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Mexico for a Canadian



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I had no problems travelling back. But, when we say pack light we mean PACK LIGHT!! lol.I brought pain killers (just in case) for the flight, but I never had to use them.Be strong my friend! Your best health is just around the corner!

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Does anyone know of a fill doc in Edmonton?

How much are the fills in Calgary, if you get the surgery done in Mexico?

This forum has been A LOT of help!

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Jac I was just hoping you could give me a bit more information on Dr Ortiz, my husband is consdering using him for his lapband surgery and I am concened about him leaving Canada to have this surgery.

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I had a great experience with Dr. Ortiz and would recommend him to anyone. The clinic was much cleaner and more efficient than any clinic here. The care by the nursing staff was excellent. I had a giant hiatal hernia that was fixed at the same time so I was in quite a bit of pain following surgery and the staff was excellent in helping me manage the pain and giving me tips to help me heal. I would have no concerns at all about leaving Canada for medical treatment at that clinic.

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Can someone fill me in on the process of submitting to Alberta Health Care and what the refund might be. Also did anybody use it as a tax write off.

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Yes ABhealth refunded about $1200 back and we used the rest as a medical expense.

Myself and my husband used Dr Ortiz and I have recommended him to a few people who have had a good experience.

Good luck

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Can someone fill me in on the process of submitting to Alberta Health Care and what the refund might be. Also did anybody use it as a tax write off.

There is a form on the AB Health Care website for out of country procedures that you need to submit along with an itemized receipt from the clinic. You can also claim everything else as a medical expenses, including the cost of the flight on your taxes. You need to follow the Revenue Canada rules on this, but I was able to claim everything, including a meal allowance, even though I was on a liquid diet the whole time I was there.

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Thank You everybody for your help. I have booked my surgery for June 28 th. I am excited and nervous at the same time. Can the people who get fills in Calgary please tell me who they use and how they went about contacting and setting up an appointment with them. I am going back to Dr Ortiz for my first fill but after that i would like to stay in Province

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i totally recommend Dr. Aceves from Mexicali. his staff is reliable and professional. I was sleeved with him and i had an excellent experience, haven't had any complications and the followup is excellent as well. Check them out, or call Nina, she's the patient coordinator, she'll gladly give you all the necessary information. Goodluck, and please feel free to ask.

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I can not beleive this post is this old, but I will take a shot!! I am really leaning towards Mexico anyone have any doctor suggestions?? I have a couple that I really like and have researched but just want to see if it some of the same..also, as someone posted above, you can get money back from Health Care???? would like more info on this!!

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I can not beleive this post is this old, but I will take a shot!! I am really leaning towards Mexico anyone have any doctor suggestions?? I have a couple that I really like and have researched but just want to see if it some of the same..also, as someone posted above, you can get money back from Health Care???? would like more info on this!!

Yes, you should get anywhere from $1200-$1800 back from Alberta Health Care if you have surgery out of country.

The out of country form is here:http://www.health.alberta.ca/documents/AHCIP-form-AHC0934.pdf

Out of province form for Physician services: http://www.health.alberta.ca/documents/AHCIP-form-AHC0693.pdf

Take the physician services form with you and have the clinic fill in the physician information. Then get a detailed, itemized receipt for all services, tests, etc. that were completed during your stay. You can submit that with the above forms to AHS.

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Huge thank you!!! That just makes it that much better!!! One step closer...thank you!!!

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Yes, I claimed everything including the flight, a per diem amount for food (not that you eat anything while down there), cost for surgery, and any other travel expenses (i.e. km travelled to get to the airport). It worked out to about $15,000 the year that I went, but the Canadian dollar was much lower then compared to now.

If the price is $15,000, wouldn't it be more cost effective and less hassle to get it done locally?

I'm just curious as I have trouble finding real world, current pricing with all the hidden fees included etc.

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Hi Crush, I ended up going to Mexico and having my surgery by Dr.Ortiz, and all I can say is, fantastic!! Great care, and so far great results!!! the cost was $500 dep, then $4500.00 upon arrival to the clinic. I feel great, no hesitation!! good luck with your choice and dont look back!!

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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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