hottytoddy

Wow! Are some paying 40K? I am a self pay here in the US with a certified lap band doc who has done hundreds since day one (that they became FDA approved) He has a great reputation in our area and hasn't had a slip in over 3 years... my cost is $14K (surgeon, hospital, and anesthesia). I know it's cheaper than that in Mexico... but 40K?? Really?? My parents first house cost that much!! Seriously, I'm shocked! Is this true? Who and where are they, and is the band made of gold!!??

Newbie question... I'm guessing the OH here does not mean Ohio??? Please enlighten... Thanks!

congrats! Cblancha, go to the June 2007 bandsters post! Our group is growing!!! I posted a calender there and had you in the "hopefully" section... I will add you and your date to the calender and repost asap!

sweety, I've said all along that there are good and bad everywhere. My biggest concern is that IF something goes wrong in Mexico you have no rights like you do here at home. I'm so glad things worked out in your favor and am insanely jealous of you substantial weight loss! I hope to be there myself one day! Nataliesmommy, I too have you in my prayers and hope that you'll get some relief soon! I know this has been a hard, trying and overall frustrating time for you!

Thanks! When my surgery was 5, 4 even 3 weeks out, it just didn't seem real. Today officially makes me under the 2 weeks mark, with liquids starting in 6 days... and reality is starting to set in! Along with a lot of excitement and a lot of doubt!

**Disclaimer... the opinion you are about to read is mine all mine and only mine... and I'll be the first to admit, I'm not always right...lmao** I am a self pay without insurance coverage for WLS. I am not rich, I'm just a nurse. I drive an 8 year old car. But I was able to save for this surgery (it took years), and it's about to happen. As far as options if you can't afford it in the US... it's up to the individual. NOBODY can argue that you have the same safety net in the US where you DO have MAJOR patient rights as you would in Mexico, where you have NO rights and are relying on a doctor's "word" to fix something if it goes wrong. I guess I just don't have that much trust or faith in my "fellow man". If I had to choose between having surgery in Mexico or staying fat... I'd choose fat anyday of the week. Bottomline, do what you feel is best for you and good luck to us all! PS - if after my surgery I get a raging infection caused by poor hygiene on the part of my surgeon or the facility where it took place, I will be the first to eat crow... i like it cooked medium-well. :mad:

Hi. I happen to agree with both of you on this thread... MY OPINION on this is not really as a future Lap-Band receipient (6/1/07) but as a Recovery Room nurse at a hospital that happens to be a Bariatric Center. I agree, the FIRST thing you do when considering this surgery is find the best, most reputable surgeon you can get your hands on!! (or rather their hands on you...lol) After that, either decide it's worth the money, or don't do the surgery at all. This is your life, it's your body, and you only get one shot at it. Complications can still arise if you have the best in the business, so why make it any easier for them to occur?? As far as Mexico, it is my personal opinion that it should be avoided. This is not a direct jab at Mexico itself, just the fact that indeed if something goes wrong, you're screwed. I have assisted my surgeon in the operating room on SEVERAL cases inwhich he is trying to correct problems on surgeries performed in Mexico - it just so happens ALL of our corrections were due to malpractice and not "nature" or patient error. Again, this is not a jab at Mexican surgeons. And again, it goes back to doing your research... BUT some things to consider are these: We have a crazy-ass "I'm gonna sue you if you look at me wrong" attitude (which I DO NOT agree with) in this country that doctors are VERY aware of and frankly, afraid of. However, malpractice insurance exists for a reason, and if a doctor in the US actually commits malpractice during your surgery whether by breaking sterile technique, doing a procedure in a sloppy manner, not being available to you for post-op complications, etc.. (the list goes on forever) that surgeon will be sued, and the patient will win...everytime! Therefore, surgeons in the US are much more likely to not KNOWINGLY commit malpractice. But we all know that ACCIDENTS, however, of course happen in all countries. Also, the procedure should be performed at a Certified Bariatric facility that is accredited by "Joint Commission". Any hospital in the US worth its salt is going to have this accreditation! You just have to KNOW that your instruments are going to be sterile, your surgery room disinfected, and the gloves and gowns used on you sterile as well. Although you have to trust that surgical procedures are followed correctly, you will not find procedures that protect you any better than those in the US. Again, you can get an infection or other complication at any hospital in any country. Everyone should pick the best surgeon and facility you can find. A "cheap" surgery is a bad surgery. This is your life! It just comforts me, as a nurse and a patient, that in the US there are laws in place that protect patients from surgeons who don't care about you and facilities that aren't clean. I'm lucky that I know what goes on at my facility behind the surgical doors... I know how the instruments are autoclaved, I know who cleans the rooms and how that is done, I know how long our surgeons scrub their hands and that their are timers that start as soon as the water is activated, and I know my surgeon and have witnessed him performing procedures many times. With all this knowledge, I feel safe putting my life in their hands on June 1, 2007. With all that said, and all my comforts, I also know that complications may still arise... and that's why I pray... Again, just expressing my opinion as a surgical nurse in the good ole USA!

Thanks... My biggest fear is that is won't work. I guess after so many years of so much failure, it's hard to imagine that something will actually work for me! I'm so scared that I'll screw it up, or it really won't make me feel full, etc. It's just really impossible to imagine something working.

Thank you both so much!!

I just discovered this site tonight and am relieved! I am scheduled to be BANDED on 6/1/07. I'm excited, afraid... well, you know what I'm feeling! Anyway, this is my first thread, and I look forward to my new life! Now I've just got to get one of those ticker things!!!