Hola! Orale! Seems Mexico is my option

[Travelmego 235]

Hello good people! EDITED to add: dr. Ponce de leon is pretty much out for me. There are too many conflicting accounts to make me feel comfortable going with him. Others have reported great experiences so don't let my choice deter you. Do your research - don't listen to me or anyone as gospel.

Edited again: Wow. After reading these links, I can't believe I ever considered this place or any doctor who has ever been associated with it. Thank you to my friend on here who sent me a private message giving her reasons for not choosing this place or doctors and starting me off on the research journey.

Mexico is my best alternative. After a cursory run through on this forum, I am leaning toward dr. Ponce de leon. I have a few questions if you all don't mind....

1. In another read I read some spat over coordinators but it didn't seem to touch the doctor himself. So, what's the deal with coordinators? Do we need them? I am very well traveled in the world so I have zero fear of going to another country for surgery and navigating my way. (Can Tijuana really even be considered another country? Isn't it like a suburb of San Diego? ha. )

2. So, all I know so far is that this doctor seems good, and the price is right. I see the Hospital Jerusalem site offers in house financing with half down and you must have a bank account and a visa card. What does this mean? How does in-house financing work?

3. Are there any hidden costs that get sprung on you once there? Gratuities, extra treatment charges, etc.

4. Is the quality of the materials used (staples and such) on level with what we would expect in the USA?

Best regards!

Edited June 3, 2014 by Travelmego

[kltklass 144]

I went to Mexico and used Dr. Garcia. I can't help you with your choice in doctors, however, I can tell you I loved my care coordinator, alma. She made everything really easy. This was the best thing I ever did. Good luck to you.

[Travelmego 235]

Thank you Kitklass! I actually haven't made up my mind. I just saw the OCC thread so am looking into that too. I will check out Dr. Garcia as well. Can I ask how long it took you to schedule your surgery? I am assuming Mexico doesn't make you do 6 month long physician supervised diets?

[JennMc76 8]

Hi I am scheduled for surgery in Mexico May 24 with dr Lopez. My Coordinator has been wonderful even sends me encouraging words when I've let her know of concerns.. I am starting a 14 day preopt diet Saturday and the last 3 days will b Clear Liquids. They have recommended that with in 10 days of returning home I make an appointment with my general/family doctor for blood work and check up. They have really been great also have direct contact to a nutritional expert. Good Luck

[Travelmego 235]

Thank you for your reply jennMc76! That is great advice about being ready post surgery with a followup with my local GP. I will definitely arrange that in advance.

I wonder...if you don't mind my asking...Did the doctors require any kind of tests or physician supervised weight loss periods before getting surgery? Were they able to get you in soon? I would like to try to get surgery in June - will that be too soon to get an appointment? How far booked out do you think the average is? I know you can't possibly know that but have you heard of long delays to schedule?

I am having a hard time deciding on doctor. I don't want to spend a fortune but at the same time...you get what you pay for.

I look forward to hearing how everything went for you. Please let us know how it goes and any details you can think of.

[JennMc76 8]

I completed the online request for info and the next day Cathy sent me 7 pages to fill out. I completed them sent them back. She said once the Dr reviewed the info they would let me know if I was approved for surgery. Within 2 days I received the approval email!! I called and scheduled at day and that was about the last week of April!! I have my flight booked!! They have sent me emailed with preopt info and diets Vitamin info as well as post opt diet and different stages to add different foods!! I have research Mexico doctors for a while. I had 2 friends that used Dr Lopez mid April and they had nothing but good info when the got back home! So I contacted his office and the rest his history www.specializedbariatrics.com I believe his the site I went through. so that being said I don't thing June is gonna be an issue at all.

[gastricsleever 259]

Thank you for your reply jennMc76! That is great advice about being ready post surgery with a followup with my local GP. I will definitely arrange that in advance. I wonder...if you don't mind my asking...Did the doctors require any kind of tests or physician supervised weight loss periods before getting surgery? Were they able to get you in soon? I would like to try to get surgery in June - will that be too soon to get an appointment? How far booked out do you think the average is? I know you can't possibly know that but have you heard of long delays to schedule? I am having a hard time deciding on doctor. I don't want to spend a fortune but at the same time...you get what you pay for. I look forward to hearing how everything went for you. Please let us know how it goes and any details you can think of.

I went to Mexico alone in February. Went to the OCC with dr Ortiz. I don't regret my decision at all. I had the best care I've ever received at a hospital while in Mexico. Would do it again in a heart beat. I spoke with Gloria as my coordinator and she was more than helpful. I emailed questions for months before actually booking my appt. then when I was ready to schedule my appt, they offered me a surgery date a week and a half later! Yikes! I wasn't ready for that soon! Lol I would say you'd probably be able go get an appt in June.

No supervised weight loss required, just. 3 day to 2 week liquid diet depending on your starting weight.

I did research for a year on dr Ortiz and a other dr....ironically, I can't even remember the name of the other dr I was researching.

I am not even 3 months out and down a total of 67.4lbs since January and I feel fantastic!

[Travelmego 235]

Wow, everyone is so helpful on this forum. It feels good to be able to be heavy and talk about it like it is normal. You know what I mean?

Ok, so both of you got your surgery dates very quickly. That is great news. Now, I just have to decide on a doctor! All of the doctors seem so excellent, it is hard to choose. I guess - if their reputations are all so good - it will come down to price in the end. That sounds odd to say, doesn't it?

Thank you both for your answers. They help clarify things.

Covatila - how are you adjusting to the post op diet? Anything to be aware of?

[Kindle 8,667]

Travelmego,

I went with Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez at OCC as well. One explanation about the "coordinator" you were asking about....OCC does not go through a 3rd party Medical Tourism agency. You are booking directly with them, your coordinator is just your main preop contact person. But I also dealt with Dr. Jimenez, their cardiopulmonary specialist before getting down there. He oversees the preop health survey questionnaire and spirometer instructions once you get a surgery date. I know several people even Skyped with one or both surgeons before deciding to go with OCC. Dr. So is their followup doctor, so that's who I've dealt with postop, although I have spoken with Dr. Martinez since surgery as well.

Anyways, I'm getting way ahead of you with my info, but feel free to ask any questions. The OCC thread in this sub forum should give you a really good idea of what you can expect from them.

[Patricia Tate Johnson 43]

Depending on which organization you chose to work with, a coordinator is not necessary. I went through Mexico Bariatric Center and selected Dr. alejandro lopez. MBC is a "third party" coordinator, but Dr. Lopez has also opened his own practice, Specialized Bariatrics, and can be contacted directly. My coordinator has been responsive, prompt to reply and accessible; I spoke with her via telephone just this afternoon.

I scheduled in February and was required to make a $750 deposit; I will pay the balance about a week before my surgery date. My consent form detailed potential additional costs such as: hernia repair/morphine pump/blood transfusion/additional night in the hospital, etc. I was also informed the hotel would require a credit card with at least $100 available for

'incidentals."

Since making my choice, I have continued to research Sourcis (the company behind MBC), the doctor and the hospital where the surgery will take place. I have only grown more comfortable with my decision and wish I could go tomorrow

[Learningtotwinkle 45]

I am scheduled with Dr Ponce next week I used Trish as my coordinator she has been great to work with, I had to fill out paper work that went over my medical history, I am not required 6 months of pre op anything I am pretty sure if want surgery in June with him you will get in. As far as cost I was quoted $5500 but if your bmi is over 50 its an extra $500 and that includes everything(hospital,hotel, transport to and from San Diego)

[Travelmego 235]

Hey you guys, thanks for the additional information. Sorry for the delay in responding - am moving so packing - blah.

Kindle - I contacted dr. Ponce de leon a few days ago and someone named Trudi (I think) responded to me. She is travelling right now and will get back to me in a few days. Her picture is on their website so I am assuming that is direct rather than a 3rd company.

I really like the OCC from what I have read and seen about it. I filled out their form and they emailed me that it is 6,500. So that is like almost 3 grand more than Dr. Ponce de Leon. From what I can tell, they are both very good surgeons, so I am leaning toward the lower cost. If I thought the lower priced one was a bad set up then I would not consider it. If there is any reason I should NOT go with Dr. PDL then please let me know.

Patricia - I just checked specializedbariatrics.com which jenn also mentioned and their price is 4,200. So I am going to compare reps, packages and the like. Thanks for letting me know that they detail extra costs. The worst thing is to be in another country and discover all kinds of hidden costs. I have been there so many times and I have learned to ask the prices and extra possible costs in advance.

Learningtotwinkle, please let us know how it goes. I wonder why yours is 5500 and they are quoting 3700 on this forum? Did you schedule a while back?

Kitlass - good to hear. I just found that my insurance company MIGHT approve a bypass afterall but not the sleeve. I don't want a bypass. I hear the sleeve is the much better option for quality of life post surgery. I am going to look to see if I can have the sleeve and if it doesn't resolve the diabetes, then get the bypass later. I am contacting Ready4Achange too.

(If I skipped over anyone - totally sorry. I read each response and am very grateful for you all taking the time to reply to me with such detailed information).

[Learningtotwinkle 45]

I will for sure let you know how it goes, not sure about the price difference, I booked in April and I got in on a special of $5200 I am using a coordinator so maybe that's why.

[Kindle 8,667]

Wow! Not sure why ponce de leon dropped his price so much. When I was researching surgeons he was charging $5500. (This was last summer/fall). During my research I ran across a thread from mattuti86 on this forum. She had her surgery with PDL and developed complications within a couple weeks. Her dealings with him postop were pretty bad (she lives in San Diego so was able to go back to him for followup) so he got crossed off my list. She was eventually diagnosed with a leak and is still dealing with it over a year later.

[happyhabit 7]

I had surgery with Dr Q last May. I have lost 108 pound and thrilled with the surgery he did on me. His staff was amazing as well. Before I picked him I have a list of doctors to my regular doc and she said that he had the best reputation for doing quality work. If you have any questions I am happy to answer them! Michelle