I'm hoping to have surgery in August in Tijuana and I'm debating between 2 doctors (below). I'm ~300lbs and I've had no prior weight loss surgeries (this is not a conversion).

1) Dr. Louisiana Valenzuela via Mexico Bariatric Center with Christy as coordinator.

2) Dr. Alejandro López Ortega ("Dr. Lopez") via alighterme.com with Janese as coordinator.

Any opinions / suggestions / experiences would be much appreciated.

Thank you guys!

I sure will I'm so glad you had a successful experience with her. I have been up late reading all the blog information every night trying to calm my nerves. I'm very excited.

She's also a trauma surgeon who worked in San Francisco. I was a trauma flight nurse on a helicopter and fixed wing (airplane) for a year. With both Dr. Valenzuela and Dr. Ismael Cabrera, they have over 5, 000 surgeries performed with no deaths.

I am very excited. My stomach has been in knots for days. I am sure it will get better.

I am very excited. My stomach has been in knots for days. I am sure it will get better.

It will. I just referred one of my male pain patients to them today.

When tipping (driver, room service), did you use dollars or pesos?

When tipping (driver' date=' room service), did you use dollars or pesos?[/quote']

Dollars

I am schedule for my sleeve on August 6, 2013 with Dr. Lopez. Janese is my coordinator and whenever I try to call I have to leave a message which is okay because to me that means she giving someone her undivided attention. However she does not call back she responds with an email. I am very unhappy with that. I have so many questions. For example, because my flight is 14 hours long how I am supposed to take a laxative. I arrive at 10 pm that night the day before my surgery. Also, what kind of laxative? I went to a pharmacist and they thought I had lost my mind telling them I needed a laxative for pre-op and could not tell them what kind. Someone please help. So many questions and so little answers in less than 2 weeks away.

I am schedule for my sleeve on August 6' date=' 2013 with Dr. Lopez. Janese is my coordinator and whenever I try to call I have to leave a message which is okay because to me that means she giving someone her undivided attention. However she does not call back she responds with an email. I am very unhappy with that. I have so many questions. For example, because my flight is 14 hours long how I am supposed to take a laxative. I arrive at 10 pm that night the day before my surgery. Also, what kind of laxative? I went to a pharmacist and they thought I had lost my mind telling them I needed a laxative for pre-op and could not tell them what kind. Someone please help. So many questions and so little answers in less than 2 weeks away.[/quote']

I'm having my surgery with Dr Lopez on the same day and also have the same coordinator. Sleeve Buddies!!!!

I recommend making a list of questions and ask Janese to send it to the dr for answers. That is what I did. She sends it to Dr Ortiz (sp?) who is on Lopez's team. I just purchased an over-the-counter laxative to use. Nothing special. I purchased "Successful Weight Loss with the Gastric Sleeve" by Dr Alvarez on Kindle. I found it helpful.

Mscands, you're to take the laxative three days before. Not the day prior. You should have no issues with the flight.