Travelmego

My advice is do NOT use dr. Ponce de leon. There are simply too many dodgy stories surrounding him and various coordinators. Yes, Alex discontinued the special because of the coordinators who were very unprofessional and dodgy from what I gather. Not to mention that ANY doctor that EVER worked in 'Hospital' Jerusalem should be off everyone's list immediately. This 'hospital' is a tiny clinic in a strip mall! Run. I don't care what price is offered. I wouldn't let him operate on me for free. I am not knocking his skill as a surgeon, I am knocking his overall ethics.

It is one thing to talk about yourself but you lump every overweight person into your own experience. Generalizations and stereotypes can be very counter productive regardless which population is being discussed. It is like saying all alcoholics just like the taste of beer, or all drug addicts just like to party. Do you feel that all drug addicts are merely addicted because they like to party? Or do you recognize that drug addiction is a mutli-faceted problem? Do you recognize that genetics can play a component in drug and alcohol addiction? How about societal factors that encourage teenagers to drink as much as possible to 'have fun'? Actually, I am no longer mad with you. Are you sure you are not a food addict in denial? Perhaps on the honeymoon phase where losing weight is easiest? Are you prepared for the maintenance mode? It is a good thing that you are exercising and trying to make permanent changes. I hope you carry those changes for life. Just to be on the safe side, perhaps you might consider reading about food addictions. Also, check out the links Alex put. It will save you from accidentally hurting feelings if, indeed, that was not your intention.

Now that I became diabetic I look at all the junk available in the grocery story and feel sad. I wish I could tell everyone, "Watch out! This food is not really food, it's sugar and it's dangerous. Don't do what I did!" The sadder thing is that sometimes I still buy and consume the junk.

I would just say anything less than x amount (in your case say 500 for one ticket) is fine and grab something any time it is that price or less. You are most likely not going to find anything much cheaper. I mean there MAY be specials at some point where you can save 1 or 2 hundred bucks but you will have to constantly be checking and the uncertainty will be stressful. Also, the price could go up, too. When you are dealing with surgery, I would just take the bite and schedule the ticket so to have peace of mind. Get the trip interruption and cancellation insurance (or use a major credit card to buy the ticket on that has it) and relax and look forward to the surgery itself. One caveat - if you are buying for 2 then it might be worth it to keep checking. If you are going to buy for summer - generally the last week of May is when prices start rising for the summer peak season. Try to buy before that.

Just out of curiosity - did they say he CAN'T go or should not? Is he legally required to get their permission? What kind of job does he do?

Thanks Alex for creating this wonderful new resource! Stalls happen regardless of type of surgery or even no surgery. I haven't had surgery yet but I am sure when I hit a stall I will be right here trying to figure out how to get over it.This is the place to go when one has gained even an ounce and just wants their hand held. Furthermore, it will be easier to find information since it will be lumped together.

I suggest making a sub-forum just for people to talk about stalls. It is a big issue that constantly comes up everywhere.

I think for the same reasons people need support in a lot of areas. They are nervous, worried, scared, seeking information, hoping to do better, etc. This is one area that people are particularly vulnerable post-surgery hence the multitude of posts about it. Not everyone is vulnerable in the same way. Ok, all ...it seems we did decide on "Don't sweat the Stall stuff" as the name provided @@Alex Brecher agrees and feels it works with his overall theme. We have several suggestions up on where to put the forum. I think Alex will have to decide that. We need @@Kindle and @@LipstickLady or whomever to write a description of the forum.

Where is your evidence for your statistic that 99% of us are fat for being lazy? That obesity is a disease called laziness?

Oh wait, how about just under General Weight Loss. They have Medications, Rants and Raves, etc. under that. I didn't realize those were under the main general heading. I think Don't sweat the Stall stuff (if that is picked) would do just fine there.

I haven't had surgery yet but will report back after I do. In the meantime, I suggest checking out the facebook group Team Illan to talk with a lot of former and future patients of his.

Ok, I was looking over the subforums page. I am suggesting it be placed in General Surgery forum >Food and Nutrition > and placed right below Post-op questions and above Protein, Vitamins and supplements. What do you guys think? Man, I hope I am ok when I get a stall but I could end up being the most prolific poster on that forum.

Aww Jill, it's all going to be ok. We are right here with you and supporting you in whatever you decide. You are not alone.

I was all ready to comment on the excellent advice in this article, but the last comment was so touching that I forgot what I was going to say. You are lucky to have your wife and family, and I think they are lucky to have you. Bless.

Right cuz after all - everyone who is fat is just lazy and pigs out. Thanks for promoting that stereotype. Hey, why not promote another one - how people don't need bariatric surgery -if only they would get off the couch. My next comment is self-censored out of respect for forum terms of service.

I like that lipstick! I vote for Don't sweat the stall stuff. Kindle - perfect idea. What section should it be in? Maybe Alex or a moderator can go and move all the stall posts scattered all over the place to that forum.

My entry is Stall Talk. That might be kind of boring though. How about Bang Your Head Here. Perhaps we should make it for slow losers too. @@LipstickLady @@Kindle This is on you two. I came up with the suggestion (ideas person) and it is up to you guys to implement it. xoxox

Aussiegirl, someone posted the phone numbers to the 3 hospitals he lost privileges at in another thread. I don't know where. You can call them and ask about the situation yourself. I would like to hear the results. The one person just confirmed that he lost them but didn't say if she asked why or if they would say.

Ok, great @@woo woo - really appreciate that. I wonder if qualifying means you have a hernia and can have part of the cost offset by insurance that way. I am going to check it out. I won't change my surgeon now - still going to Mexico - but I would love to know the details.

I think having a stalls forum would serve two good purposes: 1. It would collect information about stalls in one location so people in a stall can find ideas to break them. It would be very easy for them to converse with other people in the same situation and be comforted that it is not just them. 2. It would allow those not in a stall to have a break from stall talk. Ohhh! That's a perfect name "Stall talk" < I'm a genius.

I don't think the docs in Mexico require nearly as much as they do in the USA. When I asked my pcp for referrals for the same tests that a bariatric surgeon in the usa asks for, he was happy to provide them but said that most of it is cover your rear testing. That's fine with me! So, I am getting a sleep apnea test, echo-cardiogram, ekg, pulmonary test, ultra sound of liver, and gastroectomy. I also want to have these tests so I can compare before and after. What is a pre-op vascular exam? I will see about adding that. What is the exact name I should ask for?

Did the coordinator tell you he has not done any on his own without Dr. Aceves?

Oh yea, someone said she took a power strip with her and that she used it a LOT to charge computer and phones at same time. Someone also suggested a light jacket because it can get cold at night. Maybe a little tube of suntan lotion. What not to take: I would leave anything dear that you would hate to lose at home like wedding ring, also anything that could be a hassle to replace like extra credit cards, keys, etc.

That was addressed to woowoo who said 4 - 5.

I think it was Kindle who reminded you about the extra cash for tips. Bring small bills for tipping the bell hops, housekeeping, driver to and from the airport, the wheelchair/cart person at the airport if you choose to have a wheelchair/cart post surgery, etc. Just so you know, most people tip their coordinators (if they are in Mexico with them) at the end of the trip. For the group with my surgeon, people usually tip the coordinator $100.00 - some more and some less. He apparently goes above and beyond and takes people sightseeing and everything. So, if your coordinator is there with you a lot and helping you out - you might want to consider a good tip for them. So, like $100 for the coordinator and another $100 in small bills for smaller tips with other people and incidental purchases. I don't think we can bring drinks (over 3 oz.) on the plane unless we buy them after going through security. Perhaps the airport has powerade in one of the convenience stores. I think liquid medications with proper documentation are exempt from the 3 oz. rule but I am not sure on that. The idea of bringing stuff to mix in water is a good idea. I think the hospitals and hotels give you bottled water to drink.