Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

surgery in Mexico



Recommended Posts

Hello all. Just in case im denied by bcbs fed because i dont have history of bmi of 40 for two years im looking to go to Mexico. Question, where do you go for care after surgery?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i am too looking at mexico. as for after care, you just need to talk to pcp's and bariatric dr.'s and ask if they will be willing to do any follow up. with vsg there is not really much follow up, if any, to my knowledge. however, be prepared to hit a lot of opposition from the american medical field in regards to going out of country. my pcp told me flat out he would drop me like a hot stone if i did it. my answer to that......scr$w him!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have BCBS Fed and was approved without a two year history of 40 bmi. as far as I can tell, they want documentation of morbid obesity which is 35 and above. So if you are now 40 but you weren't consistently that until now, you should be fine. My bmi was in the 30s and I just submitted one record from each year showing a bmi of 35 ish and didn't have any trouble. You should definitely give the insurance a shot!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I brought up vsg to my psych np. She then asked, 'Mexico'? First, she doesnt believe in surgery, just diet and exercise. Second, she said I should gain wt (im 35 bmi). Now if I had a cancerous tumor, they would slap my ass into an operating room. But no, I get told to gain weight. When are they going to treat this aggressively? So I thoought I would go to a surgery info this weekend. I bet if got a sleep study, I could qualify. But screw that six months waiting period. I wonder if I can do it retroactively.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana. I have been able to consult with my doctor there via phone and email when I had questions. I had a smooth recovery and no surgical complications, so the only followup I've needed is 6 month bloodwork. I simply called my PCP and he gave me an order for the lab work. If I did have complications, he would have referred me to an appropriate specialist.

My OB/Gyn was so excited about my decision and impressed with my results, she also offered to take care of any bloodwork or followup care I needed. She actually took down my surgeon's contact info to pass on to her other clients who's insurance didn't cover WLS.

Edited by Kindle

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm with Kindle, I'm also an Ariel Ortiz/OCC patient. My primary care doc did bloodwork in April, and had an upper GI in May. My insurance has covered all, even though there is a specific exclusion for weight loss surgery or anything having to do with WLS. I've had no problems getting follow up care. I've been met with some judgment in the medical community (or I think anyway), but not been chastised or denied care.

Not. One. Single. Regret. Go for it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×