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... Now 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 I know a couple who 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! Mom and Dad I love
you and Stuart Heights Baptist Church I love you too! www.stuartheights.org
Now came the hard part of researching the internet to find the most qualified
surgeon who provided a state of the art hospital and who was in my price range.
After much research I decided to have my surgery in Tijuana, Mexico at the
Hospitales Angeles by Dr. Jaime Ricardo Ramos-Kelly of the Weight Loss Surgery
Center. Dr. Kelly's credentials could not have been more excellent. Dr. J.
Ricardo Ramos Kelly Tijuana Weight Loss Surgeon, Expert, Gastric Band Surgery
Doctor And 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 and soon my wife and I flew
from Atlanta to San Diego where Dr. Kelly's office had a gentleman meet us at
the airport holding a sign with my name on it and he drove us across the border
to Tijuana. We were there in about 30 minutes and 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 in his office. I was
overwhelmed by how polite and down to earth he was and well 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. I then was admitted to my room in the hospital where I had a few
x-rays taken of my stomach area and soon 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. My
coordinator did not tell my wife that there was a waiting room for the surgery
paitients family to wait where they would be notified of all the surgical
details. 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. She soon calmed down after
finding out how well my surgery had been and I 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 http://www.tijuana.com/en/hoteles/lucerna/index.html
which also could not have been better and then it was time to head home. Dr.
Kelly sent his driver to take us to his office. 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 and I just had to hug him as I left. I could not have asked for a
better surgical experience than what Dr. Kelly provided for me! My side effects
were minimal and 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.
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. I look forward to helping you start your
weight loss journey and answering any questions that you might have and making
sure that you are fully taken care of. I can personally assure you that there is
no better choice than Dr. Kelly and his WLSC team.
When I came to Dr. Kelly I was almost 400lbs. with bmi of 62.6. NOW, I weigh
230lbs. with 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.
Dr. Kelly and my lapband surgery not only saved my life but have made it
possible for me to TRULY LIVE!
Matt Ayers
Chattanooga, TN
Phone: (423) 240.3209
Email: wlscoord@aol.com
