Dr. Joya?

Hi.. I'm new here and have been reading posts for over 3 hours looking for maybe something about Dr. Joya. I've ready about a zillion posts on Dr. A, but from his website he doesn't have an all inclusive package... and that's what I'm hoping for. I want to be able to have everything taken care of for me... lol that may sound lazy, but I take care of 5 kids, 2 dogs, 5 cats, 3 fish tanks and a military husband... I have enough to handle and would really like this to be as complication free as possible. He also does the surgery laparoscopically, which Dr. A does not. I'd really rather go lap. The whole idea of going to Mexico for this makes me a little nervous. Everyone I've mentioned this to is freaking out lol. I want it done though, and I sure can't afford it here!! So if anyone has any experiences with Dr. Joya or any bad experiences that I should know about... any red flags to look out for or whatever, could you please let me know? I'm done wearing size 24-26 clothes, I'm going to have this done.. I just need a little help. Thanks in advance.

Hi Audrey! I had lap rny with Dr. Rumbaut. I highly recommend him. It is not an all inclusive package but I booked my fight and hotel reservations in about 10 minutes online. He is one of the best bariatric surgeons in the world! They recommend you stay at the Hampton Inn because they provide all the transportation to your appointments. In total, I spent $16500, worth every penny! Unfortunately when I was researching before surgery, I couldn't find much about Dr. Joya either. So I chose a surgeon I could find info about! Good luck! Bonnie

Hi, Audrey. I am scheduled with Dr. Joya for lap RNY on Aug 16 (I'm so excited )!! Anyway, once I decided to do it, I sent down $1000 deposit and Gerald at Dr Joya's booked me a flight from my nearest airport and set up my hotel room for my afer surgery stay. The total cost is $12,000. This includes roundtrip airfare from your local airport, all pre-op tests, 2-3 days in the hospital for and after surgery, 10 days in the motel after surgery, basically everything you need while you're there. Their people will pick you up at the airport and take you where ever you need to go. I have read a lot of good things about Dr Joya and his staff. I don't have insurance that will cover this type of surgery, so I decided to go looking for alternatives. There are cheaper places than Dr Joya, but I don't want to go TOO cheap, ya know? It seems to me that if Dr Joya wants you to stay in town for 10 days after surgery, he cares enough to make sure you are going to get along okay before he sends you home. Some of the others only keep you 2-3 days. Anyway, I just went to my local banker and asked for a loan for this surgery. Good luck with whatever you decided. Hope this helps some.

Hi Audrey: I am getting ready to make my $1000 deposit and get a surgery date for Dr. Joya. I was in the same position that you are in. But after checking out all the Dr. web sites and talking to the people in their offices, and talking directly with people that have been to Dr. Joya's he is still my choice. I think all the Dr. on here are good, you just have to go with the one that makes you feel confident that this is the right choice. First of all going to Mexico is nerve racking the way it is, but you have to feel that you are comfortable witht he Dr. that you choice. If you email Dr. Joya, Gerald who emails you back will tell you anything. I have been emailing Gerald every week with new questions for about 2 months!! I bet he can not wait until I finally get my surgery date. I am glad that they dropped the price to $12000. That helps alot too. I am not sure if anyone is going with me at this time. Don't know if my fiance can get the time off work. I really am so excited about going, that I do not care if I go by myself. I am more afraid of the flight down than the surgery. maybe because I have been ready for this surgery for about a year. Just got tired of fighting the ins. co. Its not worth it!! Well good luck on your decision and join the Dr. Joya forum on his web sight and you will learn a lot!!! Jen

Thanks for the replies.. I've been emailing Gerald over and over with one question after another... don't know how long it will be until he blocks my email address. lol! I think I want to go with him.. I've read every single review people have written about him and joined his GB group. Also in my first letter to Gerald I asked how many people they'd killed and how many people were sick from infections. I guess I'm lucky he didn't put me on iggy right away huh? One thing that really really worries me is the fact that the only pain medication they give is tylenol. When my mom had hers done last year they had her on morphine for 3 days and vicoden for 2 weeks... I'm scared of laying there in pain! I know, no pain no gai... errr, no loss in this case, but... I'm such a ninny. Gerald did say they'd drive me to a pharmacy if I needed something stronger so I guess I should stop worrying. Gerald said if I began the diet this week and gave the deposit by next Monday I could have the surgery by the 26th. Too fast, too fast! LOL I still have things to work out with him.. I have a lot of medical problems that require daily medication so we need to work that out... and I have to find something other than yogurt to eat for the two weeks as I haven't been able to get myself to swallow yogurt since I was 3. Buttttt... I think I'll probably put the deposit down this month maybe... gotta figure out what to do with the kids for 2 weeks and weather or not my honey can take leave for it... sheesh, I don't know! All I know is so far I like the honesty Gerald has given me and hey... the price is right too. Thank you all for the advice... I know I want this, I just have to reassure myself enough to close my eyes and jump! ~Audrey~

some one else posted 16500 for price. what all did you have to pay for.was 12000 just for hospital stay and hotel?....did you hear that....that would be my pennies screaming over here. i'm sqeeeeeezzzzzzing every for this sx.thanks alot vicki g

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Joya. I had my rny on June 15 and have lost over 50 lbs since the begining of June. The quality of care was phenominal compared to what you would get in the US. Surgeons in my area send rny patients home after 1 day (laproscopic of course). I had 4 days in the hospital with nurses looking after me constantly and doctors checking in 2 to 3 times a day. I looked into Lite-n-free. Joya has more experience doing rny. period. Go with out fear! You won't regret it.

BTW you do get more then tylenol... Joya prescribed me ketorolaco 10mg for pain. Just a warning the antibotic tablets (Cipro) are horrifically tasting. ... but not bad enough to avoid the surgury.