Every morning I wake I thank god for a new day on this earth! After all I have been through in the past 9 days, has seriously made me a new person. I can remember, like it just occurred, I felt so cold, I said, I have a fever, she checked, and said, your ok. My heart rate was at 121, Blood pressure which typically ran high was, jaw dropping low. The nurses kept emptying my drain, over and over, I had lost 3 liters of blood-within 3 hours, that is not including what she threw out prior to feeling that there was reason for concern. My once jovial upbeat nurse, had turned invisibly concerned. -I remember feeling what seemed like a dark veil, like a light filter of smoked glass. Every thing seemed so dark.- The doctor came in, and I am not quite sure if he knew I was experiencing the for mentioned, and started explaining how well everything had gone through out the surgery, he smiled and explained something, I can't recall exactly what -this time was such a blur to me-Dr. Cabrera in such a happy manner, asked me at this time, "how are you feeling?" I think I answered with "I'm well", as I felt my self drifting away. My life flashed before my eyes, I re-lived some of my happiest moments in my life, and the light was coming. -my husband after recovery, explained that, I passed out and they rushed me into emergency surgery to find out where the leak was because I was showing signs of shock post op hour 4.- I guess this is when they realized something was severely wrong; When I awoke they were pumping me full of clotting factors, plasma, foreign blood and Vitamin K potassium, saline, and a plethora of other foreign things. --Every one was standing around me like it was a funeral.-- After all this, they said, it wasn't enough, "your blood won't clot, did you write in your medical form about family history of a bleeding disorder,?" I explained, it was in my medical form. I have been tested twice, and am negative for vonwilderbrands disorder They were still emptying my full drain every 5 minutes, the doctor stated that I need platelets, and a man comes in asking for $2000. To cover the expense of the blood I was just given. They started to fill me with platelets and a short time later , the doctor came to check up on me, looked at me and said what is this, pointing at my face. I felt my face, and I had blisters all over my cheeks, it expeditiously got worse and my eyes closed due to some sort of allergic reaction to what ever they had put into me. My breathing was harder now than it had ever been in my life, they filled my veins full of cortisone. -at this point, I am unsure if I am still alive, but tinkering with the thought that I have passed away and am in hell experiencing the pain that was due to me for my sins on earth - Fever rose, heart rate rose, blood pressure spiked. Gasps- I couldn't seem to get any air. My lungs were saturating with the foreign blood they over prescribed me. I was choking on their error, literally. At this point the doctors assistant comes in with a folder, with a bill for services, additional to the $6500 I had already paid. Mind you, I am in Mexico for this procedure, what they had originally quoted me $4300, and are adding an additional 1700. To the cost. And they needed it now to give me another round of blood. I explained to the doctor, "I do not have any more money, I just want to go home. This has been such a nightmare! I wish I had never come to Mexico." I explained that I had already booked my flight for tomorrow morning, and do not want to miss my flight, I just want to go back to America. Doctor explained he couldn't allow me to go home, he said, you can stay here and continue incurring bills or you can be transported via ambulance to Scripps in Chula Vista. He explained that he would pay the $500 for the ambulance to the border. I just wanted out of that horrible hospital, my experience was, let's just say, much worse than my wildest nightmares, my worst fears come to life, a walk through hell and back. I went to Scripps, and thank GOD. There is little in my life I can say I experienced that felt very wrong, but this time in Mexico felt like the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life! Doctors who don't read your medical forms and just perform surgery on anyone.

I thank God that I lived! I thank God that I will be able to kiss my children good night again, and every morning that I wake up, I thank God, for giving me more time with my family, and I thank God for each and every minute I am able to walk this earth, this story could have ended differently, I might not have made it. I thank God that I am recovering so quickly, and am making great strides, every day gets a little better, a little easier. Mostly, I thank God, because, I appreciate more, I respect more, I now know there is a greater purpose for me, and it is my mission to see that his will is fulfilled. I was never a deeply religious person, but after this, so many opportunities where I could have perished, have made me realize how very precious life really is and how your time could end at any minute..

Why am I writing this you may ask your self, well, I am hoping to help at least one person for making such a decision based on a whim. Please know what your getting into, this surgery is a major one. Be informed.

It's a valid question. I never said I was against it just help me to understand. Mexico does not have a good healthcare system I have family there.

It's a valid question. I never said I was against it just help me to understand. Mexico does not have a good healthcare system I have family there.

DaddyMarie,

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't a valid question. It's just usually the question is a result of misconceptions about healthcare in the States.

There is a difference between the care people receive in state run (or public) facilities vs. private for-profit institutions wherever you go. So when we talk about Mexico, the Carribean or wherever, we aren't necessarily referring to the same institutions that are utilized by the residents of the area. The facilities that people are going to cater to tourists. This is how they make their money. These wouldn't necessarily be the same facilities that make the indigenous women give birth on the front lawn.

There are definitely some horror stories about Mexico. But there are some facilities here that you couldn't pay me to visit. The difference is that while I wouldn't be able to afford a private facility here, I could afford one in MX.

The typical MX patient is someone that either does not have coverage for their medical procedure or their insurance costs make it unattainable. The MX option allows for affordable, quality, customized healthcare. Most people wouldn't be able to afford that option here and wouldn't get the perks offered in MX.

Does that make sense?

Ally

The US does not have a great healthcare system either. I went to Mexico and without hesitation I can say I received better care there than I do here. I find it ironic that I have the best health insurance I've ever had, yet my care has not been on par with my expectations. My surgeon in Mexico identified a few issues that my doctor here ignored and refused to look into after I asked both verbally and in writing months before my surgery. I'm currently looking for a new doctor. I don't know if the doctor is necessarily the problem - I think insurance regulations and the "get em in get em out and make the most money doing it" mentality is the problem.

I'm so sorry for your experience; how are you doing now?

To: DaddyMarie-To answer your question-I am going to Mexico because my insurance company denied me wls based on BMI and lack of obesity-related diseases. I find it ridiculous that Kaiser (known for preventative medicine) offered me a diet/exercise plan. I laughed and said "thank you" and started looking for a surgeon in Mexico. They did not want to hear the long list of diets I have been on since I was 12. They don't care how many years you have battled your weight or how many pounds you have gained and lost over and over. Left in the hands of the US healthcare system, I would have to wait until my health deteriorated to get the surgery I need. I chose to do this now before I fell into diabetes or other issues.

I would have rather stayed in the US and had the surgery covered, but I am grateful for this opportunity in Mexico.

I also find there is this weird moralistic tone in US healthcare toward the whole weight loss thing. I went to Mexico and they were just kind of matter of fact about it, like they were fixing a bone or an appendix or something. It wasn't preachy or judgemental, like "naughty naughty you must not be trying hard enough."

I couldn't justify the 20k to have surgery in my city, vs a 2-hr plane ride and 4500 bucks.

I also find there is this weird moralistic tone in US healthcare toward the whole weight loss thing. I went to Mexico and they were just kind of matter of fact about it, like they were fixing a bone or an appendix or something. It wasn't preachy or judgemental, like "naughty naughty you must not be trying hard enough."

I couldn't justify the 20k to have surgery in my city, vs a 2-hr plane ride and 4500 bucks.

well-said! I was watching a youtube video about 2 nurses (best friends) who were sleeved together and their superiors at the hospital were making comments about their surgeries, saying it was a choice and they just needed to diet. The attitude in this country toward obesity is ridiculous.

Yes, hindsight is great.

And I don't know all your interactions with your surgeon prior to your surgery.

But if I knew I had a history of blood clotting problems, i.e., my blood didn't clot well, I'd certainly have had a specific conversation about my pre-existing conditions with the surgeon in person before having undergone elective surgery.

And if I'd had that kind of blood-clotting problem (did you mean you'd twice tested POSITIVE for Von Willibrand Disease surgery?) I'd have had the surgery at a facility where any clotting complications could be addressed adequately.

Finally, if my mother were a physician specializing in diseases of the blood, why hadn't she explained the severity of your blood-clotting disability? Heck, it's a wonder you didn't bleed to death on a playground when you were a kid. Von Willibrand Disease is more common than hemophilia.

There's much about this story I find confusing.

We went to Mexico and received much better care than we ever could have gotten here in the states. They are a true free market system, meaning their price has to be right and their service has to be right or they go out of business. Here in America, as long as,a doctor is in network with an insurance company, they've already made their money regardless of their level of service.

The facilities were spotless.

The staff bent over backwards for us.

Not to mention it cost us about 1/3 to have it done there. (Thanks obama)

Dr Hidalgo in Puerto Vallarta is amazing. I'd recommend it to anyone considering surgery.