I am low bmi (just under 35) and just starting this search. physical & seminar scheduled for next week. Family history of diabetes and high blood pressure (not here yet). Considering Mexico since going self-pay but that thought is scaring the hell out of me.

1. I hear alot of good things about doctors in Mexico -- but would like to hear who you didn't like and why?

2. Considering combining with a vacation - but how long before I can go back to work? I can't take off more than 2 weeks. I'm a secretary, so non-strenuous. How long did it take you to go back to work and did you have any problems?

3. I am a "high pre-diabetic", anything I can do to ensure I go up 10 points for the test? If so I could be approved for a local surgeon and insurance coverage. Someone suggested low-carb for several days before the test....thoughts?

4. Anybody that had complications with Mexico surgery - does US insurance ever cover complications (specifically Blue Cross/Blue Shield Carefirst/Maryland)?

5. Did anybody go to Mexico alone? My husband wouldn't be much of a support there so I'm serously considering leaving him home.

6. Does anybody have a picture of the scars left? I'm hoping what I'm envisioning is not as bad as reality.

I know I have alot of questions but very anxious to get things going. Still sorting through the forum but working two jobs doesn't leave alot of free time. I get on here and research when I can.

I could have gone to work after one week, but lots of folks on here have shared their stories of complications and discomfort at that point. You are taking your chances.

The scars are minimal, but isn't the point of the surgery to improve our health and the quality of our lives? Scars would seem to take a back seat when compared to a goal like that.

I'm just speaking on the scars... With all the stretch marks I already have on my tummy, the few little scars would be almost impossible to see. After losing the amount of weight that most of us need to lose, I will have so many wrinkles and folds til the scars will merge into the background. The future scars from a tummy tuck will definately over shadow a few tiny incisions. People can see I look 13 months pregnant. No one will notice a few itty bitty teeny weenie incisions.

Best wishes on your journey!!!

Pssst....If you don't want to have any evidence that you had surgery...research "Spider Surgery" its done with 1 belly button incision. Cost more. Newer. Limited Doctors.

Thank you everyone. It's not the scars themselves - its the thought of being cut that's driving me crazy (yeah, I can take a shot but the IV makes me pass out). I have no intention of getting anywhere where anyone but my hubby would see them anyway. lol

I've heard of the single incesition through a belly button -- nails on a chalkboard to me. I'll take 5 scars over anything through there. Not scared of much - but that would send me over the edge. Natural childbirth was preferable to the thought of an epidural.

As for going it alone we're both active and it will drive me crazy sitting in a room - even if im hurting. Then he will make it worse sitting around watching me. After birth of my kids I had to send him packing so I could get some rest. He means well but....

I've never taken off any time so I had to look into how much I could take at once and two weeks is the maximum. Not sure I could do this and recover sufficently in two weeks to go back to work. While I despise this job but need it....especially since i'm probably self-paying. I have no intention on sharing my personal life with my boss so I will not be telling them what i'm doing. They are use to me and others dieting so it wont be a surprise i'm starting another "diet"

I went alone and was fine. My husband is awesome and very supportive of me doing the surgery, but he would have had ants in his pants. Also, in the end, I would be worried about him - is he eating...

Thinmymind-if you have a moment I have a couple of questions:

(1) how was your experience with Dr. Kelly? What made you choose Dr. Kelly?

(2) how much have you lost in 30 days?

(3) when were you able to return to work/activities?

How are you doing 30 days post op? How long before you felt you could return to work/activities?

Look on you tube on it will show you exactly how the surgery is done

Dr.Rodriguez in Juarez will let you put 2,500 to 3,000 down and finance the rest into affordable payments that's who I'm going through in January. A lot of people have gone to him and I have already started talking to a staff coordinator.

dont know if i could watch it but i'll keep it in mind. lol

dont know if i could watch it but i'll keep it in mind. lol

Yes, it is gross to watch, but I learned a lot

Dr. Alvarez has several Youtube videos about the surgery and he also has lots of questions that he answers in the videos. I believe we all choose our surgeons for personal reasons. I chose not to go to a Dr in Tj and I will not cross the border at Juarez, I have personal reasons for that. You have to do your research and choose the Dr that you feel comfortable with. For me, that is Dr Alvarez. I feel safe crossing the border at Eagle Pass, TX plus that is a shorter flight for me to fly home after the surgery is done. My hubby is traveling with me, my kids would not let me travel for surgery alone, neither would he. I would not want to fly alone 3 days after surgery either.

Get all the info you can before you make your choice, the good, the bad and the indifferent. Make up your mind based on what you research about each of them.

I believe that most Dr's use the 5 small incision method for this surgery. There is a new spider method but very few Dr's do it yet. After a few years, my scars from my gall bladder surgery have basically disappeared. I wish I could say the same for the stretch marks from my two pregnancies! Our bodies heal at different rates and our pain levels are all different. Some people have very little pain others have more. I would say if you have a higher pain tolerance than you may breeze right through this. Pain of healing in the stomach probably will be around for a few weeks, it takes our bodies about 6 weeks to fully heal. I have heard many people say that the second and third week you are very tired and sluggish, that is from the healing process and not having food to eat. I own a business with my hubby so I hope that I can go in and work each morning and then come home in the afternoon to rest for a bit. I plan to take a full week off, just to rest, after we get back home.

I wish you much luck with your decision process.

I know nothing about Mexico, border towns and crossings. I would like to hear more about your reasons. If you don't want to post please PM me. I've been leaning towards Dr. Almanza-Reyes. Seems to have a good following and reasonable prices. But haven't looked past the surface yet. Not sure where to begin. Not sure talking to him would be the best way to go yet as I have not been known to be the best judge of character.

Texas would be a shorter flight for me as well but I'm more worried about safety than flight time.

My daughter will probably come with me. We also own a small business in addition to me working full-time so my hubby taking off is not the best for that purpose either - even though its such a short time.

I haven't had my surgery yet but I've had laproscopic surgery to remove my gallbladder. I had 4 small incision points. One 1-inch one at the belly button, a 1/2-inch in the middle of the chest and two pin-pont ones. It's been over a year and I honestly have trouble finding them so I'm really not worried about this surgery either. You can see the belly button one but then you would have to have your face right up there and no ones doing that except my husband.

I am in a similar situation. I will be having my surgery with Dr Ortiz. I went with him because of him being named as one of the top 15 bariatric surgeons by Newsweek and his facility is center of excellence, and if I am honest, because he was on Oprah. I don't know how much any of this means but that is why I picked him - I actually did not seriously look at other options.

I had a BMI of 35 but have started a modified pre-op diet and am already down to a 33.1 BMI. I have called and he will do the surgery as long as I am above 28. I am not scheduled until Sept 10. I have always had trouble with weight and have a strong family history of diabetes. I am pre-diabetic and, like you, if my number went up my insurance would have paid for surgery because of co-morbidity.

It is harder than you think to get you A1c up and with BCBS you would still have to do the 6 months supervised diet, etc, etc. I did not want to wait that long - plus it would take 3 months of really overeating and eating alot of carbs to get the A1c up - and no guarantee because right now your pancreas/cells/insulin are compensating. Why would you want to get to the point of so much damage? I thought about it but when it came down to it I would have the surgery tomorrow if I could get the time off work.

I am going by myself and I am not telling anyone that I am having this surgery done. I am taking a week off work and then returning part time mornings for the following 2 weeks. I have had surgery a few times before and have an idea of what I can handle. I also have a desk job.

To me, it is worth the money. I am considering how much money I will save in the long run if I am healthier. I am only 5'3" so just a little weight on me really shows, and I am a total apple!

I am not sure if I answered all of your questions. I do think wherever you decide to go, there will be many other people having the surgery so you will have plenty of support. I was stressed about going myself but I have already reached out to someone from this board who will be with the same doctor on the same day.

Thinmymind-if you have a moment I have a couple of questions:

(1) how was your experience with Dr. Kelly? What made you choose Dr. Kelly?

(2) how much have you lost in 30 days?

(3) when were you able to return to work/activities?

I loved loved loved Dr. Kelly and his assistant Omar. So much so, that I am planning a trip to visit him in October with the other two women I had surgery with on June 14th. I chose Dr. Kelly for many reasons, but mostly because after speaking with him, I just felt so comfortable. Some of the Drs. do not speak English and that did not make me comfortable - some people don't mind and that says nothing about them as surgeons, but personally, I felt better being able to communicate directly with the Dr.

I am 21 days out today, so I can't answer 30 day questions yet. I have lost approximately 20 pounds since my surgery which I am beyond happy with. I say approximately because I am out of town and away from my regular scale - I am using one here and although the numbers are different, I am still seeing losses every day.

I would say a week and a half to two weeks and you would be back to normal pretty much. It depends on what your normal activity is like.