MAJOR COMPLICATIONS @ EMMANUEL MEDICAL CENTER DR ALMANZA

I did not doubt your story for a moment - even before you posted the proof. 

I hope that you get better soon.

I hope that people DO read and believe and learn from your story.  You can find a place IN the US for your surgery just as cheap as you can in Mexico.  You might have to go states away - but if you'd still be closer to home than Mexico.  And even if you DID have to pay a few hundred or even a couple of thousand more... isn't it worth peace of mind?

It's not Mexico, it is individual doctors.  I went to Mexico and had a better experience than I EVER would have had in the US for half the price.

There are great doctors and bad doctors in EVERY country including the US.  There are doctors I wouldn't dream of going to in the US.  They are nothing short of butchers.  And no, you cannot find doctors that are the same price in the US.  Many people could not get surgery at all if they had to stay in the US.  I'd rather they go to Mexico, India, Brazil, etc., vs.  not getting surgery at all.  I just want them to know what they are doing when they go to ANY doctor in ANY country including the US.

I agree that there are good doctors in every part of the world.  It would be stupid to say otherwise.  However, I disa

"And no, you cannot find doctors that are the same price in the US."

Yes, you can.  A few of us on another forum spoke to a girl a few months ago who was going to go to Mexico for lapband surgery.  It turns out the price she was going to pay was a few hundred dollars OVER what my OWN surgeon charges for all-inclusive lap-band surgery. 

So I am quite POSITIVE that you CAN find doctors in the US that are priced comparable to that of those in Mexico.  And with a US doctor, you won't have trouble finding a US bariatric surgeon to do your follow-up.  (This is an issue since many US bariatric surgeons refuse to do follow-ups on bariatric surgeries done out-of-country.  And I'm sorry, but my bloodwork, etc is too important to trust to a regular PCP: I want a bariatric professional to review it with me yearly.) 

So we shall agree to disagree. 

Perhaps you can direct me to a website where someone does a sleeve for $5,000.

Thank you, I look forward to checking out this doctor.

Ohhh, btw....

Docs do not work on patients they did not operate on, it has little to do with the country the surgery was done, ask any band patient who had surgery by Dr. Jones down the street if they can get follow up care by Dr. Smith also down the street.

Sleeves (as this person has) don't typically need follow up care.  Obviously the OP had no problem finding someone to treat her.

I had a revision from band to sleeve in Mexico.  It was $8750.  Please point me in the direction of a US doctor that provides the same including three nights in the hospital.

I'll wait.

I really don't understand why you seem to be looking for a fight which is exactly what your tone suggests.  (And believe me, I'm usually the LAST person to suggest such a thing because I am OFTEN blunt to a fault.) 

Let me remind you that I did not say that noone could find a bariatric surgeon in the country to do their follow-up.  I said that you'd have more trouble FINDING one.  (It is a WELL-KNOWN FACT that it IS harder to find a bariatric surgeon in the US to do your follow up if you had your procedure done out-of-country, especially in Mexico, than if you had your procedure done by a surgeon in the US.)  But in case you missed talk about that on this very board from people who actually DID have their surgeries in Mexico and talk about having to have their bloodwork, etc done by their PCP, you can simply look on many surgeon's websites where they state plainly that they will not do follow-up on patients who had their surgeries done in Mexico. 

I'm not SO absorbed in OH debate that I keep sources in my favorites list to "prove" my arguments.  Actually I find people that do very sad. 

So I would suggest, since you obviously know how to use a computer and this message board, that you go back through the posts on this very board and locate the various postings regarding EXACTLY what I am talking about since I guess you must have missed those posts over the last few years.  I mean really, it's almost laughable that you won't concede any of this. 

Sorry I won't accomadate your obvious itch for a fight.  No, actually I'm not sorry!  This Friday is just too lovely to ruin with petty debate.  So go ahead and flog me!  LOL!  I'll not post to this thread again!  (So go ahead and really lay into me now since you know you'll get no response!) 

Nooooooooooo.... not going to work.

YOU wrote:

~~So I am quite POSITIVE that you CAN find doctors in the US that are priced comparable to that of those in Mexico.~~

I'm just asking you to defend your claims.  What does your doc charge for a sleeve and hospital time?  I can't even find a website for your doctor.  It's NOT a matter of looking for a fight, it's a matter of your being honorable enough to prove your claims.  Is that unreasonable?

Long term sleeves do not need a bariatric surgeon, neither does bypass or DS.  Their PCP can do routine labs.  It is NOT a matter of Mexico, bariatric surgeons do not want to take on the care of ANYONE they did not do surgery on.  It's very political and based on money but bottom line, I don't blame them.

Are you not honorable enought to back up YOUR claims?  Yes or no, either one is fine.  Just stop posting nonsense that you cannot defend.

Bingo! See the attitude? She is this way EVERY time someone posts about using Dr. Almanza. She has a vendetta going about him for some reason,a personal issue of some sort. Anytime someone says they have done their research and are satisfied with their choice,she gets confrontational just like she did with this poster.
I dint consider that my co-coordinate violated anyone's privacy;Isent the thread to her by email and asked about the situation. She has been honest with me about the other threads I have sent her detailing the infections that were happening and have now been contained. Those patients put that info out themselves. She did not violate "Marie's" privacy because Marie does not exist for them,they don't have her as a patient. And the pantry, well,duh,it would be easy to guess what would be in the pantry for people who just had WLS,wouldn't it?
I still think "Marie" is a product of Midwesterngirl's  imagination. Her need to discredit Dr. Almanza is bordering on pathological and pitiful. As far as her "surgery report" I have bought, donated and accepted donations from Paypal,for the the animal sanctuary that my husband and I are guardians for.Non of out transactions have looked like the one provided.I  guess she will now say Paypal is different in Mexico,too. Funny,but Paypal was not one of the options I was given for payment...hmmm,reckon they got Paypal for "Marie" only then closed the account?
I was given the name of a surgeon in my town who takes "adopted" patients from other surgeons. Interestingly enough,it was the very surgeon I would have used if my insurance did not have an exclusion to all WLS. I am already lined up with him for any aftercare I might need in that way. My PCP is on board as well.
I have been on this board for 18 months and I have see many people pass thru Dr. Almanza's practice and been perfectly satisfied and had no issues. It is true that they had a spell of incisional infections.In all fairness to the man,once they found out there was an issue they acted quickly and decisively to correct it. In all honesty,it is wrong to continue to harp on it like this.
I tell you what I would accept as proof that "Marie" is a real patient of Dr. Almanza's. An OFFICIAL transcript from her American hospital..
So,get that Midwesterngirl,go ahead...I'll wait.
Holly