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Rocky1 or anyone, any idea if Dr. Corvala uses an absorbable polyme membrane(APM) to reinforce the staple line for vsg Does he invert the staple line using the david kim "inveted" gastric sleeve technique. that is where three rows of staples are used on the sleeve. IT is then sutured over the staple line. the sutured staple line is then inverted to the inside of the stomach and sutured again(french seam). These techniques supposedly significanlty strengthen the sleeve. Dr David Kim who is a famous bariatric surgeon in dallas advertises that he uses the inverted technique on his vsg patients. I'm a bit paranoid about leaks and would prefer someone who uses APM and the inverted sleeve technique to strenghten the leeve. I 've also read the length of the sleeve is referred to as the boogie and an optimal boogie of 32 or 34 is idea but i have no idea if there is any truth to that. I"m currently scheduled with dr Corvala on june 23. I'm also looking at using dr kim or dr nicholson in dallas. my family is not very supportive of my consiering Mexico. Dr Corvala at hospital Angeles is the ony mexican bariatric dr and facility i would consider. The strip mall locaionts in tiajuanasound like butcher shops to some extent based on some of th posts i've been reading on forums. dr covala is 6500 if you make your 650 down payment b the 15th of february which i've done. apparently it goes up to7500 on feb 16 due to an increaase in thehospital fee. dr. nickolson in dallas is at 12,200 for a vsg and I think dr kim is between 13000 and 14000 for a vsg but i am not entirely sure yet what he charges. I'm really pushing hospital angeles to stay at the hospital the five full days they advertise on their website so i have a long recoveryin the hospital and take advangage of the free post 6 pm check in the day before the procedure. that would to be a total of 6 nights in the hospital for me. the hospital care at hospital angeles and dr. corvala's rep is why i might use him versus dr .kim or dr nichsolson in dallas. the case manager at hopital angeles is pushing back saying that 3 nights post op in the hopital is sufficient but i will insist on the five nightes for vsg they advertise on their website. if for some reason i back out of using dr corvalai've been told by my hospital angeles case manager that i would forfeit 10% of the surgery down payment. sine the down payment was 650(i.e 10% of hte 6500 total fee) i fould forfeit $65 should I cancel as a paperwork admin fee. THat is not an unreasonable policy. for anyone who has or is seriouly considering dr . corvaa for vsg please keep me posted. i have a bmi of 44.

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Here are a bunch of pictures of my experience with Dr Corvala and Angeles Hospital in TJ. Amazing experience. I couldn't more pleased. World class, state of the art facility with top surgeons, staff and protocol and the icing is the spa like atmosphere ;-)

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/332074-anyone-at-angeles-tj-or-with-dr-corvala-onaround-feb-19th/?p=3761436

and more pictures:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/332074-anyone-at-angeles-tj-or-with-dr-corvala-onaround-feb-19th/?p=3762637

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I am an ICU nurse, been doing this for 27 years. I feel I have done my due diligence and interviewed and assessed multiple processes and surgeons. I am very confident that I have made the right decision, I will be having my sleeve by Dr Elias Ortiz on Monday March 2, through A Lighter Me.

My process might be different from anyone else... and my criteria might be different than other. I am NOT a spokesperson for any doctor or organization. I believe in trust and honesty. Again, I feel I have made the right decision for me.

Now back to your regular program.... LOL

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@@defibvt - I have a friend scheduled sx for Dr. Elias Oritz... Can you tell me about your experience? You can email me if needed- jasmine.wilson@aegistherapies.com

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@@jasminew My experience was as an ICU nurse. I expected clean and safe care. I was picked up at the San Diego ariport and taken to the hotel, it was very nice and I felt safe walking in the area. I was taken to the hospital and had pre-op labs and an EKG done. Nothing different from what I had experienced myself in the States. My surgery went well. The doctors had all met me and talked to me, I was given versed and propofol during my surgery and my recovery time in the PACU was uneventful... I have to admit, the first night was awesome, as was the care I received while I was there... there were only 9 beds on the floor I was on and 2 nurses... that is 4.5 patients/per nurse and is extremely awesome ratios, you do not see that here in the States. I was given scheduled Antibiotics, anti nausea meds, pain medication and antacid medication. I never experienced any problems. On discharge date, I was given a lovenox (blood thinner) and we were taken back to the hotel for 2 more days to recover. The staff of A Lighter Me were very attentive and available. On arriving home, I spiked a temp and spent time 1 on 1 talking with Dr Ortiz, and agreed to take an additional antibiotic (I got strept throat, most like the airplane), my recovery went well after that. My success and experience, were enough for my sister to pay for her son to go there to have his sleeve, by the same MD, in June of this year, and my neighbor is working with A Lighter Me to have her sleeve done as well... I feel very comfortable giving my support for A Lighter Me and Dr Ortiz. I hope this helps... if you have any further questions... please don't hesitate to ask.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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