Taniesa in Tracy (sorta in the middle of the bay area and sac)

I don't really have an impression of Dr. Coates yet. My 6th visit at his office is this coming Thursday (though I may have to reschedule), but I have yet to meet him. Dr. Coates has been performing the DS for under 4 years and does not perform revisions as far as I'm aware, so I would check with his office on that. And from what I'm heard he is not actually performing the standard DS on patients, he is doing a modified version that is closer to an RNY. My mom had an RNY in 2005 and had a revision to the DS done in 2009 by Dr. Keshishian. He is one of the top 3 DS surgeons in the country. He is down in Glendale, but 100% worth the drive. I would seek him out for your revision if possible. If you are on facebook, there are some good support groups on there. Dr. K has a page for his practice. The link is facebook.com/dssurgery. 

I am actually supposed to meet Dr. Coates at my next appointment. I have been going around the DS groups I am in on facebook about him not giving me the surgery I want, as in all of my appointments I was never told I would get a modified version. I only found out through one of his PA's that my mom knows and I think someone slipped the info to Dr. Coates about it because suddenly his office called the other week wanting me to have my next appointment with him per his request. So I will know more then about having an impression on him and can come back here to let you know if you want. 

The Early Bird discount ends Friday, 3/27.  If you're going to attend the 2015 OH Conference, take advantage of the savings and buy your tickets before the discount ends.  

Not sure yet?  Check out what it is like to attend an OH Conference from the #2014 ObesityHelp Conference photos.

Does anyone have LA care or health net and will or gotten bariatric surgery? I want to know the process and if there is adoctor 

Greetings to all. I have spent some time observing comments made here online regarding the company called Mexico Bariatric Centre. I have listened to one female berate the owner of the company and one of his staff. I respect that each of us who post here are entitled to their opinion and so I have decided to share my story regarding Ron Eli and MBC.

I am a Canadian who travelled to Mexico to have the VGS performed by Dr. Alejandro Lopez in April of last year. The experience was one I shall never forget, met many a new friend and visited a new country. I trusted in my surgeon and his staff to perform the surgery that I hoped would give me a new lease on life.

After the surgery was performed, Lopez advised me that I had a Hiatal hernia that he had “repaired” and that there was an added expense. I was a bit shocked as I had a test performed one week prior to my surgery and there was nothing that concerned my own doctor. The test was completed and the results were sent directly to Dr. Lopez to verify that I did not have a hernia.

When I returned home to Canada I was feeling alright for about two weeks, not great but I was doing okay. Unfortunately, that changed in days. I had a massive infection between the esophagus and the stomach…the same place Dr. Lopez stated he had repaired. I was informed that the suturing had been done quite poorly.

I spent two months in hospital and eight days in critical care. I was advised by my doctor that it was touch and go. During this period, I had to undergo another surgery to correct the damage from the original surgery, as well as two blood transfusions. I felt like I was dying. I was released from the hospital on June 10^th and came home too weak to walk, let alone go back to work.

What upset me was to see comments stating that MBC and owner Ron Eli were not nice people and that they somehow had become a punching bag for some of Dr. Lopez’s patients. I, like many of you, had a wonderful experience with MBC. That being said, when everything went sideways with my health, Dr. Lopez tried to hide behind legalities and threats. MBC and Cindy Rios were the only ones that treated me with respect and took responsibility for the botched surgery Dr. Lopez had performed on me.

I kept every piece of correspondence between myself and Dr. Lopez.  He told me that my doctors were “liars” and with incredible arrogance refused to believe that I spent two months in the hospital.  All I wanted was for him to take some responsibility, to say “I’m sorry for this happening to you”.  Would that not be the decent reaction of a caregiver? He would not even return the calls of the Canadian surgeons, who wanted to speak with him.

MBC did the honourable  thing and took full responsibility for Lopez’s botched surgery, something the doctor himself refused to do. MBC did the decent thing, the right thing. So please, before you decide who is the big bad monster out there,  I would check and see how many other patients have experienced Lopez’s marginal surgical skills and callous, uncaring attitude.  Thank You to Ron Eli and the Mexico Bariatric Centre and to Cindy Rios for all her hard work and genuine concern. They can both hold their heads up for their compassionate handling of my unfortunate situation.