gagirl

If you are going to MX or any other country to get banded, I do agree that you should find your follow up doctor BEFORE YOU EVER LEAVE THE STATES. Before you ever go, you should plan ahead and tell the doctor, coordinator, secretary, or WHOEVER, you deal with that you will need you O.R. papers. Even if you are planning on traveling back to MX or wherever to do your follow-up you should plan to get these papers. I really thought I would go back and decided not to and had a time getting my O.R. papers. Most doctors here will not see you unless you have these. I have found several doctors that will do fills and follow-up on pts. who were banded outside of the US, but it comes with a price. Some are very high. The doctor that I was planning on using gave me a price of 560.00 per fill as of last week. But this past Monday, his coordinator informed me that they now have a new policy. It is 2000.00 for the 1st year and 560.00 a fill the 2nd year. This is in GA. There is a Doctor in Atlanta that does fills for 600.00. A doctor in Nashville that does fills for about the same, another in Nashville that charges 500.00 for the 1st visit and 400.00 after that. But there is a doctor in Dallas, TX that does them for 250.00. He is at the Central Imagining of Arlington. This place has been the cheapest so far. But if you are like me, by the time I pay for a plane ticket that costs 200.00 - 300.00, it's easier just to stay pretty much local. I may have to drive a couple of hours, but that's ok. But I will have to say that I was banded by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez in Monterrey, MX and he is GREAT! I really do wish that I were closer to him.

Hey!! I'm just wondering if there is anyone out there that lives in the NW Georgia area? Chattanooga, TN, also.

I don't know where my friend heard this, but did you know that the pill fails 60% of the time in obese people. 60% folks, that's a lot, Be careful if you are on the pill. She (my friend Kelly) is over weight and called me panicking wanting to know how to find out what her BMI is. She's 36 and has children in their teens!! Just thought y'all would like to know.

Hey! I have never heard of your doctor, but I was banded in Monterrey, MX by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. I would just be really careful. If you don't get any feedback on your doctor. I did a lot of research and finally got it down to 2 dr.s and and chose Dr. Rodriguez because I had not heard of ONE negative thing about him and his creditials are outstanding. You can go to thebariatrics.com to find out more. feel free to email if you need more info. Good luck. gagirl

I called his office Shelly. I have the swedish band, and he doesn't do fills for it. Also, coming for MX, the 1st visit is 500.00 and 400.00 after that. But thank you so much for responding to me. gagirl

I ask Dr. Rodriguez about coffee and latte's. He said a latte is okay ever now and then, but coffee can cause erosion, as well as alcohol and spicy foods. Just be careful all of you who drink coffee, drink alcohol and eat those spicy foods. (also, carbonated drinks are not good for us either)

It's that time of year! for SNEEZING! :eek and when I do sneeze, it really hurts the area where my port is. I was banded on the 21st of October, so I'm still very tender. How serious could sneezing be to someone newly banded. I was reading how throwing up could possibly cause a problem. Can sneezing?

Ahh, tears, You all are great!! I really needed this!! Thanks again. I have done some better today. Just keep me in your prayers!!

thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone so much for all the advice and support. I really needed to come here this am and read all this, it has helped soooooo much. I knew I could count on all of you and hoped someone had felt the same way as I do.(so sorry that you did, but glad too, cause you have inspired me!) Yes Marie, I'm following Dr. Rodriguez's advice. One time I ate one small bite of something I shouldn't of , but Tricia got me back on the right track. It is hard and very much a challenge, but I think I'll be able to do. You all did, so I think I can, especially if I come here and hang out with all of you. I keep saying to myself only 2 more weeks and the real foods start back, but then I tell myself that I can't do it. Of course I know I have to, but I just get so discouraged and feel like a big failure. And then that little voice inside me tells me that this is no different from all the other stuff that I've tried and i'm just going to fail again. This past summer a friend of mine tried to get me to join WW's with her, I told her no, because I would just fail. And now I'm fearful that this will be the same. Oh my gosh, I wish y'all were right here with me. I really need y'all here holding my hand!!!! Again thanks and thanks for all of the .... )))))))HUGS((((((( I really needed them! And )))))Hugs(((((( to all of you gagirl

Hey everybody! It's only been 9 days since I was banded and I'm so down. What's wrong with me? I've only lost 3 lbs. and find that I am feeling so sorry for myself because I can't have this or that and wondering if I will ever get to really enjoy food again. I feel like it's not fair because someone can eat something and I can't. I'm kind of regretting that I did this, is this crazy? I don't want to remove the band, but I'm so sad about something, just can't put my finger on it. Has anyone else felt like this in the beginning? Every single time I eat, (mushies right now) I hurt so much in my upper left side, right behind my left breast. It's not just a small amount of pain, it's a lot. This is the only bad pain that I've experienced, (the gas, even from the beginning). I can't handle this pain everytime that I eat, will it stop? Or do some of you continue to hurt even after being banded for a while?

Does any one know of any Doctors in GA or TN that will do fills for patient's who where banded outside the US? thanks!!

Thanks to all of you. I'm on liquids, Sassaay, I will start Phase II, Thursday. My doc told me to eat things such as mashed potatoes, creamy soup, etc. Yahoo!! I cannot wait!! What did y'all eat on the mussy stage? All of you are doing so good, I hope I do as good!

I'm so hungry. I was banded on the 21st. I was not hungry at all until last night and then all day today, what can I do. This kindof panics me. Is this normal? :speechles

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez is the Dr. I chose. To go to thebariatrics.com, then go to the group and then to laparoscopic surgeon and you can see a picture of him and read all about him. He has some amazing credentials to brag about!! My experience was good! My husband went with me. I don't know how some people do it alone, I admire them. Anywho, we flew in, was picked up by a taxi driver standing with a sign that had my name on it. Man, so those taxi drivers scare me to death!! lol ~ he took us to the hotel. Dianna, his coordinator, called me at the hotel, told me she was going to come by and pick me up and take me to the hospitals (there was two to chose from) ( Dianna is an absolute sweetheart and please pray for her, she has a very tough type of Lupus) We went to the smaller one and Dr. Rodriguez was there. I got to talk to him, he was so kind, and all smiles. He explained to my husband and me what would be happening. I was so amazed that he stood there in that hospital hall in scrubs and just talked and laughed with us. NO US doctor would ever do that, or not one that I know anyway. I told him that I wanted a good MX dish for dinner, so he had Dianna take us to his brother’s restaurant, which was wonderful. I'm so thankful for Dianna though, because we speak very, very little Spanish and she was so helpful. After dinner she took us back to the hotel and told us to be ready at 7am the next morning for the taxi driver, we were ready early, as the taxi driver was early also. When we got to the hospital, I kinda panicked some, because Dianna was not there and I had to fill out papers w/o her help, however the ones that were pure Spanish, I did not sign until she got there. The nurses took me back w/o my hubby, which is normal, but concerned me. But they were so sweet and one could speak words of English, so I knew what was happening. For example, to start my IV, she kinda pinched her arm, said pinch, and showed me the needle, I new she was starting an IV and said okay. I then new that there is a way to communicate with the world even if you think you can't. However she blew 2 veins and I started crying, Well, IT HURT, so bad!!! LOL Anywho another nurse came in and patted me and she tried successfully for the 3rd time. Dianna got there about that time and I did feel a little better with her there. WHY, I don't know, I just did!! My husband came back and stayed with me until my surgery. Then they rolled me off to surgery. When I woke up, I was having chest pain so badly, I thought something was wrong; it was only gas, but very bad though!!!! I was taken to my room and slept a lot that day until late afternoon, except one time to get up and walk. Dr. Rodriguez came by to check on me, woke me up and said all went well and told me what to expect the next few hours and to be sure to walk. I did walk some more that evening. By evening I was ready to go home. Sat. morning his asst.'s made plane arrangements for us to go home a day early. I was sooooo ready to go home. My experience was good, but I still was ready for home, I didn't want to go back to the hotel, plus I really missed my kids so much. Also, I met a new friend and we visited each other back and forth on Friday night and Sat. morning. Anywho, we were scheduled to leave at 1pm from the hospital, Laura; my new friend came to visit, as did Dr. Rodriguez. My husband took pictures of us together; Dr. Rodriguez hung out and just chatted with us. I was really impressed with him. He is a very kind person with a lot of laughter!! The taxi driver was really a rough driver, plus the roads are a little rough also, but it about killed me, because the gas in my chest hurt so badly. The plane ride was good, with some turbulence. But the Atlanta airport, well, it's huge and with all that walking, I was totally worn out by the time I got home and was I glad to be home. The gas is getting better and it's getting easier to lay down and turn over. It just takes time, That’s my experience ......... how about you, did you go to MX and where are you getting your fills? take care