nan42

Ya they will give you something if you ask e-mail the doc and set it up ahead of time. I was going to go alone I but my daughter went with me and I was sooooo glad. You have to get up to pee a lot throught the night and your Iv is hanging on a hook not a movable pole. Manda got up took it off the hook and held it while I went, poor girl. It is not comfortable for them at all so I felt bad for her but was so glad she came along. Ps ..Manda said make sure your support person brings a book, pillow, snacks, portable dvd only a few channels that were in English. Cafeteria doesn’t open till 1:00 pm and closes at 7pm she starved. Wow do I owe her big time. Also it was so nice to have her there in the hotel with me.

10/15/07 I boarded a plane from Spokane Wa to San Antonio TX 10/10/07 at 5:50 Am when Manda and I arrived at the airport we went to baggage claim got our bags and Rosa was there about ten minutes later, got a tad nervous but once she showed up my nerves were calmer. We got in to a nice van, leather very comfortable and drove two hrs to Eagle Pass. I slept in the car a bit and talked to Rosa. Rosa is the perfect choice for this job speaks great English, nice woman! She checked us in to a Hilton and said she would be there to pick us up in the morning at 11:15, and she did. We drove about ten minutes in to Mexico to Dr. Alverez office. There were four other people in the van who were there for a fill. Driving to the office my nerves were on edge, as soon as you cross the border you know you are in Mexico it’s a little run down. Dr Alverez’s office is connected to the Hospital or it seemed that way. Nice office we waited about ten minutes and he came in the front door and greeted me and the others. I think it fair for me to say my impression of him is that he has a great heart! He hugged and shook hands with the fill patients as though they were old friends and I know one was there for her first fill. He seems to really care. He asked Rosa to take the fill patients some place and he would check me in and then meet them to do the fills him self. Manda and I went in to his office and he reviewed my health history he could see why I would want to have a band with my health history even though my BMI was 31 (I weighed 178) 5’5”. A nurse came in and he explained that he had just hired her to stay with me the entire time because not only was she a great nurse but she spoke very good English and he was right on all accounts! She walked Manda and me to the hospital and at this point my nerves kicked in again. The hospital is old and out of date for what we are used to in the stated, had an unfamiliar smell, my room was small with a small bed. At this point it would have served me as well as them to give me a valium or something, if you go ask for it at this point. Another nurse drew blood, I was taken to X-ray which I have to sway was weird! This guy pushed me up against the wall and stood there while the chest x-ray was being taken! I wanted to say dude that causes cancer you should stand behind the wall, oh and there was a small TV by the x-ray machine, seemed strange and unprofessional. Anyway I was then taken back to my room to have yet another stranger put in my IV, se did a great job no pain and got me on the first stick. Dr Alverez came in and told me he would see me in the OR. They brought a gurney in and I got on it and was wheeled to the OR. At this point they pass you through a long window on to another gurney I guess in to a sterile environment. Dr Alverez was not there yet so I was in a room with a bunch of people who did not speak English. At this point I am almost having a panic attack, I forgot in all my research to include the anesthesiologist oh my god that was stupid!! Well he turned out to be good at what he does, I was out and I woke up, two good things. Woke up two hours later in my room Manda was there reading on a small padded bench like bed that was in the room. Then Dr Alverez came in ad I asked which size band did he use I assumed it would be the 4cc small one because my BMI was small but he said I had lots of fat around my stomach and he had to use the big one 11cc go figure. I slept on and off through the night nurses came in to put some milk like substance in my IV a lot. The next morning my English speaking nurse came in and said Rosa would be ready to take me back to San Antonio at 10:00am did I want to take a shower? I asked if I could wait a bit. She came in an hour later to remove the IV and I was having a panic attack, I don’t think she knew what was going o, I brought Lorazapam with me and took some and was calmed down. I kept thinking all night WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!! It didn’t hurt, its just I could tell something was different in side me and in my panic attack all I could think was get it out. After I calmed down Dr Alverez came in and sat next to me on the bed and explained about the band gave me the box it came in with the serial number instructions about the meds, he was so calming and great. I got dressed and we went down to the van where Rosa with her big smile met us to drive us back to San Antonio to check us in at a LaQuinta inn. Manda and I took a nap then took a cab down town to the river walk she ate I watched. Next day airport shuttle took us to the air port. In the Air port is where the gas showed up and it is a trip pain in your left shoulder you burp and it’s gone. Today I feel much better still some gas but its true the walking helps and gasX I think pills work better. I got on the scale this morning and weighed 168 TEN POUNDS!!! I am happy I had the band put in it will prolong my life. Dr Alverez and his staff are good at what they do and very professional. If I had any feed back at all to give them it would be give your patients a valium or something in the office before you take them to the hospital. Take a pillow and a get a protein drink that had them in the San Antonio airport. PS Dr Alverez is easy on the eyes the kind of guy you hope your daughter marries and has kids with.

10/15/07 I boarded a plane from Spokane Wa to San Antonio TX 10/10/07 at 5:50 Am when Manda and I arrived at the airport we went to baggage claim got our bags and Rosa was there about ten minutes later, got a tad nervous but once she showed up my nerves were calmer. We got in to a nice van, leather very comfortable and drove two hrs to Eagle Pass. I slept in the car a bit and talked to Rosa. Rosa is the perfect choice for this job speaks great English, nice woman! She checked us in to a Hilton and said she would be there to pick us up in the morning at 11:15, and she did. We drove about ten minutes in to Mexico to Dr. Alverez office. There were four other people in the van who were there for a fill. Driving to the office my nerves were on edge, as soon as you cross the border you know you are in Mexico it’s a little run down. Dr Alverez’s office is connected to the Hospital or it seemed that way. Nice office we waited about ten minutes and he came in the front door and greeted me and the others. I think it fair for me to say my impression of him is that he has a great heart! He hugged and shook hands with the fill patients as though they were old friends and I know one was there for her first fill. He seems to really care. He asked Rosa to take the fill patients some place and he would check me in and then meet them to do the fills him self. Manda and I went in to his office and he reviewed my health history he could see why I would want to have a band with my health history even though my BMI was 31 (I weighed 178) 5’5”. A nurse came in and he explained that he had just hired her to stay with me the entire time because not only was she a great nurse but she spoke very good English and he was right on all accounts! She walked Manda and me to the hospital and at this point my nerves kicked in again. The hospital is old and out of date for what we are used to in the stated, had an unfamiliar smell, my room was small with a small bed. At this point it would have served me as well as them to give me a valium or something, if you go ask for it at this point. Another nurse drew blood, I was taken to X-ray which I have to sway was weird! This guy pushed me up against the wall and stood there while the chest x-ray was being taken! I wanted to say dude that causes cancer you should stand behind the wall, oh and there was a small TV by the x-ray machine, seemed strange and unprofessional. Anyway I was then taken back to my room to have yet another stranger put in my IV, se did a great job no pain and got me on the first stick. Dr Alverez came in and told me he would see me in the OR. They brought a gurney in and I got on it and was wheeled to the OR. At this point they pass you through a long window on to another gurney I guess in to a sterile environment. Dr Alverez was not there yet so I was in a room with a bunch of people who did not speak English. At this point I am almost having a panic attack, I forgot in all my research to include the anesthesiologist oh my god that was stupid!! Well he turned out to be good at what he does, I was out and I woke up, two good things. Woke up two hours later in my room Manda was there reading on a small padded bench like bed that was in the room. Then Dr Alverez came in ad I asked which size band did he use I assumed it would be the 4cc small one because my BMI was small but he said I had lots of fat around my stomach and he had to use the big one 11cc go figure. I slept on and off through the night nurses came in to put some milk like substance in my IV a lot. The next morning my English speaking nurse came in and said Rosa would be ready to take me back to San Antonio at 10:00am did I want to take a shower? I asked if I could wait a bit. She came in an hour later to remove the IV and I was having a panic attack, I don’t think she knew what was going o, I brought Lorazapam with me and took some and was calmed down. I kept thinking all night WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!! It didn’t hurt, its just I could tell something was different in side me and in my panic attack all I could think was get it out. After I calmed down Dr Alverez came in and sat next to me on the bed and explained about the band gave me the box it came in with the serial number instructions about the meds, he was so calming and great. I got dressed and we went down to the van where Rosa with her big smile met us to drive us back to San Antonio to check us in at a LaQuinta inn. Manda and I took a nap then took a cab down town to the river walk she ate I watched. Next day airport shuttle took us to the air port. In the Air port is where the gas showed up and it is a trip pain in your left shoulder you burp and it’s gone. Today I feel much better still some gas but its true the walking helps and gasX I think pills work better. I got on the scale this morning and weighed 168 TEN POUNDS!!! I am happy I had the band put in it will prolong my life. Dr Alverez and his staff are good at what they do and very professional. If I had any feed back at all to give them it would be give your patients a valium or something in the office before you take them to the hospital. Take a pillow and a get a protein drink that had them in the San Antonio airport. PS Dr Alverez is easy on the eyes the kind of guy you hope your daughter marries and has kids with. :kiss2:

10/15/07 I boarded a plane from Spokane Wa to San Antonio TX 10/10/07 at 5:50 Am when Manda and I arrived at the airport we went to baggage claim got our bags and Rosa was there about ten minutes later, got a tad nervous but once she showed up my nerves were calmer. We got in to a nice van, leather very comfortable and drove two hrs to Eagle Pass. I slept in the car a bit and talked to Rosa. Rosa is the perfect choice for this job speaks great English, nice woman! She checked us in to a Hilton and said she would be there to pick us up in the morning at 11:15, and she did. We drove about ten minutes in to Mexico to Dr. Alverez office. There were four other people in the van who were there for a fill. Driving to the office my nerves were on edge, as soon as you cross the border you know you are in Mexico it’s a little run down. Dr Alverez’s office is connected to the Hospital or it seemed that way. Nice office we waited about ten minutes and he came in the front door and greeted me and the others. I think it fair for me to say my impression of him is that he has a great heart! He hugged and shook hands with the fill patients as though they were old friends and I know one was there for her first fill. He seems to really care. He asked Rosa to take the fill patients some place and he would check me in and then meet them to do the fills him self. Manda and I went in to his office and he reviewed my health history he could see why I would want to have a band with my health history even though my BMI was 31 (I weighed 178) 5’5”. A nurse came in and he explained that he had just hired her to stay with me the entire time because not only was she a great nurse but she spoke very good English and he was right on all accounts! She walked Manda and me to the hospital and at this point my nerves kicked in again. The hospital is old and out of date for what we are used to in the stated, had an unfamiliar smell, my room was small with a small bed. At this point it would have served me as well as them to give me a valium or something, if you go ask for it at this point. Another nurse drew blood, I was taken to X-ray which I have to sway was weird! This guy pushed me up against the wall and stood there while the chest x-ray was being taken! I wanted to say dude that causes cancer you should stand behind the wall, oh and there was a small TV by the x-ray machine, seemed strange and unprofessional. Anyway I was then taken back to my room to have yet another stranger put in my IV, se did a great job no pain and got me on the first stick. Dr Alverez came in and told me he would see me in the OR. They brought a gurney in and I got on it and was wheeled to the OR. At this point they pass you through a long window on to another gurney I guess in to a sterile environment. Dr Alverez was not there yet so I was in a room with a bunch of people who did not speak English. At this point I am almost having a panic attack, I forgot in all my research to include the anesthesiologist oh my god that was stupid!! Well he turned out to be good at what he does, I was out and I woke up, two good things. Woke up two hours later in my room Manda was there reading on a small padded bench like bed that was in the room. Then Dr Alverez came in ad I asked which size band did he use I assumed it would be the 4cc small one because my BMI was small but he said I had lots of fat around my stomach and he had to use the big one 11cc go figure. I slept on and off through the night nurses came in to put some milk like substance in my IV a lot. The next morning my English speaking nurse came in and said Rosa would be ready to take me back to San Antonio at 10:00am did I want to take a shower? I asked if I could wait a bit. She came in an hour later to remove the IV and I was having a panic attack, I don’t think she knew what was going o, I brought Lorazapam with me and took some and was calmed down. I kept thinking all night WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!! It didn’t hurt, its just I could tell something was different in side me and in my panic attack all I could think was get it out. After I calmed down Dr Alverez came in and sat next to me on the bed and explained about the band gave me the box it came in with the serial number instructions about the meds, he was so calming and great. I got dressed and we went down to the van where Rosa with her big smile met us to drive us back to San Antonio to check us in at a LaQuinta inn. Manda and I took a nap then took a cab down town to the river walk she ate I watched. Next day airport shuttle took us to the air port. In the Air port is where the gas showed up and it is a trip pain in your left shoulder you burp and it’s gone. Today I feel much better still some gas but its true the walking helps and gasX I think pills work better. I got on the scale this morning and weighed 168 TEN POUNDS!!! I am happy I had the band put in it will prolong my life. Dr Alverez and his staff are good at what they do and very professional. If I had any feed back at all to give them it would be give your patients a valium or something in the office before you take them to the hospital. Take a pillow and a get a protein drink that had them in the San Antonio airport. PS Dr Alverez is easy on the eyes the kind of guy you hope your daughter marries and has kids with. :kiss2:

What does that mead he is full with patients or is out of lap bands? Ya I got mine done ot oct 11 it was a trip. Dr Alverez and his staff are top notch cant say enough good stuff about him. The hospital was a little out of date. But the care was good. I'm feeling the gas in my shoulder today and a little dizzy need more water lost 8 lbs wow I will write more tomorrow

I am having my band next week so I will give you as much details as I can

Thanks I know you are right people love to read drama! I am excited to have my band in and I know that keeping my banded body healthy is up to ME!! I have to say this forum is great and even with some of the negitive stuff it has helped me in my choice very much.

That is encouraging I read so many posts on people having them removed and not many on “here I am ten years later” I would assume the technology has only gotten better. So I am looking forward to being 80 and having my yearly fill lol J

I am having my band on Oct 11 and I read a lot about removal.

hang in there drink lots of water

how much did the leak cost to repair

I too am worried that I will go to a lot of expense and trouble and it wont work but........... its up to me to make it work it is a life style change. I decided to go for it Dr Alverez is banding me on oct 11 his cost was 6900 fills for life. He Specializes in gastric sleeves he does a band to sleeve revision daily so he was a good choice for me, he knows what goes wrong and how to fix it. My BMI is 31.9 so I hope he will use a small band to avoid slippage I will keep you posted. I f you want his patient coordinator, Susan’s phone number she is great and has lots of good info let me know.

oct 11 he will band me! I am excited and nervous at the same time

Ready set go………… September 27th 2007:whoo: I scheduled the band today! I have asked myself for weeks now is this too drastic a measure? Its funny how when I signed up to take Phen Phen, a life threatening drug, I failed to ask my self that very same question or during all of the crazy diets and the bouts of bulimia in my 20s. Here I am 45 and have always had a weight problem. I’ve never had a BMI of over 34 but so what, fat and miserable is fat and miserable at any BMI that is over normal. I chose Dr Alverez for a few reasons his price is one he is about $1500 cheaper than most MX doctors. He specializes in sleeves and revisions from bands to sleeves, so in my thinking he knows what goes wrong, how to fix it, and he does fills personally and they are free for life. I like his patient coordinator Susan a home grown American woman who has had a band and had a revision to a sleeve. She is very available and easy to talk to. I will officially become a band member on the 11th of October 2007. I will fly in to San Antonio and will be picked up from the airport; one night in a hotel next day to the hospital and wham bam I have a Band!!!:bandit Hope it’s that easy. My fears? Well because this is such a personal decision I am not telling anyone except my 22 year old daughter. I don’t want other people influencing me. I don’t want to explain my choice or my personal battle, the fat war, that every day I have to don the armor for. I will choose for me and live with the consequences of that choice. It is sad in some way that I can not share my fear and anxiety with Gary not because he would be upset or try to change my mind. Sad because for what ever reason I feel the need to do this on my own with out him. I am 100% sure he would be supportive of what ever I did, so it’s not about him. I just think that people who have not lived their life fighting the fat don’t get it; to them it would be as simple as making different food choices or better decisions about exercise. If only it were that easy. I am nervous to go by my self but excited about going solo also. I am going to keep a detailed journal through out this journey. I want to keep track of my progress and I want to keep a close account of my mental state, I know that the weight is there for many reasons.:car: ready to be on the road to a new me.

Ready set go………… September 27th 2007:whoo: I scheduled the band today! I have asked myself for weeks now is this too drastic a measure? Its funny how when I signed up to take Phen Phen, a life threatening drug, I failed to ask my self that very same question or during all of the crazy diets and the bouts of bulimia in my 20s. Here I am 45 and have always had a weight problem. I’ve never had a BMI of over 34 but so what, fat and miserable is fat and miserable at any BMI that is over normal. I chose Dr Alverez for a few reasons his price is one he is about $1500 cheaper than most MX doctors. He specializes in sleeves and revisions from bands to sleeves, so in my thinking he knows what goes wrong, how to fix it, and he does fills personally and they are free for life. I like his patient coordinator Susan a home grown American woman who has had a band and had a revision to a sleeve. She is very available and easy to talk to. I will officially become a band member on the 11th of October 2007. I will fly in to San Antonio and will be picked up from the airport; one night in a hotel next day to the hospital and wham bam I have a Band!!!:bandit Hope it’s that easy. My fears? Well because this is such a personal decision I am not telling anyone except my 22 year old daughter. I don’t want other people influencing me. I don’t want to explain my choice or my personal battle, the fat war, that every day I have to don the armor for. I will choose for me and live with the consequences of that choice. It is sad in some way that I can not share my fear and anxiety with Gary not because he would be upset or try to change my mind. Sad because for what ever reason I feel the need to do this on my own with out him. I am 100% sure he would be supportive of what ever I did, so it’s not about him. I just think that people who have not lived their life fighting the fat don’t get it; to them it would be as simple as making different food choices or better decisions about exercise. If only it were that easy. I am nervous to go by my self but excited about going solo also. I am going to keep a detailed journal through out this journey. I want to keep track of my progress and I want to keep a close account of my mental state, I know that the weight is there for many reasons.:mad: ready to be on the road to a new me.

change up your exercise its called muscle confusion and if you do the same thing all the time you wont see the same results.

I have a lower BMI also (32) No one in the states take me that is just a fact as far as I can tell. Even in Mexico you have to have other factors to be taken. European Docs will do a 31 BMI. Have you had any luck?

I'm scheduling tomorrow! I will keep you posted I plan to keep a journal and take lots of pictures

I have spoke to Susan his patient coordinator apparently he does a lot or lap band revisions (removes band and performs a sleeve no fills no device) I have not scheduled yet I really would prefer a sleeve but its $9800 which is not expensive once you add up the fills. But when you don’t have $9800 it might as well be $50,000. I may wait and save up. Are you seeing him?

My BMI is right at 32 I am worried if I do the pre-op diet I will loose weight and they wont do the surgery. should I try to gain a little. How crazy does that sound> Crazy

as soon as my passport is here I will schedule

Tell me about Kuri I have not heard of him til now. I am worried about finding after care here. I have lost 20 lbs on my own so my BMI is 31 now. I have 40 to go. People think I am crazy because I dont have a lot to loose compared to some. But I know with out the band eventually I will gain the 40 back. been there done that It is tough being in that middle spot where you are clearly over weight but not as much as some. It is still hard on your health and mental state.

Hey can anyone tell me about Dr Alvarez? He seems to be priced really well, and free fills for life.:help:

I am thinking Ortiz. I have read the most about him and I think I will go there. What have you found out about docs anything I need to know. Are you nervous? I am most about having something in me that may work or may make my life hell. I want to believe it will work if I do my part. I have been over weight since 6th grade. I'm 46 now.

I want this information as well. Best I can tell Ortiz returnes calls and is good. Let me know who you decide to use. Maybe we couls schedule the same time.