joyceob21

What kind of facility does he operate in? How long did you stay and where?

Dont beat yourself up. I was that way with all diets. I would do good for 3-4 days then blow it. I would lose 5 pounds and gain 7. My surgeon only requires a 3 day pre op diet. He says that is sufficient and there is no need to put us through anymore than that because it is hard. The liquid diet after surgery was even hard for me. I was so tired of liquid, I felt I was starving and I wanted to put something in my mouth so bad. I felt hungry the day after surgery. I was told this is head hunger but not sure I believe that. I had that pain that you get right before your stomach lets out that large growl but my stomach didnt growl but what I felt was a hunger pain was there. Just try to make better choices for now and then 3 days before surgery, do the liquid diet. I understand it is important to shrink the liver and it will shrink with a 3 day liquid diet. I am amost 5 weeks out and it has been hard but getting so much better now that I am starting to handle real food again. Just be prepared, the first month may be easy for you like some but for me it was harder than I thought it would be.. After surgery is when you will need to be diligent with the diet, I was a revision so was terrified to eat anything that I wasnt supposed to. My surgeon was Dr. Ponce in Tj Mexico. Good luck with your surgery!

My dr here told me he would put in a feeding tube after revision to help reduce the risk of a leak. So for 2-3 weeks after surgery there would be nothing by mouth until healed. this sounds like a good idea, has anyone every done this. Also, I still cant afford my dr so have researched all Mexico drs, but have never asked them about feeding tubes bc I had never heard anyone doing this. does anyone know if mexican drs will put in a feeding tube to help with the risk.. Also, I didnt know there were differenct kinds of feeding tubes. I assumed it would be insertd directly into stomack (never thought about how it is removed) but then I saw the news where brides are having feeding tubes up their nose to lose weight, so now im wondering what kind of feeding tube it would be. does anyone know anything about all this. Im still terrified of a revision, I dont want to be financially devistated if something should go wrong.

My dr wanted to do a feeding tube as extra precaution for complications. With regular vsg, there is a policy you can take out that will cover any complications for 90 days. Revisions are too high risk so we cannot get that extra coverage.. The feeding tube was his was of providing extra insurance. Nothing by mouth to damage the staple line until it was completely healed. Sounds good to me. My biggeset fear is being financially devestated because of an elective surgery. This all relates to surgery in my hometown, not in Mexico. But since it sounds like good idea, I wonder if the drs in mx would do a feeding tube if requested for extra precaution, until the staple line is healed (for revision patients).

My time is running out. I need to decide on a doctor now. I actually scheduled and paid deposit with Dr. Ortiz but now having 2nd thoughts. He did my lap band, wonderful experience, so just automatically thought he was the one for my revision.. Well I started receiving phone calls from coordinators because I sent for information on costs for other drs. just to compare prices. One coord. told me Dr. Ortiz was a great lapband dr but not much experience in vsg. She recommended Dr Garcia. They no longer recommend Dr. Kelly bc of some issues. Hmmm Doing research, I am actually impressed with Dr. Kelly. Yes I know he had a death which concerns me. I called to get info on Dr Kelly. I had several numbers. The first call I got back was from Dr. Kelly himself. He assured my I would be in good hands. When I asked about all the drama, he stated that he didnt feel the coords were representing him well so he decided not to renew the contract with them. Now they are upset with him. After hanging up from him, I received a call from someone who still works with him (you know who im talking about, will not say her name), told her I was interested in Dr. kelly. She said she would book me with him but she recommended dr. Ponce de leon. Really pushed this dr. which I have not heard of, works out of INT hosp. But what about Dr. Kelly, he has great credentials. She stated he was a skilled surgeon but there were issues, regarding integrity. Dr. Kelly is $3,000 cheaper than Ortiz and has more experience with vsg. Dr. K is a member of FACS and ASMBS as is Dr. O. but im very concerned with all this drama, if there is more to it than disgruntled coords. I am a revision, so safety and experience is my #1 conceren. I also saw a post where the person called all these hospitals and Dr. K is not allowed to operate there anymore but wouldnt state why. She was accused of being a coord for another dr. Geeez. Help!

A coordinator for a dr. in Monerrey that I called to check prices just happens to live in my town. She has the lap band and is successful. I have the lap band and looking to revise to sleeve. She admits she is not that familiar with the sleeve so any questions i had she emailed her dr in monterrey and he would email her back. He never said anything bad about any dr in Mexico but he was concerned with the low prices some of the drs are charging. He states he uses the Eschelon stapler which no other dr in mx uses according to the rep. I asked dr. kelly about this and he says everyone uses it, why would johnson and johnson make a product and only sell it to one dr. I think he was confused with the Ethicon. I think there is the ethicon stapler and then the newer stapler called the ethicon eschelon stapler. The eschelon is supposed to shoot 3 rows of staples and has less misfiring and supposedly stronger for thicker tissue. The staples for each surgery are $3200, the harmonic scapel is $1600 + hospital expenses, hotel and other drs expenses. So his concern was how can other drs charge $5000. This dr in monterrey charges $9200 for the sleeve. Does anyone know anything about the staplers, should this be a concern, which one do the amerian drs. use? I was hoping to make a decision soon. I am a revision so I wonder if I should just bite the bullet and pay the $9200, but then I would be broke, lol. Sure would love to have a little left in the bank. So tired of being terrified of this whole thing, i need a crystal ball.

Not sure where you got that it is the same price. I was quoted $8400 with Dr. Ortiz for a revision and with Dr. Aceves it was $10,950. Dr. Aceves is actually the highest quote I've received.

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in '06. Wonderful experience but it is a surgery center not a hospital. A very upscale surgery center with marble floors and spotless, not a hole in the wall in a strip mall. I only stayed there one night then the Marriott hotel for 2 nights. They have since been named a Center of Excellance. I actually scheduled a revision with Dr. Ortiz on Jan. 9 but I fly standby and got to Atlanta and got stuck. I took that as a sign and chickened out instead of rebooking. I would not hesitate using Dr. Ortiz for the band, I think he is a true expert on banding. I am scared of a revision so I am taking it slow and researching many drs. for the most experienced.

nevermind

I lived off unjury unflavored powder for 6 months. I take a large bottle of Aquafina Water, add 2 scoops Unjury unflavored, unflavored sugar free Fiber powder, GNC orange flavored liquid Vitamins, and a Crystal light. Maybe try 2 packets of crystal light. I got used to it and I didnt have a problem. You do have to shake it every time before you drink it. I drank this everyday bc I have the lapband and could not eat. I threw up everyday so I got to the point I was afraid eat so I quit. It was this concoction or nothing. I actually started looking forward to it, like I said you just get used to what you have to. Unjury is a good product. I also use it in shakes. 1 small can of sugar free red bull, 2 scoops unjury, a handful of ice, a cup of water and about 3 scoops Blue Bunny no sugar double strawberry, and a handfull of frozen strawberries, blend. Ohhh so good, I would drink on this for 2-3 hours. Then I would have my bottled water concoction. I have found now that the bullets called New whey from GNC that works well. Its liquid, mixes well and doesnt taste or smell bad. I mix it in a large bottle of water and then add grape crystal light, I always add powdered sugar free unflavored fiber. You can also add the liquid vitamins and its still tasty. The bullets from GNC have 42g Protein and are $3.49. So it can get expensive to use this everyday. Wal-mart now carry them and they are $1.99 but only have 26g of protein in a bullet. Well thats just my 2 cents. I do think Unjury is a good product. Just experiment with it and try not to smell it. Im used to the smell also so that doesnt bother me either. Just shake it up every time before drinking it if you put it in water.

I wasnt trying to imply anything negative about this Dr, other than I dont think he has done many revisions and maybe he doesnt do them since no one has called me back. I wish I was a virgin sleever than I wouldnt be as nervous (I think, lol). Im just super afraid of failure again, leaks and complications, health and financial devastation. But hey arent we all afraid of the same thing? I'm trying to convince myself I can do this without another surgery. I went through hell with the lapband, I still have nightmares from it, lol. I dont want to wake up from a sleeve and think "omg what have I done, here we go again". I'm glad you all had a good experience with him, if I were a "virgin" I would go to him in a heart beat, recover on the beach. Still doing my research and trying to get up the nerve. Good luck to everyone!

I called Dr. Washingtons office several times. I thought they said you got 2 days in hospital, I checked my notes and didnt see where I wrote it down I could be wrong on the 2 days. They did say he wanted you to stay in the area for a week in case anything went wrong. They did state that the price was low because he was trying to get enough patients to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid . My understanding is a Dr. has to have so much experience before Medicare /Medicaid will pay that Dr. That concerned me, I know every dr. has to start somewhere, but I need experience since im a revision. Also they were supposed to call me back with the price for revision since I have a lapband. I called 3 times for a revision price, they said they would have to check but I never got response back. If you check his website, it will tell how many surgeries he has done, not many.

Who is your surgeon. I'm trying to get the nerve to get on a plane today. I fly standby so I can go today and have surgery tomorrow or Tues. Still trying to decide on Dr. Kelly, Dr. Ortiz or pay extra and go with Alverez. My fear is this will go all wrong, I will come back with a leak and have medical bills that will devastate my finances.

I believe i started this thread stating I was impressed with Dr. Kelly. Never did I bash Dr. Kelly. I was concerned with all the drama from professionals. I did not expect to call a number listed for a dr and have them recommend a different dr. Very unprofessional and to me that is a red flag. It makes you wonder if they know something that they are not telling you. That was my concern starting this topic. To the idiot that thinks im being deceitful and posing as someone looking for wls, well you're just an idiot. I paid a $500 deposit to Dr. Ortiz, scheduled the surgery, even flew to Atlanta but because I fly standby I could not get to San Diego that day January 9th. I have the cashiers check still in hand, all I have to do is reschedule. I believe Dr. Ortiz is an excellant dr, as I stated he did my lapband and didnt think twice about booking revision with him until talking to a coord. I just dont know if he has enough revision experience. So exfatso take your lanceur de merde somewhere else. Im not going to keep going with this, I have talked to Dr. K personally and feel very comfortable with his experience with revisions. He has great credentials and I will be booking my surgery for next week. His cell phone number is 619-793-4869 and email is jrkelly45@hotmail.com if anyone wants to book with him directly. Dr. Kelly assured me he would take good care of me so I am at peace with my decision. For those that have just booked and now having doubts, call him directly. Im done dealing with any coordinators, they are the ones causing so much trouble for him.