Travelmego

Oh right - I forgot her name. Thank for for your good wishes.

Forget Ponce de leon - too many confusing and dodgy stories about him around. Lopez - I have seen posts where people talk about him doing 9 and 10 surgeries in a day. He is supposed to be good though. I don't know Dr. Ostsuna. I picked Dr. Illan. The picture of him available has everyone with their nose covered. I couldn't find any videos. I asked the coordinator and he said they did. I talked to a recent patient of his who was still down there and she is a surgical scrub nurse in the USA. She said his sterile technique was perfect. I am going to ask Dr. Illan directly when I speak with him on the phone just to hear it from the horses mouth. However, he is the one I booked with.

What are we supposed to be doing with the sipping thing anyway? Are we supposed to be taking little sips almost continuously (for the first week or two)? Are we trying to limit how much we put in our stomachs at one time, or how large the swallow itself is, or both? I am going to try to get on more of an eating schedule too. I am supposed to be on one to better control my sugars but haven't been following it very closely the last 2 months. I think it is a psychological thing where I am like, 'Oh screw it, I am getting surgery so I don't have to deal with sugars anymore!" This is completely the wrong mindset of course. So, back to the schedule I go. I need to keep my A1C down anyway. Breakfast 9 am, noon snack, 2 pm lunch, 5 pm snack, 7 pm dinner, bedtime snack

I have decided to go with Dr. Illan- on August 8, 2014.

Ok, I am with you. I am ready to start getting ready. I think i will focus on: - practicing the Water not before and after thing. - sipping water all day - chewing and slowly eating - figuring out which Protein shakes I like (or other sources) and what needs to be done regarding that - get more walking in - creating a schedule with a sample meal plan for every day from pre-op fast on to solids I will probably order the unjury sample pack to try out. I have a big huge protein thing now from another make but it is only so-so on flavor.

It feels like forever doesn't it? And yet, the time will probably fly by and I won't be prepared.

Haha SnoHo. They only approve the bypass anyway and I want the sleeve. So even if they did approve the bypass (which I heard they are turning down most), I would still go to Mexico to get the sleeve. I called and found out that most of the tests don't require a pre approval but the ultrasound of the liver does.I don't know if they would approve it with the bariatric part so why bother taking the chance. So, I will get that referral to state whatever it has to do with diabetes rather than the surgery. It's true anyway. Thanks for the heads-up!

Even though my insurance won't pay for the sleeve , it will still pay for all the pre-op tests that USA docs usually require before sleeve surgery. SO, I got the list of what my local one requires and am getting them done even though the Mexican surgeons don't require them. These include: Upper G.I (i think this is the endoscopy test....not sure) Ultrasound of liver Cardio test (not sure what they do, I think an EKG) Pulmonary test (again not sure, will update post test) sleep apnea test

Thank you So, the 'Great Nose Debate 2014' comes to a rest without a really satisfactory conclusion (and yet may live again another day!). However, we have more awareness and hopefully everyone makes sure to ask their coordinators if the doctors and staff all cover their mouths and noses. That way, if they are not, they will probably start doing so because it is a new demand from the Medical Tourism community.

I am already mourning food a little and I haven't even gotten it done yet. I feel for you. I think addressing the loneliness issue would be helpful since you say that is a trigger. Can you get out of the house for a bit? Just a change of scenery might help. Or you can hang out with people on here. Maybe play a game? We should put together a spades tournament or something ha.

Congratulations! This will be so helpful for so many people. I wish I was in a larger city so I could attend or lead one. Maybe when I move next year. In the meantime, I can surely hand out fliers and help spread the word.

Thanks for this. I especially like the daily schedule suggestions.

Hi life. After a lot of research I picked Dr. Illan. I made a post with my reasons why. Thank you for your suggestions. I partially agree with your point about art and artists - except making a painting isn't life or death. I get your point though and I did think of that. As for the covering of the nose....as it stands I asked Dr. Illan's coordinator and he said they do and I saw a picture (not a video) where everyone is covered. I didn't see a video of him at all. I am going to ask him when I talk to him via skype just to hear it from the horses mouth.

@@CandyPants81 In Aug. When is yours again? You're in July right? @@rhw94123 HAHA Fixed it. His name is pronounced Iyyan (as you know) and I have it stuck in my head now. My fingers just seem to type it from their own will.

DID I WIN YET?! P.S. I would totally send Alex a dollar. In fact, I am buying his book cuz I heard it is great.

Hmm...I will call and ask. They do cover wls BUT it has to be pre-approved (as probably all do). I am not sure they will cover it without having the whole thing pre-approved. I will call and ask today.

Candy - i would say it can't hurt, might help. Darn it! I have a feeling I need to call the referral lady tomorrow and ask her to send them AGAIN but coded for like just the regular stuff. My insurance pays for gastric bypass but with it being a pre-approval thing - I just have this feeling that @@Kindle and @@SnohoGal98296 are right and I need to have it redone. She is going to hate me lol.

Yea he has been dropped from a few hospitals and by a few coordinating companies. I heard some of the companies leave him on their website and do a bait and switch kinda thing. They steer you to another surgeon. That said, there are a lot of rumors going around about what is going on. None of them good or acceptable when looking for surgeon. I sent you a pm.

Hope you found the surgeon that clicks for you!

Do I need to have my doctor change the reason for the tests? I had him put for bariatric surgery on the referral. However, I can surely need these tests just in and of themselves for diabetes and being overweight. My insurance does cover bariatric bypass but not the sleeve. However, I don't want the bypass hence Mexico. Also, it is a pain trying to get accepted for the surgery anyway. If he already did the referral for bariatric, can I go and change it? Or will they be like, 'nice try but too late you already said bariatric'?

But why would we have to lie about the surgery? My pcp is ordering the tests for preparation for bariatric surgery. I don't see why the insurance company would care if I have surgery or not. If blood work is needed, it is needed. I will double check though. Even if they would refuse for bariatric- I have plenty of non - bariatric reasons for getting the tests done.

I would skip it. You need this particular diet so your liver will shrink and surgery will go easier. It is too important to risk not doing it well. You can worry about overall life style later. Right now is the time to focus on you. I don't mean this offensively but in my opinion, it was pretty inconsiderate of your husband to schedule this get together. Perhaps you need to speak with him a bit more on exactly what will be required for the next 2 months. He must not understand it fully. Best of luck to you

Congratulations and welcome to the forum! People around here have lots of tips to share with you. It would help if you could be more specific though. Do you have particular questions?

Congratulations both of you! See you on the flip side!

Hey, I am looking at the first week of August too. I am looking at Dr. Garcia, Dr. Illan and Dr. Quionones now. I have air miles but I want to get the tickets right away so I can be sure to get the seats I want. There is another lady on here that is also going that week. I think we will all be staying at the Marriott. I want to go a few days early (maybe) and hang out at the beach some. I am not sure thought because the all liquid diet might just make it miserable.