Posted on 02/07/2017 11:30:08 PM PST by nickcarraway
A North Texas woman has a warning for anyone thinking about traveling abroad for cheap weight loss surgery.
Lisa Hubbard, of Fort Worth, says she had hoped gastric sleeve surgery would put her in better charge of her health for the sake of her new grandson.
She said she saw ads on television for cheap weight loss surgery and began researching options months ago.
The average cost of weight loss surgery in the United States is about $14,000, and insurance doesn't always cover it.
Hubbard found doctors in Mexico who would do the surgery for $3,800, which also includes the stay and medications.
"It almost seemed like a mini-vacation. You go down there and have your surgery and then you come back and everything would be good," Hubbard said.
Three days after her surgery, Hubbard was on a plane back to North Texas and five days after her surgery, she was in the hospital with her first complication: a blood clot.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flying soon after surgery can increase the risk for blood clots.
Days later, doctors found another complication.
"They told me my stitches had burst and they were gonna have to rush me to the ER," Hubbard said. "I felt like, 'Oh, my God, what did I do to myself?'"
Stomach contents were leaking into Hubbard's body, putting her at risk for sepsis, even death.
"I didn't realize I was really taking my life in my hands the way I was when I went down there," Hubbard said.
Her warning for others considering medical tourism?
"If everything goes OK, you're good, but if everything doesn't go OK, it can have serious complications and you can die," Hubbard said.
Doctors repaired the damage and Hubbard hopes no further surgery is required.
The CDC has a website dedicated to medical tourism, highlighting the risks and what consumers can do if considering traveling abroad for medical procedures.
Mexico for elective surgery? Yeah, what could go wrong?
“I didn’t realize I was really taking my life in my hands the way I was when I went down there,”
Anyone too stupid to realize that when they cut your torso open your life is always at risk is begging for the Darwin award.
You have to purchase these air bags that wrap around your legs. They’re electric and they come off and on during the night. It prevents blood clots in the legs.
There are 8 little cuts less than an inch long. But it’s still dangerous. So is morbid obesity.
Dental work,OK. Prescriptions,OK but NEVER,NEVER,EVER trust a Mexican with a knife in his hand.
Going out of the country for cosmetic surgery is extremely popular. Some people get good results. Some horror stories.
A few years back, a FReeper died following weight loss surgery. She had her surgery performed in Houston, IIRC.
I know a woman who had the weight loss surgery twenty years ago in the U.S. She’s back to being heavy again. My point is, healthy eating, moderation in eating, and exercise is what we must focus on.
I look for discounts in travel, eating out, groceries, household items, etc. Going cheap on medical stuff might not be a good idea.
Also, with gastric surgery, I think the average person gains about 50% of their weight back so it seems like kind of a rip off.
On the other hand my wife had a very bad experience with orthopedic surgery here in the U.S. After a severe bacterial infection (which the surgeon was slow to recognize) she spent nearly 7 weeks on IV antibiotics. It took her 18 months before she was back to normal as far as walking.
My sister had serious complications after ‘simple’ gall bladder surgery, she had to have two follow up surgeries, again here in the U.S. with an experienced surgeon.
Supposedly, Mexico has some very good hospitals for the elite. I remember Schwarzenegger went down there to get a heart valve replacement because he wanted to keep it a secret from his wife.
India has a very active medical tourism business, better doctors than Mexico.
I am not sure i would go to India for anything. Yuck on so many levels.
What’s mexico?
It’s cheaper in Mexico, but once you’re back across the border a stowaway bursts out of your stomach.
>>>Yhe average cost of weight loss surgery in the United States is about $14,000, and insurance doesn’t always cover it.Hubbard found doctors in Mexico who would do the surgery for $3,800, which also includes the stay and medications.
See how much money we can save if we go to a free market.in medicine.
Sure, but morbid obesity is a sign of big psychological problems, and no surgery will fix that (except maybe a lobotomy).
I agree, if you are obese past a certain point, it’s a mental issue more than a physical one. Treating that with surgery is not much more responsible than treating “transgenders” with surgery.
Lifestyle changes are, for the most part, the only path to sustained weight loss. I started 4 1/2 years ago by dropping snack foods (Chips, cookies, etc) from my diet and then dropped fast food. Started eating healthier foods and some walking and the weight started dropping. Last year, diagnosed Type 2 diabetic and had to drop most carbs and grains. Still walking and biking. Have lost a total of 140 lbs and looking to lose another 10-20. It CAN be done but I can tell you from personal experience ... surgery IS faster but unless you adhere to a healthier diet and lifestyle that the weight WILL come back. Cousin had surgery 6 years ago ... dropped 75 pounds and has now gained it all back.
The old adage “Slow and steady wins the race” applies to life AND weight loss.
Just my two cents.
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