ChihuahuaMom

There are other payouts though possible, more than just complication. If I had a horrific cosmetic result as a result of the surgery (and I did have an infection requiring packing of one of the incisions for months ) it would be covered for $30,000 worth of corrective surgery - if you have some horrific consequence & need your home adapted afterwards - there is a benefit for that, etc etc. A lot more than just medical complication coverage. But yeah, if I could have chosen I would have just had the whole benefit be for complication.

I bought a policy through global protective solutions I think it was called. Just be aware the amount they pay towards medical complication is 10% of the face value of the policy. My $100,000 policy would be pay $10,000 max in case of complication.

I developed an infection with a drug resistant organism - knew I had an infection before I even left Mexico. It looked so bad after it broke open my doctor in the US wanted to hospitalize me that night. I knew I wasn't showing signs of being terribly ill, & she consulted with a surgeon who told her I likely just had an infected seroma. It did look ghastly at first, and the tract was over 4 inches deep. I met a person who had surgery the day before me at Hospital MI Doctor, who had the same thing happen - an incision breaking open & draining a huge amount of liquid. This person emailed me that their infection cultured out to be the same as mine - drug resistant pseudomonas. I had to have an infectious disease consult. I am glad so many get through their surgery just fine at this hospital, but I have had 2 PMs on another bariatric forum who tell me they developed an infection with a superbug after their sleeve at Mi Doctor. I never saw anything in my searches to help me decide if this was where I wanted to have my surgery. Just putting it out there for others considering their options that this was an issue for me. The incision is finally close to being closed, my surgery was back on November 5. I am still glad I got my sleeve but could have done without this infection.

Sorry this happened to you as well. I've been an RN for over 30 years, I know what an infected incision looks like. The surgeon told me it could not be infected in less than a week, also that the antibiotics he prescribed would prevent an infection from developing. Both not true, incisions can start to show signs of infection far earlier than a week out & antibiotics only work if they are the right one to cover the bacteria involved. It was a deep infection - not from a surface issue of contaminating the incision from the outside. I believe it would have had to originated in the OR. The infectious disease doctor I saw agreed with this. Pseudomonas is a Water loving organism, so he thought likely it was due to some contamination, possibly from a contaminated irrigation solution. 2 other incisions looked red and inflamed but only 1 had pus pouring out of it. I am just thankful it was not inside my peritoneal cavity. I am not going to ever know exactly how or why this infection occurred. I don't think there is any way to track the complication rate of a hospital or surgeon outside the US, I don't know that they are required to track or report post op complication like in the US. I'm not faulting the surgeon, but obviously something went wrong & I'm not the only who has come forward reporting a post op infection from this facility.

I had 3 leak tests - I believe one in OR, then one where I swallowed blue dye to see if it came out in my drain. Then a 3rd one under fluoroscopy where I drank a radiopaque dye and was scanned to watch for leaks. This was done the day after surgery & it was only when I passed this test that I was allowed more than ice chips.

There was a safe in my hospital room that I put my passport & wallet into. I left my purse with other belongings in it, my phone & netbook out. Nothing disappeared, and I told one of the nurses my pin when I needed something out of my safe quickly & wasn't well enough to get up. I had no trouble with things disappearing at least.

I was told the same thing by a couple coordinators, I need to gain another 20 pounds and then they would take me. Why do that? I understand they have their rules, but in the end I got accepted by 3 surgeons in Mexico because of my other health conditions. Terrible back pain, arthritis, lipidemia, GERD. Dr. alejandro lopez accepted me, also Ramos Kelly and Dr. Rodriguez. The one downside to private pay though is if there is a complication then likely your insurance won't cover treatment of it. I got complication insurance. I think the sleep studies are to rule out sleep apnea, which overweight or obese people are more likely to have & can be quite dangerous. Anyway I bypassed all of that too and I am so happy I made this decision. I've lost 15 pounds in less than 3 weeks. I feel good and my physical therapist saw me last week - he said he hadn't seen me smiling & with my old spark in a year. I have hope. I don't have to be ashamed of my appearance and only keep getting fatter & uglier every year. It also helps to be in less pain from the extra weight. I already have a little less back & foot pain.

I had my sleeve November 5 at Hospital MI Doctor, surgeon was Dr. alejandro lopez.. I am down 15 pounds, I seem to lose a pound a day most days but today the scale went down 3. I still am not able to eat pureed foods according to the diet plan I was given. I get a bit hungry at night. I have bought many types of Soups and deli soups & try to strain out most of the solids in it. Miso has been a godsend. It has Protein in it and is soothing to my stomach, and also I've had it all my life. I haven't even tried to figure out how many calories I am getting, just sticking to trying to get the liquids & protein I am supposed to have. I don't really like anything in the unjury sample box so I don't think I'll be buying more. My cholesterol was 266, and have GERD so I do have some co-morbidities. My back pain is less! I still have quite a bit of pain late at night and when I first get up is especially bad, but it's already better. 15 pounds and my feet hurt less too. Nobody I told thought I should have this surgery. Yet I know this is one of the best decisions I've ever made. Even if I weren't able to take off a lot of weight, if it keeps me from gaining 10 or 20 pounds a year - it will be worth it. That's just who I am, I open my eyes to the writing on the wall and I take action. I got a security system before my house got broken into - have had one for 20 years. I am told that is unusual - usually people do the security system as a result of a break in. Anyway I am so relieved that I have a better shot now at getting back to my ideal weight and staying there. I feel like I've been given another shot at life.

Speak to the billing department, and ask them if they will honor a contract rate with you. Most services are deeply discounted on what ends up being payed to insurance. Say a lab costs &125, but the contract rate says the provider will be reimbursed only $14. That is what they would get from the insurance company, and usually they will honor the request if you ask specifically for it as a cash patient. I don't know why it doesn't done automatically, but it isn't. Like you can afford to pay more for the same exact service because insurance is not covering! If that doesn't work, ask to speak to a manager. Go up the line. Involve your surgeon, his patient care coordinator, or social work if you have to. Someone should be able to help you. Good luck!

I have a different point of view on that now. I have travelled a lot, am outspoken when I need to be, and know a thing or two about health issues (been an RN for 30+ years, ACLS, etc). I was very well taken care of by the driver, my coordinators, and at the hotel. My surgeon was very good and I knew I could count on him to take good care of me. The hospital was a different matter though. I had ridiculous issues with apathy and downright bad care with some of the nurses. My call light broke the first night post op. My nurse (one of the good ones) immediately called engineering and got me a new one that worked. The next night, same thing. My call light mysteriously quit working around 11 or 12 midnight. I told both nurses who were working with me of it. One just stared at me, the other sounded very concerned and asked me to make sure I called if I needed anything at all. I reminded him my call light did not work. Nothing was done, and these 2 staff both had English sufficient enough to understand what I was saying. Even if not, the sight of me picking up the call light, repeatedly pushing on it and nothing happens would be something you would understand without any words. I was really sick, weak, nauseous and also penned into the room by a tall IV pole (the doorways drop a large distance from the ceiling and the IV pole was too tall to pass through). I tried to lower it or transfer the iv bags to a shorter pole in the room but the pole was too high and the dial on it had been set by a brute. I could not loosen it to bring it down. So in the middle of the night, about to puke, could not see my emesis basin - I was left with the choice of puking all over and having it sit til morning or yelling like a crazy woman for help. I yelled. Finally the nurse came in, and gave me my pan. I think if I had had a companion who could have borne witness to it they would not have felt comfortable acting this way. I have talked to others who came alone who also were treated less than decently. That morning I told my coordinator & the surgeon what had happened. I also pointed out to Nissi that I couldn't leave the room the way the IV pole was adjusted. The call light magically started working again by the time she showed up. Someone must have crept in and replaced it with one that worked, or reinserted the batteries. Still not golden though, I put the call light on for help and then it would be quickly shut off and no one would check on me. I had problems with that nurse the night before - when I asked her to empty my drain because it was full, no vaccuum on it any longer and was starting to leak around the drain. She looked at it and told me it was fine. I told her in no uncertain terms that it was not fine, it needed to be emptied and if there was no vacuum on it, it would not drain. She emptied & then left without a word. She had to have known better. There were many other small problems, but to me the one with being ignored by the staff was inexcusable. I should have brought someone with me. I did speak up but really you are at the mercy of the staff when you are weak and fresh post op, extremely nauseated as I was. Some of the nurses were good also, very friendly and more than willing to help. You just don't know who will be assigned to you, the nurse can make it or break it. Also, the nurses who took care of me did not wear name tags. I was nearly given meds I am not supposed to have - which my surgeon insisted would not be prescribed. So are they just giving meds with no order? I asked each time what I was being given, and twice had to refuse meds I was not supposed to have. The paper above my bed did not list any of my allergies. I got a rash from the telfa pads, if I had read the packaging I would have seen that I should not have had these bandages. They have latex in them. If you do stick with this hospital, and have no one traveling with you - make sure you at least have the phone number of your driver & coordinator so you can call someone if butts need to be kicked. That's my 2 cents.

Don't start my clear liquids until saturday, for 3 days prior to surgery. Had to quit my hormone replacement yesterday. Hot flashes, no fun but I understand my surgeon is being safety conscious.

I figure I need to lose from 48 to 63 pounds. It might as well be 10x that much as there is no way I will be able to do it without a sleeve. Before my most recent back injury, I could lose some weight but would always gain that weight back and then some. At least since my mid 30s. Years back I was thinking about this surgery, but after gaining 25 pounds in less than a years time now I need to do something. Positive feedback loop with pain, weight gain and then each is causing more of the other. I have tried countless diets, diet pills, HCG injections, sensa - now hitting menopause & pain limiting me from exercising the way I have my whole life - I'm not giving another year of my life over to more weight gain and debilitation. Already suffering from high lipids and GERD. I need help to get out of this cycle, and to keep from getting even heavier & worse off than I am already.

With any surgery there are risks, especially with general anesthesia. You couple that with patients who already have obesity & comorbidities, there will be complications & deaths sometimes. When I was first considering different surgeons, I got accepted by 3. I got the constant call backs from coordinators I had given preliminary info to. I made the mistake of telling one the surgeon I was considering - she made up this horror story of how dangerous he was & made up a lie about how he had been her surgeon. I had her name & checked with the coordinator I ended up contracting with - none of it was true. It's a small world for Mexico bariatric tourism, and believe me they know the other reps working that business. I lost all respect for the one who made up a tale in order to try to get my business. I did not end up hiring that surgeon, but not because of a scare story. My coordinator knows & has worked with many surgeons, she told me that the surgeon the other coordinator had maligned was highly skilled & completely safe - and would never have done what this person had accused him of. She had good to say about even a surgeon she no longer worked with - who if I contracted with she would get no profit out of. To me, that was reason to trust her. I ended up contracting with her, MBC and Dr. Lopez. It's just disgusting that a coordinator would lie & smear a surgeons reputation to try to get another contract.

I will be doing this in less than 2 weeks. I've been working on getting this lined up for so long, now that it's just around the corner I am having trouble wrapping my head around it!

I'm not much of a religious sort but this is so sad. I'm sending my best wishes, positive thoughts & my best shot at prayers that this will come together for you. Darn insurance companies.

I think you could tell people, if they are rude enough to ask about your surgery - that it is a personal matter. If they ask about how you are losing weight, "portion control" is an answer that is truthful but still protects your privacy. Really, you don't owe them an explanation. But if someone notices you are eating soft food or only a small amount you could say you are still recovering from your surgery. Glad you are doing well! Good luck with the work colleagues.

I don't know how it works for everyone - but a good friend of mine had a baby after her tummy tuck. She had had twins when she was quite young, got a little heavier in her 30s & had a tummy tuck & lipo. Then in her 40s she had another baby, became morbidly obese & then got her sleeve a couple years later. About 5 years ago, she's had struggles with her digestion but has kept most of the weight off. She dropped a hundred pounds but her belly was flat afterwards. Some bat wings & her thighs are a little droopy but nothing terrible. With as much weight as she lost I wonder if the tummy tuck is what kept her from having a huge amount of loose tummy skin afterwards.

Thank you for posting this! It's coming up for me. I am going through MBC but Dr. Lopez will be my surgeon. I haven't heard about the ice cream trip with MBC but I know they do take you out shopping.

Texting to ask for a date is sort of the weenie's way out, as far as I'm concerned. Unless he has never been the type to call, I would probably let it go. My guess is he will get the message with no reply & maybe he was afraid of the possibility of rejection is why he choose to text. If he turns into a pest with the texting, then by all means text him back that while you enjoyed his company you don't wish to pursue anything further. I don't know if I'd mention the new guy. It may open up hope that if things fall through with G3 then he still has a shot.

I only have a 3 day clear liquid diet too. Have heard the people in the endoscopy dept that work right next to us advising patients that you should be able to read the writing on a newspaper looking through a glass of the stuff - lol. I don't think that would work with Jello unless your eyes are really good. Anyway - broth, Water, apple juice, jello, tea - all work. I am going to try to get in some Isopure so my Protein levels aren't too low going into surgery. Also - have ordered the starter kit of unjury. They emailed me that the chicken broth and strawberry sorbet are compatible with clear liquid diets.

I am going through Mexico Bariatric Center, with Dr. alejandro lopez. The package includes the surgery, all work up costs like labwork, EKG, anesthesia, 2 nights in the hosptal (Hospital MI Doctor) and 3 nights total at the TJ Marriott. One night at the hotel is before the surgery when you fly in (they pick you up from San Diego airport, I think all the TJ package deals do it this way) and 2 nights at the Marriott after you are discharged from the hospital. I got the deal at $4750, it includes everything but airfare. He is an experienced bariatric surgeon with 3,000 sleeves, zero deaths, zero leaks. He teaches some of the other bariatric surgeons now, despite being young. You need to ask for the special, otherwise the package price is a little more. Still worth it though. Christy is my coordinator and she has been amazing. I have asked her hundreds of questions I think and she always gets back to me quickly, is accessible by cell phone. And I spoke to Dr. Lopez on the phone too already. Dr. Lopez used to be with A Lighter Me but now is at MBC.

Be really careful about keeping anything with xylitol away from your dog. Some people have had a pet get into sugar free gum & it can drop their blood sugar to deadly levels quickly, & also cause liver damage.

I'll be a day before you. It's coming up so fast!

The needle is only in for a moment as the IV is started - then it comes out and a soft flexible tiny "tube" is left in place. Lots more comfortable than a needle. Try not to worry, it shouldn't be that bad.

Wow. It will be so great to have be having just a few bites of food for the night time munchies instead of a bowl of pasta or whatever I eat now. Looking forward to the change.