VSG-->DS... overcoming concerns & foreign dr recommendations

I am seriously considering a revision from VSG to DS.

My main remaining concerns are making the lifelong commitment to taking all the supplements and never running short on my water intake each and every day – no exceptions (& the financial outlay for the surgery as I will be self-pay). My water and supplement intake have been an issue on/off since getting the sleeve almost 3yr ago. I know I absolutely can’t get away with it if/when I have the DS. Do you have any suggestions to get over that hurdle, so I can move forward?

Secondly because I am self-pay, I would likely have to travel abroad for surgery. From my preliminary research, I am considering Dr Ungson, Dr Aceves and Dr Marchesini. I would appreciate any recommendations, feedback, names of any other doctors to consider, etc, etc.

Lastly, I would likely be travelling by myself from N California. Is that doable? I would certainly arrange wheelchair assistance and I am a very experienced traveler. How long would you recommend staying there?

Anything else I need to address in my decision making process (besides the obvious – experience, length of common channel, laparscopic/open, etc)?

I thank you very much for any and all feedback.

Tricia

I used Dr Ponce for my revision from VSG to DS. He is in Mexico.

When I was looking at medical tourism in Mexico, I saw that Dr Ungson is highly thought of.  He taught Aceves.  Aceves is cheaper though.  I have not heard of Marchesini.

I would go to DSfacts.com and look for the list of all vetted DS surgeons.  Don't use anyone not on that list.

I also was coming from Northern California.  It's doable.  ACEVES is 2 blocks from the US/Mexico boarder.  Ungson is further south.  Both have shuttles that come pick you up from the airport, and take you back to the airport.  Both have what I call tourism companies that arrange all the little details for you - and these people are good.  Very responsive.

I would stay in a hotel near the surgeon as long as you can.  2 weeks would be great.  Then fly home if there are no complications. These hotels have nurses coming through during the day to check on you. 

It's OK if you are there by yourself.  I've read posts from others who did it alone.

Good luck in your journey.

I highly recommend Ungson (MX)  or Marchanesi (Brazil).  Both have coordinators to take care of every detail so you don't have to incur the expense of a medical tourism company.  Aceves is cheaper, but less experienced, so I wouldn't feel comfortable with him for a revision, which can be tricky.

For vitamins, my best recommendation is to set regular alarms on your computer or cell phone to remind you to take some vitamins.  I even had a second alarm to remind me to eat something, for I wasn't hungry for at least 6 months, and would forget to eat if I was concentrating on something.

Thank you all for your responses. They are much appreciated.

Tricia

If you are well enough hydrated now, you are probably fine.  Just make sure you keep it on your mind going forward.

Now the supplements.....  If you can't take the vites, don't have surgery.  Period.  They are not optional and it is a lifelong commitment.  It's not whenever the spirit moves you or it's convenient.  It's every day, more than once a day.  And it's a lot of pills and it's expensive as well.  What helps me is that I count out pills once a week and keep them in an AM and PM organizer.  If I had to count them out every day, I would miss some.

PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST. WHEN YOU LOOK UP THE DRs, CHECK IF THEIR REVIEWS ARE RECENT OR NOT. PERSONALLY I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND DR. UNGSON. STILL SUFFERING AFTER 4 MONTHS OF SURGERY. SPENT 3 MONTHS IN THE HOSPITAL! DO YOUR RESEARCH PLEASE. GOOD LUCK

God bless your soul , sorry about what you went through, everybody here keep talking about how good dr unigson is, and that he is the only dr that  performs DS in Mexico.

According to your profile, you haven't had WLS---you're a friend of a WLS patient. I think we'd be much more likely to believe you if you gave more details about your involvement with Dr. Ungson.

For some reason, my same comment didn't come through, so I'm glad yours did.  I noticed the same thing:  Member for less than a month, no wls, listed as friend of someone who did, and no background story.  Hinky...