Surgery date scheduled for June 30th. Would love an online support group if one has not already been started. Maybe even some offline support as well.

Edited May 25, 201412 yr by knippenjen42

Hi Sherreis. I also live in Oviedo. I had my sleeve done in Mexico by Dr. Quinones on July 9th of this year. I was so pleased with my experience and would gladly share any knowledge with you. If you are traveling outside of the US for your surgery, I do not recommend Dr. Alvarez in Mexico as I have spoken with many dissatisfied patients of his. If you are staying in the US for surgery and are lucky enough to have insurance cover it, I have heard fantastic things about Celebration Health. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat!

Thanks for the prompt reply. I will be having this covered by insurance hopefully. I should meet all the criteria for medical necessity. I have started looking at Celebration and also at Dr. Beltre who has an office in Altamonte Springs

Hello! I was originally with Dr. Beltre in Altamonte Springs www.saynotoobesity.com who was going to do my sleeve, but when my insurance (Cigna) denied it and Denied it again after the first appeal, I took my friend advice and booked with Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana Mexico! Dr. Beltre is very good and he has excellent bedside manners. He completed a minor procedure on my back and my war wound healed beautiful without any issues! I would prefer him. I also live near Oviedo and Casselberry area. Hope this helps

Hi! I'm in Oviedo and am getting sleeved July 9th in Mexico. I would to have a local support grouoto connect with for my journey!

Thanks for the prompt reply. I will be having this covered by insurance hopefully. I should meet all the criteria for medical necessity. I have started looking at Celebration and also at Dr. Beltre who has an office in Altamonte Springs

I had a consult with Dr. Beltre several years ago when I started researching WLS, but before I found out my insurance wouldn't cover it. I thought he was very kind and knowledgeable. He and his staff answered a lot of questions for me. I wish my insurance would have covered it, but I am happy to have found another option. Doing well at 3 months post op as of today! 52 pounds down! I don't think you can go wrong with either Dr. Beltre or Celebration!

I went to Tijuana - and used Dr Cabrera with MBC - loved the whole experience... Im doing very well.... However IF I had had the surgery here in Florida I would have gone to Dr Kim at Celebration - I have several friends that went with him. But for me it wasn't an option - I didn't have the health problems allowing it covered by insurance... I did it cause diets didn't work - and my knees were really bad. Im down over 60lbs now... and feeling better every day!

Thanks for all the responses. I am amazed by how many of you have travelled to Mexico for your surgeries. I had no idea about that as an option for people. I have also looked at the charges for that and it almost comes close to what my copay will be with my yukky health insurance coverage with a high deductible. If I had started this earlier in the year it wouldn't be so high.

Mexico was even better than my insurance would have been even if it did cover bariatric surgery. I have a $7500 deductible on my insurance. My surgery in Mexico INCLUDING airfare for 2 people and all my meds to take home, food for my husband and tips for transportation, etc ended up being $5000. The care I received was top notch! I don't regret it for a minute!

I had mine done by Dr. Kim. Absolutely an incredible experience. No pain from surgery, the hospital staff was top notch and my recovery was incredibly easy. I was back to work - part time with a ride - in three days. Back full time, driving myself in a week. No pain meds what so ever - not even Tylenol. My only complaint was the after appointments. The appt at 1 month, I was in the waiting room for 2 hours. I was incredibly pissed off. The appointments I went to after that, I told them I had to be out the door in 1 hour for another appointment and I needed to be seen at my scheduled time. Miraculously, they got me in quick.

Wow!! Congratulations on your surgery, recovery, and your journey! I can't wait to go! I hope and pray that my journey will be an success and that I will be able to finally start a family with my fiance and no longer have health problems! Please keep us posted on your success

Mexico was even better than my insurance would have been even if it did cover bariatric surgery. I have a $7500 deductible on my insurance. My surgery in Mexico INCLUDING airfare for 2 people and all my meds to take home, food for my husband and tips for transportation, etc ended up being $5000. The care I received was top notch! I don't regret it for a minute!

At first, I was looking at Dr. Kim, but I changed my mind after I saw 17000.00 for surgery. I then went to Dr. Beltre in Altamonte, but my insurance rejected the claim for non coverage. So, I am now going with Dr. Fernando Garcia in Tijuana Mexico

I had mine done by Dr. Kim. Absolutely an incredible experience. No pain from surgery, the hospital staff was top notch and my recovery was incredibly easy. I was back to work - part time with a ride - in three days. Back full time, driving myself in a week. No pain meds what so ever - not even Tylenol. My only complaint was the after appointments. The appt at 1 month, I was in the waiting room for 2 hours. I was incredibly pissed off. The appointments I went to after that, I told them I had to be out the door in 1 hour for another appointment and I needed to be seen at my scheduled time. Miraculously, they got me in quick.

Hello, I live in Casselberry I'm on my journey with Orlando Health

Hello!!!

I hope that all is well! Okay great! We are neighbors When is your surgery? Best of luck to you on your journey.

Hello, I live in Casselberry I'm on my journey with Orlando Health

Hello neighbor, I ' m still on my 6 mos diet per my insurance , probably in Feb 15 I would love to know more keep in touch

I live in Orlando , I'm on my journey still waiting I love all the feedback my surgery will be on at Orlando health!

Okay!! great that is right around the corner! Please keep me updated as well on your stats! I am trying not to be anxious, but I am a little, I am just trying to knock off at least 10more pounds before the surgery!

Hello neighbor, I ' m still on my 6 mos diet per my insurance , probably in Feb 15 I would love to know more keep in touch

It doesn't appear that there has been much activity in here recently but I thought I'd post in case anyone else was looking.

I live near UCF and my surgery is scheduled next week (April 1st - yep April Fool's Day) with Dr. Jawad at ORMC. I'm having the SADI-Loop procedure and couldn't be more excited and scared to death at the same time.