vixie

I retracted this question because I have now had an experiance with Dr. Alvarez and hes staff. I would never go to this doctor.

I must say there are a lot of people on this board trying to silence the truth..very sad. I got a post from one of Dr. Alvarez patients asking me not to post links were folks could check on their Mexican doctors credentials. You tell me who has the hidden agenda, someone who posts their research or someone who doesnt want all the info out there so others can use it to make up their own minds. I think a lot of these "please dont bash my doctor" folks are actually associated with the doctors who's dirty secretes they are covering. The one who contacted me, did so under an unused screen name...smart! Unfortunately not smart enough to keep from using the phrase "just my 2 cents" in all her posts regardless of which screen name she is using. LOL Houstonwehavea, what I mean by Dr. Alvarez's numbers being fixed, is that I dont believe that he has performed 1400 surgeries when he has only been doing this surgery for 1 year. FAR more established doctors who have been placing the lap bad for 10 times as many years only average about 350 to 600 surgeries per year. We are supposed to believe this unknown has racked up twice as many? I have had personal experience with Dr. Alvarez's clinic as well and found the experience very NEGATIVE. Also, I checked the website of the American College of Surgeons and Alvarez is not listed as one of their docs, although he lists them as a credential. I wont bother posting the link here because god forbid "just my two cents" should read it and leave another rant about the pearls of withholding information. ClaraD. All Doctors are going to have happy and unhappy patients. What you really have to take into consideration is: The type of grievances their patients have The number of unhappy patients, relative to the total number of patients. It can be harder to judge a doctor, when he/sh has very little feedback. Why not choose one that is well know instead. There seem to be at least 6 out there who are very well known and well liked. Most will give you a break on the price if you are short of funds. Remember, a poorly placed babd can result in the band needing to be removed. So its not just the risk of an infection, you're also risking the loss of your band, hence the loss of your $8000. Of course thats "just my 2 cents" LOL

Peaches and 18mnth, I just know your surgeries will go beautifully. Cant wait to see your new weight loss progress posts! You two are really on your way now. Best wishes, V.

what you have is a clear case of habituation. You feel an emotion and you eat. You now have to find some other activity to replace the eating response. At first it will seem unnatural, but after a long time, it will become second nature. So maybe instead of eating, go for a walk, go window shopping, clean your house, paint your nails. A weight loss buddy might help too. Someone you can call that can help "talk you down." Just develop another habit. I know how hard this is. I eat when im stressing or bord. I have a weight loss buddy I now call when I feel like Im about to cheat. Sometimes we go for walks, go to a movie, gossip...whatever to get ourselves pass that feeling. Good luck V

geez, do they put it in and take it out while your under or are you awake for any of it?

Im about 3 weeks into my diet. I've lost 20 pounds so far, but I think Im stalling now. Im eating about 700-900 calories. I called my nutritionist who suggested I go down to 600 calories. Good grief, was this woman train by the Gestapo or what. Im can barely sleep with my stomach grumbling as loud as it does and now Im supposed to go down another 200 to 300 calories! EEkk. I still have close to 3 weeks to loose about 12 pounds. But, I sort of feel like eating so few calories may be slowing down my metabolism. Now I wonder if I should have just done adkins. My docs plan lists a 14 day, low calorie diet, but the nutritionist has me on a 6 week low calorie diet. Seems like the nutritionist are far more aggressive about putting patients on a, long term, extreme diets. Trying to stay strong, V.

Im doing chicken broth with a little chicken bullion, 1 table spoon of parm cheese, and about 4 oz of tofu. It comes to about 250 calories and its a nice break from the shakes.

Two weeks ago, I scheduled my surgery for June 29, with Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras. I've been all excited and nervous about the surgery for days now. I wrote his patient coordinator because I noticed that I was being charge more than others patients of his on the board. She gave me all kinds of crazy reasons that didn't seem to make sense to me, but after a few emails dropped it. Well, a few days later she drops me an email to say that my surgery has been canceled because something came up. She promised to get back to me with new dates. Well, days went by and I didn't hear from her. So I contacted another one of his patient coordinators and she tells me that they have lots of openings this month and she can get me in as soon as next week. So being totally confused as to what was going on, I contacted the doctor directly. He said he canceled my appointment because he had a speaking engagement and that we would be too busy to do my surgery this month, but that he would have his patient coordinator contact me with new dates. When more time has gone by and nothing. Not a single person has bothered with me. I was really bummed because I was really excited by the whole thing. I went out to dinner with my sister, looking rather disheveled because I've been a bit depressed. Well, wouldn't you know it. I ran into an old boyfriend who I haven't seen in 6 years, when I weighed 130 pounds! I weigh over 300 now and I looked like I just rolled out of bed. Of course, he still looks gorgeous. :faint: Good grief, what a day. Please, someone kill me now!

Just wanted to post an update. Boy were you guys right about dumping Dr. Alvarez. After what happened I started checking into Dr. Alvarez's credentials and I found out that he only graduated about 1 year ago. You would never guess since he claims to have done 1200 surgeries. Also, I could not find him in the American College of Surgeons website, despite the association being listed as a credential. I guess I should have known that something was wrong with every time I called or wrote, I was quoted a different price, ranging from $6500 to $7400. I'll tell you another thing. I posted links to sites where readers could go and checkout the credentials of Mexican doctors. I was contacted by one of Dr. Alverez's patient and told that I should not be listing such links. She said I was in need of psychiatric help because I posted my research online. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. Thanks again for the advice, you guys really steard me in the right direction!

Hi, I had a bad experience with Dr. Alvarez's clinic and would not recommend him. I think his numbers are fixed. I dont believe that a doctor that just barely graduated about a year ago, could rack up 1200+ surgeries, as he claims. Also, I could not find him in the American College of Surgeons website, despite the association being listed as a credential. I contacted his "patient coordinator" Rosie and she was very nice. But the Doc told me that she was a mere driver and had no business giving out info. So I dont know what the deal with that is. I'll tell you another thing. I posted links to sites where readers could go and checkout the credentials of Mexican doctors. I was contacted by one of Dr. Alverezes patient and told that I should not be listing such links. She said I was in need of psychiatric help because I posted my research online. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. If you do use this doc, try to negotiate a good price because his people quote a different price every time you call. I was quoted prices from $7400 to $6500.

Pelorojo I think you make a good point. I would never bother reading the reviews on the doctors board...whats the point. I think you need to come to an independent board like this one to read reviews. I have never seen a bad post about Ortiz, but If I read one, it wouldn't bother me at all. I dont feel any different about my doc than I do about my CPA or car mechanic. He's just a professional Im paying to do a job. I will be banded on July 31. So far the staff has been great, but I have to admit that Im not all that impressed with the nutritionist either. She's not very engaging.

No one is saying that he's a bad person or has a bad bedside manner. He may be a carrying and attentive doctor, that doesnt mean that he doesnt have a higher than average rate of infection. I dont understand why you think all these people would come onto this board to lye about him. They've already given you examples of their research and still you cant even accept the possibility that what they say could have even a kernel of truth. Even bad doctors have some success stories. Why do you think that just because you didn't have complications, that no one else could have experienced any? Yes, there may be other people who share your name on google. However, you're not going to find another person who shares your name, occupation, living location and associates...get a grip its all there in black and white. The reason I said that 100% weight loss in all his patients is BS is because there isnt a doctor on the planet with a 100% success rate - bands are defective, people have bad reactions to them, people "eat through their bands," and so on., So NO, I don't believe that this doctor has not had any of those issues with his patients...that's ridiculous. Frankly, I think its offensive that you are trying to silence people who are trying to educate the rest of us. Especially when you have nothing to support your claim that he doesnt have a high rate of infection.

Yup, even if our lives are fairly carefree, our bodies are under a lot of stress. Im sure our sugars are out of whack, cortisone is probably up, ketones in the blood...god knows what else. Make sure your family gives you a little extra space and some TLC. Whenever I diet for a long time my hair starts falling out! Ugh, Lets hope that this too will pass. There are someday I want to scream, cry, break things ... and then poof, the feeling leaves.

Thats BS, maybe you should look for another doc. I was getting the same crapy treatment from Dr. Alvarez and his people and I just dropped them and moved on. Im much happier with my new doc. If they treat you like this now, whats going to happen if you start having problems after surgery, once they have your money? If you have insurance that will cover the procedure, then you can have your pick, there must be 100 docs in your area.

Hi Folks, Day 11 of my mostly liquid diet and I've lost 16 pounds, but Im feeling sick now and then. Its weird but I feel like Im car sick - a little nauseous a little numb. Sometimes I get stomach cramps too. Is this normal? I've never really dont this kind of diet before, so Im not sure. I dont really get hungry any more. I havent gotten head aches or anything like that. Just a terrible motion sickness once in a while and a little heart burn. thanks, V.

Im feeling much better now. I think I was getting sick due to lack of water. I've never been a big drinker so Its been hard for me to get my 8 glasses a day. What does Opti fast taste like? I've heard a lot about it but I've never tried it. Sharon2u, you can write off any diet expenses on your taxes! They just pasted the law a few years ago. Im a self pay so thats going to be a nice big right off. Take that Uncle Sam!

Wasabubble, I think its great that you post this kind of info. Its just the sort of thing that people looking for a doc want to know. I dont know anything about Dr. Huacuz, but I just looked at his site and he's claiming 100% positive weight loss for ALL of his patient....you know thats gotta be BS I think its weird that all these Dr. Huacuz patient are getting all upset about what your saying. If I found out that my Doc has some serious problems, I wouldnt be all personally offended...whats up with that?

I'll be going July 31. Are you goig to see Dr. Ortiz too?

Hi all, My airline ticket is going to cost me $900, so Im thinking of driving instead. Im a self pay and yesterday I discovered my car has an oil leak. I'd really like to spend that $900 to fix my car and just drive from Texas to California. Is that too far? Will I feel too sick? Thanks, V.

ya the more I think about it, the crazier it sounds. I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and fly. Thanks all...another disaster averted.lol

The band is a life long thing. Im just wondering if that means you will NEVER be able to have a glass of wine at a party or celebration. I understand you cant loose weight drinking all the time. I only drink a few times a year now. But I thought you could have a glass of wine now and then.

Hi, You all make good points. But geez, this surgery is really stretching me financially. I would actually stay in a hotel for 2 days after surgery and then go. Even so, I guess I would be increasing my chances of blood clots. Im going to San Diego, because Im having my surgery in TJ, Mexico. Im going to Dr. Ortiz. I found a surgeon who does the surgery here in TX for $10k, only $1000 more than I am paying in TJ, but he's resume wasn't half as impressive as Dr. Ortiz's. I thought why get the worst surgeon in TX, when I can have the best one in MX for less. If insurance were paying and I could choose any surgeon, I would definitely just get it done here in San Antonio. I dont really have anyone else to go with me. I just broke up with my boy friend, my sister is covering for me at work, and my mother is on a VERY limited budget and I dont have the heart to let her pay to fly out here (it would cost a fortune since she lives in VA). My ticket is expensive because it is first class. I'll be 300lbs at surgery and I dont want to have to worry about spilling over into my neighbors seat. Ugh. I really regret that its all come to this. Six years ago I fit into a size 6 and today Im thinking of driving myself home form surgery because I had to fork over my entire savings to keep from eating like a pig.. Good grief, how did it all go so wrong. Hope I didn't bum anyone out....just venting.

Thanks all, sent the doc an email today to see what she says. You know it might be lack of water, i didnt get much water yesterday...never been a big drinker.

Why is Mexico so much less.... well for one, the min wage in Canada is like $8 per hour. Most middle class people in MX make around $100 per week. That may not sound like a big difference but you have to take into account all the sallaries from the person who cleans to the nurses. Also, the overhead in MX is next to nothing. They pay less rent for there, they dont have to deal with the mosterous taxes that Canadians pay, and they dont have the same sort of problems with lawsuites. Basically everything is just plain less expensive there and it adds up to big savings for you!

Hi Im going to Ortiz, he has the most impressive resume of any doctor in Mexico. I would NOT recommend Alvarez, I think his numbers are fixed. Also, I was signed up to do surgery with him and his people would never get back to me or return calls. I finally got sick of it and found a much better doctor in Dr. Ortiz. If Alverez and his people treat you that bad before surgery, Imagine the treatment you get after they have your money.