Comments from my Canadian Dr have me wondering .... What would I do?

[Micky71 71]

So I went to my family physician today for a check up and to discuss my final decisions on getting the gastric sleeve. Her and I had previously talked about me having surgery and knowing my history and my current health she feels i am a great candidate. Today I wanted to further advise her that I have found a surgeon and that I am booked at OCC with Dr A Ortiz for Surgery. I had no idea what she was going to say, and admittedly i was nervous as this has been a big decision on my part and after a lot of research.

The long and short of it is this....

the conversation was not about Mexico... it was not about the Surgeon ... it was about my post op and what we would do if there were any complications. Her opinion was not only that should I not go outside of North America, but that I should stay within Canada. She went on to give me examples of patients that have had Plates placed in their leg and no other surgeons would touch them. Plastic surgeries and others would not touch them. This concerned her for me. It really made me think. Wow.. ok on the slim chance that I do have complications or a leak what would i do ?

So having been reading these boards and various articles on surgery gone wrong I KNOW there have been some big nightmares but i thought ok ... lets just throw this question out there and see how others have dealt with ANY types of complications. Maybe there are other Canadians that have answers as to how they were met by other physicians when needing treatment on a sleeve done in Mexico. I would not be turned away if I had problems, right ?

What would I do ?

Edited May 28, 2014 by Micky71

[Travelmego 235]

I can't answer for Canada but, being from the USA, I would hopefully be able to hightail it to the nearest hospital in San Diego so my insurance would cover it. The problem with that is if I would be able to get through Tijuana traffic which is supposed to be a nightmare. A coordinator told me traffic is a big factor in why they do their stuff in a hospital rather than a clinic setting.

I think i am going to look for travel insurance with emergency evacuation benefits (caution - be sure to tell them you are getting surgery). Here is a link I just googled and found - am not endorsing it. http://www.visitorscoverage.com/travel-insurance/medical-tourism-insurance/

By law, in the USA, the emergency room has to stabilize you even if you have no means of paying so even if I didn't have insurance I would at least be stabilized. I have seen a few threads where it seems Canadian insurance actually covers surgery in Mexico? I didn't read through them so is that true? If so, would it cover you in the USA for emergency treatment?

Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't any treatment needed with a sleeve be an emergency situation? Or, are you thinking about if you decided to revise to a bypass where whether a surgeon would work on you would be an issue?

Edited May 29, 2014 by Travelmego

[jjinWA 511]

I discussed this with my facilitator who is working through my ins company etc. I told her that if ins does not cover the procedure many choose to go to Mexico due to the lower costs. She frankly told me that anyone doing that should be aware that it may be a problem getting a surgeon or other dr here in the states to accept a patient later should they have complications. And would the complications be covered by their ins since the actual WLS was denied by that same ins company. Lots of things to be aware of before that decision is made to go to Mexico.

[PagetNic 12]

Hi Mickey,

It's a global world now, so I find that very short-sighted for your Dr to have that view! Many people are moving to/ from Canada all the time, & are not refused treatment because they were living somewhere else! I work in healthcare & people come with all kinds of issues that need to be sorted. I am Canadian & currently live abroad--& when I eventually move back home, I would not tolerate being discriminated against! I expect I might have to search for the right fit physician depending on what I need. If you cannot get what you need in Canada for surgery in a timely manner & cannot afford Cdn private fees, I would look overseas. I had my sleeve in Mexico with no problems, but do your research & good luck!

[Kindle 8,667]

I had my surgery at OCC in December and had similar concerns. As far as complications, my insurance doesn't pay for WLS or resulting complications, so any costs would have been my responsibility even if I'd had surgery in the states. I am in the US, but lots of people said no one would touch me afterwards. Well that's just not true. Both my PCP and Ob/Gyn have been very supportive. I also had to see a gastroenterologist and infectious disease doctor for a C. Diff infection 6 weeks postop (that I likely got from being on antibiotics a tooth infection, not from my VSG surgery). They could care less that I had surgery in Mexico. They just wanted to get me better.

Is your family physician willing to help you postop? The most common issues you may face will be nausea or reflux. Dr. So and Dr. Martinez were both great at postop communication with me and would probably be willing to coordinate with your doctor if you have problems. And maybe she could make some phone calls to see what your options would be if you do end up with a more serious complication. (Although I have yet to read about a single leak or stricture from OCC).

The other thing you could do is check directly with your OCC coordinator to see what other patients have done postop. A lot of their patients are from Canada and they could maybe hook you up with someone else in your area to see how they've handled postop stuff. I asked Carolyn dozens of questions before my surgery....that's what she's there for. Good luck!

[Micky71 71]

Thanks everyone for such great feedback. I truly appreciate it. I am confident with my decision of going to OCC and I will pose these questions to Carolyn and see what she has heard. Im so excited about this decision. I know its right for me. The Dr even ended our appointment again saying im a great candidate and have realistic expectations of the journey associated with this surgery. Its great to hear OCC is good at post op communications... hearing that gives me more confidence in my research and decision. Thnaks again.

[Travelmego 235]

I honestly can't imagine a surgeon being unwilling to work on a patient who has surgery outside of the USA. Like someone mentioned above - what if a person lives overseas for a few years and moves back to the USA? Perhaps I am naive but I would be very surprised - especially if it is a teaching hospital.

[PrincessSparkle 1]

Good Luck Micky71. I live in Calgary and self-paid for surgery in Mexico in May 2014. My family doc has been super supportive. Luckily I've had absolutely no complications, but was t aware of being refused treatment here simply because I'd had the surgery elsewhere.

[summerms83 2]

I called and talked to my pcp today about the same thing and she said they would have no problem following up with me and they have a lot of bariatric patients so they know what labs to look for and if I had any problems they would be able to refer me out.

[summerms83 2]

Dr. Ariel Ortiz actually lives in San Diego and just drive the 20 minutes over the border everyday.

[kakaw 33]

I am in Canada and have had surgery 3 times in Mexico. I have had no issues getting any care here. When I had my band I even got fills and unfills here, no issues.

I have a friend who went to Mexico for the sleeve surgery and has had complications. She has had no issues getting doctors here to help her.

[jjinWA 511]

I'm from the US, not Canada, but the questions and concerns remain the same. I personally and currently see three scenarios paying out here. 1st patient (me) had sleeve surgery a few days ago here in the states, with ins approval. Second patient (my daughter) having been denied ins approval is booked for surgery with Dr Illan in Mexico, in July (cost around $4600 plays flight). Third patient (my good friend) did not want to take the Mexico plunge and having no ins WLS option, had the surgery last month here in the states for $28,000. I have had no complications and on July 1 will follow up with a new PCP that I selected based on a personal reference that says he is compassionate with those who have had this surgery. My ins will pay for the follow up visits. I will discuss with him then if he is willing to also accept my daughter as a patient. If he declines, I take my business elsewhere until I find a dr that will see us both. Interestedly my friend who self paid in the US has been to the ER twice with complications and nothing was ever said about denying her service, AND her insurance paid for both visits! Following up for routine visits, if you have no PCP can always be done at urgent cares. They are located on almost every street corner! Anything more serious can be taken care of at any hospital ER if that is the only option. And if in the end medical bills become out of control due to any major complication ( not paid by ins), well bankruptcy is always an option. Many have taken that route because of some major illness that was not covered by ins.

Question that I really have here is what are the choices for those that do not have ins coverage? Not having the surgery, having the surgery in the US for $28000 or having the surgery in Mexico for much much less $s? I really see my friend and my daughter in the same situation. Both having surgery with out of the safety umbrella of insurance coverage. Both are thus self paying. One is just paying a Whole lot more then the other. But irrelevant they are both having the same surgery, and likely by very qualified surgeons in full service hospitals. So WHAT is the difference? One was done in the US and One was done in Mexico? That is the only difference? Why and whatever would the reason be that an ethical dr here in the states have cause to deny his/her services simply because the surgery was in Mexico? Yes, it is considered an elective surgery, but so is the person who did this same elective surgery in the US. Would he/she deny the same person if the surgery were done in Europe? So the fear of getting followup care after surgery in Mexico is mind boggling! I guess I would wonder if there are actual true life experiences where a patient was ACTUALLY denied services because of having the surgery in Mexico. Or is this more the US/Canadian medical staff putting the fear of God in you first so that you eventually choose to pay out the big bucks as my friend did. That certainly was the case with me. My facilitator was very quick to tell me that I should NOT consider having my daughter go to Mexico because she may not get a dr to take her when she returns. I will be discussing that with my surgeon (her boss) when I see him on July 3rd. If he even acts one bit incredulous I will be all over his website with negative reviews!

Sorry so long here, but had to rant a bit and get this off my chest!

[Sweetums 13]

I am from Alberta. My family physician steered me away from the lap band, which I was going to pay 18 000$ for in Ontario. She is supportive of the surgery I have chosen to have in Mexico. I have my follow up appointment booked with her for when I return.

I also work in health care. I see patients return from surgery in other countries ALL. THE. TIME. we never refuse service. Never. Even if the surgery was elective. My friend jokes with me that its a good thing I am having lap surgery, so the surgeon in Mexico cant steal my kidney and sell it on the black market. We think its hilarious. I will get an x ray when I get back to be sure... lmao.

Canada has a public non discriminatory health care system. You CANNOT be refused care. If a physician does not feel well enough equipped to deal with post op complications, another one will, and think yourself lucky you got the best (wo)man for the job.

I would be interested to hear if there has actually been a case of a patient being refused care in Canada. In Edmonton, capital of Alberta, there is a specialized bariatric team to deal with post bariatric surgical complications.

Best of luck to you!!

[julielle 199]

I not only had my sleeve done in Mexico, I also had a thigh lift, arm lift, breast lift and augmentation, and a lower body lift done there earlier this year. Some differences, I don't have a bariatric doctor/surgeon following my care, my primary physician orders my bloodwork etc but she is not a specialist in bariatric surgery so I have to do the research myself and tell her what i need. When I came back home after my plastic surgery I took out all my stitches myself. It took me 2 days Yet if something had happened, no ER would have turned me away, they HAVE to look after you. I think she just meant that a bariatric surgeon or a plastic surgeon might not want to take you on as their patient but you will STILL get care in case of emergencies.

[phatphotog 61]

I had surgery in Mexico. No complications. But I'm scheduled for a local bariatric doctor follow up (and dietician). They asked where I had surgery and I told them. No issues whatsoever. My first appointment couldn't be until mid July but they told me to call if I'm having any trouble. Also, I don't know if my insurance will cover it or not but they will get the bill and we will see what happens. I don't mind paying for a couple visits for the peace of mind and nutritional advice. Anyway, my point in this is it really depends on the doctor if they will follow up with you. I'm sure there are other doctors besides this one who are willing. (This is in the US)