Travelmego

Hi all, I am thrilled to be making the first post on this new forum! I take Victoza for diabetes 2 with one of the side effects being weight loss. It is a once daily subcutaneous shot in the stomach. You really can't feel it since the needles are sooo small. It comes in pens where you just dial out the dose. It is prescribed for diabetes mostly but I believe I have heard of doctors prescribing it for weight loss, but I am not sure on that. Yes, Victoza is someone effective for gradual weight loss and maintaining. It doesn't have the 'tension' that phentermine can give but phentermine is faster. The doctors gave me permission to combine the two but I haven't done it yet. The reason I haven't is that I have decided to get the sleeve surgery. It is my understanding that the sleeve will (hopefully and likely) put diabetes in remission. From my understanding, even if I were to lose all the weight without surgery, and somehow keep it off (unlikely), it would still not really be a 'cure' for diabetes like the sleeve is. This is supposedly due to the sleeve making some kind of hormonal changes that are not fully understood yet. So, while victoza has been great in managing my sugar numbers, and has been ok but slow in weight loss and maintenance, it isn't quite enough for a diabetic.

My budget it around 4,500. So far I am researching Dr. Quinones (4,500), Dr. Illam (4,600) and Dr. Garcia (4,400) and Dr. Lopez (4,500) I know that we should not only go by price but I feel I can find a solid surgeon in this price range. Anyone else I should know about?

Hi all, I am trying to decide on a surgeon and I found one that seems very competent, has good reviews, and is in my price range. The problem is he has a video up of him doing a surgery and his nose is not covered by his mask. No one in the operating room has their nose covered actually. Should this be a deal breaker? Or is it not that big of a deal? I checked several other videos and most surgeons have both mouth and nose covered even if wearing eye glasses. I did see one or two where someone other than the surgeon didn't have their nose covered. In addition - I think I saw the first one (nose not covered) open a package of something - maybe a bandage - while wearing his gloves. Would that be an issue? I doubt the package would be sterilized on the outside like instruments are so....? What do you all think?

I am putting a collection of videos of various Mexico surgeons doing the sleeve procedure. It is gross to watch the first time or two but then you get used to it and start understanding what you need to ask and look for in a surgeon.

This is what I have for my pre-op diet. It is for 1 week with Dr. Illan. Any suggestions along these guidelines for yummy stuff? - Broth: low sodium - Soup: tomato, strained cream Soups, strained soups, - Tea: decaf, fake sugar - Coffee: decaf, fake sugar - Jello: sugar free - Popsicles: sugar free - Pudding: sugar free - Fudgesicles: sugar free - Juice: Fruit > crystal light, sugar free, - Juice: Vegetable > diet v-8 splash, - Milk: skim 1% (limit 2 cups per day), almond milk (no limit) - Yogurt: Greek, fat free, no fruit pieces, low sugar - Protein shakes: sugar free, almond milk, few pieces of fruit or sugar free syrup, fake sugar

After much research, I picked a surgeon and am booked! Thank you everyone who helped me out. A special shout out to zmdh39 who wrote volumes educating me about how to pick a surgeon. There were 3 surgeons I was seriously considering. Any one of them would have been acceptable to me. I also liked every coordinator I spoke with. Each of us has a 'click factor' that just makes you feel a surgeon is right for you. For me, that 'click factor' was Dr. Illan. Here is why: > He graduated in the top of his class with honors. The university he went to is widely regarded as the leading university in the spanish speaking world including Spain and Portugal. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Autonomous_University_of_Mexico) (Yes, I am using wikipedia as a source but I saw it other places too). > He is the Chief of Emergency/Trauma surgery at a large hospital: https://www.facebook.com/pages/IMSS-Hospital-General-Regional-No1/164876160265331 He works at the ER hospital M-F from 7 to 2 pm. As chief, he does the hard stuff like gunshots etc. On days he has 3 bariatric surgeries booked, he has someone cover him at the ER hospital and does not go in. He only does 3 or 4 bariatric surgeries max a day. In other words, he is not exhausted nor doing an assembly line. (A side note: There are a lot of mentions in various places of him being an 'assistant' to Dr. Ramos Kelly. Dr. Ramos has lost privileges from several hospitals for various rumored reasons. I asked about this association. Dr. Illan wasn't an 'assistant' like he was learning from Dr. Kelly. Since Dr.Illan is also a trauma/ER surgeon, the other bariatric surgeons like having him with them - it makes things that much safer in their own operating rooms So he has assisted many surgeons around Tijuana). > He has 2 other surgeons in the room assisting him (so a total of 3 surgeons), plus 2 scrub nurses and a technician. He does the surgery himself - no ghost surgeons or students. > He closes with 3 levels. 1. He does the 3 staple on each side thing using Johnson and Johnson with covidian staples (all surgeons I have researched do this). 2. He then sews a line from top to bottom behind the staple line (many do this but some just do the junctures where the staple cartridges were reloaded, and some don't at all). 3. Then he coats the staples with bio -glue (very few do this extra step). He closes the outside incisions with sutures on the inside and glue on the outside. > He does 3 leak tests (2 during surgery and 1 the day you check out of the hospital). > Complication rate 1 in 500, leak rate 0 and infection rate 0. Talked with a patient who was standing with Omar getting ready to return to the USA where she works as a surgical scrub nurse. She said his sterile technique was excellent, and the OR has excellent technology. She said that the OR was, quite frankly, better than the OR she works out of in the USA. > He tells you in advance of any extra pricing like hernia repair that might be needed. > His coordinator, Omar, gets rave reviews as being very helpful and taking people around to shop and sight see etc. That's a bonus for my travel companion so she won't be bored, nor wandering around Tijuana on her own. Omar is well known for going waaaay above what many expect from their coordinator. Tip: Just so you know, most people tip their coordinators regardless which surgeon they go to. I have heard that the usual tip is $100.00 (some tip more and some tip less) paid at the end of the trip. People also say to bring about $100.00 extra in small bills for incidentals and minor tipping of bell hops, housekeeping, waiters, room service, the wheelchair/cart person at the airport if you get one post op, the driver to and from the airport, etc. > The package is 4,600 all inclusive: 5 nights (pre-op you stay in the hospital if you arrive in the evening), 2 more nights in the Florence hospital, 2 nights in the Lucerna hotel. The hospital has a bed for your companion -not a cot or a lazy boy. Companion pays for their own meals (as is standard). > He does not require an advance deposit. Omar, the coordinator, just asks you to send a photo of the money order once you have it to make sure the doctor's name is spelled right. You just pay when you get there. Very important tip: Plan on taking the money order or cash because the Mexican government adds a 16% surcharge to credit cards. That would mean paying an additional $736.00! That doesn't even include your own bank's charges. > Dr. Illan will do a skype conference with you to answer any questions you might have. His name is pronounced Iyyan or EEyan > He has a thriving and supportive facebook community of current, former and future patients willing to answer questions. Feel free to contact me here to get my name there (I change the display name for fun sometimes). You can find the facebook page here: Team Illan https://www.facebook.com/groups/138579759635044/ *I am editing this post as I learn more information.

You know what Lipstick lady, I am certainly not excusing the situation - I think it is a dumb thing to date former patients - the same way I think co-workers dating is not that bright. If this stuff happened while in the hospital under anesthesia ....definitely totally not cool and would be illegal - but that is not the case here. And yes, several people have mentioned about getting the impression that he was somehow molesting people while under anesthesia (or the like). Edited: I edited out the researching medical ethics of support staff dating former patients because I am too tired to do any research. I also edited a run on sentence or two.

Hmm, I didn't see you naming any one in the 'fan club' in that post. For me it is about alleged victims AND your goals and methods. But I am glad to see you acknowledge that not everyone who questions you and/or disagrees with your goals and methods is merely some fan girl out to trash the women you speak of. In regards to your last statement which you posted while I was typing this reply: I asked you questions to ascertain your credibility - which you ignored. I have yet to become fully convinced these women who have spoken on this thread are victims rather than willing FORMER participants who deliberately RETURNED to Mexico for their affairs. A warning of a playboy or cad - ok. I thank them for the warning. A label of victim of a predator - not so much- from what I have heard. I have talked to one lady (not on this board) who had a minor makeout session with him when she returned to visit him. I asked her very specifically if she felt preyed upon and she said not at all. She was mad how it ended and doesn't like and is angry at Omar for that - but she said it was completely mutual and consensual. Do I think it is unprofessional for Omar to date former patients (and apparently they were former patients since these things happened when they deliberately returned to visit him)? Yes I do, but it is certainly not in the realm of molesting patients under anesthesia which was what the original post led many to believe you were saying even if you didn't state that explicitly. What really bothers me though is the stated goal to destroy Dr. Illan when you have not spoken to him. I think that is very unfair. Lipstick lady - I have never bullied these women on this thread nor anywhere else in any manner what so ever, nor would I. Please don't lump me in with those who may have.

Except I have never met Omar and have spoken to him for maybe 4 mins total. I have still been asking questions. It is disingenuous to lump everyone who might ask questions and/or disagree with you or your methods or goals into some fan club. I consider it pretty bullying to try to 'take down' a surgeon who you have never spoken to.

Well, I am pretty much done with this place but I saw Mxtransformed's post and want to add a few things. I have no problem with someone who wants to warn other women of a playboy. That's FINE with me. However, Susan made this big post that seemed to many of us to be saying Omar is attacking women or molesting them with the implication he is doing this while under anesthesia or otherwise unable to consent. It is a completely different thing when someone returns to Mexico, hooks up (yes, even with a playboy), and then it falls apart. So, I am sorry you got hurt, and I appreciate the warning and I am glad you clarified that he was not attacking anyone. The especially egregious part - in my opinion - was the original poster stating that her goal is to take down Dr. Illan while never having talked to him but guessing that he knows about it and condones it to get business. THAT is the particularly unfair part. It is very vengeful and wrong to do.

Wow this is nuts. Please show me where I have said you have discredited mulitple posts, or that alex, or lipstick lady are fake names you created or that you were fired? The only thing I said was you posted under a fake name that was created last night to support your arguments and I had the EVIDENCE in a form of a screen shot to show why I felt that way. Now show me where I have said what you now accuse me of saying. This is getting beyond ridiculous. You know what, I don't even care. This thread is going nowhere. I can't even get my very reasonable questions answered without being shrilly accused of all kinds of nonsense. I certainly haven't been attacking any alleged victims. I'm done. Yet another reasonable person probably run off from the entire site (not sure yet but most likely) by the clique of old friends here. I mean what can you do when the owner of the site paid for the surgery for the person making the original post and has come on supporting her ad naseum? It seems the rest of us have no protection unless we fall in line with the clique. We can't even ask questions for clarification.

And that means what Woowoo. I am not going to be dismissed as merely some fan girl.

Well, we will have to agree to disagree Alex. . I have seen people fake post to support themselves many times (on other forums). It is a fairly small point anyway but I do not think my post should have been taken down.

Susan, I think your approach in this topic has been horrible. You made a very aggressive and inflammatory post then immediately went on the attack on anyone who asked questions. You tried to dismiss people as merely fangirls as if people don't have a brain and can think for themselves. I resent being told I am of a herd mentality and therefore my legitimate questions are not worthy of consideration. That is an ad hominem attack. I think you owe me an apology.

Well susan - please show me where i have beaten down and attacked any woman who has come forward to tell their personal story? You call me a fan girl? You make a LOT of assumptions. Not unlike how you make assumptions about Dr. Illan's knowledge and or motives even though you haven't spoken to him. Again, nice try but the evidence in this thread belies your accusations against me.

I don't think that is the end of story alex. Not by a long shot. I think there is more to the side - another side - that you nor susan have inquired about. I was not 'building a case' to 'discredit' susan. If you read back in all of my posts, I have been very reasonable and asking legit questions and certainly not saying it is not true. However, when someone clearly posts under a fake name to support her arguments and then forgets to log out and posts something she meant to post under her real name.....well that IS a matter of credibility and ethical behavior too isn't it? I also have an issue with someone trying to 'bring down' a widely regarded excellent surgeon based on her speculation of his knowledge and/or motives without having ever spoken to said surgeon. I'm (not) sorry, but I am not taking your or susan's word on this matter 'just because you say so'. I need to see real evidence that this is more than a consensual romance gone sour. I think I am a more interested party in this matter than most since I am getting surgery there in 3.5 weeks. I, of all people, have the right to question the claims and ask for more information and evidence.

So, my posts busting susan for posting as bill were taken down - including the screen shot? What ETHICAL moderating. What bull!

I am thoroughly not impressed that Whitney's posts got deleted and she got banned for no logical reason. I am thinking Bariatric pal i not the place for me if it is going to treat people like that. If I were Dr. Illan, I would get a lawyer.

Ok, then let them show proof that Omar did something illegal. Show us it was something other than 2 consenting adults and an affair that ended badly. Right now all we have is Susan saying 'because I said so because I heard something' and her fiance/herself posting to support her point. Feel free to share the evidence. I think that is reasonable to ask for.

Bill, you see 1 complaint and no proof. Whitney - you made an interesting point. I know that it is said a lot of women fall in love with their doctors - whom they see as saviors. I am not saying this is what happened here though.

Well, I haven't attacked her but I just wanted to point that out.

Well to be fair Lipsticklady - Susan is attacking Omar and Dr. Illan, no?

I am going to ask around and see what's what. The stories could be true, they could be not true, or they could be a mixture of both or they could be one sided. I would like to try to get a fuller picture of what is going on. Par - I don't think this post means Susan has deep anger issues with men....that is sexist. However, I do agree on the issue of practicing safe sex though. I will report back what I find out (no names or private details of course). PM me here if anyone can offer clarity. I have surgery scheduled in a few weeks.