rhw94123

Wow, Chihuahua Mom, that all sounds pretty icky and very believable. I think your idea to be SURE to have the # of someone to whom they are accountable is EXCELLENT. So sorry you went thru this . Regarding "stuff" I've heard minimize what you bring & then consider a locking suitcase in back of closet. Or some hospitals have a safe.,,

This is veeerry helpful. I'm going to assume that they wouldn't put all those ingredients together if any of them undermined the other (I get so mixed up how to arrange the symphony of pills throughout my day because I take a thyroid pill about 30 minutes before I get out of bed each morning and it needs to be on its own... then my surgeon wants me to take a PPI at about 8 each night, etc., etc.). So what do you suppose would be the optimum schedule to take these (and the calcium) on? Thanks again!

Coming right up ! Will it be at Florence Hospital? I was just there 11-13 November & thought it was modest but well-equipped & nice (young!) organized staff .

Another 11/11/13 -er here . I went to Dr. Illan in Mexico and feel great as well. The first 18 hours were uncomfortable (I came out of the operating room awake & hurting--I had asked for little to no narcotics and that's what I got, lol !). I took an anti-inflammatory pain killer for 2 days and now am back to walking my 2 miles/day, etc. I think I will be a slow loser, but I'm okay with it, especially if I can keep a lot of my MUSCLE . Best to all and let's keep each other posted.

My doctor uses a more modest-but-full-service hospital, but his staff takes patients to Angeles for their final leak tests. Angeles' common areas are very hip/modern-looking (lobby with the soaring-heights-type tall ceiling, marble floors, water features... Very upscale feel to it )!

I had heard of Dr. V. It's wonderful that you're so in touch with your gratitude on all this!

Best wishes! I was sleeved 2 days ago on 11/11/13.

Got sleeved 48 hrs ago - now on 5th floor overlooking the pool at Hotel Lucerna. Have seen a couple folks who look like SLEEVERS & I want to say hello, but it'd just be too awkward if I were wrong !

I was at Florence Hospital with Dr. Jalil ILLAN . Both were excellent.

Thanks for saying hi. I had my gallbladder out, too, so I felt pretty tender & beat up for about 12-18 hrs. At 24 hrs out I felt dramatically better. I ate only ice Chips day after surgery & then started on broth , vitamin water & frozen yogurt today. I have occasional aches between my shoulder blades that I'm assuming are gas, but I've gone out for some brief sightseeing between reading/napping sessions & have stayed dressed. & functional all day, so I think I'm doing pretty well .

I replied to a different post -- there are definitely some people who have posted about using him and being pleased. Hope you can find them in search -- I know it's good to look over others' info as your surgery date gets close!

Hello! When I did my research back in August/ September, I concluded that Dr. Corvala was one of the pioneer / established / elder statesman type Mexican bariatric surgeons. I also concluded that Angeles is a very established medical tourism hospital. I was interested in Dr. Corvala and Angeles, but his established practice understandably charged more than my budget would allow. I think he has done a good bit of teaching of other surgeons, etc., and he may be a fellow in the American College of Surgeons (FACS) -- I can't remember for sure . Patients whose stories I read on here were very happy.

Dr. Ramos Kelly's practice followed up with me today to see what I had decided in terms of where/when to be sleeved. I had made other plans, but told them I would like their contact info to pass on. I told them I was surprised that someone could get surgery from Dr. Kelly at Angeles as very recently the only option had been the less well known Hospital Nova. I also asked them for clarification on whom to contact and at what number. It's my impression that patients now have a choice of being operated on by Dr. Kelly at either NOVA or Angeles Hospital, with Angeles costing a little more. Anyway- I received a clarifying email from Dr. Kelly today and here are the highlights: I'm sending you this email to let you know that I do work at Angeles hospital... The person to contact is Lora Lee - she is my coordinator and she gets in touch with all my patients . She's very efficient and although you're planning to have surgery with another party you might want to note her contact information for your information. Her phone number is 619 793 4869. Best regards, J. Ricardo R. Kelly M.D. FACS I am not promoting Dr. Kelly or Angeles, I am just sharing what I learned because --at the peak of my Mexican VSG research back in August/September 2013-- it was difficult to get definitive information on how to book Dr. Kelly and/or what hospital(s) he operated at. I would like to save someone else all the sleuthing.

You look lovely!!

I've always kind of liked Crystal Lite. I will be sleeved in a couple of weeks and am now studying specifics of eating/drinking and I realize -- though it doesn't address Crystal Lite specifically, much of the advice says to give up caffeine forever. THEN I read, a little caffeine is okay later on, but don't get it from coffee or soda...., etc., etc Anyway - I realized that a couple of my favorite Crystal Lite flavors have caffeine. Those of you who are pretty-well healed, and if you like Crystal Lite -- do you find caffeinated ones sit okay or do you still avoid them? Thanks!

What was the contracted rate that your insurance paid for each item? (E.g., Facility Charge - $8,000 Contracted discount - $5,8000 Paid to Facility by Insurance - $2,200 total ) If you pay $6K, will $32K total have been paid out? Or is it $32K billed, you pay $6K and then insurance pays a discounted/contracted rate for each item? If they deceived you, I have some ideas for you to pay less.

This is very late, and I have to wait until I get the actual policy in hand, but the word I have on Blue Cross ACA exchange policies in my state is that they will not cover surgery, weight loss drugs or exercise instruction, but they WILL cover three nutritional counseling sessions a year and reversals of (or revisions to) previous WLS if that would correct a life-threatening condition. I have not been able to sign up for an actual policy yet because the system is so slow, but I will report back when I do and I receive the thick booklet in the mail. Best wishes.

Sorry you are going through that -- a couple of times when I didn't want to get more pain meds after a procedure (I start craving them if I take too many) I have asked for a few nights of Ambien so that I can sleep despite pain. (And then I've had more energy in the day to do the walking that I know would help me, etc.). Best wishes and good luck!!

I am pursuing surgery in Mexico mid November 2013 (next month). I have to buy a new individual health insurance policy on my state's exchange as soon as possible to start on January 1, 2014. My state is not going to cover bariatric surgery with exchange policies, but I did find out that our exchange policies will cover revisions to weight loss surgery if they are needed to correct a life-threatening condition. A big boasting point of the various "exchange" policies and ACA in general is that pre-existing conditions can no longer be excluded from insurance coverage. I thought it stood to reason that if they HAVE to take me starting January 1 and if I JUST HAPPENED to have had VSG right before they take me on, then if I have a complication they can't refuse to take care of me. A fellow sleever shared a spread sheet with all of the states' intended policies back in June 2013. I can't get the url to post right now but if you search Obamacare in the forums it will come up. I welcome any research along these lines that anyone wants to share -- I am dying to buy a policy and get it in hand to look over because I know you can send them back after a few days and get a different one if you don't like the details. (I have tried to sign up for an exchange policy every day since October 1st... some days I have gotten further in to the process but I've always ended up with a "sign-up process failed -- try again" message so far. I figure it will work soon/eventually --so I will keep up with my daiily Quest , lol.)

Very helpful! Thank you - I am scheduled for self-pay surgery in Mexico on 11/11/13 and have to buy a new individual ACA (Obamacare) plan to start coverage January 2014. My state doesn't cover bariatric surgery, but it says it will cover revisions of Obesity surgery when required to correct a life-endangering condition.

Wow - you were so smart. You must be so shaken to have dodged such a bullet. I hope this resolves smoothly and that you (eventually) get to the fulfilling part of having been sleeved! Best thoughts to you as you trudge through this!

Oh, my! So sorry to hear this. You must be soooo frustrated and surprised. I barged in to give you a hand squeeze when I saw your heading in the VST ticker, so I don't know your history with potassium, but (again) I'm so sorry!

Thank you all -- aside from wanting to come down and touch a BMI of 24.9 (size 12/14 for me) long enough to get a physical for the life insurance I need (I'm an "old" mom of three under 12), I definitely don't have a magic BMI # or dress size in mind. I've just always been a "recreational eater" to some extent or another and my mind DOES wonder & wander to what sleevers' BMI's tend to settle down to when they get fit and transition to 'eating to live rather than living to eat.' Thanks to all of you again-- I went back through many of the posts on this board and it is SO HELPFUIL to be reminded of all the strategies for losing as little muscle as possible post sleeve -- definitely a good reality check for someone like me who is daydreaming about what results may be looming .

Sorry to have been a lurker on here -- I've never participated in a forum mostly on iPad before... I keep thinking I'll get to a desktop and do the courteous thing and post and respond, but I'm seldom at a desktop ! Sorry about that! I am an older (50 year old) mom to 3 kids under 12 who has become obese the last five years and stayed that way despite very regular, concerted exercise the last 18 months. I have many high BP readings, high-ish cholesterol, sometimes high-ish blood sugar. I feel like a ticking time bomb of bad health and I need to do what it takes to get healthy now (BMI has bounced around 31-33.5 the last three years despite a lot of effort on my part). I am getting ready to pull the trigger and firm up a sleeve date in MX in November. I have spent hours reading these forums and various blogs, etc., and--for somewhat intangible reasons, I have become comfortable with Dr. Illan and florence Hospital. BUT-- I'm now at the "seeking-reassuring-information-to-provide-to-loved ones-so-they-will-help-with-chlldcare" stage and I'm eager to find a few easy links or printouts to put under their noses. They won't/don't have the time to surf forums for hours. In fact, my husband is a broadcaster/journalist whose efficient, analytical research style will lead him right to a senior/expensive "elder statesman of bariatric surgery" type doc like Dr. Aceves, which would be fine if every $500 didn't matter to me, but it does. If anyone has seen a posting or blog where someone succinctly recites some verifiable stats or facts about Dr. Illan and/or Florence Hospital, I would sure appreciate being directed there. The kinds of things that will get my dear husband in helpful mode (agreeing to handle care of three kids while I'm gone) would be info on which hospital Florence uses as back-up for severe complications (I assume Angeles, based on what I've read, but I don't have the facts to sing praises of Angeles' sophistication, stellar rating, etc.), impressive, verifiable fact-lets about Dr. Illan, what support might be available if a complication occurred back home, etc. Thanks in advance if anyone can send me a link, etc. I have joined the helpful FB group for their practice and (as a result of hours of reading and some corresponding with patients) *I* am comfortable, but I need those bullet points for the husband if possible . Best wishes, Annie (getting close to a November 2013 Mexican sleeve date)

Thank you, everyone, for the helpful input! Whatever the industry or profession, I am used to paying more for high profile, seasoned/accomplished veterans with easily verifiable credentials. Sometimes when I don't have time to research, I'll go ahead and spend extra $$ on one of those to up the chance that I won't have issues. But most often I like to put extra energy in to finding talented up & comers & save my re$ources. I've found a couple of good & reassuring morsels about Dr. Illan that I hope to summarize & offer up to my husband (and to this forum) soon. Thanks so much again! Annie (mid-November sleever to be )