarez, but once I came across him, It was like a "Slap in the face" moment. I just had a very strong pull that he was the doctor for me.

A few months later and here I am, fixing to start a pre-op diet in a few weeks and ready to get this show on the road. I have never been more certain of my decisions.

Just starting my journey! Unsure about insurance coverage yet. In the scheme of things I guess I am considered low BMI, but I have plenty of things going on weight related. I really think I will be covered for surgery with my local Dr. However, I have already decided that If I do have to self pay, Dr. Alvarez will be the man of choice! Matter of fact I saw where he conducts training seminars at one of the Institutions in Texas where one of our local surgeons was trained for the procedure. Who knows he could have trained him! I have not seen a post regarding a bad experience involving him. Let me know if anyone happens to know of any, as I am just curious. I am sure there are some out there. Just would like to know what.