Important Post re: Dr. Almanza on VSG board

Such drama now on all the boards. Not sure why it had to come from one forum to another.
Betcha a dollar that a new thread pops up tommorrow about the same.
Tell me who to make the check out to.

I am wondering why people are getting so defensive with negative experiences from different surgeons???
Isn't that why OH even exists? To get other peoples' opinions and experiences with WLS???
I know when I was researching for my procedure, I checked this site daily and did all kinds of research. Afterall, this is a lifechanging decision and I wanted only the best surgeon.
I don't think anyone is out to bash a surgeon. I think the reason for this post is to protect and inform-period!!!
The information is out there, good or bad, and we just have to let our experiences be known so that others inquiring about the surgery can take all of the information and make an informed choice. That's why we're here.
I would have been so mad if people didn't put ALL of the information out there for me to read. I wanted to know everything. I didn't want sugar-coated anything.

      Wow this is hard now.. I have been reading peoples posts now going on 3 months and been posting here maybe 2weeks now and I thought I had made my mind up on which Dr to have BUT now I don't know.
     When I 1st read how much Dr Almanza charged and how much cheaper it was then most of the other surgeons I was cautious but after reading peoples posts about how he owns his own clinic and recovery house and that's why he can charge what he wants I thought WOW ok makes sense ..AND then after reading alot of women posting what great experiences they had there and how clean his clinic and recovery house were I thought again WOW this sounds so good.
       I never read any negative things about him till now and I must say  I'm alittle nervous now and I need to rethink this Dr. He is getting alot of clients prob from this website and from referrals and it kinda makes sense that they would want to push as many patients through as they can in one day...which makes me think now how well are they cleaning and sterilizing there surgery room, its got me really rethinking my decision.
Please dont get me wrong I know there are alot of ladies here who have had great experiences with him..I know I have read almost all your blogs but what if I'm one of the ones who ends up being unlucky..

Hello fellow Canadian.
Just a short note.
Read all these posts... divide by 5... minus 10... subtract 6 and believe the rest.
Some people share real experiences. Some share what they have heard or read.
Some just try to promote their doctor.
And others have nothing better to do than sit a computer 24 hours aday and write post after post on every forum. Some need a life!
As one of the other posters... flame something has put it... get your research from more places than one. I think she is from Canada as well. She's in this forum.
Good thing you are making a commitment to do all this research and next... be booking an appointment. Hope all goes well and grab your chin right now... it will stop your head from spinning.
Terry

I hear what you are saying.  I was ready to send my deposit today to Dr. ALmanza but after reading all the posts at this board and the other board along with the pm's there is just no way I can still go there.

I read some of the posts, the positive and some negative to my husband and he does not want me to go to Dr. A.  I need to feel 100% comfortable with my decision and hearing about some past experiences I just don't.

I have no doubt he is a great surgeon but I fear he is being stretched to thin.  

I have no dog in this fight.  I just want to have a safe, healthy surgery and recovery and I wish the same for everyone else.

I think the main gist of my post was that good and bad can happen from any doctor. John's experience was different than mine. Husband and wife, surgery the same day, one right after the other.  Things happen, feel good about your choice, stay positive about your choice and your  experience will be what you want it to be.  You can't control what happens inside your body or how it will heal (or not heal).

Remember that this is a decision to make your life better, research it long and hard and it will be everything you wanted and more.

kari bush

I have to respectfully disagree with the previous poster. I DO NOT think there are good and bad to all surgeons. I have never found a SINGLE bad thing about my surgeon and I would NEVER settle for a surgeon that I heard THIS much bad about. If its more than one, there's something wrong.

I'd have to disagree as well.  When one doctor has more complications in 6 months than another doctor has in 20 years, we most certainly do have some control over this.  We go to a doctor with a better track record.  It's not about being positive, it *is* all about research and making good decisions based on skill, rep, and professionalism vs. who is dirt cheap.

Cheap is cheap for a reason. :o/

Excellent post Greenbaygirl...thank you!

Kimberly