Please give me the good and bad on Hosp Jerusalem

OK please tell me the good, bad & ugly about Hospital Jerusalem and Dr. Almonza (not sure I spelled that right).

My son thinks this is were he wants to go.  I want to know it all. 

Carla

Please read all the reviews here (link below), and do some board searches with his name and words like "complication" "infection" here and on google..

There's few times I will weigh in with comments on Drs I have not used, but this goes back to my "DANGER" must comment clause.. If you and your son read up on Almanza and still choose to use him, all I can say is I wish you luck.. Price shopping with surgery is not smart, cars sure, your (sons) life/health- NO. Please reconsider going with one of the few with much much better track records?

http://www.obesityhelp.com/profiles/bariatric-surgeon/dr-mar io-alberto-almanza-reyes/#profile_reviews

Thank Jo777
I went to that link and read all the reviews.  I would also like to see some post on here from some of his pateints. 

Mind you, I am paying for this and probably going to stay right here and has Dr. Sheih do it even though it cost more. 

Carla

I live in the DFW area, but opted to travel to Mexico, because I could save a bundle!

I am doing very, very well. I've lost more than 3/4 of the weight I want to lose since 8/31/10. I feel great! I haven't regretted my choice, ever.

Here's how I feel about going my surgical experience.

Being from Texas, I've been to Mexico many times, beginning when I was a small child. So my expectations were well-informed. I wasn't expecting for everything to be like it is at home. I understood clearly that I was going to have surgery in a CLINIC, not a hospital. I was expecting to be taken to different facilities for lab work, imaging, and recuperation. So when the clinic ended up being next to Home Depot and across from Costco, I went with the flow.

At every step, my medical care was managed professionally. My room at the clinic, where I stayed for one night, was clean and comfortable. My sister, who went with me, stayed in my room with me, and was fed at no additional expense. There wasn't a private restroom in my room. I traipsed down the hall. . . which was good for me. The more you move after surgery, the better off you are. I had surgery about noon on a Tuesday, and felt good enough that I needed no pain meds after midnight. However, they were available, but I felt fine.

At the recovery house, every effort was made to make both myself and my sister comfortable. The staff cooked for her, and provided juice, popcicles, etc. for me. Bandages were checked, changed. Massages were given. We were not concerned for our safety, and reveled in the Baja climate.

The clinic owner took a dozen of us out for lunch in downtown TJ the day before we left. We never felt insecure or concerned about our surroundings. . . Once again, my sister and I are the sort of people who roll with the punches, and enjoyed the sense of being on holiday.

One of the most telling factors were the number of people that we met who were there based on family or friend referrals. Of course, had I had the choice, I would have rather stayed home, gone to Baylor and had insurance pick up the tab. That alternative wasn't available to me. . . this was the choice I had. Next week will be my one-year surgiversary! I've experienced nothing but improving health. I'm so glad I took the opportunity to change my life. I look forward to hearing that you are glad about your decision, too.

Thank you for sharing your experience.  I just want my son to be careful in his choice.  I have had a lot more good message (pm's) from ppl that had no problems more than ppl that have had problems.

Heck you can get an infection ie. Staph, Mersa, C-diff reall easy in US hospitals.  Alot of WLS surgeries are preformed in clinics aka, surgical centers here in the US. 

I really want to look at all the anges without forming an opinion just yet.  My son is a smart cookie and I have to be able to back up my arguement if my decision is to spend more money and stay here.  

Carla

I have heard good and bad. The bad always sticks out in my mind about almanza and that hospital.
I most likely am going to Dr. Kelly in TJ after throughly researching Mx drs.
I haven't heard any bad yet about him. He is only $ 1,000 more than Almanza. Why not look into him?

I am researching Dr. Kelly in TJ now lol.  Funny that you just posted this.  

Carla

 

I guess I'm really baffled as to why your son would decide Dr. Almanza is *the one* ?  Does he have a burning need to prove others wrong?  Like risk?  What is it about him in particular that attracted your son?

There are literally thousands of doctors that are experienced in the VSG.  You've said you're paying for his surgery.  Why wouldn't you insist that he go with a surgeon with a stellar record?  There are plenty of them in the US, and at least a couple in Mexico.  Aceves comes to mind.  

All of this is readily available on these boards alone, plus many others.  I understand wanting to research all your options, but why is *this* particular surgeon even an option?  Of course there are people with good experiences.  But there are so many with bad, that in my mind that pretty much trumps the good ones.  There are serious infections, people not actually getting the procedure they pay for, and DEATH, all documented on multiple message boards.

Is your son familiar with how to do searches on these sites?  A way to more thoroughly search than the OH provided search feature was just posted yesterday.  

Here are a few links:

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/1276-dr-mario-albert o-almanza-reyes/page__hl__almanza

 

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/22543-almanza-a-few- thoughts/page__p__190174__hl__almanza__fromsearch__1#entry19 0174

 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4145924/Anyone-that-ha s-been-to-Dr-Almanza/

 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/4100274/MSRA-infections-and-no-sleeve-at-all-from-Mexico/



Please, why even consider a surgeon/ hospital with this much controversy?  What is the point? 

Thank you!

Thank you J.e.t

I just read all the links you sent and I do appreciate you sending them.  We are not asking for responses to be flamed, we are asking to get opinions of others. 

We are probably going to use Dr. Mosis Shieh here in Fort Myers Florida. 

One thing I notice is good or bad the opinions are strong and lots of flaming for no reason.  Wow. 

I do however appreciate the input of fellow WLS pts.  

Carla