Question:
parents

my parents are so fruterating I'm nineteen they should let me make my own decisions in life.they just won't listen to me about anything i print info out for the m to read but they just say o it looks realy all the things that can go wrong i tell them iknow about all the risks ihave been researching this for two years I here alot of people from this website have had there surgeries in mexico with DR. Alaeraz why what is so good about this docter and what is so special about mexico and are they safe because i live in VT.soi wouldn't want to waste a trip for nothing please tell me what i can do to help my parents understand this better    — marybeth weaver (posted on October 8, 2009)

October 8, 2009
Hi.. Iam a parent that has had RNY. What are you planning on having done? Why are you going to go to Mexico? Have you gone to a Bariatric DR in your area and any support meeting? Have you tried to take your parents to a meeting? What will your ins. cover or are you paying out of pocket? I wish you well.
   — tootsie52

October 8, 2009
I think your parents are right. I would want you to look into this in your local area. You would get more support from a group, and you will need your parents help from what I am told. I am 38 and I am sure I will want my mother there with me when I wake up. Just concerned - KM
   — Kelly M.

October 8, 2009
The only thing special about the doctors in Mexico is that they do most procedures for less than what you can typically find in the United States. There are a few places that you can find in the US that do some operations for close to the cost of Mexican doctors, but they usually do not offer the services that the Mexican clinics offer. Most of the US offices that offer cheap rates are giving those rates for outpatient services. This means that you are operated on in the clinic, but expected to recover at home or in a motel room. The Mexican clinics usually keep you for a few days for observation. The down side to having your surgery performed in Mexico is that if something does go wrong, you have no legal recourse to get it corrected. There is no malpractice insurance in Mexico, and the government does not allow doctors to be sued for malpractice. If something does go wrong, you are reliant upon the DOCTOR to make things right. Most of the GOOD clinics in Mexico will stand behind their work, but not all of the clinics are good. That is why it is important to research your doctor before you get the surgery performed. Of course, the same is true for AMERICAN doctors. Sometimes it costs just as much to get the surgery done in Mexico as it does in the US because of incidental expenses. Things like airfare, hotel costs, and the cost of food should all be taken into account when looking at the cost of surgery. If the costs are similar after taking those factors into account, you would likely be better off getting the surgery done in the US because of the malpractice laws than having it done in Mexico. I had MY surgery done in Matamoros, Nueve Leone, Mexico. My surgeon was about 40 miles from my home, since I live right on the border, in Deep South Texas. It would have cost ME too much to go elsewhere for the surgery, and I did not have insurance to cover the costs. It cost about half as much for me to get my surgery done in Mexico as it would have to have it done in the US. I have had NO problems with my surgery and would recommend my surgeon to anyone. Hope this helps, Hugh
   — hubarlow

October 8, 2009
Mary Beth, your parents only want the best for you. As a parent of an overweight daughter I'm sure I will be going down this road one day as she continues to gain. As a parent we are very protective when it comes to our kids. That is a parents worst fear that something will happen to their child. Which procedure are you considering? I'm assuming you have no insurance and thats why your looking into Mexico. If they are paying then you have to learn as much as possible and be educated enough to answer any questions they come up with. They will come around eventually. I just got back from Mexico as my husband had his sleeve done with Dr. Alvarez last week. I will be glad to answer any questions you may have. I had RNY here in Florida and probably would have had the sleeve if it was available when I had my surgery done, as there is no malabsorbtion with the sleeve and you can take most prescriptions right away.
   — ToniLee

October 9, 2009
Are you self-supporting so you are able to make your own decisions and recover from any financial consequences on your own? Are you paying for this procedure yourself including any copays for any insurance coverage you have? If not, your parents have every right to have influential input in any major decisions you make, no matter if you are nineteen or ninety. If you are not mature enough to understand that, then you are probably not mature enough to have this surgery and handle all the responsibility that goes with it, no matter what your age. Next, do not think that the surgery is an all out quick-fix, because it's not. Even after the surgery, there is a lot of dedication required to make it work. If you are fully informed, have all of the pre-testing done that is required in the United States, and are fully responsible for your actions, then you should keep pursuing this. Good luck and God Bless.
   — ladybugtx18

October 9, 2009
I am a parent and I have an overweight daughter. I had VSG surgery on 3/25/09. I have lost 80 lbs and am feeling great. My mother went with me to my initial appointment and was fully informed of the options. I chose the VSG because it has very few if any complications. I would recommed my daughter to have the same surgery and I have recommended it to one of her friends and they are both 20. With the VSG your stomach is just made smaller but it still works the same you just can't eat as much. So in the long term of things your stomach still functions as it did you just eat a lot less because you get full quicker and the hunger hormones are gone so you don't get as hungry as much. If your insurance will cover the surgery there are lots of good doctors here in the states. My insurance covered all but $1000 of my surgery and it was a $41,000 expense. Talk to your insuranc company and find out what the requriements are and what they cover. Find information about the VSG and the success rates. Also find some documentation about the death rates and issues of people that do not have surgery and remain obesse. It was a determining factor for me when I found out that by stayin obesse I was cutting my life short. Obesity is a disease and does cause a lot of health issues. This is some of the information that might help your parents understand the health issues associated with it. I hope you have success in helping your parents understand and in finding the right doctor and choosing the right surgery.
   — Lisa von Wallmenich

October 9, 2009
First of all, do you have medical insurance? YOu can use this website to find a doctor in your area that accepts your insurance. They will see if you are a good candidate for the surgery, and tests will be done. Tell you parents you aren't just going to be thrown under a knife and hope for the best. This is a process that requires testing and more testing and a supervised weight loss diet in the past or previous. The doctors will see if you are healthy enough for surgery. If you don't get the surgery, you could die from obesity. Your chances are greater to die from being overweight than if you had the surgery. These bariatric doctors specialize in obese patients. THis is what they do. The first gastric bypass was done to a patient that had cancer of the stomach. When weight loss was noticed, it then became a hit for obese people. If a surgery could help a cancer patient, then your parents should try to be a lot more open minded and listen to what you are saying. After all, you are 19 yrs old and they should respect your decision and/or interest in this. Let the doctors decide if you qualify or if it is safe enough for you. Tell your parents to go to a support group with you and just listen to others crying out to have this surgery and how heart breaking it is to hear that a person wants this so bad, only to find obsticles in there way. (Like unsupportive parents) What surgery have you researched? Did I send you the surgery comparison chart? In the USA, there are like 13+ million people that are obese and several million are super obese. Please consider staying in the states for your surgery. Check if your insurance is accepted by a doctor (be sure he is a baratric doctor, specializes in weight loss surgery) that you can find right off of this website. That is how I found my doctor. And he was great. YOu might even have to travel to another state, but not another country just to get it done. I hope your parents find some comfort in this post. It is your life, on the other hand they are worried about you. I get that. But......they will loose you faster to obesity than from a surgery that will help you. If a lot of people were dying from the surgery, then it wouldn't be allowed or so popular for a tool to help severely overweight people loss weight. I suggest you go to your family doctor and get tested for PCOS. Google it. It could be a cause of the reason why you aren't losing weight or are insulin resistant. Check it out. NOt to put more pressure on you, but most obese women have this condition, so weight loss surgery is the only answer. best wishes to you. I will pray for you and your parents. Just a little something: I was on weight watchers for 1 yr planning to go on a cruise to the Carribean, so I had motivation. I worked out three days are week, followed the plan to the tee, and I only lost 27 lbs!!! That is right 27 lbs. I had PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). So I couldn't loose weight.
   — Kristy

October 9, 2009
I had the VGS in Nov 08. I went to Mexico as I had no insurance. It was $9500 plus the $400 airfare. A clean and private hospital. They picked me up at the San Diego Airport. It was a wonderful experience. Dr Aceves was great. I met 2 other woman from different states who also were getting the sleeve. I'm down 90 pounds. Make sure you check out the right place/doctor. Alberto Aceves. Good Luck Linda Willner
   — Linda C.