Hello! New with questions~

[Jewel Hall-Bristow]

Hello all! My name is Jewel. I have been researching bariatric surgery for about 12 years. I have struggled with weight as all of you for my whole life. I am tired of fighting it, I want help and will do whatever it takes to get it! I am in the saving money phase of my operation, so I am not ready for it yet and have no date set. I am looking to have surgery by Dr. Gilberto Ungson in Mexicali. If you all have any experiences with that group or facility they use please feel free to fill me in. I am also still deciding on the vertical gastric sleeve vs. roux-en-y. If people have feedback about that let me know also. I do lose weight on low carb diets, but I struggle to follow through and need encouragement to do that. I seem to have endless hunger.
I look forward to getting some feedback!
Jewel

 

[southernlady]

Welcome, @Jewel Hall-Bristow
Start by reading, esp this thread: http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/dr-gilberto-ungson-mexicali-mx.1747/ You will see who has had Dr. Ungson there...many have.

In deciding WHICH procedure, make sure you read about ALL of them. Your BMI and comorbids will have an influence on your decision along with age, and other health.

My insurance did not allow me to consider the VSG (I am on Medicare and it wasn't allowed as an option until July 2012 and my surgery was Jan 2011). So of the two you are considering, neither would work. TBH, I required NSAIDS so the RNY wasn't an option. I can lose weight, my issue was keeping it off so a restrictive procedure such as the VSG would not work beyond the first year or so. That is why I chose the DS. The DS allowed me to continue NSAIDS (after healing) and has the best resolution of comorbids as well as the best stats for keeping weigh OFF after surgery. BUT it is not for everyone. You have to be committed to being proactive in your health, follow your own labs, and be willing to eat protein first!

There is an option many surgeons are offering now called the SADI/LoopDS/SIPS (they can't agree on a name yet) that may be well on it's way to replacing the RNY. It has the sleeve but has a different configuration of the intestines.

 

[Larra]

Hi and welcome!
Dr. Ungson has an excellent reputation, and people say good things about the hospital he works at as well.

I chose the DS because it has the best statistics or any bariatric surgery for percentage excess weight loss, for MAINTAINING that weight loss, and for resolution of almost all comorbidities. It does require a lifetime commitment to taking specific vitamins and minerals in what for someone with normal anatomy would consider large amounts, and consuming plenty of protein. To me, that was a very small price to pay for the results, and the vitamin stuff becomes something you just do automatically after awhile.
Some people do fine with sleeve, but we are seeing more and more people struggling with regain (or inadequate loss) all the time. It is certainly superior to lap band! But requires a commitment to low calorie, low fat, low carb eating for lasting success.

 

[DianaCox]

Congrats on picking the ONLY surgeon I would consider in MX. However, you have not indicated that you are looking at the DS, for which Ungson is the ONLY surgeon in MX qualified (IMNSHO) to perform. You should give that surgery a very careful look, and make sure you understand the difference between DS and SADI (I would NOT do the SADI - no long term results, but I would do it instead of RNY if that was the ONLY choice).

 

[newanatomy]

Hello and welcome! You are in the right place to continue your research. Good luck!

 

[star0210]

I went to Dr. Ungson for my revision from VSG to DS and I had a partial re sleeve too. I was very pleased with the whole experience and would do it again in a heartbeat.
You didn't say how much you need to lose or what comorbidities you have. But IMNSHO, you couldn't PAY me to have a RNY. That surgery just doesn't make any sense to me.
You should definitely consider the DS. Having said that, if you were to rule that out, I would definitely choose the Sadi-s before ever considering the RNY.
If RNY were my only choice, I'd just stay fat.

I had the sleeve back in 2010. It worked great and I lost 120 lbs pretty effortlessly. Ended up over time gaining 50 back. That's why I revised to the DS. Knowing what I know NOW, I wish I had just gone with the DS to begin with.

And just as an aside...no surgery will allow you to freely eat carbs. They are the damned devil.

 

[brooklyngirl]

Hi and
Read all the back threads that you can, you'll get lots of info to help make your decision

 

[Will2014]

Welcome aboard Jewel! I went to Mexico and had a protégé of Dr. Ungson's, Dr. Alberto Aceves, do my surgery. I went to Mexicali and had my surgery at the Almater Hospital. Unfortunately, Dr. Aceves died in a plane crash 1 month after performing my surgery. But Ungson is THE guy in Mexico. He's a leader of men and is training the next crop of specialists capable of handling the DS and other complex procedures. My cost was $12,500 total....about $18K less than I'd have paid out of pocket in the US at the time. Best of luck to you in your decisions. Choose carefully....you want one surgery total. Pick a quack or a hack and you could be looking at MANY.