made2beme

Just curious, I have read several surgeons (all from the Mx forum) that allow a "last meal" literally the night before surgery and even recommend a great resteraunt to go to. I didnt think we could do this. My surgeon in Mx. has me on a strict 2 wk pre-op diet which includes the last 3 days to be Clear liquids only and no eating after midnight. I dont think he would approve a "last meal" seeing as you may go overboard and stuff yourself. Just curious as to what others have done and why this would be ok, obviously it is as those that have done it seem to have no problems.

Hi there - I have not yet been sleeved, but have been researching for close to a year now. My insurance has an exclusion to Bariatrics for any reason, so I am in the self pay boat. I am in the Dallas/FW area and have found at least a dozen bariatric surgeons that cost about the same or just a tad more than Alvarez (if the $9,500 range is correct). Actually even found one yesterday that was $8,000 and right here in my area. From what I see, Dr. Alvarez is very impressive....his website, his youtube videos, his book, etc. and if I were to make the decision to go to Mexico I am confident I would chose him. Question is - is there a reason people chose going to Mexico if they can pay the same price in their local areas? I realize, not all live in DFW...but there have to be comparable rates in large cities in other states. You see them advertise on TV, radio, etc. So it makes me wonder if these rates in the US do not include everything. Obviously it would be cheaper for me to travel to Dallas because of gas prices and I would not have to stay in a hotel 2 nights, just hospital and then home. Honestly, just curious what everyones thoughts are. I have read some say their sleeve was or would have been in the 20,000 range....its amazing there would be such a difference in the states, is that possible? Just trying to make an informed decision.....just seems if Im going to pay the same amt for surgery, it would make more sense to go local because it seems it would be less money in the long run (gas, other travel expenses, less time away from work, etc) Thanks for any input, Misty

For those still wondering and asking questions about Dr. Garcia and the different coordinators. I went through Ready4aChange and had an excellent experience with them and everyone at the hospital from Melissa, Rosie, all of the dr's ect. If a lighter me charges more it is because THEY are making more. I had a sleeve sister at the hospital with me, surgery the same day, staying in the same hotel, we both had Dr. Garcia...there was nothing different about our details but she was very disappointed with a lighter me (I am just speaking from the experience I had...please dont jump on me). I received a bag full of necessities, Gatorade, water, lip balm, cards, tape and gauze, etc. She received NOTHING (literally) because the "coordinator" that she went through did not provide that as part of their service. Rosie brought me even more gauze and tape the day before we left to make sure I didnt have to worry about purchasing any as soon as I got home. I gave some of my supplies to my sleeve sister because again, she got NOTHING! I paid $300 less than she did and received better customer service. Now, the care we both received AT the hospital from surgeons, nurses, etc was exactly the same....that does not depend on what coordinator you go through. I felt more like I was part of a family....she felt like nobody was there to really answer her questions. To adorableintx.....I truly feel like (my opinion) that the coordinators that tell you if you go with a "cheaper" doctor you will not get the same care simply want your money! They are trying to convince you, manipulate and use your desire to have surgery and be in the safest, cleanest place to get you to spend more. I say this because Mi Doctor hospital was extremely CLEAN! It is small, but honestly I could care less about that and I feel like that may be why we are able to pay a little less. It has the necessities, the care, the cleanliness, the greatest Dr's and nurses all for thousands less than some of the others. I am not knocking any surgeons that charge more, but I am saying that I know for a fact I could not have gotten any better care and my experience and outcome would not have been any different, much less BETTER if I had spend thousands more. My husband is a huge skeptic about everything, he went with me and was VERY impressed my everything I mentioned above. My experience was truly like a mini vacation. The day of surgery.....I was a little tired, out of it, had some minor gas but the rest of it was fantastic. We went shopping on Revolution street, we walked, we sat out by the pool at the Marriott (which we loved by the way) everything was great. Speaking of the vehicles, the van Samuel used to pick us up in seemed very new, maybe not brand new like months old....but it was a perfectly fine, newer model, clean, dependable van. Samuel was great, very nice and professional....we talked the entire time. Picked us up on time and got us to the airport to leave on time. I believe sometimes we can be super critical (although I understand because I was there too) of things like "oh, it was an older vehicle, kind of junky, etc" come on guys....LIFE happens. Maybe their company vehicle broke down, maybe they are buying a new one, things happen.....people have bad days. Maybe one patient got a visit or call 1 more time than another one did.....people are human. I think we tend to forget that. All in all, I would recommend and have Ready4aChange, Dr. Garcia and Mi Doctor hospital to friends and family any day of the week! My experience changed my life forever....it was the beginning of a new life for me. Even since being home (a little over 7 wks) Alma has contacted me just to check on me, see how I am doing and make sure I do not have any post op questions. It continues to be a great experience I dont regret and would not change one single thing! Good luck to all of you making decisions. I suggest you keep doing research.....be weary of those that KNOCK other docs and hospitals. Honestly, I have had some discussions with Alma about the other coordinators, docs ect and she is VERY careful to only give the facts/truth and not to put down or degrade any of them. There is no "we are better than they are" attitude with Ready4aChange.....they simply want to give you the best care and experience and help change your life.....not drain your pocketbook just because they can!!! Just sayin.....

Not cottage or ricotta, but things like BabyBells, Laughing cow wedges, Mozzarella, Provolone? Can I just cut off chunk of cheese and take a bite? I am totally a cheese freak....been missing it for weeks and had some melted monterry jack on my refried Beans but it just melted right in, not like cheese by itself. If I can have cheese.....aaahhhh, I will be in heaven!

Thanks for all of the idea, especially the "cheese nip" I loooooooove cheese!! Unfortunately we do NOT have a Trader Joes around here...I so wish we did. They are supposed to be opening one in a city a little more than an hour from me and thats as close as I get, not even opened yet!! That Stinks.... I will try some different ideas though....I do find the jerkey nuggets are softer, but I still dont really like eating chicken because it just "sits there" not sure about jerkey yet...for me anyway?

Hey guys, I am 5 wks out this Friday and I am pretty much eating Breakfast, lunch and dinner with 1 maybe 2 Snacks through the day. Just wondering what you all pick up when you are a little hungry in between that is good, Protein rich and quick/easy? I have been having a slice of turkey lunchmeat or a reduced fat string cheese or babybell, etc. Pretty much feels almost like a meal to me because I get full, but I know it is not. So, just curious what else do you have just during those in between....especially if you are busy out running around or something, you are hungry and frankly it is time to eat but you arent home and cant eat a real meal? Ideas?

I would love to be in on the before/after pics if any. I am very early out - 5 wks post op but know for certain I will need plastics. I had such an awesome experience in Mx for the sleeve, I would not hesitate going back for plastics when it is time. I would love to be doing research over these next couple of yrs though and be very confident in my decision and of course, it may would be best to start saving now. So, Im curious in the surgeons that have been used and the results!

Hi All, I had surgery with Dr. Garcia on 8/3 and have been nothing but completely pleased. The entire experience was excellent from being picked up at the Airport, the hospital, the Marriott and the ride back to the airport. I have posted my experience a couple of other times since Ive been home a couple of other times also. If you have chosen Dr. Garcia, you will not be disappointed....I know there are other great surgeons also but take it from all of us that have been there, you have made a great choice! As for being nauseous after surgery, they will be very quick to give you something for it. I got 3 medications around the clock, right on time for nausea, gas and pain....so I would not be worried about that at all. Any questions, just let me know!

Dr. Garcia does bariatric surgery only - no removal of skin, you would need a cosmetic surgeon. Total cost for me for the Sleeve was $4,700, but was special for Aug - usual cost is $5,000

I am not sure about Dr. Felipe Garcia, but Dr. Fernando Garcia is who I used and he does not have a coordinator named Pedro as far as I know.

Dr Garcia uses Mi Doctor Hospital, I have a couple of photos in my profile from the hotel (Marriott) and the hospital if you would like to take a look

Hey everyone - I am sorry I am asking this question without doing too much searching as I am sure it is answered. But, we are about to hit the grocery store and I have some recipes I want to make from Eggface, but not sure if I can eat it yet? I am on soft food (beginning of 4th week post op) and wondering if Pepperoni (I would get turkey pepp) but chopped up like in the pizza bites, Almond flour in a lot of her recipes and Multi grain pancake mix and/or Bacon (turkey as well) is allowed? I mean, obviously I know that pancakes are soft....but I know they will be sooooooo filling, so just wanted to make sure our sleeve is ready to digest something dense at this point. Also, can you find Almond flour at Walmart or is that just a health food store type food? She has so many good recipes that use the pancake mix to make mini muffins with all kinds of things in them that sound so yummy. I am excited to start cooking things that my whole family can eat....so just want to double check before grocery shopping for things I cant have yet. Any help??

Yes, the choice is definitely with who you feel most comfortable with. I can say yes, Dr. Garcia may not have the same years of experience as some...but it is also not like he has only been doing it for 6 months. He is actually a teacher at a local University also and has been the speaker at several Bariatric seminars (as I am sure others have). Not trying to convince you on Dr. Garcia....but just take into consideration everything youve read and heard....evaluate based on your personal convictions and chose the one that you have peace about. By the way on the personal individual insurance policies, you will most likely NEVER EVER find one that covers any type of bariatric surgery. It seems that its only the corp plans that do. I have an individual plan that is killing my pocketbook and covers hardly nothing, but I do it for my kids.

There is a self-pay/Mexico forum with a load of info....lots and lots of people are self pay and/or go to Mx for the same reason you have.....dont give up hope, it CAN happen!!!!

Ooops, so sorry...meant peanut "flour". It is the peanut crushed and ground without all of the oil, so it is just flour consistency. So, you can add it to recipes, Protein drinks, etc. with all of the good fat, the protein but not all of the calories and oil.

Not that I would encourage aquiring debt, but one option is to finance the cost of the surgery so you can have it sooner. I know for me, there was no way I was gonna wait longer than I had to. We didnt have the money, but my mother in law loaned it to me....so I do have to pay it back, but without interest of course. I went to Garcia and had a great experience, he is typically $5,000 which includes 3 nights in the Marriot. Unless he is running a special like in August for 4,700. In the end, it is up to who you feel more comfortable with.....I honestly can say, even if I didnt go to a "less expensive" surgeon....I really dont think the amount of $ we pay has anything to do with the way we are cared for or the surgery itself. Funny you should say your family feels safer going across the Tx. border. I live in Tx. also and I felt safer going across from Cali. The Tx. border seems to have more activity going on right now....but thats just me.

OK - probably just freaked myself out reading the thread about would you do it again? and several of the responses that are a NO because of complications. I am 17 days post op and I feel like I am doing great. I have been able to tolerate everything I have tried to eat or drink. I have felt a little nausia when I have eaten a little too fast because I went brain dead for a sec and forgot, but that passes quickly. I am able to get all of my liquids in most days (not gonna say every single day) and I can actually take a "drink" now, not a sip. Granted, I can only take 1 without it making my stomach cramp a bit...but this is a huge improvement from right after surgery when I could barely let the liquid touch my lips before it would hurt. My incisions on the outside are almost completely healed, they have scabed and most of the scabs have already come off. I have more energy every day although I cant say I am ready for heavy duty exercise being as I just started pureed's yesterday....not enough cals to do that yet in my opinion. Those that have had complications say Listen to your body, dont ignore complications, etc. So, Q is....how far out do we have to be to stop worrying about a leak, stricture or infection? At this point I have told myself.....Yea, no infection because I am almost healed. No stricture because I am able to eat all I have tried and can "drink" a good size gulp with no problems. No leak because I do not throw up, again can tolerate anything I eat, etc. But,am I being naive? Is there still a chance after Ive felt good and had my experience that one of these things will hit me like a ton of bricks and I will miss it? Those that ended up in the ER at 4-5 wks post-op with infections....how could this be? Is it an infection on the inside that you can not see, or was this incisions? Those that did not have a leak the day after surgery but at 3 wks ended up in the ER to find out they had one....did you ever have a time when you felt things were going welll or did you always know something wasnt right? I guess my main Q here is....when is it that we can finally say, we had a successful surgery without complications (not talking about getting to goal with weight) just the surgery aspect. I dont want to sit around thinking I am ok and then one day boom....something comes up. If I am extra tired one day or what if I do happen to get sick after I eat something I cant tolerate....should I be worried something has happened, leak, etc? Yes, just freaking a bit......responses will help (maybe) lol

I started taking my chewables the day after I got home on day 6. But, I also have other medication I had to start up again while still in the hospital....although I did cut one in 1/2 for a few days I never had any trouble getting them down. Still will take chewable Vitamins for a while though because those do tend to be larger if in pill form.

So glad you had a great experience! I was sleeved by Dr. Garcia in Tj, Mx. and had an awesome experience also. I loved that he also staples and sutures the sleeve for minimal risk of leaks. It was cool...when he came to talk to me before surgery, he had his ipad and he used a drawing program to draw out exactly what he was going to do...staples and all. Very happy with my decision and sounds like you are too!

Yes, Premier are pretty good and also convenient being already prepared. I mix mine in magic bullet with ice and some peanut flower - its as close to a reeces pieces cup as a Protein drink is gonna get, lol. When I do this - I am getting 42 grams of protein in one drink.....love it!

So far, I dont miss it either. I know my kids love it though.....every time I eat anything like a cup of Jello or pudding or even if I measure out my 1/4 cup of puree's they know they WILL end up getting the few bites left over. My hubby had bypass going on 3 yrs ago and they have been eating his leftovers already...now they get mine too

So happy for you - you will not regret your decision! I was sleeved by Garcia on 8/3 and had a great experience! Im not sure where you live...but one of the biggest enjoyments for my husband and I was the weather! We live in Tx. and we left 107 degrees with 90% humidity to lows in the low 60's and highs in the mid 70's with a breeze the entire time....it was great! Any questions Id be glad to help!

I agree - it is definitely a proven scientific method and you do have to research the real deal to fully understand it all as Sexy Slim said. Basically it is a fail proof way to lose weight IF you take the true HCG hormone and abide by the strict dietary plan. And actually exercise is NOT encouraged while you are on the VLCD (very low calorie diet) phase. But, there are 4 phases you move through in how ever many rounds you chose to do and the other phases introduce back in more foods and higher calories. Anyway, I totally believe in the plan and from my own experience lost and was almost to my goal weight for the first time in 17 yrs (and many, many other diets), I felt great, I was healthy by my blood work, etc. Just did not have the will power to keep it off.....hence the SLEEVE!!

I was sleeved in Tj, Mx on 8/3. I did not have any complications, but just from the research I have done over the last yr that lead to my decision in all honesty complications are NO MORE common in Mx than here in the states. As a matter of fact, surgeons in Mx have been doing the procedure longer than our surgeons here. We also have a complications forum as well as a Self-Pay/Mexico forum and you may get a few more responses there. Hope this helps....