solymarmivida

I can't comment on the other surgeons but just wanted to let you know that personally Dr Alvarez and his team were fantastic and if you choose him, you really will be in very good hands.

Just remember that this is a major surgery and while most people don't have any issues or complications, I think it would be very important to find out how your surgeon would handle it if there were and what you would be financially responsible for. Also if you do have any complications or problems be sure that your stateside insurance will cover you If you have to go back to your home town - many will not for elective surgeries especially outside the country.

I was sleeved on Sept 3rd and can only go by my personal experience and must say that I am so thankful to have chosen Dr Alvarez and his team. Being an RN for the past 26 years I researched surgeons in both the US and Mexico for almost 2 years before finally settling with Dr Alvarez in Piedras Negras MX. Dr Alvaraz will be with you every step of the way and will never let the ball drop if you have complications. From the hospital, the hospital staff, Dr Alvarez's support staff, and his surgery team, Dr Salinas, Dr Rosales and Dr Garza you will be treated like family and taken care of from your first inquiry, through your hospital stay, discharge and beyond. Everything is taken care of so even if you come alone you will never be alone. Dr Alvarez and his team will stop in several times per day to check on you and they have patient advocates who speaks perfect English which are on the floor checking on you throughout each shift. While this location was much farther from my home and cost was more then several other surgeons in MX I am so happy and thankful to have chosen and gone with this great team. If anyone has any specific questions please feel free to send me a pm.

I know most people are looking for the best prices but some other important questions to ask when you are searching for a surgeon would be to ask them if you were to have complications... 1. Would your surgeon be able to handle it. ie. - does your surgeon have some emergency or critical care experience 2. Would the facility where you are having your surgery done be able to handle emergent situations or complications 3. Would your surgeon pick up all costs related to any post op care needed if there were complications

I am 5 days post op and am having very liquid stools every few hours. Anyone else have this issue post op?

Well I am now 5 days post op and unfortunately for me it did not go so easy. I developed a large hematoma (bleed) at one of the incisions so ended up spending an extra day in the hospital and with quite a bit of pain. We are still at the hotel across the border in TX and will probably stay for another several days as there is no way I feel that I am ready to travel back home. I am still having quite a bit of pain, a low grade fever and my abdomen remains very swollen and is completely bruised from the blood leaking under the skin. The staff at the hospital were fine, the hospital was clean and nurses were competent. Dr Alvarez and his staff were all amazing and came in to check on me at least 3 times a day. Even now at the hotel he and his staff are in contact. I will continue to update as things progress.

Well today is my surgery date with Dr Alvarez. I will post back as soon as I am able.

Well today is the day for me with Dr Alvarez.. Woke up with thoughts of "Oh my God what am I doing" but I am okay and ready now. I will post again when I can. Prayers are appreciated.

Hi Everyone, Finally scheduled on Sept 3rd with Dr Alvarez in MX . It seems so far away but I bet it will come up fast! IS anyone else on here having surgery with Dr Alvarez around this time?

I have had to reschedule since we sold our house and will be moving at the end of this month. Now I am scheduled again for September 3rd. How did your surgery go and how was the first post op week?

WOW! I have just read your blogs and this one especially has just turned on a light bulb for me! Your journey and your words are so inspirational and have so much meaning to me. Thank you so much!

Thanks everyone for your replies. So when this happens do you just wait while it eventually passes or is there anything you can do to ease the discomfort.

I think a lot of people mistake lactose for an actual intolerance to whey. - I can not drink the Costco product as it has me running to the bathroom.

Can anyone explain what they mean when they say things like "my tummy doesn't like it" or "I can't tolerate that anymore" Does it make you throw up, give you pain, make you bloated??? I have not had surgery yet but just curious to know the sensations everyone experiences when they say that they can't tolerate certain things.

9 years ago when I approached my PCP about gastric bypass he talked me out of it - he told me so many negative things and said he just couldn't see me doing it since besides having a BMI of 38 at the time, I was otherwise healthy. I as well have been on the weight yo yo most of my life but I listened to him, joined WW and did lose 50 lbs - however here I am 9 years later and have put on all that lost weight and more, my BMI is at 40, I have hypertension, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes, joint pain and can't do so many things I want to do. It just frustrates me that PCP's don't really listen to or evaluate their patients properly. Now they just want to throw medications at me and say "you need to lose weight". I just feel like I lost 9 years of a good life I could have had. At any rate now I am taking control of my own life and I feel it is the best decision for ME that I am making.

I love your goal list! Thanks for the great idea!

I am still in the pre-op phase but so far have nothing but great things to say. Susan has been amazing at answering all of my questions (and there have been many) and they have been so accommodating with my scheduling as due to unforeseen circumstances I have had to re-schedule. Dr Alvarez also has a great website and so many informative You Tube videos and is very active on social networks. My only thing if I HAD to nit pick would be I would have like to see more dietary support - there is a huge list of items and websites they give you but they don't address getting in your protein needs if you are lactose or whey intolerant. This for me is a bit of a concern in being able to get in enough protein but I have just done my own research and am trying different options before my surgery to see what works best for me. We are planning to stay in the area (within a days drive) for a few weeks and make a vacation out of it - I did not want to imagine flying home so soon post op. In speaking with Susan, Dr Alvarez prefers to only do 2 surgeries per day but at times they will add in a third - But never more then 3 per day.

I just wanted to thank the OP for posting their experience. Everyone is not going to have a rosy experience and I applaud them for their honesty. I would rather be prepared for the worst and be able to say "that wasn't so bad" then go in unprepared. I hope more persons will continue to post the good the bad and the ugly.

I read somewhere to try taking lactaid before drinking the whey protein shakes (I have an intolerance to whey as well) so just bought some today and I'll see if it helps.

I am new too and will be having the surgery with Dr Alvarez on Aug 6th! Are you excited? Nervous? It seems like one minute I am so excited as I have been waiting for this for a long time but then the next I find myself having doubts and have to turn that negative switch off. How has your mom done since her surgery?

I don't mind the protein shakes except that I have developed an intolerance to whey. It is really frustrating as many of the better flavored and easily available shakes are all made with whey protein - if needing to get in extra protein many recommend Whey shots so I am a bit concerned as I am scheduled Aug 6th to be sleeved. I have bought an egg protein powder from GNC and while it is not bad tasting, it is not filling and does contain a good bit of cholesterol, so I am a bit concerned if this will be my only protein source for a few weeks. Does anyone else have an intolerance to whey and if so what other types of protein powders have you tried that have worked?