KatInFL

So, in my OCD attempt to make sure I'm prepared for surgery (just about 5 weeks away!!) I ordered some Protein powder samples on Sunday. I ordered three sample packs based on a thread in the food & Nutrition forum. First, I ordered unjury. I am most looking forward to trying this one, especially the unflavored and chicken Soup flavors. I also ordered Chike and Syntrax nectar. I wasn't particularly looking for the best deals, just knew what I wanted and was hoping to get them relatively soon. I received a follow up phone call from Chike within 24 hours, just letting me know my order had been shipped and a thank you for ordering. It was nice to see good customer service offered. Today, I received both the Unjury and Syntrax Nectar via UPS. I'm so impressed with the Unjury! It was well packaged and included a shaker bottle and a thermometer, to test Water temps (water used to mix protein can't exceed 140 degrees or it will clump). It also included some ideas for using each type, including the unflavored. I am going to hold off actually taste testing until my pre-op diet. I don't want to get sick of it before it's all I can have. Anyone else pre-op sampled protein powders yet? ~Kat

I ordered the unjury and Chike right from the manufacturers' websites. The Syntrax Nector I ordered from BestPriceNutrition.com. That one, in particular, I probably could have gotten a better price on if I had tried but I didn't want to call to order (I hate talking on the phone unless it's an absolute necessity). ~Kat

Good luck! At least this way, you won't have time to worry and stew about it once you arrive. ~Kat

Looking forward to your report!! I think Omar is great and I'm totally comfortable with the surgeon. I'm scheduled 3/23. ~Kat

This is probably in the top 5 questions I've seen here since I started reading. You'll get a ton of different opinions, but I'll tell you this...I've never read of even one instance where a post-op sleever or their companion had issues coming back from Mexico. Could you potentially? Yes, of course. There's no guarantee you won't get questioned or delayed but I haven't seen anyone here say it's happened to them. ~Kat

I'm sure, just like the coverage of weight loss surgery, what insurance does and doesn't cover for aftercare is very subjective. I have discussed follow up care with my Dr, which he's comfortable providing. He also contacted a colleague in a bariatric practice who said he'd be happy to see and treat me, if I ended up needing something more complex than blood tests. I also called my insurance company, who assured me that they are contractually obligated to cover any follow up and emergency care as a result of any surgery, whether they covered the surgery or not. So, I don't have any real concerns about what will happen after I return home. ~Kat

It's been my experience that sometimes family can't love us in the way we really want them to. It's not that they don't really love us and want the best for us, they just are incapable of giving us what we need. It's ok. It's ok to realize they don't have all (or sometimes any) of the answers, just because they are our family and have known us since birth. And it's ok to realize that sometimes, you just have to chalk it up to finding what you need, in the way of information or reassurance or solace from another source, whatever that is. I hope if you can't count on your family to love you in the way that you need right now, you have others in your life that can do so. Of course, you have us, but I think it's also important everyone have an in-person support system....whether it's one really amazing friend, a significant other, a group of girlfriends...whatever. Figure out who that is for you and let the rest be white noise. You've got to figure out and make the best decision for *you. As for choosing a surgeon...I made a spreadsheet. I listed prices, coordinators, location, and other stats, as I collected them. I then made a decision about what was MOST important to me (care in a hospital), and worked the rest of must haves..it had to be affordable, (I'd love to have the $$ to spend unlimited amounts, but for *me, I had to stick within my budget), it had to be someone I felt confident about their skills (totally subjective but still on the list for me), and so on. I was then able to narrow down the doctors on my spreadsheet by eliminating those that didn't fit all of my criteria. And honestly, it wasn't that important to me to have a surgeon that had done 6,000 previous sleeves. Education and fellowships and internships with other reputable doctors and institutions outweighed experience for me. So, given all of my criteria and my personal experiences in conversations/emails/etc, I narrowed it down to a couple of doctors I really liked, then went with the one that I felt the best about.

Good luck!! ~Kat

So glad to hear from you! I'm glad you're back at the hotel now. I hope the eyesight resolves itself quickly (that has happened to me post-op previously...I always just chalked it up to exhaustion, but who knows). Take it easy! ~Kat

I'd say most people are just fine without a wheelchair. The walking IS good for us after surgery. I'm asking for a wheelchair, anyway, because I will have to connect through a large airport (I haven't purchased tickets yet; I'm currently stalking the internet to find the best deal until I absolutely can't wait any longer)..probably Dallas/Fort Worth. It's not that I won't be able to walk but it's 1. easier to get through security and I know myself well enough to know I'll be aggravated if I have to stand for long while not feeling well and 2. I can make certain that I will make my connecting flight even if I can't walk very fast. If I could get a direct flight, I'd probably forego the wheelchair assistance. but I figure it's better to not need it and have it than need it and not be able to get it. ~Kat

Ack! I don't blame you. You're almost there, though! Well, hopefully by now, you're long in recovery and feeling far calmer. I hope you relax with the good stuff and have a smooth night. ~Kat

We're thinking of you!! Let us know how it goes. ~Kat

It's my opinion that you are wildly misinformed and hiding insults and condescension behind insincere concern. I really couldn't care less what you think of me and my decision, as you have no idea who I am. You are certainly welcome to your opinion but it doesn't mean it's not a misinformed one. Not to mention your expression of it was distinctly insulting to people who've made the decision to go to Mexico. ~Kat

I can tell you why I am going to Mexico vs staying in Florida. I met with 2 surgeons here who quoted self-pay prices of $20,000 and $14,000. I don't have that kind of cash and am not in a position to charge that much. I started out staying "I'd never..." about Mexico. It sounded like something out of a horror novel to me. Who goes to a place that is little better than a third world country for a major medical procedure?? Then, I watched a documentary on Medical Tourism. It discussed not only medical tourism in Mexico but in India, where it is becoming very common place for Americans to receive what would be cost-prohibitive in the US treatments. It discussed a LOT about doctor credentials and what it took in those places to be able to practice medicine. I knew then I might be in a position of having to eat a little crow. I started researching, having discovered that my insurance through my employer has a total exclusion for weight loss surgery. I met with a surgeon I had previously connected with, who has a bariatric practice but had treated me, in conjunction with my reproductive endocrinologist, to ask her thoughts. I talked to my primary care physician who is outspoken in his opinion that the medical field in the US is broken. If you've ever suffered with a chronic illness or needed expensive care without any insurance, you know it's broken. I got the green light from him to research it more and follow up with him again. I'm now about 18 months past the original discussions with my doctors. I'm certain that for around $6k, including airfare and other incidentals, I'm making the right choice for ME in going to Mexico. I'm not about to try to convince anyone else it's the right choice for them. My doctor agrees it's the right choice for me. I'm 33 and hypertensive and pre-diabetic, in addition to some other things that add to this being the right choice for my body. I've been on and off of diets for at least the past 10 years. My doctor has personally watched me struggle with my weight, losing some then gaining it back plus more for good measure. In the end, I don't think that even if it doesn't make sense to you, anyone should have to justify their decision....whether it's to stay in the US and pay more money or if it's to go to Mexico. ~Kat

for 3/23 with Dr. Illan at Mi Doctor. I had a Skype call with him and Omar last night (I've talked to Omar directly several times previously). My boyfriend was there and is feeling more confident that I will be well cared for, after our chat. I am impressed with Dr. Illan's education. Also, for those questioning the difference between hospitals and clinics in Mexico, I specifically asked that question. I've been certain my needs would be met with Mi Doctor, based on my own research, but was curious since it was a recent topic of conversation here. Dr Illan said the difference in Mexico is whether or not the facility can respond to emergency/complications from treatment. Mi Doctor has an ICU (albeit small) and is equipped to handle blood transfusions, radiation, etc that are required to meet the definition of a hospital. It's small compared to US hospitals in large cities, but IS classified as a hospital. So...I'm waiting another week or so to see if plane ticket prices drop at all (running about $520 per ticket right now). Next week, I'll be getting my passport or passport card...I haven't decided which, right now, since I'm more interested in speed. And then it's all over but the waiting! ~Kat

I'm glad you're doing well! I have tons of back issues and pain, so it's good to hear you've seen improvement with your weight loss. My pain management doctor assures me I will feel so much better when I can loose some weight. ~Kat

Amber, I'm so thrilled you shared such a detailed accounting!! I'm glad that you were not down or just feeling the same after surgery; while it's not a concern I've really been able to identify, as soon as you said it I recognized it. I'm willing to bet a lot of us worry that we will go, have this surgery, go through the emotional and physical beginning of this journal and just feel "the same". I can't wait to see how you progress!! ~Kat

I asked my primary care doctor, prior to making my final decision, about aftercare. He assured me he could and was happy to request any blood tests and basic post-op care I might need, based on the surgeon's recommendation. He also reached out to some collegues and found a practice that routinely treats and does follow up care for bariatric patients for which they did not perform the surgery. With his willingness to treat basic stuff and a practice I know I can go to regarding any bariatric specific care, I'm not concerned. I would highly suggest you ask your surgeon about post-op diet and care, too. I'm pre-op but have heard lots of feedback from other members of the forum indicating that their surgeons happily responded to their questions and concerns, even to the point of making recommendations to US based primary care doctors on post-op testing. I think aftercare is a component that we need to keep in mind, even when we are going to Mexico for the surgery. The surgery can't be the end all/be all; it's the first step in the process. From everything I've read and seen, long term success really hinges on post-op support. ~Kat

I'm attempting to order some samples and get some things together now so I won't forget or be overwhelmed at the last minute. I am kind of worrying about energy and flying cross country so soon post-op, but staying longer just isn't an option. I will need to get home to my kid. Plus, at 5 full days away from him, it'll be the longest I've spent away from him. I debated taking him with and attempting to turn it into a mini-vacation for him but I just don't think he'd have fun. Plus, I'm not telling him much about the surgery. He is an anxious kid, as it is, and I don't want him worrying. I will probably ask for wheelchair assistance in the airport, just to make sure I can get from one gate to another. If I don't need it, great, but it's an option if I do need it. ~Kat

I am really excited but trying to not build it up too much. I'm not nervous at all. I've had several laprascopic surgeries and have already recovered really, really quickly so I think that helps the nerves. My flight is super long...I'm dreading that. Total flight time will be approximately 7-7.5 hours, with a layover of at least an hour, depending on the flight I purchase. Because it's such a long flight and the time difference, we are going to fly in to San Diego the night before. I think the nerves will strike around the time I arrive at the airport, less because of the surgery, and more because my OCD personality is overwhelmed by how out of control I am at the airport and during travel. I'm a big reader so I'll be downloading a fresh supply of books onto my Kindle before leaving home! ~Kat

Congrats!! I'll be in Tijuana and at MI Doctor about a week before you. ~Kat

Here's a press release I found regarding the opening of MI Doctor. Obviously, it was a press release that isn't entirely objective, but it's informative in that it will give you an idea of the services available in the hospital. Also, embedded on the webpage is a small virtual tour of the facility. http://www.free-press-release.com/news-affordable-surgeries-now-at-hospital-mi-doctor-in-tijuana-mexico-1352269441.html

I think the definition can depend on who you're talking to, as well. Although it's a small facility, it meets all of MY expecations of a hospital...an ICU, a radiology department on-site, 2 operating rooms, and sees a lot of bariatric patients. What I didn't want was to be in a clinic as I'd heard described by others as one large, single room for recovery and having to travel to another location for a leak test. Although there's nothing wrong with that, either, if that works for you personally. I just wanted something a little different. I envision it as something close to a surgery center, only with patient rooms. I'm fine with that. I think it depends on what, exactly, your priorities are in selecting both a surgeon and facility. I could pay an extra fee for my surgeon to operation at another facility, more in keeping of the traditional definition of a hospital, but I decided I wasn't looking for anything other than what MI Doctor offered. I know there are threads that discuss this facility specifically, but maybe we will see others who've been to the facility chime in? ~Kat

Honestly, I'd probably go with the less pricy option. I have issues (and I doubt my boyfriend would be on board) with a clinic, so I looked specifically for an affordable option that still included a hospital. But if it came down to TWO options and I trusted both and the only differences were hosptial vs clinic and cost, I'd probably have to have cost outweigh hospital. I'd do a ton of research first, though. I've seen so many doctors reviewed here...I started with a list of pros and cons of each doctor, then narrowed it down by cost, including airfare. At the end of the day, YOU have to feel good about your decision.

One of the guys in a WLS support group I've attended, who happens to be a patient coordinator for a COE, said he loved rice prior to his sleeve surgery. He couldn't wait to get to soft foods to be able to eat it again. He said he ate around a teaspoon full of rice and it made him so sick, he isn't sure he'll ever eat rice again. I will never forget the look on his face as he described how much it hurt. I quickly added rice to my list of things I can live without vs being in pain. I hope you're feeling better now! ~Kat