ayerski
I started my struggle with obesity in the 2nd grade. I clearly remember having to go to the boys "husky" section of Sears to buy my pants. I remained chubby until my 1990 graduation and began adding on the pounds every year. At that time I was around 230lbs. and gradually, one meal at a time I arrived at almost 400lbs in 2007. I knew that I had to do something about my weight before it did something to me (high blood pressure, diabete's, heart problems, ect.). I was very fortunate to have not suffered from any of the symptoms listed above and know that it was only a matter of time until I did. I started doing research and decided that the lapband was the best surgical route for me. I liked that fact that it was not permanent and could be removed if there happened to be any complications.
My insurance company clearly stated that it does nothing for morbid obesity. This was very discouraging because I knew that they would pay for any possible heart attacks, strokes, knee operations, ect., the side effects of being morbidly obese. Knowing that insurance was not an option, I knew that I was going to have to pay out of pocket and and I began shopping for a surgeon and researching surgical costs. Locally, the surgery was going to cost me over $19,000.00 and I just did not have that kind of money. There was one other option of having the sugery on an outpatient basis at the cost of $14,500 but due to my high body mass index I did not qualify for this surgery unless I lost 80lbs beforehand. LOOSE 80 POUNDS!!! Doesn't this totally deafeat the purpose of me needing surgery!!!?
THANKFULLY, some close friends of mine had recently traveled to Mexico to get lapband surgery together and they paid half of what they would have paid here in the U.S. When I heard that they were having their surgery in Mexico I must admit that I thought that they were crazy! I pictured them having their surgery in a hut somewhere that was unsanitary, unprofessional, and unsafe. But to my great surprise they showed me just how advanced the medical technology is in Mexico. Their hospital, surgeon and surgical procedures were all state of the art. They were treated like a king and queen and their doctor even came to visit them in their hotel room while they were recovering from their surgery. After their wonderful experience I knew that Mexico was definitely my best and cheapest option. Money was still tight for me but I am extremely fortunate to have loving parents who gave me 80% of my surgical costs while the other 20% of my surgical costs were provided through private donations in my church. Needless to say, I was extemely overwhelmed by their generosity and love for me! Without my parents and church (www.stuartheights.org) I wouldn't have been able to start the next chapter of my life.
The hard part was researching the Internet to find the most qualified surgeon and the most state of the art hospital. I was also working on a very tight budget. After a lot of research, I decided to have my surgery in Tijuana, Mexico at the Hospitales Angeles by Dr. Jaimie Ricardo Ramos Kelly of the Tijuana Weight Loss Clinic. He is an expert in gastric surgeries. You can take a look at his resume when you visit www.wls.com.
The Hospital Angeles could not have been any more state of the art! Personal Page I worked with a weight loss coordinator to schedule my surgery, hotel accomodations, and flight plans for my surgery. It only took a few weeks to get my surgery set up. My wife and I flew from Atlanta to San Diego where Dr. Kelly's office had a gentleman meet us at the airport. He was holding a sign with my name on it and he drove us across the border to Tijuana. In just 30 minutes we were in Mexico!We stopped at a clinic where they took a blood sample and a urine sample. After that I was taken to the Hospitales Angeles where I met Dr. Kelly and his staff at his office. I was overwhelmed by how polite and down to earth he was and how he spoke perfect English. After consulting with him and his staff it just reaffirmed to me that I had definitely made the right decision and that I could not be in better surgical hands.
Soon then was admitted to my room in the hospital where I had a few x-rays taken of my stomach area. Dr. Kelly's cardiologist came and did an EKG, checked my vitals, and asked very thorough questions about my medical background. His English was also excellent. A nurse came in and put in an i.v. of saline in preparation for surgery. And then came my surgery. I remember praying that the Lord would protect me and that he would guide Dr. Kelly's hands as he operated on me as I was getting anesthesia and God did. The next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room and was shortly cutting up with the nurses, speaking to them in my broken Spanish. I felt really good and was soon taken up to my room.
Now, this is the part of the story where choosing the right weight loss coordinator is extremely important. My coordinator made a commitment to keep my family informed during and after my surgery and she failed to do both. The surgery coordinator, who was independent from Dr. Kelly's practice, did not tell my wife that there was a waiting room for the paitients' family to wait where they would be notified of all the surgical details. She also promised to call my parents and let them know that everything had gone smoothly. She did neither. As I was being wheeled back into my hosptial room, I could tell that my wife was distressed and soon came to find out that she did not know how my surgery had went until seeing me at that moment. My 2 hour surgery had taken 4 hours because my liver had been enlarged. Dr. Kelly had gone the extra step and had taken extra precautions to make sure that my band was in place. My wife soon calmed down after finding out how well my surgery had been. Dr. Kelly himself came to my hospital room to apologize for the miscommunication. I was very impressed with that. After all, it had not been the mistake of him or his staff, yet he felt the need to apologize! Within the hour, I was walking up and down the hallway after my surgery. Dr. Kelly came and checked on me several times and even came by the hotel to check on me. This would never happen in America! I recovered a couple of days at the 4 star hotel, The Lucerna,( http://www.tijuana.com/en/hoteles/lucerna/index.html ) and then it was time to head home. Dr. Kelly sent his driver to take us to his office where he asked my wife and I if we had any questions or concerns. He checked me out one more time and gave me a clean bill of health. I just had to hug him as I left. He had given me the tools I needed to improve my health and well-being and to continue to be there for my family. I could not have asked for a better surgical experience than what Dr. Kelly provided for me! My side effects were minimal and I had a new lease on life.
After talking to Dr. Kelly for a while, we were then driven back across the border which took a little longer this time cause we had to actually walk though customs and meet our driver on the other side of the border. He took us to the airport and we flew home.
I have had no complications and chose to continue my aftercare with Fill Centers USA. I have recieved my lapband fills and have had all of the answers to any of my questions or problems that I might be facing. I also can always contact Dr. Kelly's office and speak with any of his staff who can always answer my questions and solve my problems also if I choose to. My Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Darlene Zebley, who administers my fills at Fill Centers USA, has often commented on the excellent placement of my lapband and how well my stomach pouch is formed.
When I came to Dr. Kelly I was almost 400lbs. with bmi of 62.6. NOW, after only 3 adjustments, I weigh 230lbs. and have a bmi of 36! I have lost 170lbs. and have gone from a size 50 in pants to a size 36! Friends, family and sometimes even my wife do not recognize me when they see me.
If I had to do it all over again the only thing I would change is choosing the right weight loss surgery coordinator. As a result of the negative experience that I had with my surgical coordinator and because of my dynamic surgical results, I have decided to join Dr. Kelly's team at the Weight Loss Surgery Clinic as a surgical coordinator. If you have any questions about the surgery procedures or the staff, feel free to email me! I would love to share my knowledge of the surgical process. I know what it is like to wake up day in and day out and worry about walking up and down stairs, where I can go to find clothes to fit me, or even get my shoes tied without straining too much. God gifted me with a great doctor and the perseverance to continue to take care of the body He gave me. If I can help you start your weight loss journey and answer questions that you might have, please don't hesitate to contact me. I can personally assure you that there is no better choice than Dr. Kelly and his WLSC team.
Dr. Kelly and my lapband surgery not only saved my life but have made it possible for me to TRULY LIVE!
Matt Ayers
Contact me at: [email protected]
An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps!
