LisaLoseAlotx2

can someone explain exactly what a Bougie is? I think I understand the size thing, but not sure how it correlates. I have asked the four coordinators of Drs I have been researching and not one will respond with an answer.

you are much more generous than I am AmandaRae. I have already been warned about the cutthroat nature of some of the competing doctors in Mexico, which is why I think this post is bogus

My advice is to write your commentary out on a word document. Make sure to spell-check it and watch for run-on sentences, fragmented sentences and proper use of the english language. I found your post a lesson in frustration. Tootles

honestly? I found the constant reference to "Dr X" taking on almost an arrogant tone as if we are all stupid and need to be talked down to because you are so important (wth?) and a few things were hard to read/didn't make sense...then at the end you solicit your importance by telling us about your group. strange post. no thanks.

fantastic info!!! Thank you!

awesome Rollargirl!! I am filling out all my paperwork this weekend. I think Alma has penciled me in so far and I am confirming next week. Then will work on airfare

I will know for sure on Tuesday. It is looking like I will arrive on the 9th for surgery on May 10th. Going by myself, so it will be a relief to meet anyone there as well.

I was actually having my Fill Dr put in an insurance request to remove the band until I found out that Dr Fernando Garcia will remove it for $500. I doubt insurance woudl approve it. If they did...after paying for deductibles, meds, anesthestia, copays, etc, etc, I am sure I would pay over $2k in out of pocket. It just does not make financial sense. I also do not appreciate Big MedPharma telling me when and how I can do something. I am getting a complete unfill next Tuesday in preparation for surgery next month. Let the tummy all hang out

I have a lapband. Installed in 2008. The most weight I lost was 45 lbs and have now regained 25 lbs of that. Getting to your sweet spot in the lapband is VERY hard. Out of the twenty girls I have as lapband friends. Only two lost ALL their weight and the one woman has had so much plastic surgery (including two bodylifts and two breast lift redos), it is hard to know if it was the band or the $70k in surgery she has had. After five years you must decide if you are going to update your band or remove it. I was told by my Fill dr that by Y5 there is a higher incidence of erosion. I have never had a slip, but I did have to do a complete unfill once because my pouch pooched. I immediately regained 8 lbs over the 8 weeks waiting to get refilled. such a headache. I have been as tight as a 3.9 in a 4.0cc band....but survived on mostly liquids. Currently I am a 3.3cc in a 4.0 band and can literally eat anything but the good Proteins (fish, chicken, red meat). that is my issue with the band, the good things I struggle with (salad, brocolli, meats), while all the crap (chips, ice cream, etc) provides no nutritional value, but it goes right down. the only thing the band has been good for is stopping Pasta and white breads. I feel like getting the "perfect" fill is like speaking to a nuclear scientist, it really is a complicated, long-drawn out process to get there. 1. Be sure you have a good fill Dr close by (I pay $375 per fill out of pocket and my Dr is 1 hour away with no traffic). Otherwise you will get frustrated very quickly 2. Ask yourself, can you afford regular fills out of pocket. 3. Realize that within two years, the band may give you Metabolic Failure (what my Dr says has happened) and you will stop losing entirely (unless you have $70k to spend on PS)4. 4. The constant PB'ing (as close to throwing up as you can get without throwing up), which will then cause swelling and can then cause your band to slip. Such a headache. Then you have to unfill and wait. My fill Dr is now telling me that I must 'update' my band this year. After seeing two of my friends successfully revise from lapband to sleeve, it is also what I have decided to do. I have now decided to get a sleeve revision next month. My mother died of a heart attack at 63 and my aunt just had a heart attack two years ago...all because of their weight. I refuse to go down that path. I choose to win this battle. I am too young to worry about my health on a weekly basis. OH...and my last frustration with the band? I spent almost $6,000 on private personal training 4-5x per week over a year, thinking it would help INSTEAD of relying on plastic surgery. The lowest BMI I got to was 29% If the band fails, it fails, you will then be stuck until you are forced to do something else.

OH...got it. I saw your profile had changed from Garcia to Hollis. I am waiting to hear back from both Ramos-Kelly and Garcia right now.

I would never, EVER. EVER. gotten the lapband knowing what I know now. I do not feel as though I failed, I feel as though the Dr was not honest with me (unlike my Fill Dr here in the states who is not happy with the lapband only having a 60% success rate) and I wish I had known about the sleeve back then. However, things happen for a reason. I have lost the same weight so many times I am losing count

Stefani - can I ask why you have switched from Dr Garcia? PM me if you would rather. Is there more than one Dr Garcia in Tijuana?

Carolyn, I am sending you a friend request as well. I know your post is a bit old, but it is new to me. I am also a 'low' BMI at 33%. 5"9 and currently sitting at 205 lbs after losing and regaining the same 50 lbs 3x in the last five years. While I have high blood pressure and sleep apnea due to the weight, my mother died at age 63 of a heart attack and every woman in my family is well over 40% and I am fighting tooth and nail to not get there myself. While it might seem crazy to some to consider doing this for such little weight, for me, I cannot think of not doing this. This is about controlling an out of control freight train. IMO. And just for comparison...once upon a time I was 135 lbs. I would be happy just to get to 145 and a healthy BMI of 23%

I am also lurking and wanting to confirm my decision, I am glad you said this because what you say is so true. I have MANY friends with bands and 95% of them have never lost more than 40 lbs and are still obese (moi included). I just want to get this done before the weight gets any worse because inevitably it will.

you made me laugh and shake my head because that is pure honesty. The band IMO is worthless. I have only met two people amongst the many I know with it (myself included) who lost all their weight. The one woman has had so much plastic surgery to help with her band's success it is just unreal. I also vomit all the good lean Proteins if I am 'snug', which then you have to worry about stretching out your pouch or slipping your band. The fills are expensive (I pay $375 per fill and paid out of pocket for three years before insurance picked up paying it) and the band is unreliable. I for one cannot wait to get this band out and a sleeve done.

yep I found it. Had to dig. Thanks for the taking me to task though!

you made me giggle. Please tell us Why?

Hi Cowgirl Jane What did Dr Landerholm charge for your gastric sleeve surgery. Did you go out of pocket route or through insurance? A friend of mine does not want to go to Mexico again (does not want to pay out of pocket) and is attempting to get insurance to cover the cost this time. Thank you!

You need to get your facts straight. Dr Ortiz has not done over 12k gastric sleeve surgeries. You are giving false information

Be suspicious all you want Sheree. This is one opinion and one opinion only based on MY EXPERIENCE and my THREE FRIENDS EXPERIENCE. If you dont like it, too bad. The reason these forums are in place to begin with is to share EXPERIENCES. Not to be the Cheerleader for only a select doctor, which it sounds like you are. The other comment I want to make is I have dealt with the OCC & Coordinators since 2008. I have ALOT of experience with their shenanigans. When I had thought that "maybe" I would go back to OCC for a revision, I was treated so incredibly poorly by Lori via email that I basically told her to go screw herself. Yes. I saved the email and just got done rereading it. I might as well swallow bile it makes me so mad and disgusted. As I stated, there are alot of wonderful Drs who perform this surgery. Dr Ortiz is a drop in the bucket and is definitely NOT my first choice (or any choice for that matter).

I apologize for not responding sooner as I have been on a business trip. No, I am not happy with the OCC at all and am not going to be intimidated to say otherwise. I will be the 4th person (there is a group of us who have been friends since 2008 who initially used him) who will have the band removed and sleeve revision with Dr Aceves. The problem with the OCC Forum is any negativity or concerns that are posted, Lori and Crew jump on and delete it. So no, you will not be able to view the "bad things". Which is sad. It does not make for a very honest practice. Dr Ortiz has been notified by quite a few of his patients about the thug mentality by his staff coordinators and he laughs it off. This is unfortunate. I have been told by two people who DID do research into having the revision at OCC (who were on the forums DAILY) that they did find a woman who had the revision and then had to go back to the OCC for Dr O to fix an issue that had cropped up. When this person copied the link and sent it to us, we were unable to get onto the posted concern because Lori had deleted it. I am not an OCC advocate, especially after many of us have been treated. Hence the reason why three of my girlfriends went to Dr Aceves and I am getting a revision this summer with Dr Aceves. There are a few other fantastic Sleeve Drs out there. As I said before. Much luck. Yo

Dr Ortiz did my lapband surgery, which I am now revising to a sleeve this summer. The most unprofessional group of people I have ever worked with. Just an FYI; there has been a history the past few years of him having to 'fix' his own sleeve surgeries due to his inexperience. I am NOT going to him for revision because of the word of mouth going around his forum OCC Forum. So far there are two who have already revised from his band to the sleeve (my girlfriends) and both have used Dr Aceves with amazing results. Just wanting you to know. Good luck