Lap-bandit

LIZ1531- What finance company did you go through? I have only been able to get 1/2 of the cost financed. They said my debt to income is too high and that is what is causing the problem. I am trying to find other options for financing, but it has not been easy.

Suzielondon: What hotel did you stay at. I was checking out the links that Dr. Valenzuela sent me. So you are saying that the hotel you stayed at was connected to the hospital and you went right from your room to the hospital without leaving the building? My boyfriend is going with and I told him that I wanted him to stay with me in the hospital, basically for his safety, but if it is within the same building then I would feel much better and I would not mind him staying in the hotel room to get a good nights rest. I have heard some bad stories about TJ and I just don't want that to happen to us.

HotMomma That is awesome!!! I am still trying to get my financing straightened out, but once that is taken care of....I will be there with bells on!!! Are you going alone? That is something I was wondering....how comfortable is it for your traveling companion to stay in the hospital with you. So if anybody can answer that I would appreciate it. Good Luck HotMomma and please keep us posted on your progress.

Hi All, I just received an e-mail from Dr. Valenzuela about a fill doctor. He was checking on one for me that was 60 minutes from me. I was excited because for where I live, that is a very convenient drive. This doctor will not accept you if you are a long time resident of PA, he will only take you if you have recently moved to the Pennsylvania. I was like WHAT????? I am sure that it has to do with people going to Mexico and getting the lap-banding done and not having it done locally, but if that is the reason, I am not sure why he would feels that way, because he only accepts patients with insurance and will not take self-pay patients, therefore, that makes people whose insurance will not cover the procedure look elsewhere. My friend had this doctor for her gastric bypass and just loves him. I am kind of bummed about it, but I am hoping Dr V. will find another one that is close to home. I will not have the procedure until I have a follow-up doctor, because it will be difficult for me to go back to Mexico for fills. I was told that my insurance should cover me if I have any complications... can anybody verify that? I hope I don't have to worry about that, but you never know. I do have another question about the stay down in TJ. Christine: Did you stay in the hotel or in the hospital the whole time?

Hi Jenny- I would love to keep in touch. My insurance will not pay for mine either. I am a lower BMI, so that is the main reason, but I can not even honestly say that they would pay for it even if I wasn't. I didn't even bother checking because the insurance companies are the ones that make the guidelines for BMI's and I know through researching this a couple years ago that it is hard to get it paid for, let alone with a lower BMI. So when I came across different doctors that were offering the procedure to people with lower BMI's I decided to investigate further. I am so glad I did. How about e-mailing me at brown-eyed-sheila@peoplepc.com and we can chat more. It is nice to hear from somebody on the east coast. I am also in the process of getting the money to finance this. Sheila

Hi Annieet, When are you scheduled for your surgery? I guess what you lose can vary depending on how much you have to lose to begin with. I have read people saying that people with a lower BMI do not lose as fast as people with a higher BMI. I cannot say from experienc because I have not had the banding done yet. I plan to go to Dr. Gonzalez as well and I am anxious to hear how you do, so please post back when you have it done or you can even PM me. Good Luck!! Sheila

Hi all, After reading this post, I decided to call Dr. Gonzalez and I am really glad I did. I talked to Dr. Valenzuela for 35 minutes and he put me at ease. I had a fear of having anything done in Mexico and after reading this thread and also talking with a doctor, I feel much better about the prospect of surgery in Mexico. I live in Pennsylvania so it is a great distance for me to travel for fills. He assured me that he would research and try to find a fill doctor closer to home for me and that also pleased me greatly. I would not mind going there for fills but I guess when you consider the price of plane tickets, it would probably be cheaper for me to go to a doctor at home. I would really like to talk to someone about there experience from the beginning. I am in the process of looking into financing and hopefully I can be scheduled soon. I am thankful that I found this website - it has been a wealth of information and I am anxious to talk to someone in greater detail. So if someone could PM me I would love to chat. By the way, Gigi....are you the Gigi on the website? If so, you look GREAT!!:clap2: Sheila

Hi all, I am new to this site and I am also researching the lap-band procedure. I am interested in knowing if anybody has had their procedure done at the detriot medical center? I have a BMI of 34 and so far, to have the procedure done, I have found very few places that will do it. Obviously, I am self-pay and I am trying to find people who have had their procedure done there and what their experiences have been. This is a big decision and one that needs to be researched and I want to know all the facts, good and bad. So any help would greatly be appreciated. I did comment about this in the DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL thread, but nobody has responded yet. So I thought I would try this area. Thank you, Sheila

I am new to the forum and I am trying to research as much as I can about the Lap-band procedure. Unfortunately, I am not covered by insurance so this will be self-pay for me. I have been looking at having the procedure done at the Detriot Medical Center. Has anybody had theirs done there and what has their experience been? I also have a BMI of 34 which is low by weight loss surgery standards and it is hard to find doctors that will do it. DMC will do it as long as your BMI is 30 and that is why I have been seriously considering it.