Francisco Contreras M.D. I was due to have surgery with Dr. Arturo Rodriguez on May 23d but due to a bank error I found myself in Jurarez, night before surgery and the bank had stopped payment on my credit line due to a misunderstanding with the bank (their error). Dr. Rodriguez was incredibly patient and supportive while I tried to resolve the bank issue but in the end we ended up cancelling the surgery as there was no way to pay for it. It was a huge mess but Dr Rodriguez and Medical Tourism were more than patient and really tried to help me make it happen but it was not to be.
I have nothing but good things to say about both Medical Tourism and Dr Arturo Rodriguez despite the fact that I have opted to go to Tijuana and have the surgery with Dr. Contreras. This is NOT a reflection on Dr Arturo Rodriguez in any way, it just made more sense logistically to have the surgery in Tijuana and I feel Dr Contreras was my best option.
Like most folks I have been overweight on and off at least since my teens and that was a long time ago.
I tried all the usual routes with temporary success. In 2001 with a healthy eating program ane working out at the gym I managed to get down to 140, was in great shape and even hiked Machu Piccu in Peru. That was an awesome experience but I stopped working out and the weight came back and then some.
I have considered WLS for a long time.
In 2005 I was within 48 hours of having the lap band done here in Phx/Scottsdale. Everything was good to go then the surgeon said due to my history of Chron's she would not do the surgery. I even went and did the endoscopy she wanted which ruled out Chron's but she would not do it.
Needless to say I was bummed out. I sort of gave up WLS as an option and gained more weight.
I was actually researching something else several months ago when I came across info about the sleeve and I felt it was the procedure for me.
I was all set to have it done in Juarez, in fact was already in Juarez with my cashiers check in hand. I had taken out an equity line of credt which was approved I deposited the check/money in my local account, my bank verifed it and cut me the cashiers check based on the approved credit line and the money being in my account. I get to Juarez and go to use my credit card to pay for the room and it gets rejected. I am wondering what is going on and I check my account to find it is 22 thousand dollars overdrawn. Apparently the bank that issued the credit line accidently cancelled it, oops.
This meant my bank would not honor the cashiers check, which meant the surgery was cancelled since I could not pay for it. I was beyond upset.
Fast forward, the bank reinstates the credit line, reimburses me for what I was out of pocket for my little Juarez fiasco. I opt to not go back to Jaurez as the surgeon I had selected was not going to be back in Juarez for a few months and I did not want to wait.
I found a great surgeon in Tijuana and on 6/27 I had my sleeve procedure. It was a great experience. I had surgery on Friday, IV was out on Sat after 2 leak tests, I was discharged on Sunday, was bored in the hotel so I came home on Monday. I have had no pain, no gas and no vomitting. Have had not problems eating or drinking.
It took me a while to get to actually have the surgery and what a long strange trip it was but I could not be happier.