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Are you guys nervous about going to Mexico for your procedures? How does that work with follow up care? Will doctors here in the US take you on if there's complications? Or do you have to go to Mexico again?

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After mexico you see your normal doctors here in the USA. your primary care doctor should know that you are getting the sleeve and that you are going to mexico for it. I went to my primary first to get their opinion on it. I thought about going to Mexico but i went against it simply because i wanted the surgery near my home.

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I had my sleeve surgery in Mexico, with doctor Almánzar in Baja California Hospital (March 10, 2022). Best decision ever, the nurses are amazing, my surgery went perfect. When I came back to the States I went to the emergency room just to check and the doctors here were amazed, how good and perfect everything was. So don’t be scared my surgery only took 40 minutes, 3 hours after the surgery I was walking and talking like nothing happened. Also, I never had any pain or nauseous. My experience was amazing, will do it 10000000 times in Mexico.

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Those are good questions. I always wondered about that too.

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12 hours ago, Future Sleeve Diva said:

Are you guys nervous about going to Mexico for your procedures? How does that work with follow up care? Will doctors here in the US take you on if there's complications? Or do you have to go to Mexico again?

there are some excellent surgeons in Mexico, but you need to do your research. Look for reviews and recommendations. Also, make sure your PCP here in the US is on board and is willing to do any required follow-up.

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I had surgery in Mx. with Dr. Illan at HopsitalBC and was VERY happy with the experience. I met with my PCP prior to surgery and she was 100% supportive. She did pre-op labs to make sure there were no concerns, and has done all of my post-op labs. She also prescribed a course of Ursodiol, as I have a history of biliary colic and wanted to try and avoid any issues post-op. My surgeon does also have ongoing support with their nutritionist (via phone, email, FB group, etc.).

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I am in a support group with a woman who had her surgery in Mexico and she had severe nausea after surgery but was too out of it to advocate for herself. Luckily the sister of the woman who she shared a room with was there and was a nurse and told the doctors that she needed help, and that the medications she had weren't working. But she did not have a great experience. She went to one of the most popular and highly rated places there.

You could have a good or bad experience at any hospital, but my advice is to try (If you can afford it/insurance will cover it) is to get it near home where someone can come with you to be your advocate. This is not just for WLS but for any medical procedure where you will be unconscious.

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        Like with this surgery, I knew I was going to need their help getting to the appointments and back from the surgery, so I knew I had to tell them. But I did not tell them until I was almost at the point of getting surgery that I was doing this.

        I got hard judgment from my father, which I expected, I made him promise not to share this with his brothers (who are assholes) I told him whether he likes it or not I am an adult and I deserve respect and privacy especially when it concerns my health. (he begrudgingly agreed)

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        I know they both struggled with trying to respect my wishes, they looked shocked when I told them that if I lived somewhere else, I would not have even told them I was having this surgery.

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        I'm glad your father did agree to respect your privacy by not sharing with your family. And I guess I should be glad my mom keeps the dramatic flair off of the socials!

        I'm both lucky and unlucky that my brother had VGS 15 years ago. On the one hand, my mom understands the concept and has seen my brother's good results from it, (we inherited the obesity from my father's side, and Mom has never dealt with more than those pesky 10 lbs average weight people always want to lose). On the other hand, my brother took exactly the opposite approach from me. He didn't live near family and told no one, had no support. He went to Mexico as self-pay and didn't say a word until about 4 weeks after when he was having some serious emotional struggles, living alone, and compounded by the fear of realizing that to get family support, he had to "confess." So his recovery was very different than what I anticipate for me. But because of all that, my mom definitely sees this as a "REALLY BIG DEAL." Which it is, but not the level she's at with it. Like, it's not an open heart surgery being performed in 1982, or experimental cancer treatment. I've also noticed that as my mom ages, she takes change a lot harder. She doesn't have the mental flexibility anymore to make an instant change of plans and roll with it, whereas I do that probably a dozen times a day.

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